Wednesday evening the curtain finally came down on the last Knight Rider session for some months. Hopefully, we can now look forward to glorious summer evening rides, and who knows, maybe a few that end with a refreshing drink in a beer garden somewhere.
A big thank you goes to Peter C for not only minding the shop, but also successfully encouraging riders to get out on the road in all winds and weathers.
Good Friday saw lots of Clarions either riding solo or with others on various rides. Probably the largest contingent, consisting of Howard, Tim H, Dave and Steve M, rode to watch the cycle racing at Castle Combe. Club interest in the Category 4 race centred on ex-member George, who was riding in Performance Cycles' colours.
The fast early pace took some of the 100 riders by surprise, and it wasn't long before the first competitors started dropping off the back. Around 20 were eventually cut adrift and left to complete the race in ones and twos. At least 2 crashes depleted the field even further, the biggest of which saw 7 cyclists come down.
Poor discipline out on the course resulted in stern words of advice being barked by the commissaire following in his track car. The threat to start recording riders' numbers if there wasn't an improvement, can't have been heeded by everyone, as 3 participants were called in for a dressing-down at the end.
In the penultimate lap, George and his club mate Henry, moved through the peloton to occupy first and second places. However, their breakaway was short lived, and they were soon engulfed by the pack.
Coming in to the home straight with the chequered flag unfurled and ready to be waved, a path opened up in front of George, and head down, he made a furious charge for the line, finishing in 10th place. This earned him his first race point and £15 in prize money.
It wasn’t looking too promising. The
weather forecast, whilst not apocalyptic, was not good. Early light rain with
wind and getting worse throughout the day. As with all weather predictions you
can never actually tell how it will turn out until the hour of departure. And
as you would imagine, the weather was indeed pretty bad! Nevertheless, I set
off from home at the appointed hour, raring to go with the knowledge that MCCC
members are a hardy lot and were bound to turn out in their multitudes. Also, I
had been emailed the day before by a potential new member asking to ride with
us on the Saturday run. Of course the answer was yes, which automatically gave
me a second reason for setting off.
On arrival at Cross Hayes I could see
in the distance at least one rider and was reassured by the familiar green top
the rider was wearing. However, as I approached I was unable to recognise the
rider. An immediate thought was, how did someone I didn’t know get hold of a
club top? Mystery. Puzzled, I pulled up by the town hall and our potential new
member stepped up and introduced himself. The green jersey? Not MCCC livery,
Cannondale’s, but very close all the same.
Following introductions and a brief
chat, it soon became obvious that no other members were going to turn up. Hmm.
Neither the rain nor the wind seemed too bad so we decided to ride and set off
into the wild countryside of Wiltshire. We had just under 2 hours to fill
before we had to get back to Malmesbury. Lyndon, our potential new member, had
driven over from Chippenham and was limited to the time that motorists are
permitted to park in Cross Hayes. Given the weather, that was okay by me. We set
off and completed the Shipton Moyne, Leighterton, Sopworth, Vine Tree circuit
and were back within 4 minutes of the car parking running out. Precision
navigation?
Howard
Six riders: Andy Poolman, Peter C, Phil, Steve K, Tim H and me (Tim W) mustered outside of the Town Hall on Monday morning for our trip to the Berkeley Tearooms.
Nairo was going to meet us there, and when he asked me what time I thought we'd arrive, I failed to factor in the strong headwind or to make any allowance for the flooded lanes after a night of heavy rain.
And so it was, that we found a patient Nairo waiting for us at Berkeley. Overhearing Andy ordering porridge, I followed suit. Filling and yet easily digested, it made a sensible choice, but I couldn't help looking enviously at Tim H's thick wedge of sponge cake and Peter's fried egg and bacon sandwich.
After a round of Peter's legendary magic beans, we saddled up and headed for home. We had hoped to benefit from a tailwind, but for most of the way we were buffeted by a crosswind.
At the bottom of Frocester Hill, Phil suggested that Frocester would lend itself very nicely to a limerick. Making the ascent, I allowed this thought to distract me, as I desperately tried to conjure one up. I can't have been the only rider, as Andy later announced with some glee, that he had an offering, which went along the lines of:
There was a young man from Frocester
Whose legs were the longest in Gloucester
Chasing his girlfriend up the hill
He suddenly felt ill
And then he completely lost her
Back to the cycling. This ride has a bit of a twist. Having reached Kingscote, you might be forgiven for thinking that the ride is in the bag, but there's then a crossing of the hidden valley, and a circumnavigation of Tetbury before reaching the road to Long Newnton.
The outing means that the leader board now reads as follows:
Rider Number of Rides Total Miles
Peter C 3 159.1
Phil 3 159.1
Steve K 3 159.1
Andy Poolman 2 118.6
Tim W 2 118.6
Tim H 2 104.9
Howard 1 40.5
Mike G 1 40.5
The next Sunday Series ride will take place on Sunday 24th April 2016. Departure will be at 8.30am. The emphasis this time switches from distance to difficulty with an elevation gain of 5,136 feet over a 74.2 mile course.
Bringing your climbing legs will help, but with all day to complete the ride, you can always dismount if you wish and take some time out to enjoy the spectacular scenery.
The route passes the Jolly Nice Cafe at Frampton Mansell, but we're trying to find a suitable cafe around the midway point. There's a few at Stonehouse, but they don't open on a Sunday. You can be certain that the Research Team will find a solution.
You can view and download the course here.
Members in the courtyard at the Berkeley Tearooms
Nairo was going to meet us there, and when he asked me what time I thought we'd arrive, I failed to factor in the strong headwind or to make any allowance for the flooded lanes after a night of heavy rain.
And so it was, that we found a patient Nairo waiting for us at Berkeley. Overhearing Andy ordering porridge, I followed suit. Filling and yet easily digested, it made a sensible choice, but I couldn't help looking enviously at Tim H's thick wedge of sponge cake and Peter's fried egg and bacon sandwich.
After a round of Peter's legendary magic beans, we saddled up and headed for home. We had hoped to benefit from a tailwind, but for most of the way we were buffeted by a crosswind.
At the bottom of Frocester Hill, Phil suggested that Frocester would lend itself very nicely to a limerick. Making the ascent, I allowed this thought to distract me, as I desperately tried to conjure one up. I can't have been the only rider, as Andy later announced with some glee, that he had an offering, which went along the lines of:
There was a young man from Frocester
Whose legs were the longest in Gloucester
Chasing his girlfriend up the hill
He suddenly felt ill
And then he completely lost her
Back to the cycling. This ride has a bit of a twist. Having reached Kingscote, you might be forgiven for thinking that the ride is in the bag, but there's then a crossing of the hidden valley, and a circumnavigation of Tetbury before reaching the road to Long Newnton.
The outing means that the leader board now reads as follows:
Rider Number of Rides Total Miles
Peter C 3 159.1
Phil 3 159.1
Steve K 3 159.1
Andy Poolman 2 118.6
Tim W 2 118.6
Tim H 2 104.9
Howard 1 40.5
Mike G 1 40.5
The next Sunday Series ride will take place on Sunday 24th April 2016. Departure will be at 8.30am. The emphasis this time switches from distance to difficulty with an elevation gain of 5,136 feet over a 74.2 mile course.
Bringing your climbing legs will help, but with all day to complete the ride, you can always dismount if you wish and take some time out to enjoy the spectacular scenery.
The route passes the Jolly Nice Cafe at Frampton Mansell, but we're trying to find a suitable cafe around the midway point. There's a few at Stonehouse, but they don't open on a Sunday. You can be certain that the Research Team will find a solution.
You can view and download the course here.
Howard was recently contacted by Dave, a gentleman who is organising the first Cotswold Cogfest at Minchinhampton on Sunday 8th May, in aid of the school. There are 2 sportive routes, a 'Ride the Common' family route, an event village with food and drink, a secondhand bike jumble, where you can buy and sell, and some other fun cycling-related activities.
It all sounds like great stuff. For more information and entry to the sportives, please follow the link here.
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