Weekly Roundup

Atherton, Mike G and Steve C on our last outing to Quackers

How time flies. This Saturday we make our first visit to Quackers, near Pucklechurch, since 12th December 2015.

There are two courses to choose from.

Social Group, 37.1 miles, 1,536 feet elevation gain:
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/12912579

Sporting Group, 42.4 miles, 1,755 feet elevation gain: 
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/12912158

If you're one of the first to arrive, and you find the seating next to the farm shop area busy, there are plenty more tables in the back room.

A fair chunk of the elevation for both groups, is the climb up Hinton Hill on the return leg. We'll be making the ascent via Cock Lane, which definitely makes life a little easier than a full-on, frontal assault.

As always, please be careful when crossing the A46 in both directions.

Wednesday evening's Knight Rider session attracted  11 riders.

Members: Des D, James, Jonathan, Peter C, Phil, Simon S, Steve K, Tim H and me, Tim W.

Guests: Gary Walker and John, a good friend of Steve K, who we were pleased to welcome.

After a spirited ride, most of us stopped afterwards at The Horse Guards, Brokenborough for well earned drinks.

Stop me and buy one!

Saturday's club ride to the Jolly Nice Cafe saw 14 riders take to the road, including Jonathan's Dad, who we were delighted to see on his first outing with us.

Social Group: Atherton, Dave, Steve C, Tim H and Jonathan's Dad.

Sporting Group: Andy Parker, Andy Poolman, Ian, Jonathan, Lyndon, Mike G, Peter B, Peter C and Phil.  

Our thanks go to Mike G who devised the Sporting Group's course.

Crofton's steam engine

Monday's Sunday Series ride (confusing I know) drew 6 members for the 86 mile Royal Berkshire incursion at Hungerford and mini-tour of Marlborough villages.

Those making up the rider list were: Andy Poolman, Peter C, Phil, Steve K, Tim H and me, Tim W.

Pete B, who didn't have the time to ride the complete course with us, came as far as the top of the 17% hill after Ogbourne St George, before heading for home. Lesser riders might have been tempted to turn around at the bottom, but not Pete.

Refreshments were taken at the Crofton Beam Engine, and with this being the only scheduled stop on the ride, we took full advantage of the cooked breakfast options.

The weather was a bit of a letdown. It remained overcast all day. The only time we saw the sun was when we returned to Malmesbury. Had I known, I wouldn't have bothered plastering myself with suntan lotion.

Just outside of Foxham, on the crest of a hill, we lined up for a freewheel challenge. The idea being to see who could travel the furthest without pedaling. Amid no doubt unfounded accusations of a half pedal stroke, Steve K was the clear winner, rolling as far as the junction with the road to Christian Malford. 

Whilst our game did nothing to improve our average speeds, it was very entertaining, and will, I'm sure, feature again on the next Sunday Series ride.

Raglan Castle, Monmouthshire

It's been said, that if an Englishman's home is his castle, then Raglan is the Welshman's equivalent. The 15th century ruin met its end during the English Civil War, but there's still enough of the castle left to impress its visitors.

Why am I telling you this? It's because we'll be stopping at the castle, or to be more precise, the castle's cafe, on the next Sunday Series ride, which will take place on 26th June 2016.

The provisional 96.5 mile course has 5,169 feet of elevation and can be viewed here. In order to maximise our miles in Wales, and to keep us within budget, it's a straight out and back over familiar lanes on the English side of the Severn Bridge. From Chepstow, we skirt the Wye Valley, as we head to Raglan. The cafe serves hot and cold snacks, with a very strong emphasis on traditional Welsh food. Too hot perhaps for cawl, but homemade Welsh cakes go great with tea and coffee.

Afterwards, we cycle to Usk, and after hugging the banks of its river, we turn eastwards towards the edge of the Wentwood Forest, which we visited during last year's Sunday Series. There is however, this hill to climb first, but it'll soon be forgotten once the long descent back to Chepstow begins.

Don't forget to mark the date in your diary, as well as those for the following two rides:

Sunday 31st July 2016 - Annual visit to the seaside at Clevedon, approximately 105 miles.

Monday 29th August 2016 - 120 mile excursion, further details nearer the time.