Weekly Roundup

Next Saturday's rides to Stonehouse will definitely be something a little different. Hopefully members will enter into the spirit of adventure needed to gain maximum fulfillment. 

Firstly, the Bread Basket is a baker's shop and not a cafe. However, they do serve hot drinks and have a fantastic selection of cakes and savouries, all at the sort of prices which, will leave you wondering whether it's practical to take some home with you. They sell a whole lemon drizzle cake for just £1.75!

Immediately opposite the shop is a pleasant grassed area, on which sits the town's war memorial. It's also home to plenty of sturdy benches. If you like, think of it as a picnic.

The Social Group's course is just 34.4 miles and has only 1,617 feet of elevation. It's a straight out and back which, makes use of well maintained cycle paths and a tow path. From Nailsworth it's nearly all traffic-free cycling until just before the coffee stop. There is one shortish, but fairly steep, hill on the way back, out of Avening, up Star Lane.

You can view and download the course here.

The Sporting Group's course is 44.3 miles with 2,102 feet of elevation. The outward leg uses some unfamiliar lanes and passes through a delightful picturesque valley. The return leg, also uses the tow path, followed by the same cycle path which, runs parallel with the A419. I would urge riders to use this cycle path and avoid the A419, which is an extremely busy road. The cycle path continues at the side of the A46, all the way back to Nailsworth. The A46 is much quieter than the A419, and so there is the option of returning to the road.

I've used the cycle paths on a number of occasions. Providing it's dry, they're easily ridden on 25mm or 28mm tyres, but you'll probably want to leave your best carbon bike at home, as there are some lumps and bumps.

You can view and download the course here.

For those members who record their rides and load them onto Strava, this is an open invitation to join the Malmesbury Clarion CC Strava Club. There are currently 17 members participating, but there's plenty of room for more. It's a great way of seeing what your club mates have been up to and can sometimes provide just the incentive you need to get your own bike out. Joining also means that Mike G only has to look in one place when he's collecting the data he needs for the trophies to be presented at the end of the year.

Don't let your efforts go unnoticed and potentially unrewarded. You can follow the link here.

The blog is in danger of becoming a bit predictable. Viewing figures still remain reasonably high, particularly for a small club, but it definitely needs refreshing. Articles from members would be very gratefully received. You can write about anything cycling related. It could be a complete one-off about something specific, an occasional column or even a regular feature. Perhaps you have the necessary skills to revamp the blog. The floor is completely open. 

Please send your thoughts or contributions to me by email.

Also, the website has been running now for nearly 3 years. It's functional and easy to navigate, but I'd be the first to admit that it's not particularly dynamic. Weebly provide the site free of charge, but it definitely has it's limitations and seems to be loaded with weird glitches which, can lead to the most simple of tasks taking forever. The calendar page is proving almost impossible to work on.

According to Weebly, following an upgrade to their editor, the site has become unstable and their technical staff have no idea how to rectify the problem. 

If website design is your thing, and you believe that there are improvements you could make or assistance that could be given in finding and switching to a better site, again please don't hesitate to contact me.

Des D conquers Horsley Hill

Wednesday's weather wasn't exactly what you might expect of a summer evening, but the luxury of riding in the daylight without the need for thermal underwear, wasn't lost on those who had persevered during the long, dark winter months. 

Peter C's course broke new ground for the Knight Riders by dropping down to Nailsworth and then making an ascent of Horsley Hill. For some of us, myself included, making the climb was a first.

Needless to say, the planned stop at the Cat and Custard Pot, was again postponed for another day.

Returning to Malmesbury, there was a definite feeling of 'having been somewhere', which is always good. 

Those who took part were: Des D, James, Phil, Peter C, Simon S and me, Tim W.

There were no Christmas trees for sale this time

Saturday's outing to the Quackers Farm Shop, near Pucklechurch, our first since December 2015, saw 10 riders take to the starting line.

Social Group: Atherton, Chris (Jonathan's Dad), Paul and me, Tim W.

Sporting Group: Des D, Jonathan, Lyndon, Malc, Peter C and Simon S.

Chris has now become our latest member, and we're very pleased that he has decided to join us. It was also good to see Paul back in the saddle after he was seriously injured by the motorist.

Both groups arrived at Quackers within 5 minutes or so of each other. Unfortunately service was a little haphazard. Fed and watered, the Social Group left just as 3 Sporting Group riders were belatedly being presented with their cooked orders. Portion sizes were definitely on the generous side and there were no complaints quality wise. 

Here are the current tables for the club's various trophies, up to and including Monday 30th May 2016. The table for the Grimpeur Challenge will be published next week.

The top seven positions are shown for the Chairman's Trophy.

Rider	Points
Peter C	19
Tim W	16
Phil	13
Howard	11
Tim H	11
Steve K	10
Andy Poolman	10

As for the Sunday Series, after Monday's ride, the league table positions remain unchanged with Peter C and Phil tied in first place.

Rider	Number of Rides	Total Mileage	Points
Peter C	5	322.5	25
Phil	5	322.5	25
Andy Poolman	4	282.0	20
Tim W	4	282.0	20
Steve K	4	246.0	20
Tim H	3	191.8	15
Colin	1	76.5	5
Howard	1	40.5	5
Mike	1	40.5	5
Steve M	1	40.5	5

At the moment the Club Ambassador Trophy is a four horse race, but there's still plenty of time left. If you ride a Sportive or an Audax, don't forget to wear your club jersey and to send Mike G a picture of yourself.

Rider	Points
Tim W	20
Mike G	15
Peter C	5
Steve K	5