The Old Stables Coffee Shop & Deli, Hullavington
This Saturday's destination is not the one originally advertised. Instead, we'll be stopping on the way home at The Old Stables Coffee Shop & Deli in Hullavington.
A pot of tea for one and a slice of cake cost just £3.50 on a recent visit. If this will be your first visit, I don't think you'll be disappointed. Some good weather will allow us to relax outside, but if not, there's plenty of room inside.
The Sporting Group's 37.8 mile course has 1,430 feet of elevation. It reaches The Old Stables after 30 miles, hopefully at about 12.15pm. It can be viewed and downloaded here.
One issue worthy of note is that if you refer to the map at 22.5 miles, there's a sharp right hand bend. When we last used this road on 3rd August, there was a build up of wet mud at this point. Please exercise caution when negotiating this section of road. If you're unsure where this is, please stay behind your Ride Leader once you've turned off of the Fosseway and are heading towards Castle Combe.
The Social Group's course is 30 miles with 1,138 feet of elevation. It arrives at the coffee shop after 23 miles, with a bit of luck, somewhere around the same time. It can be viewed and downloaded here.
If you can't make either ride and you'd like to meet us there, you'd be very welcome to join us.
Unfortunately James fell victim to a slow puncture. After bravely trying to keep it inflated, he had to bite the bullet and replace the inner tube.
The extra miles and dealing with the puncture meant that the Cat and Custard Pot in Shipton Moyne, had to be given a miss.
A tractor and trailer near Horton blocks our way home on 16th August 2014
On Saturday, the Sporting Group, comprising of Andy Parker, Ian, Peter C, Phil, Steve M and Tim H, rode to the Wickwar Coffee Shop. Meanwhile, Atherton, Mike G and me, Tim W, indulged in a spot of plane watching from the warmth and comfort of the AV8 Cafe at the Cotswold Airport.
Although members present at the AGM in February, were asked who would be willing to act as Ride Leaders, now that we're at the point of putting a rota together, it seems sensible to enquire again.
As Steve M pointed out at the AGM, being a Ride Leader doesn't mean that you have to stay out at the front all of the time.
The responsibilities of a Ride Leader are set out in the Ride Leaders Code of Conduct, which can be seen here.
In the first instance, please can you send me, Tim W, an email if you would like to volunteer, stating which group(s) you would be prepared to lead. This will only work if members come forward.
Once we have a bank of members, Howard will register those not already registered, with Cycling UK (CTC) for insurance purposes.
The final phase will be to draw up a rota based on the availability of the volunteers.
My own personal view is that the Ride Leader should at least have some idea how many members intend to ride. This could easily be achieved via Strava and by email. Failure to notify the Ride Leader wouldn't prevent someone riding. This would help stop the Ride Leader being overwhelmed on a Saturday morning and at the other extreme, having a wasted journey to the Cross Hayes. We could also then reserve tables at the cafe stop or at least make a courtesy call to let them know we'll be visiting. I often tweet cafes to warn them, but naturally they want to know how many riders they can expect, which I can't answer.
The project, in my opinion, would ultimately benefit from having a Ride Secretary, who as well as being responsible for the Ride Leaders and their rota, would also put together the calendar of rides and coffee stops, a task made much easier by the creation of our Course Directory. One step at a time though for now.
If being a Ride Leader doesn't sound like your cup of tea, or it does and you're up for another job as well, a vacancy will be arising towards the end of the year for the position of the Club Competition Clerk.
I mentioned in the last bulletin that Mike G will be standing down. Before trophies are purchased for the four club awards (Sunday Series, Chairman's Trophy, Grimpeur and Club Ambassador) we need to know that someone is prepared to take over the collection and recording of the data. If someone can't be found, then modest cups will be bought and presented on a one-off basis rather than those which can be engraved and awarded annually.
Some of the information you need will be sent to you by email by the Ride Leaders and for the Grimpeur Challenge, it's just a question of lifting the data from the MCCC Strava Club. Full support will be given by the Committee.
Again, please email me, Tim W, if you think it's for you. It would be a real shame if the competitions ended after only the first year.
And finally . . . . . . an important notice that the only club ride on Saturday 10th September 2016, will be the one to Bristol for the Tour of Britain. Timings and further details will be available in the next bulletin, as will those for Thursday 8th September, when stage 5 runs through Stroud and Dursley.
Volunteer needed is very apt Tim, as is your comment RE rider info being sent to the rider points clerk by ride leaders. Something sadly which hasn't happened so far!
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