Blog Bulletin

AV8 Cafe, Cotswold Airport

We make our second visit to the AV8 Cafe at the Cotswold Airport, Kemble on Saturday 17th September 2016. We're definitely overdue some good weather on a Saturday, so fingers crossed!

As you ride through the site to the cafe, if you think that any of the structures or settings look familiar, then you could well be right. The airport has been used as a film location for a number of television programmes and series, including: Top Gear, Casualty, Ultimate Force, Car of the Year Show, Wheeler Dealers, Classic Car Club, Drop the Celebrity and Fifth Gear.

Social Group's 33.3 mile course: http://ridewithgps.com/routes/14392129

Sporting Group's 39.1 mile course: http://ridewithgps.com/routes/14535537

Clarions soaking up the sun at the Honeystreet Cafe in April 2016

The following day, on Sunday 18th September, the curtain finally falls on the 2016 Sunday Series.

You can view and download the 122.9 mile Tour of Wiltshire here.

We should have at least four members riding, with a fifth expressing a keen interest, but would of course, welcome more. Departure will be at 8.00am from the Town Hall and with favourable conditions, we aim to be back by 7.00pm. Don't forget to bring your 'be seen' lights.

Please bring plenty of food and drink with you. The course is very rural and opportunities to stock-up will be few and far between, particularly during the second half of the ride. 

There are a number of options as far as coffee stops are concerned. We could, for example, stop at Coffee#1 in the Market Place, Warminster (41 miles) for elevenses and then by taking a short detour, a late lunch at the Crofton Beam Engine Cafe (86 miles). Alternatively, we might well be tempted by some of the public houses we'll be passing.

The Somerford Arms, Little Somerford

There are rides and there are rides, and then there is a ride like the one on Wednesday. A perfect early autumn evening, comfortably warm, even after the sun had gone down, with barely a flutter of wind to influence our progress.

Peter C's imaginative routing took us up Pavenhill into Purton. Pushing back the boundaries, but skillfully managing to stay within a sensible radius, we rode through Lydiard Millicent, Greatfield, Hook and Royal Wootton Bassett. The last leg, via Grittenham, Dauntsey and Great Somerford, delivered us safely to the door of the Somerford Arms, where something thirst-quenching was definitely the order of the day. 

Weather permitting, there will hopefully be a few more pub stops before we have to start wrapping up against the elements.

Riders: Andy Parker, James, Mike G, Peter C, Simon H, Steve K and Tim W. 

Inside the Folly Row Cafe

Saturday's club ride to the Folly Row Cafe at Kington St Michael, was a rain-affected affair, but just like the week before, there was still plenty of fun to be had.

Listed among the persons of note with a connection to Kington St Michael, is Jeremy Corbyn. Some of you will already know that he was born in Chippenham. Jeremy lived in Kington St Michael until he was 7 years old and the family moved to Shropshire. His father was an electrical engineer and an expert in power rectifiers. Pure speculation on my part, but he might well have worked at Westinghouse Brake & Signal Company Ltd, in Chippenham.

The reason for this priceless piece of trivia, is that over coffee Andy Poolman mentioned that there was someone famous associated with the village, but he couldn't quite recall who. As to whether he was thinking of Jeremy Corbyn or someone entirely different, we'll have to wait and see.

Riders: Andy Poolman, Peter C, Sian, Tim W and Tommy. 

And finally . . . . . . . .  well done to Steve M and Phil who cycled to Bristol to watch the Tour of Britain.