Blog Bulletin

Clarions at Toomers Garden Centre on 19th April 2014

We haven't had a musical backdrop for a while. After the roaring success of our 5th birthday party, I've lined up what I think is a very appropriate record. I'm going to dedicate it to each and every member for their personal achievements, whatever they might be, and to the club itself. It's not intended to be an elitist statement, but we have to believe in ourselves and each other. 

I'll let you discover for yourself what the song is, but you might recognise it from the lyrics taken from the first verse. It sums up what the club means to an over-sentimental fool like me. If you're ever passing my house at 9.45am on a Saturday morning and I've got my bedroom window open, I can pretty much guarantee that you'll hear this.  

I call you when I need you
When my heart's on fire
You come to me, come to me
Wild and wired
You come to me,
Give me everything I need

You can listen and hopefully enjoy it here.

If you found the music inspirational, and you're now well and truly wild and wired, perhaps you'll take the plunge and volunteer to become a Ride Leader. The situation has already gone beyond critical. Being a Ride Leader won't be for everyone. That's fully understood and appreciated. However, we can't run rides without them. We are affiliated to Cycling UK (formerly CTC), who are our insurance providers, and as such, it's a requirement that we provide them. It also stands to reason that we need someone who knows the way, either because they've studied the course and made some written notes or because they have a technical device of some description.

Tim H has provided an excellent service ever since the Ride Leaders were first introduced. Before that, he piloted members around for years. He's now taking a well earned break. I'm still leading rides, but driving George around to cycle racing circuits and participating myself in Audax events, both mean I'm not available as much as I used to be.

Mike G has returned to the skeleton crew and Peter C, to his credit, is present virtually every week. His absence last Saturday was a very rare exception. Apart from a few cameo appearances from some others, that's about it.

Peter C has offered to lead the Sporting Group this Saturday, and so on that basis, we're able to offer the 39.9 mile course to the Folly Row Cafe at Kington St Michael. It's a fairly flat route with just 1,472 feet of elevation. Departure will be at the usual time of 10.00am.

You can view and download the course here.

If you intend riding with the Sporting Group, please take a few minutes to familiarise yourself with the route and if you have a Garmin or a similar device, please download the course. Both will be helpful to your Ride Leader.

If there is a volunteer who would be willing to act as a Ride Leader for the Social Group, and if they're new to the job, they can be registered in time, then I'll be pleased to post a suitable course, which should allow both groups to meet at the cafe.

For those wishing to ride with Howard, please look out for his email later in the week.

I quite often say that if you lived your life according to the weather forecast, you'd never do anything. Frequently, thank goodness, the predicted bad weather fails to materialise. On the other hand, there are those times when it really does deliver everything that was threatened. Wednesday evening's Knight Rider session was one such occasion. 

Choosing to ignore the predicted heavy rain, 6 of us set off from the Cross Hayes full of expectation. The light rain did little to dampen our enthusiasm. 

Emerging out onto Minchinhampton Common, the raindrops quickly grew in size and rapidly increased in their frequency. In the darkness it was impossible to tell whether this was a heavy rain shower or the start of a sustained period of heavy rain.

With riding glasses misting over, some chose to remove them. A cautious descent of the 'W' was undertaken. Regrouping at the bottom, those riders with disc brakes were particularly pleased with how their steeds had performed.

Too wet to loiter, we made an ascent of Horsley Hill. Keen not to hang around unnecessarily, PR's were surprisingly recorded by some over the Strava segments on the ascent.

Having reached the top, we eagerly headed for home down Bowldown Road. Further on, the Sherston duo peeled off at the Hare and Hounds, Westonbirt leaving the remaining quartet to complete the last part of the ride to Malmesbury.

Peter C and me gratefully returned to our homes in Malmesbury, while Mike G and Phil headed off into the night, back to theirs.

Yes, wet and cold maybe, but after a hot drink and a shower, it still felt good.

Riders: Graham, Mark, Mike, Peter C, Phil and me, Tim W.

Mike G and Tim W Audaxing in 2016 with a stop at Bitto(n)

Our ever-expanding Audax section was out in force for Mr Pickwick's March Madness 200km from Tewkesbury on Saturday.

I enjoyed the luxury of a ride up to Tewkesbury in Tommy's van. There was room for 3 bikes in the back, but Mike G in true Audax spirit, elected to ride to the start. This was certainly no mean feat, as Mike G was up and away by 3.30am.

Arriving at the Royal Hop Pole, he naturally felt quite chuffed with himself. Speaking to a fellow Audaxer, who had also ridden there, Mike G asked if he'd come far. 'From Northampton, I left at midnight' came the reply! (Having checked the AA Route Planner, avoiding motorways, that's a distance of 72.6 miles. Oh and he also rode home again afterwards).

After a complimentary breakfast of fried egg rolls for Mike G and Tommy, and toast for me (I couldn't wait any longer for my sausages in a roll to arrive), we set off for the ride proper at 7.30am. 

After a flat first 10 miles, we then started the slow climb up to British Camp at the top of the Herefordshire Beacon in the Malvern Hills.

Flowerdew's

Our first control was at the excellent Flowerdew's Cafe in Bromyard. The owners are keen cyclists themselves. They know exactly the sort of food cyclists like to eat when they're out on the road, and always get it out quickly too.

On the approach to Bromyard my rear wheel suddenly started to slip from side to side. Looking down, I could see that the tyre hadn't deflated. The problem persisted for a short while. Before going inside Flowerdew's I checked the bike over and unable to find anything amiss, was left puzzling over what had happened. (I was later to discover that there was in fact a diesel spillage, which had brought a number of riders down).

The Forest of Dean Heritage Centre's rooftop cafe

From Bromyard, we rode southwards into the wind, through the rolling hills of Herefordshire. Our route skirted Much Marcle, birthplace of the loathsome mass murderer, Fred West.

It was with some relief that we arrived at the Forest of Dean Heritage Centre. With a 76km ride to the next control, we all made the most of the opportunity to refuel. 

Shortly after leaving, we experienced our first shower. Rain jackets were quickly deployed, but luckily it didn't last long.

Kingsholm Stadium, Gloucester

Having crossed the Severn Bridge, the last leg took us up the Severn Estuary to Gloucester, and from there, courtesy of the A38, back to Tewkesbury. We made good progress thanks to a tailwind. 

Near Littleton on Severn, a cyclist not taking part in the Audax, on seeing our club kit, asked if we had to cycle back to Malmesbury. It only occurred to me afterwards that when I said we were actually on our way to Tewkesbury, he might have thought I was being facetious.

Navigation through Gloucester is always a bit tricky. There's a 2 mile section along the towpath of the Gloucester and Sharpness Canal and a maze of cycle paths, which take you past the Gloucester Cathedral. Matters weren't helped by the cars leaving Kingsholm Stadium, home of Gloucester Rugby Club.

Mike G sensibly joined us in Tommy's van for the trip home. The thought of having to ride back down the A38 to Gloucester being too much for even Mike G to bear.