Next week I'm Audaxing from Tewkesbury with Tommy and so won't be with you on Saturday. Instead, we'll be exploring Worcestershire and Herefordshire. If you have anything for the blog, please send it to me before 6.00pm on Sunday evening. Contributions are always gratefully received. The blog is only ever as good as the material submitted by you the members.
Clarions at Cafe 53, New Year's Eve 2016
The Sporting Group will be leaving at 9.00am and following a 40.6 mile course, with just 1,506 feet of elevation, which you can view and download here.
With Peter C also away, Malc has very kindly volunteered to act as the Ride Leader. Well done Malc.
The Social Group will be departing at 10.00am and following a 34.8 mile course, with only 1,419 feet of elevation, which similarly, you can view and download here.
The Third Way will also be setting off at 10.00am.
Please take a few minutes to familiarise yourself with the course you intend riding and if you have a Garmin or a similar technical device, please download the course. Both will be helpful to your Ride Leader.
Peter C at Castle Combe opts to go straight down the middle
Fortunately the heavy rain forecast never materialised on Tuesday evening. A light shower when we set off at 6.00pm soon petered out and for a few fleeting seconds outside of Grittleton, the sun even threatened to make an appearance.
Numbers were well down at the Castle Combe Race Circuit with just 77 riders having signed on. It looked as though most had already left when we took to the track. (The first of the year on a glorious sunny evening attracted over 400). The upside was that we virtually had the run of the circuit. The downside was that wheels to jump on the back of, were in very short supply.
An invitation to help ourselves to as many free bananas as we wanted when we paid our £3 entry fee and again at the end of our session, was accepted without hesitation.
The opportunity to get back to Malmesbury in the dry took priority over slating our thirsts at the Neeld Arms, and so we postponed our liquid refreshments for another evening.
I've gone slightly out of sequence, otherwise the relevance of the musical diversion would be lost. This week's offering, which although not chosen by Andy Poolman, as a keen golfer, might still be appreciated by him, is 'Straight Down The Middle' by Bing Crosby. The inspiration were the signs at the approach to the circuit at Castle Combe advising slow riders to keep to the right, fast riders to the left and others down the middle.
Bing's real name was Harry. He died in 1977 after a game of golf. He collapsed just 20 yards from the clubhouse. There's some dispute as to his last words though. Some claim they were, 'That was a great game of golf fellas.' Others say they were 'Let's go get a coke.'
You can listen, if so inclined, here.
Kudos to Peter C and Steve Clark for keeping the green flag flying high on Wednesday evening. Again, the wet weather was no where near as bad, as that predicted, but the threat was enough to dissuade some of the regular Knight Riders, myself included. Actually, Peter C informs me that the evening passed without so much as a single drop of rain.
I've gone slightly out of sequence, otherwise the relevance of the musical diversion would be lost. This week's offering, which although not chosen by Andy Poolman, as a keen golfer, might still be appreciated by him, is 'Straight Down The Middle' by Bing Crosby. The inspiration were the signs at the approach to the circuit at Castle Combe advising slow riders to keep to the right, fast riders to the left and others down the middle.
Bing's real name was Harry. He died in 1977 after a game of golf. He collapsed just 20 yards from the clubhouse. There's some dispute as to his last words though. Some claim they were, 'That was a great game of golf fellas.' Others say they were 'Let's go get a coke.'
You can listen, if so inclined, here.
It doesn't blow in the wind, but it is a Green Flag (van)
Kudos to Peter C and Steve Clark for keeping the green flag flying high on Wednesday evening. Again, the wet weather was no where near as bad, as that predicted, but the threat was enough to dissuade some of the regular Knight Riders, myself included. Actually, Peter C informs me that the evening passed without so much as a single drop of rain.
Clarions inside The Ox House, Northleach
(Picture courtesy of Peter C)
(Picture courtesy of Peter C)
As you will no doubt have read in Peter C's email on Friday evening, Saturday's Sporting Group ride had to be switched at short notice to The Ox House, Northleach. The excursion to Honeystreet Cafe, near Pewsey, will now take place on Saturday 17th June 2017, instead. Departure will be at 8.30am.
Under a bright sky that seemed to hold the promise of a sunny day, but which later turned dark and broody, 6 of us rode out from Malmesbury.
An early afternoon commitment at Maindy, Cardiff meant that I had to leave the ride before it even reached Northleach.
Bacon rolls were sampled by some at the Ox House and proclaimed a success.
Bacon rolls were sampled by some at the Ox House and proclaimed a success.
Riders: Andrew, Malc, Pete B, Peter C, me, Tim W and Tommy.
Clarions waiting for their orders at Toomers Garden Centre
(Picture courtesy of Ian)
(Picture courtesy of Ian)
The only other ride was the Social Group's outing to Toomers at Lydiard Millicent. They welcomed back Lyndon after his travels around the world. Kudos-awarding Strava members will have noticed Lyndon running and cycling in various far-flung places.
I'm pleased to report, following Andy Poolman's communique, that good value pricing is very much alive and well at Toomers. Most riders were able to fund the purchase of their hot drink and slice of cake for £2.50. You would probably have to go back in time to find somewhere that could undercut them.
Bryan, Paul and Stuart rode the full course, whilst Andy, Ian, Lyndon and Sue returned using a slightly shorter route in order to avoid the rain.
Riders: Andy Poolman, Bryan, Ian, Lyndon, Paul, Stuart and Sue Akers.
No third way riders, or none reporting?
ReplyDeleteNo Third Way riders Howard, so Paul rode with the Social Group. You'd better come back soon.
ReplyDelete