Blog Bulletin

Middle of The Road

The idea for this week's musical mayhem comes from Graham. On a recent ride he let forth with a quick blast of Middle of the Road's 1971 hit 'Chirpy, Chirpy, Cheep, Cheep.' Critics lampooned the record when it was released, dismissing it as bubblegum. The public thought differently though, and it reached number 1 in the UK charts, where it stayed for 5 weeks.

The song would have made a very worthy entry in the Eurovision Song Contest where repetitious use of the same lines can be a winning formula. 

Amazingly, it was actually covered on a number of occasions. The Cheeky Girls even reworked the record with modified lyrics and gave it the title 'Get the Party On.'

You can transport yourself back to the 1970's, if you wish, by listening here.

Welcome to The Old Stables

Saturday's rides for the Sporting and Social Groups include a coffee stop at The Old Stables, Castle Combe.

Getting both groups to the same The Old Stables has proved a little tricky in the past. Previously, when trying to reach the Hullavington version, the Sporting Group, feeling somewhat weary, only made it as far as the Castle Combe incarnation. And then, on another occasion, Hullavington bound, but delayed by punctures, the Social Group stopped at Castle Combe instead. Hopefully this will be a case of third time lucky.

The Sporting Group will be leaving at 9.00am and following a 44.4 mile course, with 2,293 feet of elevation, which you can view and download here.

Peter C is away, and so I'll be stepping into his cycling shoes.

The Social Group will be departing at 10.00am and following a 35.4 mile course, with 1,477 feet of elevation, which similarly, you can view and download here.

Both groups use the same route home. 

The Third Way will also be setting off at 10.00am. Look out for Howard's email later in the week for more information.

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.

Rich Wiles-Teoh

Seeing as we're off to Castle Combe on Saturday, I thought I'd let you know that Rich, who rides with our neighbours Sherston Velo CC, is 'Everesting' up the hill out of the village, which will be on our route home.

For those that don't know, 'Everesting' is riding the equivalent vertical ascent of Mount Everest (8,848 metres). To achieve this, Rich will have to climb the hill around 220 times. He'll be starting about midnight on Friday and continuing through Saturday until he completes the challenge.

He's raising money for St. Andrew's Church - Make History Appeal. This is the largest project the church has undertaken for over 160 years, by installing running water, a toilet, plus a major enhancement of The Knight Chapel, which will mean that the church can be used for community-led projects.

Please give Rich every encouragement when you see him and if the cause is one you'd like to support, here's a link to his Just Giving site.

Artwork by Des D

This is an absolute first for the blog. Never before has a member submitted a drawing instead of a photograph. I'm tempted to heap praise on Des's handiwork. In sketch form he's captured 4 bicycles, 3 of which are positioned at different angles. The 4th is drawn smaller than the others where it's in the background. I even think I can recognise the riders. What holds me back, is that Des is a Graphic Designer and might well have knocked this up with his eyes closed in 10 seconds. If I proclaim this as evidence of an artistic genius, I could end up looking more foolish than normal. Either way, it's a very novel approach. It certainly brought a smile to my face and I hope to yours too.

The picture is of Sue and Simon Akers, Simon S and Des D on Tuesday evening. Des D reports that it was a lovely evening, but a bit blowy at the start. They completed a ride of about 26 miles out to Littleton Drew. A few of them had an early tea in the shape of flies.

Thank you Des D for taking the time to send this in.

Photograph courtesy of Malc

No drawing, but we do have a photograph of the Wednesday evening Knight Rider crew at The Vine Tree, Norton, thanks to Malc.

On a glorious sunny evening, we rode over to Leighterton, across to Tresham and then up to the Somerset Monument from Hillesley. The warm air and no discernible wind made for perfect riding conditions, and so when Malc mentioned the existence of a Strava segment starting from the base of the hill, which ended in Hawkesbury Upton, we set off with the aim of setting individual PR's.

We later repeated the exercise between the crossroads at Sopworth and Sherston. 

Feeling somewhat pleased with our efforts, we relaxed in the garden of The Vine Tree with a well deserved drink.

Riders: Malc, Peter C, Steve Clark and me, Tim W.

Photograph courtesy of Lyndon

Malc made his debut as a Ride Leader on Saturday's Sporting Group ride to Cafe 53 at Tetbury, and by all accounts came through with flying colours.

I'm grateful to Lyndon for sending me the photograph. He apologised for excluding the Ride Leader, who was sitting on the left. It seems that the curved wall behind the happy group led to his omission.

Malc reports that it was windy, but that mercifully it didn't rain.Two members were nearly left behind when the Ride Leader set off 20 seconds early.  Importantly, the coffee was good.  

Riders: Alice, Andy Parker, Andy Poolman, Ian, Lyndon and Malc.

Third Way Riders

Photograph courtesy of Howard

The Third Way visited The Old Stables, Hullavington on Saturday. Judging by the smiles on Mike and Maureen's faces, a good time was had by one and all. 

Appropriately the photograph was taken on the Happy Land railway bridge.

Riders: Dave, Howard, Maureen, Mike P and Sue Alexander.

Tommy and Tim W

Further afield on Saturday, Tommy and me took part in the Sam Weller's April Foolery 200km Audax from Tewkesbury. The hilly course ran through the Malvern Hills to Ledbury, famous for its black and white timber framed buildings, then onto Bromyard, where we enjoyed a mid-morning pot of tea. 

Continuing northwards, we stopped briefly for lunch at the Castle Lodge Buttery opposite Ludlow Castle. 

Turning southwards, the early afternoon was spent visiting the Welsh border town of Presteigne. Afterwards, the terrain eventually flattened out, which allowed us to make full use of the tailwind. 

A final control at Lock's Garage, Allensmore provided an opportunity to refill our water bottles for the last 40km back to Tewkesbury.

Tommy's ability to ascend hills with consummate ease won the admiration of lots of riders throughout the day. His talents don't end there though, as Tommy later pointed out to me the gargoyles he helped erect on the outside of Tewkesbury Abbey.  

A barely recognisable Pete B

Pete was riding in Swansea during the week and unfortunately hit a hidden speed bump.

He sent me the photograph with his permission to use it on the blog. Luckily Pete wasn't badly injured. He hopes to be back in action after a week or so.

I know that you will all join me in wishing Pete a very speedy recovery.