Weekly Roundup, What's On & Bits and Pieces

Evans Cycles, Cheltenham, start of the ride

On Sunday 4th October 2015, Peter C and Karen took part in the Evans Cycles Ride It Cheltenham Sportive.

They opted for the medium route and with the ride to and from the event, clocked up 70 miles and 3,500 feet of climbing. This involved ascents of Cleeve Hill, as they left the town and Sudeley Hill out of Winchcombe, past Sudeley Castle.

Peter suspects that Sudeley Hill was one which Mike G would enjoy.

Highlights were the glorious views on such a lovely day and riding through the heather fields at Snowshill. 

There were two feed stations with High 5 products, bananas, flapjacks, cake, peanuts and jelly beans, with no limit as to how much you could take.

The level of difficulty for this ride was scored by Evans Cycles as 4/5, and so definitely at the tougher end of the scale. Well done both of you!

Peter C has also reminded me that Evans Cycles Ride It series comes to Wiltshire on Sunday 25th October 2015.

Starting at Lackham College, Lacock this one merits 3/5 and according to the organisers, is predominantly undulating countryside with a few hills along the way. It promises to take in some of the best landmarks in the area, including the famous Wiltshire White Horses and Hackpen Hill. The Vale of Pewsey and the Marlborough Downs will provide an array of classic Southern English scenery. How tempting does that sound?

Entry for the 34, 62 and 80 mile courses is £18.50 in advance or £20 on the day.

Further details can be found here.

The control at the Anchor Inn, Epney, Gloucestershire

Switching from sportives to audax, the 2016 Jack and Grace Cotton Memorial 100km will take place on Saturday 23rd January. Starting from Aztec West, Bristol it's an easy one to reach whether you're cycling or driving to the start.

Entries open on 14th November 2014. It's a very popular event, so be ready if you want to take part. Three members; Des M, George and me did last year. I reviewed the ride on the blog.

The link to enter is here.

I've always been wary of advertising what might be deemed as rival attractions to club rides and in particular the Saturday club run for fear of diluting them. After discussion with Howard, who rightly pointed out that participation in events away from MCCC such as sportives and audaxes, is very much a normal part of a cycling club's life, I now do so with a clear conscience. It's also a measure of how much we've grown, now that the absence of a few members has little or no impact.

The deadline for submission for the next edition of Boots & Spurs is 30th November 2015. Inclusion in the Section News means that we do our bit. It's just a shame that more of the branches don't contribute. I've got a fair idea of the notable events that individual members have taken part in, as well as our club activities, but there's bound to be some that I've missed. Please can you let me know via email by 14th November if there's something that you've done which you think is worthy of inclusion and just as important, anything that someone else has done. We're limited to 250 words, but we can still pack plenty in.

The Chippenham Pit Stop, Draycot Cerne

And finally, my top tip cafe this week, which makes it a sort of 'top tip pit stop' is just off of junction 17 of the M4 Motorway, on the opposite side of the road to the Recycling Centre.

Actually, it's another of my wife's. I wasn't going to mention that. People might talk if they knew she was hanging out at a transport cafe.

If you're still reading this after a less than glamorous introduction, I promise you won't be disappointed.

The Pit Stop might have started life as a trucker's stop and whilst it has become a firm favourite with passing lorry drivers, it's doors are well and truly open to all. If you're thinking greasy spoon, then you'd be wrong. The atmosphere inside is clean and fresh. Bread, rolls and teacakes are supplied by the renowned Hobbs House Bakery and desserts come accompanied by Marshfield Ice Cream.  They serve everything from breakfasts, lighter bites, mains and desserts. The prices are very reasonable too. For example, locally reared sausage of the day, mash and fresh seasonal vegetables is only £6.95. Homemade cake costs £1.50 a slice.

Restaurant opening hours are Monday to Friday 6.00am to 9.30pm, Saturday 8.00am to 2.30pm and Sunday 9.00am to 12.00pm.

Last, but by no means least, a few words from Mike, on the club's first Sunday lunch family ride:

" Anita and I duly applied ourselves and rode to Malmesbury Town Hall for 11am! However being the only ones to show . It was mutually decided on a longer ride. So despite my immediate route mismanagement, we set off for Oaksey and Somerford Keynes ( coffee and cake break) at the Sculpture Park.
Not as it transpired a good choice.

However our route home again via Oaksey was enhanced albeit briefly with the company of Simon and Des on a sneaky miles outing!

Still it all turned out well.

Ta Anita for the company!


Mad MikeG "

Weekend Rides

Whilst the great and the good were assembling for our Saturday ride to the Organic Café, MCCC welcomed back two riders for their second ride with the club. Atherton, who rode with us for the first time last week and Anita, back with us having let work get in the way for the last several months. Hopefully both will now feature regularly in our weekly peloton.

About 14 riders in all set off in the usual 2 groups, our group comprising 5 riders. The longer ride was 23 miles to the cafe and the shorter group’s distance to cover was 17 miles. For once the longer distance group pulled their finger out and did actually reach the café first, most of them did anyway. We arrived shortly after and the club ‘enjoyed’ hot drinks and cake together.

It’s easy to sit in a café for far longer than we should and with a chill in the air and riders beginning to get cold, we set off for the return journey. The homeward route was the same for both groups and as always we set off together. Together, however, does not always last for very long and we settled in to the pace we were most comfortable with and once again two groups formed.

As with the journey out, the ride home was uneventful. What with the weather being fine and the route relatively easy, it made for a great morning awheel.

Howard

The car park at Create, Bristol, start of the 101km Tasty Cheddar Audax

Picture courtesy of Joe Prosser

Two members (me and Mark) rode the Tasty Cheddar on Saturday. This is always a popular curtain raiser to the new Audax season, which starts on 1st October. (The old one ends on 30th September!)

There aren't any toilets at the depart, but there is a cafe nearby which does have some. Naturally, they're for their customers and trying to sneak in to use them without making a purchase, is unforgivable, but I was bursting. I slipped in unnoticed through the back door (a stunt I'm ashamed to say I also pulled last year), but Mark was spotted and felt obliged to place an order. He'd left his money in his saddlebag, which left me to pick up the tab; an extortionate £4.50 for two teas neither of us really wanted. That'll teach me!

At the stroke of 9.00am, a field of over 200 made the short dash to the first control at the Lakeside Cafe, Portishead.  Although there is a route to follow between controls, this is only ever a guide and riders are at liberty to go any way they choose. 

The suggested route for safety reasons was along the Pill Path to Portbury, but like many others, we opted for the Portway on the opposite side of the river and then crossed the Avonmouth Bridge.

Charge!

Operation Invasion Portishead moved very swiftly and with no resistance, we flooded into the town and easily overran the boating lake. Even Captain Mainwaring's most heavily fortified position; the Novelty Rock Emporium on the seafront at Walmington-on-Sea, couldn't have stopped us.

Audaxers rarely waste an opportunity to fuel-up, but coming after just 16km, for all but a few, it was far too early to think of refreshments.

The morning fog meant that we were denied our sea views, as we followed the coast road out of Portishead and down into Clevedon.

Turning inland, we rode through Yatton to Congresbury. At Winscombe we joined the Strawberry Line cycle path to Axbridge. It was then a short hop to Cheddar and the control at the Fortes Ice-cream Parlour.

Brevet cards stamped, we joined the short queue inside. This is a great cafe. The staff work as a team and are easily able to cope with large numbers. Unfortunately for Mark, who has a nut allergy, the two cakes on offer; carrot topped with walnut sprinklings (a bargain at £1.75), and lime and pistachio (a new one on me), were both out of bounds.

Over my carrot cake, Mark's caramel shortbread and a shared pot of tea, we contemplated the impending climb up The Gorge, which really isn't that bad. In terms of difficulty, I'd rate Bowden Hill, Naish Hill and Crawley Hill, all as being much harder.

The Cheddar Gorge

Somewhere between the top of The Gorge and the next control at Hinton Blewett on the edge of the Mendip Hills, a wrong turn saw us adding some extra lumpy miles.

Cold drinks and savoury snacks at the Ring O'Bells fortified us for the last leg back to Bristol. This included the climb up Dundry and a meander through the Ashton Court Estate.

The final control and journey's end was at the waterside Nova Scotia public house.

You can see the full course here.

Weekly Roundup

He's not a Clarion, but he is the owner of the Food Gallery at Marlborough


Firstly, a bit of a catch-up with news of the club outing on 20th September 2015, which launched our new monthly Sunday rides. Some of you might have noticed Howard's communique in the comments box accompanying the previous blog post, but for those who didn't, here it is:

A brief note about our first monthly Autumn/Winter 60 mile Sunday club ride.

Back by popular demand was what has become known as the Marlborough Ride. This is a 62 mile circuit with a fair bit of climbing, although most of it occurs before the coffee stop at Marlborough. The climbing includes the notorious Clyffe Pypard (I had to stop half way up, but did manage to get going again) to the not so difficult Hackpen Hill. 

A special mention to the Food Gallery in the High Street at Marlborough, which serves a mean snack. Excellent, if not a little bereft of gluten free offers.

And on to Alton Barnes, Etchilhampton and back via Calne and Sutton Benger. 

Five riders took part; Howard, Andy Parker, Alice, Karine and Tim H.

Weather good and a successful start to this new series.

The Jolly Nice Cafe

Howard has also filed the following report regarding Saturday's excursion to the Jolly Nice Cafe at Frampton Mansell:

Once again the weather was very kind, sunny and no wind and the turn out reflected this. I am not sure exactly how many riders there were, counting cyclists is like counting cats, but it was somewhere around 16 in total. Two groups formed, as ever, with the main body heading out on the longer journey. 

This was a new route thanks to Steve K, and to make things even more exciting he included a new café destination. It is always difficult to co-ordinate the two groups to arrive at the same time in the same place. Steve K assured me that there would be no problems with the route, that it was a straight forward ride and that they would arrive at the tea stop by 11.30. The longer group had 20 miles to do. The shorter group decided on 15 miles and every one set off happily, or happy.

The shorter group arrived at the Jolly Nice Café at almost exactly 11.30 having judged the timing just right. We were all served and seated by the time the longer group arrived some 20 minutes later. At this stage it has to be said that, to me, Steve K’s longer route looked good. But, I heard that there had been some grumbles (cyclists eh?) out on the road. To me that can only mean one thing, Steve had judged things correctly and will be encouraged by the powers that be to design even more courses to even more new cafés.

After the break we all set off together, but very soon the large bunch broke up in to smaller groups as riders settled to a pace that they were comfortable with. I have no message from the other groups as to what they did but our group of three completed another 19, very pleasant miles. This group welcomed among its members Atherton Gray who cycled with MCCC for the first time and hopefully, not for the last.

I guess Jolly Nice is a café, but in many ways it is somewhat unusual. Ordering refreshment was a little haphazard and hot drinks were all served in disposable cups and cakes presented, not on a plate but in a paper bag. More of a shop approach really. Disregarding the waste of resources, the garden where we sat was very roomy and the cake especially, very tasty. My coffee was okay too. Perhaps the most unusual aspect of this emporium is the provision of a yurt to sit in if the weather takes a turn for the worse. This makes this café a possible year round stopping opportunity and plugs a geographical gap in our list of refreshment stops. We will visit again, I tell you! 

Malmesbury Abbey now has a cycling-friendly cafe

Malmesbury Abbey Cafe is well known for its reasonably priced hot drinks, cake and so I'm told, the best bacon rolls in town. There is now a new manageress who is keen to encourage cyclists and she has no objection to them bringing their bikes inside. I've presented her with one of our National Clarion, 'Cyclists Welcome' stickers.

Roundup & What's On

I know that you'll all join me in wishing our friend and fellow club member, Paul Hadley, a speedy recovery following the recent Road Traffic Collision, which saw him sustain a fractured pelvis.

Paul was hospitalised and admitted to the Trauma Unit, but thankfully, has since returned home. 

It will be some months before Paul is able to get back out on his bicycle. In the meantime, he would be pleased to receive visitors. Howard has already paid him a visit.

Popping out for fish and chips at 5.50am might seem a little early, but it's not if you plan to get them at lunchtime from Chez Fred at Westbourne, an affluent residential area of Bournemouth. The take-away and restaurant came highly recommended by Mike, which seemed as good a reason as any other to pay Fred a visit and put his fishy fare to the test.

Technical devices primed and with enough lights to illuminate the pier at Bournemouth, we set off full of expectation on Thursday morning.

All day rides at this time of the year can be tricky when trying to resolve the question of what to wear. Dress for later in the day when the sun makes an appearance and you're too cold first thing in the morning and after dark. Wrap up against the elements at the outset, and then by mid-day you're unbearably hot. Leg and arm warmers do help, but it's all luggage that has to be carried.

Mike was a kind of mobile wardrobe. His apparel included a warm jacket with detachable sleeves and even a spare cycling jersey, which he said was in case he needed it. I think this was just Mike covering every eventuality, but I wasn't sure. Did he have an extension in mind which might involve a second day in the saddle, I wondered.

From previous rides together I was already aware that Mike is also a larder on wheels. Fortunately for me, one of his many virtues is generosity and so I knew I wouldn't starve.

We promised ourselves breakfast once we had a few miles under our belt. What I didn't know then and to be fair, neither did Mike, was that the few miles would actually amount to 65. Garden Centres tend to be few and far between on the West Wiltshire Downs and the one we did find hadn't opened yet. We even lowered our sights to a public house serving coffee, still with no joy. I wasn't complaining though. 

Belinda's Bakery and Tea Room at Fordingbridge

Mike's suggestion of a stop at Fordingbridge won my instant approval and true to form, he knew just the place. Over a shared generous pot of tea, Mike's savoury pastry and my beans on toast, we planned our assault on Chez Fred.

The platform at Ashley Heath

Between Ringwood and Ferndown we went off-road and enjoyed the Castleman Trailway along the route of the old Southampton to Dorchester railway line closed by Dr Beeching in 1964. It's named after Charles Castleman, a Wimborne Solicitor, who was responsible for building the original railway line. 

Back on tarmac we rode the last leg to Westbourne and suddenly there it was, Chez Fred's emporium of flaky cod, golden batter and chunky chips.

We both went for the meal deal consisting of cod, chips, mushy peas and a drink. Much to my relief Mike assumed responsibility for the carrier bag and we rode to a nearby cliff top to tackle the feast. 

Looking along the cliff top to Bournemouth

Warmed by the September sunshine and captivated by the seascape, we ate hungrily like kings. Fred was certainly worthy of Mike's high praise.

When every last morsel had been consumed, we triumphantly crushed our disposable boxes, saddled up and cycled along the seafront to Christchurch. 

Afternoon tea or in Mike's case coffee, was taken at Heartizans Deli & Cafe in the High Street at Christchurch, which just happened to be another of Mike's old haunts. The tea was of the loose leaf variety, served in a pot complete with a strainer and very refreshing it was too. We were both tempted by the sumptuous looking carrot cake, but decided to abstain.

It was at Christchurch that my Garmin waved a white flag and promptly fell asleep. This left navigation entirely in Mike's safe hands.

Our next stop was at about 5.00pm at Burley in the New Forest. Like a rabbit out of a magician's hat, Mike produced some corned beef sandwiches and plums for us. Cheekily, I asked if there was any cream to accompany our dessert. Had he produced a small pot, I don't think I would have been that surprised. 

With the sun still fairly high, we charted a course on Mike's maps for home. A missed turn took us on a different route than that intended, but we eventually managed to regain contact with civilisation at Tidworth.

A garage stop for hot drinks and snacks led to an encounter with a very talkative member of staff. 

Having purchased sufficient supplies, we rode off into the night to Marlborough. From there, we took the road to Swindon, later dropping down to Wroughton through Chiseldon.

At the stroke of midnight, with 311km (193 miles) on the clock, we arrived back where it had all started, outside of the Town Hall. 

The problem with long distance cycling though, is that as soon as you complete your longest ever ride, you instantly start thinking about the next even longer one. Contentment is never quite within your grasp.

Something of a shadow was cast over Saturday's club outing to Relish when some members heard for the first time about Paul. 

Around 14 riders took part. The return leg saw a split with Malc and Mike each leading a group on a different route.

Peter Cattermole reports that he and his friend Karen completed the first Jole Rider Sportive starting from Westonbirt School on Sunday.

A choice of a 30 mile easy route based on roads that we all know and a 70 mile route consisting of 5 major climbs and many, many more minor climbs to add up to over 5,000 feet of climbing. And finally, a 100 mile ride based on the two routes.

They opted for the 70 mile loop which, according to Peter, was an absolute killer. However, they were rewarded with fantastic scenery when they reached the summit of all 5 of the major climbs.

Weather conditions were foggy at the start and cold at the end, but perfect during the rest of the ride. 

There was some disappointment with the feed station, which was really only nibbles, but there was always the option, if you so desired, of stopping off at a public house. Curiously, there was only one feed station on the 70 mile loop, but two on the 30 mile one!

The afternoon stint proved to be very hard, but having reached the northern part of the course near Birdlip, it was downhill all the way, bar one or two minor ascents. 

Five hours of riding, no records beaten, but very sore legs afterwards!

You can see the 70 mile route here.

And the 30 mile route here.

Performance Cycles Winter Mini-Sportive Series starts again at 9.00am on Sunday 18th October 2015. Ride HQ is at the Cotswold Water Park. Each event is limited to 150 riders. There's a choice of either 45 or 65 miles. Entry is £8.50 and includes a fully signed route, changing facilities, showers, mechanical support, free energy products and hot food and drink at the end.

The other dates are:

Sunday 15th November 2015
Sunday 13th December 2015
Sunday 17th January 2016
Sunday 14th February 2016
Sunday 13th March 2016

For more information and how to book online please follow the link here.

Don't forget though that we have our own winter series.

Our very own Des Milkins captured at Kemble Village Hall last year (well, the back of his head)

Also on 14th February 2016, is the Chippenham Flapjack 100km Audax. A few MCCC members have previously ridden this. If you haven't taken part in an Audax before, this is a great introduction. 

Entry costs £9 for non-members and includes hot drinks, flapjack and cake at Brinkworth Village Hall, hot drinks, beans on toast and cake at Kemble Village Hall, hot drinks and cake at Sherston Village Hall and finally, soup and rolls back at Chippenham.

Entry is by post. Further details can be found here.

Roundup, What's On & Bits and Pieces

Saturday's ride to the Cake House at Cirencester was another very successful club outing with sixteen cyclists making the trip. It was good to see Ted and Alice back out on a Saturday club run.

The general consensus was that with the unsettled weather, numbers might have been down on previous weeks, but nothing of the sort. As we formed an orderly queue at the cafe one waitress was heard to exclaim, 'Where are they all coming from?'

On the catering front, I'm happy to report that the tea this time was limescale-free and the perfect accompaniment to a slice of light and fluffy lemon meringue pie.

If you're reading this for the first time after 12.20pm on Sunday 13th September, then please ignore this item.

The final category 2, 3 and 4 race of this season's Cotswold League starts at 10.00am from Brinkworth House. George will be competing in Performance Cycles' colours. There's three laps of a course which runs down the Malmesbury bypass to the Brinkworth road. If you happen to be out walking the dog or getting some shopping at Waitrose and see him, I know he'd appreciate a shout of encouragement.

You will already have read in Howard's email that the 2015 Sunday Series of rides increasing in difficulty and distance, has now been put to bed.

To say that the series was once again a success, is no idle boast. In 2014, 13 members rode a total of 1,973.2 miles. Whereas in 2015, 15 members completed a fantastic total of 2,927.8 miles. 

You can see the final placings on the 2015 leader board here.

As announced by Howard, as one members only, Sunday Series ends, another, albeit in a different format, begins on 20th September 2015.

Just a reminder about Tim H's weekly winter ride every Wednesday evening at 7.00pm, which starts on 30th September 2015.

For those captains of industry who are still keeping the economy afloat and can't ride during the day, this is an excellent way of maintaining fitness levels. And even if you do have the opportunity to go out in the daylight, nothing beats the thrill of a night ride.

On Saturday 3rd October 2015, the Tasty Cheddar 100km audax takes place from Bristol. The challenging ride, as the name implies, climbs up through the Cheddar Gorge and over The Mendips. Further details can be found here. 

I rode this one last year and reviewed it on the blog.

Three members (Des Milkins, Mark and me) have already entered. Mark and Des I believe are driving to the start. In addition, Mike will hopefully be coming too, in which case, I'll be cycling to the start and home again afterwards with him. George has expressed a keen interest if he can get a winter bike sorted in time. Phil and Steve M also look as though they might throw their hats into the ring.

It would be great to see a clutch of Clarions turning out. Local cycling clubs are generally well represented on these rides and our club kit is bound to turn a few heads.

For the sportive riders out there, Evans Cycles Ride It series comes to Wiltshire on Sunday 25th October 2015. Based at Lackham College near Lacock, there are four rides to choose from:

Fun, 15 miles, £7.50

Short, 34 miles, £18.50

Medium, 62 miles, £18.50

Long, 80 miles, £18.50

For more information please follow the link here.

 

Hopefully no one is, but should anyone be suffering with insomnia, I've got the perfect cure, guaranteed to send you off to sleep and far quicker than counting sheep. It's a 13 minute YouTube video of last Sunday's Isle of Wight and New Forest audax event, which just happens to feature me a few times in the legendary green jersey. You can watch it here.

The cafe at the church in Sherston was recently recommended to me by my wife. They've removed some of the pews to create a very pleasant cafe area. The best bit is that the prices are extremely reasonable. A mug of filter coffee is £1, a pot of tea for one 80 pence, home-made cakes are 80 pence per slice, with shortbread and flapjacks just 40 pence.

Opening hours are from 10.00am to mid-day on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.

Surely this has to be the cheapest cafe in North Wiltshire, unless of course, in the words of the That's Life presenters, you know different.

Perhaps, if they haven't already been there, Mike and Maureen, our leading authorities on cafe culture in this part of the county, could launch a fact-finding mission. Watch this space!  

And finally, here's an interesting recipe for a nourishing flapjack:

Take 2 shoes (also known as a pair)
Add 1 jacket (only if you think it's a bit chilly outside)
You'll need some money. I usually go for a 50 pence, a 20 pence and a 10 pence coin, but 4 x 20 pence coins will do
Walk to the nearest corner shop or supermarket (5 minutes should do it)
Purchase the flapjack from the shopkeeper (small talk is optional)
Unwrap the flapjack and enjoy at your leisure 

Weekly Roundup

Firstly, a quick update from the club rides on Saturday 29th August 2015. When those of us in the second group returning from Chepstow came across Howard and Paul at Didmarton, I'd wrongly assumed that they were the shorter ride. I've since discovered that they actually had ten riders, which when added to our eleven, makes an outstanding twenty one participants. Not bad for a small club.

Our trusted steeds waiting patiently for us outside of Allington Farm Shop

(Picture courtesy of Howard) 

Last Saturday's outing to the Allington Farm Shop was another well attended event with sixteen cyclists. We were pleased to be joined by a young man from Hankerton on his first ride with us. Between Biddestone and the coffee-stop, I learnt quite a bit about him, but failed to ask his name. Hopefully he'll come back soon and allow me to rectify the situation.

After hot drinks and cake, Phil rounded up a posse and headed off to Lacock, to clock-up some extra miles. Those remaining eased their way back to Malmesbury in three groups using a variety of routes. 

A map of Mike's course

Also on Saturday, but further afield, Mike Greer, alias Mile-Eater, took part in the Mr Pickwick Goes to Hay in a Day 205km Audax event from Tewkesbury. Miles of course mean smiles and nothing makes Mike happier than being able to ride to the start, which brought his tally for the day up to 172 miles.

This was a pretty ride mainly along quiet Herefordshire and Worcestershire lanes. The first stage headed west through the Wye Valley with a stop at Allensmore Cross. From there it was along the Golden Valley to Hay-on-Wye.

The return leg continued through sleepy Herefordshire villages, countless cider orchards and hop yards to Bromyard.

The final stage afforded some unusual views of the Malvern hills and concluded with a circumnavigation of Bredon Hill, followed by a descent back to Tewkesbury.

Well done Mike.

Audax riders on the Lymington to Yarmouth ferry

If you use a magnifying glass you can just about see me in my club gilet

(All pictures reproduced with the kind permission of Paul Rainbow)

On Sunday I took part in the New Forest On and Offshore 200km Audax from Lymington. This involved me leaving home at 4.15am and a two hour drive, but it was well worth the early start.

Brevet card and ticket collected from the organiser at the ferry terminal, there was enough time for a cup of tea before boarding the boat for the 7.15am departure.

Time to relax

Bike safely stowed, I went to the lounge at the front of the ferry. There was a real sense of anticipation in the air as we gradually threaded our way out of the harbour and began our crossing of the Solent. 

Leaving Lymington

Just outside of Yarmouth harbour there was a call for drivers to return to their vehicles. As we had our own dedicated car deck, that meant us too.

Pouring off the boat we headed for the gun battery overlooking the Needles. I'd been warned about this steep climb, but preoccupied by the panoramic views out to sea and the agreeable conversation with a fellow rider, it wasn't as bad as I'd expected.

Looking back towards Freshwater Bay (I think)

The south coast of the Isle of Wight was pretty lumpy, as was some of the countryside when we turned inland and headed for Bembridge.

Looking out to sea from the side of the cafe

Our first control was at the Bembridge Lifeboat View Cafe. A pot of tea accompanied by possibly the best slice of coffee and walnut cake I've ever had, and a bargain at £2.25 a slice, was just what I needed.

The ferries back to Lymington left at 20 minutes past the hour. Wishing to avoid a scenario whereby I just missed one and then had to wait an hour until the next, I upped the pace determined to make the 1.20pm sailing. 

East Cowes Ferry Terminal

At East Cowes we had to take the chain ferry across to West Cowes. Timing was critical and so I was pleased to see the ferry waiting on our side of the water.

Making the crossing

The luxury of a wheel in a group of four, first taken about five miles out from Yarmouth, delivered me in good time.

Back to Lymington

Relaxing on the sundeck it felt as though the ride was already in the bag, but I was only at the midway point with another sixty miles to go.

The tour of the island felt a little rushed and so I decided to take things a bit easier around the New Forest. I know it's a weakness on my part, but getting overtaken by riders from other clubs, even though they might be fitter and stronger, doesn't sit well with me. I cringed after the first, cursed the second and didn't wait for the third.

Having overtaken the usurpers I found myself at the back of a peloton made up of around twenty riders, with the Andover Wheelers featuring strongly. We tore through the forest with those at the back desperately trying to hang on. Free roaming horses and cattle, picture-postcard villages, in fact anything in our path became an insignificant blur. Not getting dropped was the only thing that mattered anymore.

Gradually the weak were cast aside and when there were just eight of us left, with me at the back, a worrying gap began to appear, and try as I might, I couldn't close it. Accepting the inevitable, I came to a halt and had absolutely no idea where I was on the course. Checking the Garmin for clues I was shocked to discover that I'd covered over thirty miles in this peloton. 

Ride HQ in Lymington

Having managed to re-orientate myself, I made my way at a much more sedate pace to Cranborne, and from there down to the coast and back to Lymington. Post-ride I'm always ravenous and so wasted no time dispatching my beans on toast topped with grated cheese, followed by rice pudding.

The only sour note on an otherwise perfect day, was when I found that my Garmin hadn't recorded the full ride.

And finally, well done to Peter C who is taking part in Jole Rider's Cotswold Sportive on Sunday 20th September 2015, from Westonbirt School. With three distances to choose from, Peter will be riding the seventy mile course.

Interesting to see that the poster describes Westonbirt School as the centre of Cotswold Cycling. Does that mean that Cotswold Cycling has its base there, if such a company actually exists or is it speaking geographically? Perhaps Peter will be able to clarify this point for us. Well, for me, anyway. The important thing is that the School is somehow involved in helping to raise money for a very worthwhile cause.