News for February 2015.

Thursday 5th February. Amcor to Hillesley - report from Bill Balchin: The pattern of cold, dry weather continued today. No sun but no wind either which was a reasonable swap. Our leader, Mark, was concerned that we might hit ice in the lanes but the dryness seemed to have prevented ice forming as our group of fourteen set off for Winterbourne taking the lane past the church. The group could have been larger if a couple had not been caught out by the switch back to 10:00 starts (happens every year). Taking Frampton End Road, Mark again cautioned against possible icy bits. I thought it was a bit unkind when one individual suggested that Mark rode in front and we could all watch in case he crashed. Taking the turn for Mayshill we rode along Nibley Lane South where those at the back were confused to see a bunch of cyclists in front riding towards but our group had turned left towards . Another group of old uns out on a Thursday, what's going on?

So far the roads had been old favourites but after heading towards Yate we followed the road parallel to the railway line before getting onto a shared path between houses and the railway line. And they had even managed to squeeze in some allotments between the path and the railway. Mark warned us about one steep section that could catch you in the wrong gear and cause a stall. Naturally I went ahead with the camera to record the carnage but our experienced bunch just rode through it. Coming out at the mini roundabout by school, our next mission was to negotiate the high street. It looked as if we were calling in for coffee at Coffee #1 but we passed through a gateway called Hatherells Yard, through the Waitrose car park, back across the Road and onto another shared path that brought us onto Hatters Lane and then the common. There's a video on YouTube, don't expect to see it on the BAFTAs.

Still no ice but we were about to gain altitude and go East which is where the ice was expected to be found. After being offered the "safe" choice it was unanimous to continue through and into . At the end of Sandpits Lane there was another option - straight down the high street into Hillesley or the scenic route along Starveal Lane and down through Kilcott. As it was only around eleven thirty we again plumped for scenic. The sign at the top of Kilcott saying one in five told you to go carefully but the road was as clear as a country lane ever gets and we rolled down to arrive at the Fleece by quarter to twelve.

The Fleece has plenty of recent history. The BTOTC used it years ago when it was a bit "spit and sawdust", then it went through changes of ownership interspersed with periods of closure, and now it is owned and run by the community in Hillesley. And a fine job they are doing. Plenty of beer choice (although not on sale until noon) and the meals were excellent. Ham, egg and chips were brought out first to mass approval but I think those of us who waited for the plaice had the biggest smiles. With a new (sort of) venue and a big group including several who made their own way a group photo was essential. Mark charmed Barbara the landlady into joining the assembled crowd and the barman took the picture for us - that's service for you. Our route home was via Inglestone Common and Wickwar. A bit of drizzle kicked in at Wickwar for the rest of the day but it did not freeze and was not enough to spoil a first class day out.

Click here to see Mark's route to the Fleece and back.

Thursday 12th February. to Clutton Hill - report from Bill Balchin: Did I mention once that I often enjoyed a bit of winter cycling on a crisp, dry day? What a nitwit! I have had more than enough of these cold temperatures now thank you very much. But despite the cold and the dull sky it was dry, not windy and the roads were mainly clean for Richard Hill's ride from Bitton to the Hunters Rest at Clutton Hill. So we had quite a big group assemble at Bitton, including our old pal John Bishop, although a few splinter groups formed to leave around sixteen in the main peloton. The Two Tunnels Greenway was on the route. On the section between the track into Bath and the start of the greenway there is a bit of improvement work going on. One of the workmen remarked to his mate that there must be twenty grands worth of bikes in our group. He obviously failed to spot 'new boy' Peter on his gleaming Pinarello Dogma, well gleaming until the afternoon when we found a few muddy lanes. It was Peter's first time out with us and he fit straight in as if born to it.

The Two Tunnels path is certainly a cycling masterpiece - an almost flat path through rolling hills as it goes over bridges through cuttings, embankments and of course those two long tunnels. Coming off at the Wellow trekking centre it was time for the ups and downs part of the day. Dropping into Wellow we attacked the climb out quickly shifting down through the gears - apart from Shaun who came to a stop in a flurry of crunching. I thought he would have trouble getting going again but we had hardly pulled in at the top to wait when he came storming up. What it is to be young and strong .

Richard's route took us onto the Radstock road for a bit before we got onto the lanes again bypassing Camerton and going through Paulton into Hallatrow. In Hallatrow we took a nice little lane past pretty cottages, then past a rash of modern warehouses and a scrapyard before becoming a country lane again. Through Clutton and one final climb saw us at the Hunters Rest just after twelve and meeting up with JR, Arnold, Bri Trott, Mike Chouings and Catherine.

The Bath group brought numbers at the pub to the thirty mark but despite a sudden mass arrival there were no delays and the meals were the usual high standard - but then we only go to top notch pubs anyway so no surprise. What's this as we prepared to depart? Sunshine? Yes, the sun actually came out for our return. Mike Finch tried to invite us back to his house nearby for a brew but an arm twisted up your back does not look convincing so we persuaded Richard for a direct route back. A trip along the main road into Farmborough then Stanton Prior saw us using lanes that I have travelled many times before but always in the opposite direction. It seemed a much shorter and flatter ride to get back onto the railway path at Saltford to finish of a rather splendid day out. For the route to Clutton and back, click here.

Thursday 19th February. Ashton to Shipham - report from Pete Campbell: We seem to get more riders when ice is threatened than on days like today when you could be sure of getting wet. The only question earlier in the week was whether the Guardian's weather graphic for the southwest would have one raindrop (a shower) or three raindrops (proper rain). Malcolm had worked out a route which he modified at Ashton when Lara turned up at 10:00 with a flat rear tyre. Eight of us stood around in the rain watching Lara change the tube in the bus shelter, and after fifteen minutes off we all went into the drizzle.

So we took the usual route along Festival Way until we found at Yanley Lane the path was closed (shock). This was a surprise to the Sustrans representatives present (Malcolm and Jane). Our resourceful leader turned right, up to Long Ashton Road, and west to Flax Bourton, Backwell and Claverham, still being rained on.

Coming into the edge of Yatton, Jane decided she'd had enough of the wet. The forecast was right so far, and with heavier rain promised, she blamed a wonky knee and turned back. I couldn't think of an excuse as good as that, so I had to ride on. The rain was getting properly heavy by Sandford. As Martyn said "This is beyond a joke". He's just got back from a week's cycling in Majorca, where there was snow on the hills, which tells you how bad it was. We arrived at the Penscott Inn in Shipham at around noon. My hands were so cold I couldn't even close the lock on my bike, although I can't think anybody was going to be stealing a twenty year old Dawes Galaxy in the pouring rain.

Brian Trott and George Martin were already there and were a little miffed that they'd had to park their car in the open in the car park and might get damp when getting back in. But Brian let me sit next to a radiator, so I won't hear anything bad about him. Home was more or less a repeat of the morning route, which suited everyone except Lara, who lives about two miles away and so was presumably changing into warm and dry clothes while we the rest of us were still getting going.

In Backwell some of the group peeled off for a visit to Aimee's Wine House to sample her Marshfield ice cream, but I kept going, heading for home.

And a correction to last week's report: Peter Ralph does not have a Pinarello Dogma, merely some bog standard Pinarello like what any man in the street rides. So those of you wondering how to persuade your wife that you need to spend ten grand on your next bike can save those brownie points for another day.

And the route of today's wet ride, click here.

Thursday 26th February. Amcor to Wotton under Edge - report from Bill Balchin: Sitting here in front of the computer after a shower and a cup of tea, with the sun shining through the window, and the roads outside almost dry, it's strange to think back to ten this morning when eleven of us met at Winterbourne in the pouring rain. The forecast was for overnight rain easing off by ten and dry in the afternoon. Pull the other one. The rain was pretty steady as Jane led the way along Swan Lane although it seemed to ease down to drizzle. But by Frampton End Road it was steady again. As we passed through towards I almost had to stop as sweat washing into my eyes was almost blinding me but plenty of blinking and a poke with the finger of a soggy glove made it manageable. At Tytherington we climbed New Road which is usually followed by a deserted little lane at the top. Today it was like a building site, vans everywhere and by the look of it several fields being converted to a new crop - solar energy. It must be easier harvesting the sun and government subsidies rather than vegetables.

Jane's policy became obvious as we took the lanes to Cromall - use as many of the best cycling lanes between the start and the destination as necessary to make a two hour ride. The timings could have been messed up by punctures as we rode over any amount of hedge debris lying in the wet mud but we all managed to escape today. At Cromall we reversed direction so that we could take Cowship Lane into Wickwar. Luckily the water board men digging up the road moved their barriers to let us through - they must have taken pity on our bedraggled, muddy bunch. After Inglestone Common we took the left turn to Hillesley past the excellent Fleece pub where we lunched three weeks ago followed by the three climbs at Alderly, Wortley and Wotton itself to bring us to the Royal Oak just after twelve as the rain also seemed set to take a lunch break.

A few years ago the Royal Oak was going through a difficult patch, then it improved and now I would give it five stars as a village pub. The landlord laid on plenty of staff - first to pour drinks for everbody at the bar, then when we were sat down they came to the tables taking food orders - and even extra drink orders. It was lovely to sit in the dry with a pint and my pork loin in wine sauce was fabulous, not so good to have damp underwear. The service was so slick that we were ready to leave by one fifteen - not strictly necessary as it is still light at half past five but I managed to faff around to delay the departure to half past. The forecasters were correct about the drop in temperature for the afternoon, those of us who brought along some extra clothing and a pair of dry gloves were feeling smug as we made our way home via Bradley Green, Huntingford Mill and , now without the rain but with the lanes still wet and mucky. And wouldn't you know it - by getting home time the sun was out as you put your filthy bike away.

For Jane's route in the rain, click here.