Report from Dave Woodward: Where Have All the Cyclist Gone?
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News for October 2013 Tuesday 1st October - report from Dave Woodward: Where have all the cyclist gone? Is this the effect of autumn? I don’t know but Brian Trott was my only companion when we set off from Dursley on a dreary, but dry Tuesday morning. This was Bill’s re-arranged ride which was postponed due to atrocious weather last month. Bill was unable to ride, so we followed with Bill’s .gpx file, and an A4 sheet of notes he had prepared. We had a short sharp (granny) climb within the first mile before taking rolling country lanes, against a keen wind, through Coaley to Leonard Stanley. We had a five minute stop to put on our wet weather gear before climbing Selsley hill. We stopped outside the church to remove the wet weather gear, and put it away for the rest of the day. We paused to admire the murky views before dropping down into Stroud. After about a mile through the town we took a small lane running parallel to the A46 which we followed through some undulating countryside into Painswick for coffee at the Roccoco Gardens. We dropped out of Painswick then climbed up towards Sheepscombe enjoying more scenic views as we continued to climb. We carried on through Miserden all on country lanes and onto Duntisbourne Abbots. We then rode the Dunt valley to Daglingworth passing Cotswold stone cottages in small villages. We negotiated Cirencester on a cycle track, pedestrian shopping area and cycle underpass to South Cerney for lunch at the Eliot Arms. We enjoyed a flattish section after lunch through Kemble, Rodmarton, and Cherington and into Tetbury, where we stopped for afternoon tea at Hortensia's. We had the wind behind us on this section which helped to increase our average speed by 2 miles an hour. We exited Tetbury via High Street and Avening Road then past Chavenage House, which has two wonderful lime and oak tree avenues on its curtilage. We carried on through Kingscote valley before plunging down the long descent towards Uley. The trick here is to try to cross the main road without losing speed to enable the steep climb the other side to be made. The return to Dursley was accomplished along more quiet lanes. Thursday 3rd October - report from Bill Balchin: The local weather forecast for 3rd October was for heavy rain (20 to 40mm), possible flooding and thunderstorms. With this in mind I went to bed on Wednesday night planning to ride to Bitton in the rain, thank Dave Clegg for turning up to lead, then we would both go home and get out of the rain. WRONG ! When I left home at eight thirty the roads were wet and there was no hint of sun in the cloudy sky - but no rain. At the Bitton start there were ten of us altogether half of whom had seen Pete's late email and website notice to make this a short ride. So plan B kicked in with a ride down the cycle track to Bath and through the two tunnels - all in the dry. Keith had to return to base for family duties after the tunnels but the remaining nine carried on, still in the dry, to the Hope and Anchor pub at Midford where we took to the road to approach Hinton Charterhouse from the north instead of slogging up from Wellow in an easterly direction. It must be a BTOTC record - arriving at the lunch-stop at eleven fifteen after a twelve mile ride from the start. But nobody was complaining about lack of mileage with the afternoon weather still to show its hand. The pub were not taking food orders until closer to twelve so we spent a very enjoyable half an hour or so sitting around one large table, swapping stories and sampling the ale. I was hoping for Butcombe Matthew Pale Ale but it was not on. They did however have Butcombe Haka. Described by the brewery as "a ferocious, robust, New Zealand- hopped Bitter at 4.5%". If you enjoy a hoppy beer this will be just the ticket. We could soon see the rain lashing down outside but hey - we were in the dry, let the afternoon take care of itself. Our early arrival meant that we got going for home at one. It was a bit rainy but nothing too serious as we took the right turn to Freshford and joined the canal towpath for a return trip with minimum climbing. Unfortunately new recruit Frank got a puncture on the towpath - typical with it all covered in wet mud. So Ian and I stayed with him (not that there is much you can do to help apart from provide some company) and the rest pressed on in the steady drizzle. By the time we had sploshed through the puddles into Bath the rain had stopped again and we were making good time along the cycle track when a young lady ahead stopped. Ever the knights of the road we stopped as well and Frank was able to bring out a spanner to tighten her loose crank bolt. Fitting evidence of karma at work, moving around the cycling community. Thursday 10th October - report from Bill Balchin: I am quite partial to a crisp, bright day for cycling. That is what was forecast - and that is exactly what we got. Many others obviously feel the same hence a group of twenty for Malcolm to lead from Ashton to the Windmill at Portishead. Out with us for the first time was Martin McDonal. Although new to us Martin is no stranger to the CTC/campaigning scene in Bristol. And both he and I were in shorts as the rest opted for longs in that cold northerly wind. Malcolm announced that the extra interest today would concern "Broadchurch". For those who don't know this was a TV programme broadcast in March 2013 concerning the murder of a schoolboy and set in the fictional Dorset village of Broadchurch. Today we would see the actual location for much of the outside action. The prompt start caught out Den Harris who managed to chase us down on the popular route of Festival Way, cycle path by the Weston Road and Flax Bourton railway path. Den must have had a wriggle on as we did not hang around, despite the pace being set by a man beset with medical conditions. After navigating Nailsea and the moors we hit the sea front and Malcolm stopped the group. In the picture the church that you see behind Malcolm is where the suspect vicar was based, and the houses to the right behind Dennis is where the family lived. Suitably impressed we carried on through Clevedon, into Walton in Gordano and took the cliff-top road to bring us to the Windmill by ten to twelve with twenty two miles clocked. As usual the Windmill was full of customers, as usual they were really slick selling beer, taking food orders and getting the meals delivered. Our numbers were over forty with many independent groups and it was good to see Sue Britton calling in on a visit from her new home in Scotland. Sat by the panoramic window overlooking the Bristol Channel with its steadfastly brown water to clear views of the two Severn Bridges and the Welsh coastline you could forget the cold wind. Until Malcolm whipped us up and pushed Kay Boorman into leading the now huge group towards home via Portishead marina, a wriggle through the new houses and over the track through the wildlife area to the Sheepway. Once past the docks holding area for cars it was time to choose the Pill path to the Buttery or M5 bridge. I cycled over the bridge while the majority headed for the Buttery. I would have loved to have joined you but one dose of Bristol traffic to handle per day is enough for me. Click here for the route to Portishead and the Buttery Tuesday 15th Oct Long Ride – report from Malcolm Hanson: John Crinion, the Pied Piper of cycling left the Brunel Buttery with 10 bikes and 10 riders. By the time he arrived at Winscombe he had accumulated 15 bikes and 17 riders! I joined him in Backwell along with John Upward, my son Luke and my two grandchildren. The last three were all on the one bike which my son managed to peddle some 50 Somerset miles by the end of the day. I thought the weather on our ride to Portishead last week was the best that could be managed at this time of year but I was wrong. Tuesday was just as sunny and warm but there was no wind. The group arrived in Winscombe via Long Ashton, Backwell, Congresbury and Sandford. The Pantry Cafe is a cosy and welcoming establishment. Unfortunately they were somewhat overwhelmed as not only had the sun brought out 17 cyclists but it had also tempted out a host of retired couples all keen to enjoy the cafe’s excellent coffee and cakes. The cyclists stayed out on the sunny front patio and were all eventually served even if there was only standing room left for some. Suitably fed we left via the Strawberry Line up through the tunnel over the Mendips. A succession of quiet country lanes through Cross, Mark and the two Huntspills brought us to Burnham. It had been John’s plan to enter the town along the side of the river Brue. All seemed to be going well as we rode along a road beside the river only to find we had reached a dead end! We were about to head back to the main road when someone noticed a footpath.