News for February 2012

News for February 2012 Thursday 2nd February 2012 - report from Bill Balchin: If you asked a selection of cyclists if they would prefer a dull, wet windy day or a bright, dry, cold one I would have guessed that the latter would be the more popular. But today's ride to Wotton from Winterbourne in temperatures barely above freezing on dry roads under a clear blue sky attracted thirteen to the start - three less than last week's wet expedition. Perhaps ice was a worry but the roads were so dry that it was never a problem as Pete Campbell made his leaders debut following a tried and trusted route through Tytherington and Tortworth following the line of the M5 until we turned right towards North Nibley. For those who don't know Frog Lane it is the long, steep drag up to Nibley church. Anybody feeling the cold soon got warmed up with a few needing to get off and walk. Well done to Roger for making the top on the fixie. Our other two fixie regulars were back to gears today so had no problems. Lara made the top on her new winter bike complete with disc brakes, eleven speed Shimano hub gear and studded tyres that sound as if you are continuously riding on gravel. Just a short distance on the Dursley to Wotton road and we arrived at the Royal Oak just on noon. We have had a chequered history with the Royal Oak but it is currently as good as it has ever been. Fine ale selection including Wye Valley Butty Bach plus an OAP menu for a fiver that included dessert. Some of the meals are available in large size or the smaller OAP size which caused some merriment when the serving lady asked Rich Baker with a straight face if he was the large faggot! Another eight made their own way to the pub and half a dozen from the Bath group arrived at around one o'clock so a tidy bit of trade for a chilly Thursday lunchtime. Living in South Gloucestershire I get a bit smug sometimes with all our good cycling lanes but it has lots. For the trip home Pete took us through Kingswood and into Wickwar where we took a similar way back as from the Buthay recently. With the sky staying light until five things are looking good - let's hope that won't be famous last words. The route there and back? click here. Thursday 9th February 2012 - report from Bill Balchin: Another freezing February day and another reasonable sized group as fifteen assembled at Bitton for a trip to Marshfield. Longs, big gloves, balaclavas and multiple layers were the order of the day and John announced that he planned to choose a route avoiding small lanes that could be icy. With no wind around and a cloudy but bright sky it was very pleasant to be cruising the cycle path into Bath in a large chattering bunch. Regrouping at the end a lone cyclist caught up after chasing us all the way from Bitton - our first introduction to Daniel, a pal of Lara. John was feeling the effects of a chesty cough so gave orders to take the riverside path into Bath, the canal towpath to Batheaston, and don't wait for him on the climb of Bannerdown. The climb spread the bunch out and Daniel was introduced to the Three Shires Stones where he had a pictures taken - although climbing up was easier than getting down again. By the time all that malarkey was over John had caught up (plus Alan Partridge still on 10:15 starts) so the whole group were back together again for the one really icy stretch leading into in Marshfield village. The ice was deep and slushy but vehicles had made a pair of clear stripes for us to ride on without danger arriving at the Catherine Wheel just before noon. Good to see Alan Bracey back out on his bike after having his dislocated hip put back in. And several other independant travellers brought the numbers up close to thirty. All too soon the food had been scoffed, the ale drunk and it was time to leave the warmth of the Catherine Wheel and get back out in the cold. No increase in temperature, but still no wind, a bright sky and dry roads so no complaints as we made our way back on the Tormarton road and turned left at the crossroads for Hinton. Lara was out on her new winter bike with the studded tyres again and shot off down Hinton Hill as most took it gingerly in case we swung round a bend onto a patch of ice. As it happened the surface was damp in places but not icy. Lara claimed that she needed to be in front because if somebody fell in front of her and she ran over them, her tyres would probably skin them alive - ugh. Into Pucklechurch and down Coxgrove Hill the main bunch took the cycle track to Mangotsfield as I pressed on for home. These lighter afternoons are great - now if we can only do something about the temperature. Today's route up to Marshfield and back - click here. Thursday 16th February 2012 - report from Bill Balchin: Seventeen at the Ashton start today for a trip to Chew Magna with, recently elevated to the BTOTC peerage, Malcolm Hanson leading the way. The numbers briefly rose to eighteen when Pete Brown caught up as we entered Long Ashton high street but by the time we had ridden the Flax Bourton cycle track to Backwell, Mike Whiteman turned back to bring us back to seventeen. You missed a testing climb Mike as we ground our way up Backwell Hill Road, it seemed to go on for ever. Still, the views were splendid in the wintery sunshine as we made our way past the back of the airport to Redhill. From there we crossed the A38 into Row of Ashes Lane which is one of my personal favourites. A gentle descent on a quiet little lane, a bit dirty today but fortunately mostly dry. Near the end instead of Pagans Hill we took a right into Scot Lane taking us into Chew Stoke. The reservoir looked to have filled up a lot since we were last out this way as we rode along Wallycourt Road and Denny Lane to arrive at the Queens Head a few minutes after noon. Buffet lunch today which meant that everybody was eating and drinking well before half past twelve. Around thirty cyclists present which did not include the Bath boys who went to an alternative venue today. I sat with Pete Brown who told me about his recent trip to Barcelona with tandem via easyjet. The Bristol check-in people were not happy about the way the bike was wrapped but eventually they reluctantly allowed it onboard. Coming back the Spanish flatly refused causing him to miss the flight, pay for another flight and overnight accomodation, plus scrabble around to find cardboard to cobble together a box. It all confirms my belief that the no-frills airlines just want passengers on and off in the shortest time possible to get their plane turned around and don't want to be bothered with distractions like luggage. Anyway, back to the Queens Arms, and by one thirty it was time to get back out in the cold but still in bright sunshine. Taking the lane through Norton Hawkfield I would normally have joined the large group going on to Bitton via Norton Malreward. Today I tagged on with the Bristol bound group over East Dundry. I have not been over there for years and it was just as hard as ever, why bother going to the Alps when this is on your doorstep? Well, I am planning to go to the Alps this year but you know what I mean. (No - Ed). I am not sure if there will be a route map today. When I spoke to Pete at lunchtime he told me that the satnav had started us from somewhere in the North Sea and at lunchtime had us in Germany - could be interesting. [Note from Pete - seems like the technology has failed today. I use an Android smartphone, not a real GPS, so what can you expect.] Thursday 23rd February 2012 - report from Pete Campbell: To the Salutation in Ham, which is one of my favourite Thursday stops, and also that of a Mr. J. Bishop who you may have met. But first, we had to get there. Bill Balchin planned a route avoiding the traditional trek via Thornbury, taking us near Severn Beach. You may have noticed his note on the home page advising of mud and rough stuff, and therefore not using your best bike. Some of us are unsure about this concept of "best bike", as that would require having more than one bike, and there can't be many of us poor pensioners in that position, can there? (Oh, I see. I've been advised that I need to add a minimum of a carbon sportive and a fixed wheel to my inventory. Any advice on how to put this to my wife will be welcome.) Milder weather gave us an excellent turnout at Amcor: eighteen riders. This included a new rider: another Richard. (We're going to need a lot more of them before they become as common as the Johns.) The standard route from Amcor took us across the A38 and past Woodhouse, but Bill's route then turned left into Almondsbury, and across the flat land via Easter Compton and Pilning before a bit of climbing around Cowhill.

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