News for January 2013

Thursday 3rd January 2013 - report from Bill Balchin: In with the new! Our first group ride of the new year, a new lunch stop (sort of - but more of that later), and for most of the twelve starters - the first time on what is likely to become the preferred route away from Ashton Bridge. After passing under the A370 we turned left onto the new(ish) Festival Way cycle track that follows the line of the A370 into the Long Ashton housing estate. A perfectly surfaced track, nice and wide, it was much better than the busy high street. It was all going well until we had to squeeze through one of those barriers with the sloping sides. Mike, riding at the back on his fixie, lost his momentum and got left behind. Although we waited he missed a turning and ended up on the main road in front of us. So the longer we waited, the further in front he got - oops. The weather was dull and damp but not actually raining as we rode Wild Country Lane, negotiated a monster puddle near the end, and made our way to Winford Manor. A nice bit of descending followed although you needed to pick your way through the debris on the road. Featherbed Lane certainly did not live up to its name.

On our last trip to Magor the TV news was full of the floods in Chew Stoke where an unfortunate motorist was swept away crossing a ford. Today we rode through the same ford, nothing like as deep but it still required your full attention. Wallycourt Road took us past the lake where a van was reluctant to overtake us and caused a tailback. There was a long blast of hooting from somebody - I don't know if it was directed at us or the nervous van driver - but somebody soon broke his new year resolution not to behave like a twerp behind the wheel. Taking the main road through Bishop Sutton at around eleven thirty we were on schedule for an early lunch but Malcolm led us on the left turn near the farm shop that takes you through East and West Harptree on better cycling lanes and brought us to Compton Martin smack on noon. I have to admit to feeling the strain so it was humbling to see that Malcolm's son had ridden with us with a small child in a rear child-seat plus another one in a seat fitted to the crossbar and all on a single-speed bike.

So was this our first time at the Ring O'Bells on a Thursday? Well it was for many of us but back in 2001 it was used by the BTOTC. Mike Chouings (yes he was at the pub when we arrived) remembers that we used to be put in a room called the kids room which was kitted out with kids toys. Then one day an extra large group turned up plus a group of mothers and children. Things got crowded. Some words were exchanged and Cyril dropped the pub from the list. But that was then and this is now and the thirty plus crowd seemed to enjoy the fine ales and good meals. And we were made very welcome so this could become a regular venue. Just the obligatory group photo under the pub sign to take and we got under way fairly early expecting darkness to come early on such a dull day - and we were not wrong.

See Pete's track of the route by clicking here.

Thursday 10th January 2013 - report from Bill Balchin: There is nothing like riding your bike on a sunny day, and feeling the warmth on your skin as you pass through the scenery. And today was nothing like that at all. No skin on display, no warmth and no scenery visible through the dull mist. But at least there was no rain and no wind for the twenty three strong group leaving Amcor for the trip to the Salutation at Ham. I wondered what was happening at the start when a builder pulled his van in and marched over to us. No, not a confrontation but Ken Acland reminding us that the Jack and Grace Cotton Audax takes place on 26th January.

As usual with trips where the pub is only a dozen crow miles from the start the trick is to make a loop. It was my turn to lead today, so mindful that some of the lanes were mucky I included a bit more main road mileage than I would have liked but generally the roads were not busy. The Old Gloucester Road took us to Tytherington where we turned right and made our way into via Cowship Lane. Into Kingswood on the main road we turned towards then past the Renishaw factory and left through Bradley Green. The climb up to North Nibley split the group and I must plead guilty for pressing on before the group had completely reformed. Expecting everybody to be in sight I bombed down Frog Lane, straight on at the bottom and turned left after the motorway. A group of five were behind and missed that turn. But we all got back on the right route by Applegates Coaches and rolled through Berkley and into Ham just after twelve.

There were many of our regulars already there making well over thirty for the buffet meal. But the person I was a bit surprised to see was Don, the landlord. He is intending to retire but it has not happened yet so we had the pleasure of his company and his fine ale and cider for another visit. With the dull sky promising early darkness and the threat of rain coming in during the afternoon we made a fairly prompt getaway for a direct route through Rockhampton. When we rode this lane just before Christmas I remarked on its crumbling, potholed surface. On the previous day I had seen it was still bad so I tried to warn the group to be aware. But riding in a group tends to both hamper your vision and distract you and soon there was an almighty crunching noise. Expecting to see a Tour de France type pile-up I looked around to see that Martyn had crashed into one of the suitcase-sized holes but luckily escaped with no more that a snakebite puncture and a dislodged mudguard. He calmly fixed it as another twenty pairs of eyes watched, some also filming. Crossing the A38 at the Grovesend traffic lights I said my goodbyes as the group carried on back to the Old Gloucester Road and home.

For Bill's loop around Wickwar to Ham and back - click here.

Thursday 17th January 2013 - report from Bill Balchin: I thought it was pretty cold last week but today was even colder. Cold enough even to cause some of our regulars to stay home in the warm, although the threat of ice was probably the main deterrent. Fourteen well-wrapped-up cyclists assembled at station including Sam Swabey who may be joining us more often after he retires in August, and Mike on his second ride - the first being in continuous rain to Charfield. No fair-weather cyclist him!

The day was originally planned by Dave Woodward to be a hilly romp over Landsdown with lunch at the Dolphin but now downgraded to a loop around the North of Doynton and stopping at the Bird in Hand. The cycle track was ice- free and leaving at the first road crossing at North Common we were doing fine until the left fork into Lodge Road presented our first taste of ice and slush lurking in the shady areas. I was probably the most cautious after my crash in November and ended at the back all day. Most of the lanes we took into Doynton, looping towards Hinton, through and back into Doynton were real "curate's eggs" - good in parts. An oncoming white van driver was intent on squeezing us into the slush and potholes - did not want to dirty his tyres no doubt.

Arriving at Wick, Dave had thoughts of the Golden Valley but time was running out due to our slower speed so we took the lane past Wick football club and a very cautious descent before climbing on the direct route through Upton Cheney, onto the main road into Bitton and cycle track to our lunch stop.

Although we have passed the Bird in Hand many times on our Thursday rides I don't think we have ever stopped there - possibly it is too close to the start. But it had everything you could want. They made us welcome in their large conservatory with reserved tables, there was a good choice of ales, including Reverend James, and the meals seemed to meet approval. I had the Somerset pork casserole which was superb. Only problem was, it was enough for two people - but I managed to stuff myself. Being close to the start point had the advantage that you got your ride in, had your lunch and were then able to get home before darkness and snow arrived. This could become the pattern for Winter.

Thursday 24th January 2013 - report by Malcolm Hanson: A report on a ride that was cancelled? How come? When John Kay was seen on Tuesday evening's BBC national 10 o'clock news reporting from the Mendips on the snow that had stranded motorists and eventually left him having to spend the night there the wisdom of our cancelling today's ride to the Burrington Inn seemed fully justified. But we all know how fickle the British weather can be. When the sun came out this morning and my "in garden" weather station said the temperature was 5 deg C I decided to go for it. After all, I wanted to check out the Inn's food and drink for future inclusion on our pub list.

I have been using my knobbly tyred mountain bike to get around the local lanes of late but I gave myself the extra challenge of getting to Burrington along the lanes using my semi-slick tyred hybrid. All went smoothly along Wild Country Lane, Barrow Lane, Kingston Lane and Old Hill up to Winford Manor. But as I rode along Kingsdown Rd every one of the three lanes down to Butcombe proved to be an ice-rink. They would have been great fun on the mountain bike but I wasn't on that. Hey-ho, so along to the A38 and down Red Hill. As I touched 40 mph down the latter I was pleased not to encounter any ice. Ashley Lane, Rushway and the B3134 provided a quick and ice-free route to the Inn.

I was surprised and delighted to find I was not alone. George Martin, Bob Pennell and Dave Stevens had also peddled in. Four others, including George's wife Ann, had driven over. A quick consumer survey gave the Inn a thumbs up for both the food and the drink. My tasty liver and bacon with onion gravy on a bed of mashed potatoes was one of several options on a bargain basement £5.65 menu the Inn provides. Lets hope for better conditions when we next plan to cycle there!

Thursday 31st January 2013 - report from Bill Balchin: Congratulations to Ian Sparrow who became a dad for the second time on day before our ride to the Royal Oak at Wotton under Edge. Ian still found time to turn up at the Amcor start with a big bag of BTOTC clothing before visiting mum and new daughter in hospital - thanks Ian. Although Wednesday had been mostly dry, heavy rain in the early hours of Thursday morning until nine o'clock onto already saturated ground was going to make puddles the story of the day. I always seem to miss my chance for photos involving big puddles so went ahead to Swan Lane where the water is always across the road, and...just a tiny little thing. Oh well, there is always Frampton End Road and after bumping along the crumbling surface and loose stones there was the usual mini-lake to ride through.

Keith led us through to Nibley Lane as the bit of brightness in the sky turned to a few spits of rain but soon cleared to give a welcome blue sky. By the end of Nibley Lane things went a bit pear shaped as my little group overshot Hope Road and by the time we turned back the rest were out of sight. We pressed on towards then Peg Hill and the main road through Wickwar, Kingswood and Wotton. I'm not quite sure where the rest went but some who had been at the front of the group found themselves catching up with some who had been behind them. But we all managed to arrive at the Royal Oak within minutes of each other.

The pub had asked for meals to be pre-ordered if possible. I am not sure how they planned to work this but some meals were arriving while you were in the queue for drinks, and those ordering on the day had a bit of a wait but it was not too long before everybody was sorted and enjoying the good value lunch and fine selection of ales. Alan Bracey, looking splendid in his matching BTOTC jersey and shorts, announced that the plans to erect bollards in Frampton End Road to keep it free from motor traffic had been approved to go on to the next stage of the process and may well happen this year. The cost is likely to be about ten thousand pounds - no wonder our taxes are so high.

The sun was still out when we set out for home - now into a chilly headwind. A big group went towards Kingswood, a smaller one to Charfield and I made my own way through Huntingford. It was great being out on the bike again after all the ice and snow but brother, was I glad to get out of that wind when I got home.

The route from Winterbourne to Wotton and back - click here.