News for September 2014

Thursday 4th September - report from Steve Hicks: In the true spirit of National Cycle to Work Day I set off to Amcor, my first job today being to stand in for Jane Chapman as ride lead to The Lammastide at Brookend. Jane had been called away at short notice though rumours that she had been summoned to the NATO summit at Celtic Manor have been firmly denied by official CTC sources. One new face joining us for the first time today was Don Ford from Frenchay and returning for a second go were Graham and Clive along with long time absentee Sean, welcome all.

The immediate dilemma facing the 14 who assembled was - should the meeting point of “Amcor” henceforth be known as “Winter Stream Farm” given the shiny new establishment of that name which is about to open for business at Old Timers Corner? Personally, I think it sounds too much like a location from “Game of Thrones” or possibly a place dreamt up by JRR Tolkien to be associated with the BTOTC, however time will tell.

With Mike C, Oli and JT2 all declaring commitments which meant they would turn back before lunch the peloton set off just after 10am. Under grey skies with a slight dampness in the air we headed in the traditional northerly direction along Old Gloucester Road, taking the left at Froglands Cross and heading through Hortham to cross the A38 and descend Fern Hill. We then chose the back way into Olveston via Moor Lane and Awkley exhibiting our best behaviour as we crossed the motorway bridges patrolled by police officers sporting some fetching sky blue baseball caps. Up and over Catherine Hill, we passed the delightful but often missed Olveston village pond.

The Bike Barn appeared busy as we sped past and turned north to Elberton, down into Littleton-on-Severn and on through Kington and Cowhill. We paused briefly at the church of St Arilda on the hill above Oldbury-on-Severn with its fine panorama of the Severn Estuary, particularly splendid at sunset but not on a grey September morning. As we dropped into Oldbury I was encouraged to hear from Oli that we had been going an hour, knew exactly where we were and had not lost anyone (yet). We then headed along the flat through the hamlets of Hill, Bevington and Ham before notionally ‘tugging our forelocks’ in deference as we passed Berkeley Castle. No tithes to pay today just the challenge of weaving through Berkeley and diving under the Sharpness railway line and up into Wanswell. Having made good time so far we opted for the diversion loop via Halmore, Purton and Hinton to get us to The Lammastide at just about 12.

We just failed to beat John Bishop’s “plodders” and the Bath group who were also prompt arrivals and once we fought our way inside we were pleasantly surprised to find Bill Balchin propping up (or being propped up by) the bar! Great to see Bill again, not yet on two wheels but at least out and about. Service at the bar was slowish with the sudden influx of cyclists but the kitchen was obviously in sportif mode as the meals flowed promptly and to the usual high standard. To wash down the lunch a good selection of beers, the Box Steam Brewery’s ‘Tunnel Vision’ being particularly popular. A quick head count showed a turn out of 30+ so the pub must have been well pleased.

After lunch riders departed in various ad hoc groups with the main group now down to nine heading back via Berkeley, Ham, Lower Stone, Rockhampton, Lower Morton, The Hackett, Slad, and Itchington. I said my farewells at Froglands Cross and headed home for my second job of the day which was - well you have just read it!

Thursday 11th September - report from Malcolm Hanson: Delegation is an art form and Richard Hill appears to be well practiced in it. He was our leader for the day but knowing that Rob Sheils was a Bath dweller asked Rob at the start in Bitton if he knew an interesting route through the city. He did and we took it. Soon after heading down the cycle track along the river in the city we turned off, crossed the A4 and headed up Hungerford Rd. This was a street of delightful Victorian terraced stone houses but, unusually, the stone was not Bath stone. After a short ride through the Weston district we headed into the beautiful Royal Victoria Park. It was even more spruced up than usual because tomorrow’s stage of the Tour of Britain is going to start from there. Through the city and over Pulteney Bridge but instead of heading straight along Great Pulteney Str we went off piste again along back streets around Henrietta Park.

The next expected course to be ignored was the Kennett and Avon Canal. Instead we kept to the A36 before plunging down into Bathampton. So along and over the toll bridge then? Oh no. This time it was Mark who knew of an interesting alternative. Sustrans have just opened a track from near the George Inn through a field and along a brand new bridge over the Avon! It is so new it is not ever signposted yet but took us conveniently into Batheaston. Off up Bannerdown then? Yes! At last familiar territory! But hang on, after only half a mile familiar territory is abandoned yet again. This time Richard himself was “to blame”. He led us through Ashley, Ditteridge and Colerne before we finally arrived at the Catherine Wheel. What a great ride, and it’s huge thanks to Richard, Rob and Mark for leading us on such an adventure.

There were 13 on the main ride but the Catherine Wheel entertained a total of 32 of us with a great range of beers and some delicious food.

The home route was free of surprises as we rolled throughTormarton, Little Sodbury, Dodington and Pucklechurch shedding riders at strategic points along the way until I was the only one left to peddle back into Bitton Station. What a lovely day.

The route can be seen here

Thursday 18th September - report from Pete Campbell: Still warm and dry! How's that happening? BTOTC must have been very good in the past for us to be favoured like this. I'm still managing to get away with no mudguards on my super duper titanium Van Nicholas, although I know I can't subject the rest of the peloton to spray off my back wheel, so the mudguards will soon be back, I expect.

The good weather brought out seventeen people at Ashton for Malcolm to take us to Portishead, filling in for Phil Hodgson who we hope will be back with us before too long. And Mike Sennett's brother-in-law also turned up at the start and rode with us for a few miles. Malcolm's route was a fairly standard one (and why not when it's good weather and lunch is almost guaranteed to be good as well). So we went along the Flax Bourton path and into Nailsea. Of course, we had to stick close to the leader through Nailsea, or we might still be wandering the streets of the town even now. Or maybe that's just me; I've never been able to get a mental picture of the town. So I was happy when we passed the Moorend Spout and I knew where we were. Then it was across Kenn Moore and into Clevedon from the south, through the town and up the coast road to the Windmill in Portishead.

The Windmill has recently been taken over by Fullers brewery. So far there seems to be no change in the quality of the food and drink, nor in the number of satisfied customers, cyclist or civilian. I've been there probably a dozen times and I've learned that the light bites section of the menu is all I need if I'm going to be able to ride home in the afternoon. A small fish and chips was fine, especially as it came with mushy peas.

At least twenty of us left the pub for the journey back, as four or five from Team Winterbourne were out today. We managed to pick our way through Portishead marina, and then another standard BTOTC route past the Portbury car parks and along the Pill path, and a dozen of us finished the day with another BTOTC favourite: tea and cake at the Brunel Buttery on the harbourside. Another good day. Roll on next Thursday.

And click here for today's route.

Thursday 25th September - report from Malcolm Hanson:

I was as shocked as Steve was three weeks ago to discover our traditional “first chat of the day” spot opposite Amcor is now a bit of grass outside a pub. In the current mindless manner of naming new pubs the “Winter Stream Farm” is not a farm, there is no stream there and god knows what custom they expect in the summer. Apparently it is one of a chain of pubs called “Farmhouse Inns”. This may partially explain the name but it does not excuse it.

On with the cycling! The bit of grass had a lot of old timers to accommodate this morning. As well as those hoping to follow Pete C. there were several others planning a more relaxed ride, Dawn amongst them. Pete’s crowd headed off along familiar roads through Itchington (it always makes me scratch when I write that down), Tytherington and Cromhall. We experienced one or two of the normal problems of folk getting a bit lost by dropping off the back but at Stinchcombe we came across the new problem of losing the leader when he steamed off the front! Titanium Pete, as I will now call him, thought he was just cruising along normally but with a few grands worth of premium cycle beneath him he was flying and no one else noticed him disappear up the hill from the church. However, not for the first or last time in the day Vodaphone (alternative networks are available) came to the rescue and we were soon reunited. On a warm clear day (will the summer never end) we were afforded superb all round views as we crested the hill above Cam with the Cotswolds, Forest of Dean and Malverns all competing for our attention. Draycott and Cambridge followed before we pulled into the car park of the Tudor Arms.

The cheap, cheerful and tasty food was delivered at a very welcome rate and as I looked out of the window I saw what seemed like an endless stream of BTOT cyclist pedalling in to add to the party. In fact well over 40 of us made it in all. One of the welcome faces was that of Bill Balchin. He was still not quite up to making the journey by bike but we were all glad to learn that his recovery continues in the right direction.

As we started on the homeward journey it soon became apparent why our outward trip had seemed so easy. The clue was in the way in the wind in our faces was knocking down the average speeds. Anyway, Berkeley, Thornbury and Itchington (excuse me whilst I have a scratch) crawled by before Amcor finally came back into view. For most people it was then straight off to Aldi for some cheap winter kit!

The twists and turns of the day can be viewed here.