News for July 2017

Thursday 6th July. Bitton Station to Acton Turville. Report from Bill Balchin: After hot sunshine on the Wednesday, Thursday began in a similar vein. There was some Met Office scaremongering about possible thunderstorms but those innocent little fluffy clouds did not appear to pose any danger of rain. But is it going to stay that way? The twenty four people at Bitton railway station thought so with just about everybody in short sleeve order although I did spot the occasional rain jacket rolled up in a bottle cage. Twenty four would have been a big group for Shirley to lead but there was also a moderately paced group led by Steve Hicks which reduced the number by four. Both groups started along the Golden Valley to Wick and Doynton. Then the moderate riders turned to climb up Dyrham - probably the steepest route onto the Cotswold top which also makes it one of the shortest. Get the climbing over with quickly.

With a slower group around it meant that the main group had to be the faster group and the pace was pretty relentless (for this old granddad at least) as we stormed up the Hinton By-pass and up to the A46 to cross by the Marshfield bakery. Luckily a car took pity on us and let us over otherwise it could have been a long wait. Having got up to six hundred feet we could now relax a bit and just enjoy the undulations bowling by under the still blue sky with it's still fluffy clouds and the dry roads. Shirley likes the lanes around Nettleton and so do I. We were pushing on at well over twenty mph at one point when there was a sudden slow down for a husband and wife walking their dogs - one on each side of the road of course. He looked like he would rather have been with us. After a brief flirt with the Fosseway we cruised through the charming village of Grittleton, empty as usual. They say that when the peloton is in a long line it is a sign that they are pushing on.

Carrying on to Hullavington we took a left turn onto another lane that was unfamiliar to most of us before another left turn brought us back onto the Fosseway again. Approaching a crossroads with Shirley signalling right I got that bumping sensation again. Another damn puncture, my second in a fortnight although this time in the front. I was up for fixing it on my own but Keith, Pete and back-marker Chris insisted on staying with me - possibly to have a bit of a breather before the final seven miles - but more likely to make sure that I came to no harm. My tyres come off easily without levers so with the benefit of last week's practice I was mobile again in ten minutes and we chased to the Fox and Hounds by quarter past twelve. I would have thought that twenty seven miles would have seen us at the lunch stop way after twelve but with just the one climb followed by flat roads the speedsters in the main group arrived before the moderate group who did five miles less. Steve's group went via Castle Combe where they stopped to take on water and have a gawp at the tourists before cruising through Littleton Drew enjoying the sight of the wild flowers on the verges. Come on now folks! This is meant to be cycling not out enjoying yourselves!

The Fox and Hounds played a blinder as usual with around forty cyclists in total plus a group of holiday makers in the other bar they were busy but calm and controlled. After being one of the last to arrive and order my lunch I found myself gobbling down the last remnants as the group made their way back outside. Any sign of those thunder storms yet? Not the slightest hint! Back over the A46 where another vehicle stopped to let us across we bombed down Hinton Hill proper and into Pucklechurch for the split off for home. I was glad to get into a cool shower, then the phone rang as I was getting dry. Mark Brough calling from the top of the Col de Galibier in the Alps (driven rather than cycled). We will be able to find out all about his French holiday next week at the Lamb at Lower Weare.

For the map of the day click here.

Thursday 13th July. Ashton to Lower Weare. Report from Bill Balchin: Here is a quick quiz. "what are Gordon's favourite make of jeans?" Time's up. The answer is Wrangler. I know this because his route from Ashton to Weare is going to take us up the Wrangle for the second time in three weeks - but you can't get enough of a good climb can you! On a slightly overcast but warm morning we set off along the Festival Way, crossing Yanley Lane as a kind motorist waited for us. I don't expect he had reckoned on a group of twenty four passing in front of him.

On to Hobbs Lane and the A38 was full of vehicles heading towards the airport. We made it in two steps by waiting in the middle of the road. Roger Ireland tried to encourage somebody to let us over but only got a horn blast from an airport bus for his cheek. Back on quiet lanes again we rode up to Winford Manor followed by a nice descent into Chew Stoke. After passing the lake I decided to get ahead to get some pictures on the Wrangle climb. Unfortunately I missed Bickford Lane that leads to the Wrangle despite having been along it many times - although not with today's construction work on the junction. Luckily that man Roger again rang me before I ended up in Budleigh Salterton. Sorry about the lack of Wrangle photos folks, I just about caught up with the group after they waited for a while. Let's see how the descent of Cheddar Gorge pans out.

I'm not sure how high the top of the Mendips is. Ramblr reckons 1014 feet but Strava gives it 851. Either way it's a relief once you are on the top. Now, am I really going to ride one- handed down the gorge using only one brake? As it happened we were caught up in a slow convoy of cars so I did manage one shot from the back of the bunch. Once through Cheddar we took the road through Axbridge then about half a mile on the A38 to arrive at the Lamb by twelve fifteen. By now Gordon was behind schedule for his other committments so after a hasty goodbye he shot off back to Bristol before most of us realised that he had gone. Err thanks Gordon...Cheerio.

Our group probably take a bit of getting used to for a new pub. The Cheddar Ales Potholer bitter quickly ran out, apparently the landlord was expecting a bunch of elite athletes who would not be drinking beer - not even close to the truth. Meals were a little slow appearing after the initial rush at the bar but with the sun out now and no need to rush home (apart from Chris and Shirley who are off on another cycling marathon tomorrow) we just chilled and enjoyed the meals when they came. A word of warning - my Pork Steak was actually on the menu as Pork Steaks. There were three steaks, a hill of chips and a bowl of vegetables. I was glad I was not the last to be served as it would not be rushed.

By about two it was time to take the obligatory group photo before riding home - but which way? Phil caved in under the weight of expectation and rose to the challenge. The lane next to the pub took into Cross then into a loop over the M5, through Loxton, back over the motorway and to the junction by Banwell Castle. I would have been stuck but Phil took us down Dark Lane which runs parallel to the high street and then right to Sandford.

OK, familiar ground now as we rode through Churchill, past the Mendip Spring Golf Club and into Congresbury. Several times we were on roads that looked newly surface-dressed. I remember in the old days surface dressing would leave a road like a shingle beach and windscreen replacement vans would lurk nearby. It all seems a bit easier now. The other improvement is in pothole filling. We passed a lorry with one of those machines that blasts a mixture of tar and grit into the pothole rather than dumping a bucket on asphalt into it and tamping it down. It should give a flatter surface but will it stand up to a harsh winter? Goodness knows the roads deserve a bit of TLC.

The familiar route through Yatton and Claverham brought us into Backwell where yet again the lure of ice cream at Aimee's Wine House was mainly irresistible - except to me and Pete. With admin duties calling we pressed on to get this website updated. After a 74 mile trip today I will be glad of a short one next week when we visit the Salutation at Ham - a good ten miles from my house if I go the pretty way..

Follow today's ups and downs here.

Thursday 20th July. Amcor to Ham. Report from Bill Balchin: Frustration, uncertainty and doubt are some of the biggest causes of stress. If they happen in the workplace (and I'm glad to say that in Rolls Royce it was pretty rare) it is a sign that you need to get out - and what better way to escape stress than to retire and leave your days free top go cycling with your pals. So it was most unfair that Pete was suddenly landed with a request on Monday evening for us to pre-order lunches for our ride to the Salutation at Ham on the Thursday. I would have done it but I know that Pete has distribution lists already set up for email and text. He managed to get seventeen pre-orders phoned in which did not please the landlord as he was hoping for thirty. I had told him to expect twenty but it could be thirty if current numbers are a guide. As it turned out there were twenty three cyclists and four walk-ins so he was not far short of thirty. It would have probably been more without the pre-order requirement as the easyriders and Bath group were in the area. Don't let it get to you Pete - just lead the ride and chill out.

The weather was making things difficult as usual. Early rain that had wetted the roads looked like it would dry up soon, and the sun looked as if it could put in an appearance through the many clouds. I think my choice of summer bike, arm warmers and gilet was spot on. Pete led his group of sixteen for Swan Lane and Frampton End Road as Don led the 10:01 half dozen on a purportedly more gentle ride via Tytherington. I don't know if was stress relief but the pace seemed pretty high as we charged along Tanhouse Lane, Limekiln Road and into Wickwar. I was riding next to Mark Brough who told me how he managed to come off his bike in the Staple Hill tunnel on a slippery patch and was now carrying several bruises. He offered to show them at fifty pence a look. Keith suggested a pound if he kept them covered up.

Chase Lane seemed a bit steeper than previously although Martyn blasted past on his fixie. Over Inglestone Common and into Hillesley the sun was playing peek-a-boo and my arm warmers went up and down a few times. The left fork into Kingswood is still in good shape after being resurfaced a couple of years ago, then Huntingford past Michael Wood and we got into Berkley by quarter to twelve, despite covering about twenty five miles. And then as we approached the turning for Ham Pete pulled a masterstroke by going straight on towards the old power station, then turning left on Hamfield Lane to arrive at the Sally moments after Don's group just before twelve.

The menu was limited to ham, egg and chips; sausage, beans and chips; or mixed platter. Most of the ingredients had some degree of local involvement in their production. The thick slices of ham must have used up most of a pig to feed us lot. And if you like your chips chunky with a crisp outside and soft inside you were in for a treat. The beer is always special as well with several variations of in-house bitter available. My favourite was the ECS bitter although I just had the one pint. Andy played a blinder by sampling six different half pints. This had been an unusual lunch stop as the Sally would normally have been closed at lunchtime but had opened specially for the BTOTC. The hassle of the pre-orders probably kept several potential customers away so this could well have been our last ever visit - although you never know.

Time for home and the prevailing wind blowing up the Bristol Channel was doing it's thing again as the group drifted off in dribs and drabs, some taking the right fork for Hill others going the other way for Rockhampton - all of it into a headwind. But we need to push on to catch the end of today's Tour stage as they finish on the Izoard. I bet we enjoyed our day cycling more than most of those guys.

See the 27 miles covered by Pete's group here.

Thursday 27th July. Bitton to Marshfield. Report from Bill Balchin: Guido and Nisha have been cycling with us for a couple of years now and today was Guido's first time for leading. The Catherine Wheel at Marshfield was the destination which could be a bit of a challenge as a trip through Bath is often involved which can be tricky with a large group. But the omens were good with a manageable group of fourteen, weather on and off sunshine and showers, and Shirley nominated as back marker. Starting along the cycle track towards Bath, what could go wrong?

Just over a mile later we had the answer. Almost at the end of the Avon Valley railway track there was a touch of wheels at the back of the peloton and Martyn, Shirley and Rich Hill hit the deck. It was soon clear that Martyn was seriously injured having clouted a wooden fence post which was one of a pair sticking out an extra two feet to protect a gateway. Andy took over as incident commander to call up an ambulance. It was probably outside their usual traffic accident jobs but Andy still had to answer the regular check-list of questions. Is their any chemical spillage? No, it's a bicycle crash on a cycle track. Are you in danger from passing vehicles? No, it's a bicycle crash on a cycle track. Have you put your hazard warning lights on? Arrgh. There was not much that a big group could do other than get in the way, so a reduced peloton of ten carried on to the two tunnels in a sombre mood. After the second tunnel, Stuart turned round to return home for household duties making us now into single figures. And you missed a lovely trip along Tucking Mill Lane Stu into Monkton Combe. Passing the school we were serenaded by a brass band (although they would have been unaware that we were there) before we dropped down that very steep path. I was now the back marker after Shirley was too knocked about to continue. Peter Metelerkamp was just in front of me taking it very cautiously - understandable as he is just getting back on his bike after a serious downhill crash in France punctured his lung. There were no worries about his fitness though, romping along in a high gear as we climbed the long drag of Winsley Hill and turned left for Conkwell. Country lanes again now but we soon had to stop to let a bunch of horse riders past - with one of the horses getting really frisky. Continuing along the lanes towards Bathford we had to pull in for animals again when a small group of cows were being led along the lane. We know better than to upset cows when they have a young one with them. Heading towards Batheaston I wondered how we would climb up to Marshfield. We passed the turning for Bannerdown and turned into St Catherines continuing past what I always knew as Jane Seymour's mansion (although long ago sold to somebody else) and up to a right turn dropping down steeply - Ayford Lane. "The next hill is a pig" announced Guido. A bit of understatement there. I walked in company of several others. Narrow, poor surface covered with debris and steep as anything. But at least once we were at the top it was just a short hop to the Catherine Wheel.

Andy was already in the bar by the time we arrived at half past twelve so we jumped straight in with the burning question. "Is Martyn's bike safe?". Yes. Richard rode it to the Bird in Hand, then walked back, cycled home, got his car and collected Martyn's bike. And Martyn? Oh he is suffering from a displaced collarbone. Nothing broken but his back which was already giving him trouble has extra bruising and is VERY painful. He was taken to the Bath RUH and was still there the last thing I knew. If there is more news I will try to put a message on the website so keep an eye on it.

Message from Martyn 27 July, 17:50. Just an update - collar bone has "popped " not broken. Everything hurts at the moment and is stiffening up (shoulder,lower back and hands) but should ease up soon. Might have to miss a week but I'll be back asap. Please convey via our site my thanks to Andy (incident control/ambulance director etc etc) and Richard for all his running around/taxi'ing etc. Cheers Martyn

Today's route avoiding the centre of Bath and including two big climbs - click here.