News for July 2014 Thursday 3Rd July
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News for July 2014 Thursday 3rd July - Report from Bill Balchin: Another bright, dry day calling cyclists everywhere to get on their bikes - and we were luckier than most to have Dave Woodward plan a ride with a theme. Our sixteen strong peloton (it would have been eighteen if everybody was on time!) took Swan Lane and Frampton End Road into Iron Acton for our first education stop. Acton Court is open to visitors during July and August at a charge of seven pounds or five for seniors. But Dave had fixed a free preview for us and gave a brief history of how Sir Nicholas Poyntz extended the existing building in 1535 for the visit of Henry VIII into one of the most lavish houses in the country. Leaving Acton Court we took the Rangeworthy road and turned off for Wickwar and into Kingswood. On the Hillesley Road out of Kingswood we recognised those familiar black and blue jerseys with the yellow and green stripes as John Bishop led the rest of the easy rider group towards us. With cries of "you're going the wrong way" from both groups we took a left into Nind Lane for the grind up to the Wortley Road. Dave took pity on the strugglers at the top and pointed them left for the direct route to Wotton, the rest turned right to drop down to the left turn for Ozleworth Bottom. Rob probably regretted this as he punctured at the bottom and after fixing it had to ride back up the hill. Ozleworth Bottom is fantastic little lane, almost a hidden valley with super scenery. It does have a sting in the tail though with a pretty tough climb that saw half the group walking. Into Newark Park and we were able to admire the hunting lodge built by Sir Nicholas in 1550 - although perhaps this was a front for some rather more risque behaviour. Time to drop down into Wotton now on Blackquarries Hill. Talk about steep! I have tried twice previously but never managed to cycle up, but we all got safely to the bottom where our leader picked up a puncture. Well thanks for the ride Dave, we'll just carry on to the pub now, see you later. There was the largest crowd I have ever seen at the Royal Oak, too many cyclists to count and lots of other customers as well. But there were no excessive delays as everybody enjoyed their lunch and Dave eventually joined us brandishing a nail over an inch long which he had pulled out of his tyre. The theme was not quite over as the main group cycled into Charfield and turned off for Damery and Tortworth. We have cycled past St Leonards Church many times but this was the first time that I have stopped to look at the Tortworth Chestnut, reputed to have been planted in 800AD, which as one wag remarked makes it older than John Bishop. On through Cromhall we aimed to descend New Road into Tytherington but not before a small detour at the top of the hill to admire the sweeping views to the east from our high vantage point. Just a short trip left for me now to finish what was an absolutely first class day out on the bike. Click the links for Acton Court and Newark Park for more information. Click here to see the route, and a few more pictures. Thursday 10th July - Report from Bill Balchin: Now, where is that sun block? We'll be needing it today right from early on, unlike the Tour de France cyclists who rode on the Roubaix cobbles in rain all day yesterday and had more rain today. Those who have ridden Martyn's annual trip from Bitton to Bradford on Avon knew what to expect - a few climbs, a longer than normal pre-lunch distance, and a short ride home - so how did it all pan out for the lucky sixteen? The pace was fairly high, depending on your point of view. I was on my lightweight bike so managed to hang on as we climbed first Coxgrove Hill and then Hinton Hill and over the A46 for the down and up after West Littleton. With most of the climbing behind us we could enjoy being on the flatter part of the south Cotswolds, on the little lanes, in the sunshine as we negotiated the back of Castle Combe to cross the A420 at Ford. Climbing up the goat track past the White Hart pub a drinks delivery van which touched the trees on both sides of the road stopped in front of us when his way was blocked by a BT van. Luckily the van moved and let us continue our Wiltshire wandering through the attractive village of Biddestone and with a small detour due to a closed lane arriving at the Canal Tavern at 12:40. I thought that the Wadsworth Horizon bitter was a bit expensive at three eighty five a pint but it tasted so good after that long, hot ride that I was not the only rider to enjoy more than one. It is always busy there on a sunny day but even with cyclist numbers boosted to around thirty by the Bath group and our easy rider group the service was slick as we dined outside on the patio. We had earned an easy ride for the homeward leg which means the canal towpath - flat but with a rough surface. Somehow we got into a bit of a Roubaix mindset, bumping along at around sixteen mph and passing the easy rider group who were riding at a more sensible pace considering the terrain and traffic. But when you get into the groove sometimes sense goes out the window, at least there were no incidents as we headed into Bath. I peeled off at Bathampton to take the A36 into Bath and actually passed the rest as they regrouped at the end of the path. I prefer to cycle alone through the Bath traffic so kept going to the riverside path which was like a hazard awareness test - full of dog walkers, pram pushers on the phone, kids on scooters, you name it. By the time I got to Bitton most of the group were back together again so we called in for a welcome coffee to finish off a long but enjoyable day. Click here to see Martyn's route today. Tuesday 15th July - Report on the Pensioners Seaside Outing to Lyme Regis, from Brian Trott. Five riders were at Langport when the Clevedon contingent arrived with a car engine sounding very unhealthy. Retired aero engineers peered under the bonnet, poked and prodded, soon had it running quietly and pronounced the noise as non terminal - well worth the £50 call out fee for peace of mind when on the ride! Phil H was on his new road bike with only 30 miles on the clock, as the 7 set off under light cloud at about 9:15, the brave ones having left the rain jacket in the car. The route took us through Muchelney, along the road where the tv news showed flood water above the roof of a car earlier in the year, and a new way into the back of Crewkerne through Hinton St George with a couple of hills to warm up the legs. We sat in the precinct in warm sunshine for coffee from the Strawberry Fayre café. Southwards on the usual B3165 road through Kittwhistle and Birdsmoorgate into a slight headwind until we picked up advanced Road Closed signs. Even years of training from Roy Williams did not get us past Council workmen after the Bottle Inn and we had to divert through Fishponds Bottom, adding a twisting descent, 2 climbs and a couple of extra miles, generously included at no extra cost. Having reached the highest point of the ride, it was across the A35, the steep descent to Uplyme and plunge down Cobb Hill to the sea front for 12:15 and lunch at the By The Bay Restaurant on the Promenade. Steve K was volunteered to take the group pic on his complex smart phone and it only took slightly longer than to set up a tripod, glass plate film camera and blackout sheet. A walk along the prom in the now hot sunshine and a tortuous exit from Lyme Regis following the River Lim was flatter than people expected, but we then had to climb towards Woodhouse Hill to almost 700ft. Once on the high ground it was into the lanes again and descending towards Tytherleigh, where if the flints and gravel in the middle of the lane did not get you, the briars in the hedge would. Just before Chard an anguished shout from behind was Alan P getting an instant rear wheel puncture which left a slash in the tube. We used Sustrans NCN33 from the centre of Chard to the centre of Ilminster, which starts in a green space and then uses an old railway line. It has a tarmac surface almost the whole way and we only saw one other cyclist using it. Bilby's Coffee Shop in Ilminster was the afternoon tea stop where the only problem is deciding which cake to choose from the large selection. Alan P discovered his new inner tube trying to escape through a cut in the side wall of the tyre and the friendship between Phil H and his new saddle was becoming strained. We headed northwards again using NCN33 through the grounds of Dillington House, the last small ascent then mostly flat through delightfully named villages, Shepton Beauchamp and Kingsbury Episcopi to Langport, which found the group warm, a bit weary but happy after a good day out in splendid weather.