Thursday 6 September 2018. Mangotsfield station to Tormarton. Report from Shirley Hume: When Martyn posted on Facebook that his route was ‘a bit lumpy’ I did suspect that this might be a bit of an understatement, in fact just how big an understatement was only finally revealed by the time we got to the 4th significant hill of the day. Before that, however, we had the slight issue of the start – with Martyn appearing to vanish off the end of the platform at Mangotsfield at a fast pace with quite a few of us not realising that he had gone. After a full out sprint to catch the last rider I counted 10 in the group, which by the top of Coxgrove Hill had grown to 14 as a few stragglers managed to catch the rest of us. Heading towards Hinton Hill we swung off on the road to Doynton and were soon down to 12 as Catherine and Mike Chouings decided to make their own way to Tormarton. Crossing the A420 at Wick we headed along Bath Road towards Lansdown, regrouping in a layby. Here Martyn informed us that as a reward for our labours we wouldn’t need to touch the pedals for a couple of miles on a steep descent. He also mentioned the potholes, blind corners, gravel etc so we were at least forewarned. First left turn off Lansdown and we were indeed more concerned with the brakes that the pedals – shooting down past Langridge Church to reach the T junction at Ashcombe. A left turn up towards Nimlet Hill took us through Tadwick and ever upwards to the A46. In his FB post Martyn had also said that these roads hadn’t been used by BTOTC before – we were beginning to understand why!!. Left and right took us off the A46 quickly and once more we were precipitously losing all our hard gained height as we hurtled down past Monkswood Reservoir [at least I believe it was there, I could only watch the potholes on the road ahead of me] into St Catherine’s Valley. Our leader was waiting at a small left turn and we were duly warned that only about half the width of the road was rideable so it might be very hard to pass anyone in front. The road went down steeply to cross the river and then climbed equally steeply away, on a road surface as bad as any I have seen. It did improve as we continued to climb [and climb and climb and then climb some more]. Just as I was beginning to wonder if oxygen would be provided the road levelled out heading towards Fuddlebrook, so we were able to stop and catch our breath before rolling into Marshfield by the cricket club, re-crossing the A420 and taking the direct route to Tormarton. Everyone took off as if the hounds of death were snapping at our heels and continued the great BTOTC tradition of arriving more or less on the stroke of 12.00noon, to find the moderate group just getting off their bikes. The pub managed the pre-orders for food reasonably efficiently, although bar service was quaint rather than speedy. When I asked for a pint of diet coke I was informed by the landlord that he ‘didn’t like those squirty things’ but the beer was good and the helpings of food enormous. Seeing the large number of slug trails on the carpet under our table we did inspect the salad garnish rather carefully but nothing appeared to be amiss. Thanks to Martyn for introducing us to some new roads, even if I don’t think I will be trying any of them in wet conditions, and to Peter [Toft] and Guido for stopping at junctions to make sure we all made the turns. A variety of different routes were taken back and it was a good turnout again with about 30 of us in the pub for lunch. It felt quite Autumnal this morning and the first long sleeved shirts are starting to appear, but we got some good sunshine and only a few spots of rain on the way home. Thursday 6 September 2018. Mangotsfield station to Tormarton. Report from Don Ford: 14 of us set off on today’s alternative ride to Tormarton. It was a leisurely start along the Ring Road Path to pass under the dual carriageway and along the cycle path towards Yate. Where it ends at the Westerleigh Road, there is now a helpful stretch of new cycle path to Broad Lane. From here we took Besom Lane and up the nagging little hill to Wapley where we were glad to pause for a regroup by the church. Wapley is one of those remote and forgotten hamlets but 1000 people gathered at the church in 2015 to commemorate the Battle of Agincourt fought in 1415. The reason for the strange choice of Wapley Church is that Sir John Codrington was buried here. He carried the standard into battle alongside Henry V and this seemed sufficient excuse for a jamboree in Wapley 600 years later. Not a lot of people know this and even fewer want to know it but I told the group anyway. (Ed's note - they should learn to be interested in an English victory!) From there we briefly joined the B4465 before turning left on the pleasant and winding lane to Chipping Sodbury. Its broad main street is impressive for so small a town. Our turn into Hatters’ Lane soon brought us to the Common which is a grand open space to cycle across. Cattle wandering into the road are often a hazard but they were nowhere to be seen today. Horton Road and King Lane are long, undulating and scenic. It is a very enjoyable way to reach Hawkesbury but this was followed by the steep climb to Hawkesbury Upton High Street. Once again we were grateful for a breather as we regrouped. Being almost opposite the Somerset Monument, and as we were soon to pass through Badminton, it seemed a good opportunity to explain that the monument was built in honour of Robert Somerset, a general who distinguished himself as the commander of the cavalry for Wellington at the Battle of Waterloo. His younger brother Fitzroy, also born at Badminton, fought with him in the battle and lost an arm. As he later became Lord Raglan he gave his name to the sleeve. He was promoted to Field Marshall but failed miserably as commander of the army in the Crimea, famously ordering Lord Cardigan to lead the Charge of the Light Brigade. Peter Metelerkamp was then able to give us a South African perspective on the Somerset family explaining that a third brother, Lord Charles, was Governor of Cape Colony from 1814 to 26. Peter grew up with streets named Beaufort and Raglan being familiar to him and clearly had a much better insight on British colonial rule. Well the BTOTC light brigade were completely recovered after the climb and keen to press on after their history lesson. While not exactly charging, we went at a good pace downhill from Hawkesbury Upton across the A46 and on into Badminton hoping that we might beat the heavy brigade to the pub. I always find the route from Badminton to Tormarton to be arduous. Old Down Road is uphill and exposed while the Acton Turville Road is just as exposed and has speeding traffic. Several of us were grateful to Alf as he shielded us from the wind on his electric bike. We were glad to reach Tormarton and turn into Church Lane. It seemed very appropriate that after the military theme of our ride we should end up at the The Major’s Retreat. The heavy brigade had beaten us to it yet again but, given the look of fatigue on their faces after Martyn’s arduous ride, they deserved their beer first. The Major was not at his quickest behind the bar today but we all got our meals in reasonable time despite the large numbers. Many thanks to all who came today and especially to Steve who did sterling work as back marker. Touch here for Don's route with a sensible amount of climbing. Thursday 13 September 2018. Ashton to Weston super Mare, Report from Peter Toft: A group of thirteen riders turned out at Ashton in superb early autumn weather for Chris Ludlum’s ride to Weston-super-Mare. Chris briefed us on the day’s outbound ride: the usual route to Congresbury starting with Festival Way; then over the rise past Mendip Spring Golf Club to Sandford and Banwell, up ‘a hill’ before dropping down to the outskirts of Weston. Chris promised there’d only be the one significant climb, at the top of which we’d be rewarded with views over to the Quantocks and Exmoor. Only one hill: what could be better? We rode at a steady pace and the group kept together well, with Phil Hodgson acting as an effective back marker. Just make sure you don’t stop to answer the call of nature, as Phil has no time for such weak-bladdered nonsense. The climb of Canada Coombe split the group a little: it’s a nice little hill: 1.6km long with 100m of climbing, hence averaging 6% but with a short, steep section that kicks up to about 20%. Max Robinson dropped his chain – with an almighty mechanical clatter – behind me during the climb, which took the pressure off my own climbing speed.