- Location
- Shrewsbury, Shropshire
It was warm and there was 
out there today so a ride was in order this afternoon. I felt the hills calling to me so headed off to the Long Mynd.
It was the usual route to start with: Condover, Ryton, Longnor but this time I headed into Leebotwood and climbed up to High park from that side. It's still just as big a climb as ever - 1080 feet over approx three and a quarter miles but apart from one section it's relatively steady.
From High Park I headed up to Pole Bank (the summit) passing a few mountain bikers on the way, then I headed towards the gliding club, where there was a bit of flying activity, and followed the permissive path round the edge of the airfield before descending via Nutbatch.
Nearing Minton I caught up with another group of mountain bikers. One was pushing and another was riding on a completely flat tyre - they'd obviously had a good time.
I offered my services to help with the flat: The tube had originally been pinch punctured and having been run flat had a few more holes. I offered a spare tube for the knockabout bike that I happened to have with me, but annoyingly it didn't fit as it's a Schraeder valve and the MTB unusually had presta ones.
We made an attempt at patching the tube but after 10 patches were fitted and more holes were still being found, gave it up as a bad job.
His mates decided to ride the rest of the way back and come back in a car to pick up the bike & rider. (Kind of wish they'd said that before we started messing around with patches.
)
Passing Minton and Little Stretton I ended up in Church Stretton where a moron towing a caravan pulled out directly in front of me forcing an emergency stop and some fruity language. I don't know what he was thinking - as i approached he seemed to have seen me yet waited until I was practically on top of him before pulling out. A passer by reckoned the guy had aimed at me on purpose - I don't think he was far wrong.
Nearing Ryton on the way back a Landrover & horsebox pulled out in front of me - this time though I saw them before they could see me and was ready to stop. The driver was apologetic for holding me up, which was appreciated.
The rest of the trip back was fortunately uneventful and thanks to a brisk tailwind, also quite fast.
Today's mileage was 35.6 and the average was 12.2 which I'm happy with on such a hilly route.
Pausing at Woolstaston on the climb up to High Park.
En route from High Park to Pole Bank and looking down Carding Mill Valley towards Church Stretton.
Up by the toposcope at Pole Bank.
Nearing the gliding club and a glider is being prepped for launch. (They use a winch launching system most of the time)
An autogiro getting ready for takeoff. The company that imports these is based only a mile away at Wentnor Prolley Moor.
And there they go into the wide blue yonder.
Heading south of the airfield and looking west into the valley and towards Wales.
The easy bit. Descending on the forestry road to Hamperley.
Little Stretton now and All Saints Church. Yes, it is thatched.
out there today so a ride was in order this afternoon. I felt the hills calling to me so headed off to the Long Mynd.It was the usual route to start with: Condover, Ryton, Longnor but this time I headed into Leebotwood and climbed up to High park from that side. It's still just as big a climb as ever - 1080 feet over approx three and a quarter miles but apart from one section it's relatively steady.
From High Park I headed up to Pole Bank (the summit) passing a few mountain bikers on the way, then I headed towards the gliding club, where there was a bit of flying activity, and followed the permissive path round the edge of the airfield before descending via Nutbatch.
Nearing Minton I caught up with another group of mountain bikers. One was pushing and another was riding on a completely flat tyre - they'd obviously had a good time.
I offered my services to help with the flat: The tube had originally been pinch punctured and having been run flat had a few more holes. I offered a spare tube for the knockabout bike that I happened to have with me, but annoyingly it didn't fit as it's a Schraeder valve and the MTB unusually had presta ones. We made an attempt at patching the tube but after 10 patches were fitted and more holes were still being found, gave it up as a bad job. His mates decided to ride the rest of the way back and come back in a car to pick up the bike & rider. (Kind of wish they'd said that before we started messing around with patches.)Passing Minton and Little Stretton I ended up in Church Stretton where a moron towing a caravan pulled out directly in front of me forcing an emergency stop and some fruity language. I don't know what he was thinking - as i approached he seemed to have seen me yet waited until I was practically on top of him before pulling out. A passer by reckoned the guy had aimed at me on purpose - I don't think he was far wrong.
Nearing Ryton on the way back a Landrover & horsebox pulled out in front of me - this time though I saw them before they could see me and was ready to stop. The driver was apologetic for holding me up, which was appreciated.
The rest of the trip back was fortunately uneventful and thanks to a brisk tailwind, also quite fast.
Today's mileage was 35.6 and the average was 12.2 which I'm happy with on such a hilly route.
Pausing at Woolstaston on the climb up to High Park.
En route from High Park to Pole Bank and looking down Carding Mill Valley towards Church Stretton.
Up by the toposcope at Pole Bank.
Nearing the gliding club and a glider is being prepped for launch. (They use a winch launching system most of the time)
An autogiro getting ready for takeoff. The company that imports these is based only a mile away at Wentnor Prolley Moor.
And there they go into the wide blue yonder.
Heading south of the airfield and looking west into the valley and towards Wales.
The easy bit. Descending on the forestry road to Hamperley.
Little Stretton now and All Saints Church. Yes, it is thatched.
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It is a great area to cycle round and the place is still relatively undiscovered, so not many other cyclists around at the moment.
). A bit cloudy out, but plenty warm enough and a bit of a breeze. Next week I hope to be back out with the medium group for a 60 ish mile ride. I think my lad should be ok with the foundation group without me.
i set off. First 10 miles the same as yesterday.
