Out again on the knockabout bike this morning for a variation of my Melverley loop. It's a bit windier and cloudier than yesterday but warmer so I didn't have to wait before getting out. I headed for Condover initially to add a bit of mileage and passed a Bikeability session going on at the school, then turned for Exfords Green and Lea Cross where I got held up by a rather elderly driver who had backed out of his drive then stopped blocking the road while his passenger slowly put her seat belt on.
Next I climbed up to Edge and took a left here to go along the lanes to Asterley then Westbury rather than dropping down to the main road. I caught and overtook a couple of cyclists on this section - they seemed to be very wary of the mud covered surface.
More climbing followed before I finally dropped down to Westbury where I startled a young chap who was clearly expecting to swing out from a side road without needing to slow down. Those brakes work then.
After Halfway House I took another alternative route to Wollaston and then up the long climb to Bulthy and down a fast descent to Crew Green. A chap in a Genus van politely pulled in to let me past while on the climb which was a nice surprise.
I'd been riding against a headwind most of the way so far, but at Melverley it was now behind me and helping. Between Pentre and Great Ness there is a nasty little climb that steepens near the top but looks deceptively easy. Having ridden it many times now I just drop into lowish gear and save the legs. Today I was overtaken by a group of riders pushing on hard from the foot of the climb and sure enough as they got near the top they ran out of puff and at my slow steady pace I caught them again just before the summit (feels smug
). I kept up with the group for the next couple of miles (but hanging back at a respectful distance) until they turned off in the direction of Yeaton.
I hadn't realised but the wind had swung round to still be helping me along as I turned south, hence being able to easily keep up a good pace. The hill at Bicton was despatched with relative ease (shame about a couple of impolite passes though) then at Shelton I decided to change the route again and head into the town centre and through The Quarry. Into town from here it's mostly downhill so I kept up some good speed down past The Mount (where Charles Darwin was born), through Frankwell and over Welsh Bridge.
After mixing it with the traffic it was nice to ride traffic-free through the park as far as Greyfriars Bridge where I crossed over to Coleham and headed out of town again through Belle Vue.
Although it wasn't forecast, there were some dark clouds sweeping in from the north west and I was lucky enough to get back just before the rain arrived.
37.3 miles today at 13.3 mph average. Fairly good but the legs ache now.
View attachment 382410
The view from Edge, looking towards Pontesbury and the Stiperstones.
View attachment 382411
En route to Asterley.
View attachment 382412
Old windmill between Asterley and Westbury.
View attachment 382413
Near the highest point of the ride today and about to descend to Crew Green.
View attachment 382414
A good bit of autumn colour at Wilcott.
View attachment 382415
Porthill Bridge and The Boathouse.
View attachment 382416
The William Clement memorial near Greyfriars Bridge.
.
The short distance from Datchet to Eton was a slog into the wind, and I took a new turning as I went through Windsor, coming across this (which was kind of appropriate given the wind..)
