gavgav
Legendary Member
I was up and about early, to get on the road at 8am for my October half century challenge ride entry. Needed to be back by 11:30.
It was a cool morning, as I set off through Betton Abbots and along Lyons Lane, to Condover, then up to Ryton, where looking towards the hills and the direction I was heading, I could see rain falling.
I was riding into the southerly wind, for the first half of the ride, but it wasn’t as strong as forecast, so didn’t hinder me too much. The lane to Longnor was completely free of vehicles and I then turned towards Leebotwood, having a bit of a moment when a lad in a JCB came storming out of the nearby farm, only stopping half way across the road when he thankfully looked in my direction!
By the time I’d reached the start of the main climb of the ride, up Folly Bank, the worst of the rain had moved through and there were just a few spots falling, plus the sun was coming out, which was nice and not forecast either. The climb was the usual plod and I was initially overtaken by 2 chaps on bikes, then proceeded to pass them half way up when they’d stopped for a drink, only for them to catch me up again and I wasn’t best pleased when one of them darted past, with inches to spare and cut across the front of me, just as a van was overtaking us! Thankfully his mate had more sense and waited. A shame when the only plonker of the day encountered is another cyclist
The descent down to Cardington was good fun as always and after Gretton I had the wind behind me, which helped me along the fast section to Church Preen, before climbing again to Kenley. by now the sunshine was beautiful and I was a bit too warm with the layers
I was planning to descend Kenley bank, but arrived to find road closed signs. I didn’t know whether it would be passable by bike, but didn’t fancy the steep climb back up, if not, plus a local had put their own homemade sign out saying the road IS closed and don’t be an idiot
So I continued up and then down, before turning to Harnage Grange and the nice downhill section to Cound. Saw the chap who always tends to greet other cyclists with an “are you lost” and I always seem to be stopped when I encounter him! As I was today, but I was eating a bag of crisps and so he must have decided I wasn’t lost today, not that I was the other 3 times I’ve met him, either!
The sections to Berrington and Eaton Mascott were very muddy and wet, so the bike was in a state by the time I encountered more road closed signs. This was a flatter road, to King St, past Otis Ferry’s Manor, so decided to risk it and it was fine, just a hole in the verge and some painted lines over where they’re going to deal with a tree root that is forcing the road up.
The final section was retracing my steps back through Betton Abbots and home with 32.63 miles on the clock at 11.0mph avg speed. Really enjoyed that ride
It was a cool morning, as I set off through Betton Abbots and along Lyons Lane, to Condover, then up to Ryton, where looking towards the hills and the direction I was heading, I could see rain falling.
I was riding into the southerly wind, for the first half of the ride, but it wasn’t as strong as forecast, so didn’t hinder me too much. The lane to Longnor was completely free of vehicles and I then turned towards Leebotwood, having a bit of a moment when a lad in a JCB came storming out of the nearby farm, only stopping half way across the road when he thankfully looked in my direction!
By the time I’d reached the start of the main climb of the ride, up Folly Bank, the worst of the rain had moved through and there were just a few spots falling, plus the sun was coming out, which was nice and not forecast either. The climb was the usual plod and I was initially overtaken by 2 chaps on bikes, then proceeded to pass them half way up when they’d stopped for a drink, only for them to catch me up again and I wasn’t best pleased when one of them darted past, with inches to spare and cut across the front of me, just as a van was overtaking us! Thankfully his mate had more sense and waited. A shame when the only plonker of the day encountered is another cyclist
The descent down to Cardington was good fun as always and after Gretton I had the wind behind me, which helped me along the fast section to Church Preen, before climbing again to Kenley. by now the sunshine was beautiful and I was a bit too warm with the layers
I was planning to descend Kenley bank, but arrived to find road closed signs. I didn’t know whether it would be passable by bike, but didn’t fancy the steep climb back up, if not, plus a local had put their own homemade sign out saying the road IS closed and don’t be an idiot
So I continued up and then down, before turning to Harnage Grange and the nice downhill section to Cound. Saw the chap who always tends to greet other cyclists with an “are you lost” and I always seem to be stopped when I encounter him! As I was today, but I was eating a bag of crisps and so he must have decided I wasn’t lost today, not that I was the other 3 times I’ve met him, either!
The sections to Berrington and Eaton Mascott were very muddy and wet, so the bike was in a state by the time I encountered more road closed signs. This was a flatter road, to King St, past Otis Ferry’s Manor, so decided to risk it and it was fine, just a hole in the verge and some painted lines over where they’re going to deal with a tree root that is forcing the road up.
The final section was retracing my steps back through Betton Abbots and home with 32.63 miles on the clock at 11.0mph avg speed. Really enjoyed that ride
