Dark46
Veteran
- Location
- Quedgeley, Gloucester
Well what a lovely day for a ride. So I guess to make sure I was up and about @Frazzle was at the front door just after 07:30 this morning.
So I supplied him with a cup of tea then he left to get ready at the shops at the Kingsway.
There were about 12 to 15 out today. I didn't do a head count. Only on the chilled group which included @Largie003 , the plan was to head towards Tewkesbury and then across to Bishops Cleeve. Then head to Cheltenham before heading home.
There was no @Donger today as you may have read he was out yesterday .
The route started off well as people didn't have the route on their garmins or couldn't get them to load.lol.
We set off with Lisa and Dave set off at more of a inter pace rather than a chilled one, and we're soon out of sight. The gap would yoyo at traffic lights but that all ended just outside Gloucester where they were waiting for us, plus to confirm where exactly what the route was.
From Gloucester it was out to Maisemore where we turned off the main road go through the lanes and up a nasty hill as I remember it. From here it was out towards Ashleworth and Tirley. There was a few cyclists about and some lovely ladies on horseback.
We did catch up with a older couple were out for a ride. From some reason Dave decided to hang back and draught them. At a point I thought this was unfair and rocketed passed when a car overtook the group.
From here it was into Tewkesbury where we had another stop and found that Dave and @Largie003 had time restrictions. So it was decided that Dave and @Largie003 would head for home at Stoke Orchard.
Tewkesbury was quite busy but no problems with traffic and we were soon on the A38 heading south towards Gloucester and turn off at the Odessa pub.
At Stoke Orchard Dave and @Largie003 left us where we went on to Bishops Cleeve and stopped at the No9 cafe (where I deliver) for a spot of coffee and some of Lisa's flapjack.
After the rest we headed through the village and headed towards Cleeve Hill where I found out I was riding with Whimps as I found out they didn't want to tackle Cleeve Hill!
So it was into Cheltenham we headed and we kept to the left and avoided the city centre traffic. It was at one point I suggested Harp Hill! It was at this point I heard @Frazzle say "if he suggests we go up Harp Hill he can F**k **F! " ooops I thought. Lol
So it was with this knowledge I thought about Shurdington and the A46 and @Frazzle also suggested going across Painswick Beacon at down Upton Hill.
So that was the plan, after going through Leckhampton and Shurdington it was up the A46. At the roundabout In Brockworth we met up with another rider from Eastgate Cycles Club. He swore at us saying he was doing repeat hills lol.
It was here that I was left behind as ever else is better than me assending. But I got my pace and stuck to it. There was noway I was getting off and stopping.
From here it was up Painswick Beacon and then down Upton Hill. I WAS looking for to that.
As it turned out I set a PB going down the otherside hehe. I did set building my pace quite early. I also made sure that I was in the middle of the lane as I knew there where some nasty holes in the road. At the bottom of the hill I hung a left and waited for the others.
When Claire and Lisa arrived Claire went for her saddle bag only to notice that the noise coming down the hill was her car keys falling on to the road.!!
The gent that @Frazzle is offered to go back up with her to find them. It didn't take long for them to return.
So from here it was 5 mile ride across the M5 and back onto the Kingsway.
When I arrived back my garmin was reading 49.9 miles. Normally I would have cycled straight home as it would been over 50 miles. But not today as it's my 51st Birthday I wanted to do 51 miles which I duly did.
So I supplied him with a cup of tea then he left to get ready at the shops at the Kingsway.
There were about 12 to 15 out today. I didn't do a head count. Only on the chilled group which included @Largie003 , the plan was to head towards Tewkesbury and then across to Bishops Cleeve. Then head to Cheltenham before heading home.
There was no @Donger today as you may have read he was out yesterday .
The route started off well as people didn't have the route on their garmins or couldn't get them to load.lol.
We set off with Lisa and Dave set off at more of a inter pace rather than a chilled one, and we're soon out of sight. The gap would yoyo at traffic lights but that all ended just outside Gloucester where they were waiting for us, plus to confirm where exactly what the route was.
From Gloucester it was out to Maisemore where we turned off the main road go through the lanes and up a nasty hill as I remember it. From here it was out towards Ashleworth and Tirley. There was a few cyclists about and some lovely ladies on horseback.
We did catch up with a older couple were out for a ride. From some reason Dave decided to hang back and draught them. At a point I thought this was unfair and rocketed passed when a car overtook the group.
From here it was into Tewkesbury where we had another stop and found that Dave and @Largie003 had time restrictions. So it was decided that Dave and @Largie003 would head for home at Stoke Orchard.
Tewkesbury was quite busy but no problems with traffic and we were soon on the A38 heading south towards Gloucester and turn off at the Odessa pub.
At Stoke Orchard Dave and @Largie003 left us where we went on to Bishops Cleeve and stopped at the No9 cafe (where I deliver) for a spot of coffee and some of Lisa's flapjack.
After the rest we headed through the village and headed towards Cleeve Hill where I found out I was riding with Whimps as I found out they didn't want to tackle Cleeve Hill!
So it was into Cheltenham we headed and we kept to the left and avoided the city centre traffic. It was at one point I suggested Harp Hill! It was at this point I heard @Frazzle say "if he suggests we go up Harp Hill he can F**k **F! " ooops I thought. Lol
So it was with this knowledge I thought about Shurdington and the A46 and @Frazzle also suggested going across Painswick Beacon at down Upton Hill.
So that was the plan, after going through Leckhampton and Shurdington it was up the A46. At the roundabout In Brockworth we met up with another rider from Eastgate Cycles Club. He swore at us saying he was doing repeat hills lol.
It was here that I was left behind as ever else is better than me assending. But I got my pace and stuck to it. There was noway I was getting off and stopping.
From here it was up Painswick Beacon and then down Upton Hill. I WAS looking for to that.
As it turned out I set a PB going down the otherside hehe. I did set building my pace quite early. I also made sure that I was in the middle of the lane as I knew there where some nasty holes in the road. At the bottom of the hill I hung a left and waited for the others.
When Claire and Lisa arrived Claire went for her saddle bag only to notice that the noise coming down the hill was her car keys falling on to the road.!!
The gent that @Frazzle is offered to go back up with her to find them. It didn't take long for them to return.
So from here it was 5 mile ride across the M5 and back onto the Kingsway.
When I arrived back my garmin was reading 49.9 miles. Normally I would have cycled straight home as it would been over 50 miles. But not today as it's my 51st Birthday I wanted to do 51 miles which I duly did.
to Ingleton, only 60km of so with 750 m of climbing but a nice workout on the legs 
