Well today was my 29th ride with the KCC and such a enjoyable ride it was.
In the end it turned out to be just over 44 miles of undulating roads, a.doc really must do some of them again.
Well the ride started in the usual place and
@Donger,
@maltloaf,
@gordyfinbar and 7 others turned up.
@maltloaf turned up on his lovely looking new steed, a Cannondale.
Luckily
@gordyfinbar had a route planned so last week's mess was going to stay as a memory!
Well instead of going alone Naas Lane as usual we headed towards the A38 and Quedgeley. We turned left towards towards Haresfield but went right before to go to Stonehouse via Standish. crossing the railway on the bridge I thought I saw smoke from a Steam locomotive, but as it seems n so I was wrong. Going along from Standish I was doing catch up a few looking for the train. The weather was bright and dry itcwasca really the perfect morning to be riding on.
The pelaton was waiting at the being of Stonehouse where we were all told the next 5 miles and where we would be waiting for anyone at the back. I gradually made my way to the front just incase anyone thought I hadn't done my turn. Always something I worry about now I'm on the Orro.
The lack of traffic made the run through Stonehouse and Cainscross go without any hitches but we could do with the pot holes being sorted. We stopped just before the mini roundabout complex in Stroud.
This turned out not to be taken h email best to stop as
@gordyfinbar was nearly taken out my a post office lorry while stationary and we had difficulty pulling away due to the amount of traffic.
We got away and headed to Brinsecombe and again there were no real problems, just the thought of where we were heading next. HYDE HILL I've only been up it once and had to walk on the hybrid part of the way!
Well we stopped as we turned off the main road to name sure everyone was there safely before heading uphill. There were a couple of people of who hadn't done it before and had no idea of what was around the corner. Part of the way up Dean was not happy to notice
@Donger was in front. We closed on him and as he waved a car passed I went by too! I heard
@Donger swearing as I went by. Hehe.
Well all I can say is I made it up in one and took 10 minutes off my previous pb!
We waited at the top for a couple of people that don't like climbing before turning left and going along part of Minchinhampton common and on to the Cirencester road.
To be honest I'm not really sure where we went for the next hour or so as they were roads I'd not been on before. The only thing I can say is that the roads were smooth and undulating. The few miles were good ap apart from some stupid cow in a Prius who came stonking up behind me and
@Donger and I had to move over quickly. Later we found out that she had already had a mouthful of abuse from Duncan after travelling inches from his rear wheel and beeped the horn at him.
It wasn't long before Dave got off his bike and in a fit threw it against a gate. I thought he had another puncture, but it turned out that he had a broken spoke instead. So his ride home would have to be quite gentle ashe wrapped the back brake by his saddle. The rear wheel wasn't running very true and wouldn't run with the back brake in place.
After a while of me taking photos and people sat on the wall, we set off with Duncan struggling at the back as his legs had given up. His real problem was that his leashed given up the ghost and was really suffering.
These roads where great again and these roads where a great joy to ride. Some of the roads in the Cotswolds are superb.
As much as I would love to say where we were in can't lol. In the end we ended up on the Slad Valley road and turned right towards Birdlip. From here it was to Buckholt. After sprinting along Buckholt the group split as some of the group turned right and went down Nutt Hill into Upton. I said and waited for Dean, Dave and Duncan and we went left the right down Portray into Upton. Dean and
@Donger also went right and Nutt Hill. I went down Portway where my client h ain came off so had no chance of a PB, as it turns out looking at Strava after I went off road ffs!
We waited at the bottom of Upton for Dave and
@Donger to join us for the final flat and downhill run into Quedgeley and the Kingsway.
..I need to get out. Offered the wife a steady one on the hybrids, she chickened out so off for a quick hour on the 
) then the first ride of the weekend - the Arran figure of 8. South end of the island first then over the String road, north end of the island followed by over the String again. Just over 112km with about 1500m of climbing. Weather was good with light winds and almost spring like temperatures. Took a couple of photos.
. Great day to be out on my new second hand bike, I hoped it might be memorable in some way. First picture
