Winchester CTC Wintonmediate Event..

A super week of riding this last week, for the first time this year over 100 miles. On Thursday 12th June Simon joined me for a ride to The Watership Down Pub in Freefolk. He was on his light modern carbon Boardman bike testing it in preparation for Saturday's Special Event.

Cleavers.

We had arranged to meet David (Tommy) at the pub as the HCMF venue had been cancelled. We chose an indirect route there via the Candover Valley, one of my favourite routes out of Alresford, then we cut across the ridge to North Waltham from Axford. It was a lovely day once more with lots of warm sunshine. The fields are changing colour quickly with two fields of barley already beginning to ripen; and others different shades of green according to the crop. In the hedgerows one plant seems to be doing very well this year. Cleavers, so called because it clings to clothes and animals, also known as goosegrass. It is prolific in my garden as well as in the hedgerows. It has a tiny white flower which turn into little round seeds which also stick to clothes to facilitate distribution.

We took a loop round through the village of Steventon, the original home of Jane Austin when her father was vicar there. Then on to Overton and along the main road to Freefolk.

We arrived at the pub on the stroke of 12 noon and David  turned up a few minutes later. We had not visited this pub since it was refurbished about 18 months ago and were pleased to find that it was now much smarter than it had been before. There was only a limited selection of snack meals but the ones we chose were both tasty and filling.

We sat outside on the terrace enjoying the sight and sounds of house martins and swifts wheeling around.

River Test in Longparish.

Soon it was time to take leave of David and wend our way homewards. We went through Whitchurch and down the Test Valley before calling on another David in Barton Stacey. Once more we enjoyed the lovely sunny day sipping cool drinks in his garden, admiring his flowers. Thanks David!

As time was now pressing we took the usual route home from here through Stoke Charity.

Here is our map and data for the day.

Saturday 14th June 2014. The Wintonmediate.
The day was warm and humid with a hint of rain in the clouds. I drove to Kings Worthy where I left my car at my Sarah's and rode the 1.5 miles to the King Charles, our Start and Finish location.

Promptly at 9.30 a bunch of us set off with me in the lead until we got to the first hill up to Three Maids' Roundabout. Simon and I found ourselves naturally in a small groupetta with Sarah Marshallsay and Louise. We rode together for the rest of the day.

I seemed to have made a cock-up of setting the route on my Garmin and after a bout 6 miles I gave up trying to follow it on my unit and relied instead on memory from having ridden the route several times before. Sarah's unit worked perfectly and I have used her route and data here:

Sarah's Map and Data for the Wintonmediate.

You will see that the route was a hilly one with plenty of climbing but we managed to clock a decent moving speed.

The hedgerows were once more a picture with lots of both white and pink briar roses. Near the Winterslows we heard a cuckoo, twice. In the fields we noticed crops of Beans and Peas, probably both for animal feed.

We crossed Porton Down and were soon dodging pot holes as we entered the village of Porton. Next a surprise for my friends as we turned left to Gomeldon up a very steep hill. We paused for a drink and for me to phone home to report on our progress. In Winterbourne Dauntsey we took Gaters Lane across a footbridge adjacent to a ford. Then another long but gentle climb before crossing the A345 at High Post. Here we had to stop at the traffic lights! Sarah wished it had been a longer stop so she could get her breathe back. Also felt just a spot or two of rain.

Down into the Avon Valley we sped and turned North along it towards our check point and lunch stop at The Friar Tuck. In Upper Woodford we took another breather and I popped on sun block I'd forgotten before as the sun was now quite strong. Here is a picture of an interesting nearby building:

Barn Conversion in Upper Woodford.

John Spiers joined us here. Having trailed on some of the climbs I seemed to have a new lease of life as we headed into Amesbury but unfortunately here we had our first and only mishap of the day. At a pinchpoint I stopped to give way as required to an approaching car, Sarah stopped behind me but Louise ran into the back of Sarah's bike and took a tumble bruising her wrist.

It was only a few hundred yards from the cafe, so Louise had time to recover while Simon and I tucked into Traditional Breakfast and the ladies enjoyed Tuna Melts with chips. We discovered we were not the last on the road with two other riders and Suntish  coming in while we were eating having lost their way and three other riders arrived just as we were leaving to return to Kings Worthy.

The next few miles were some of the toughest of the day as we were riding along the undulating ranges' road into a strong breeze. I slipped behind the others by some 200 metres but eventually managed to close the gap when we got into a more sheltered area. Next was the clinb out of Tidworth made harder by the thoughtful council who have inserted cobblestones in places! I managed to crest the hill first! Were the others being kind to me? Or were they getting tired too? 

We were getting into more familiar territory now and enjoyed the lanes through Thruxton, Amport and Monxton to Abbots Ann. A comfort break at The Hawk in Amport where the kind landlady topped up my water bottle free of charge. It looked a nice pub and one we should consider for our longer all day rides.

Tired legs and lack of puff now saw us stopping for mini breaks more frequently and we were glad when we crested the hill near the Leckford Hut, only one more big hill now and a couple of little ones.

John Spiers caught us up again and rode with us once more.

Near Crawley I had a phone call from home. An emergency, the DVD player wouldn't work. I'm afraid the online mobile call centre was unable to offer a solution but when the House Elf got home when he discovered it was a blown fuse!

Lousie declined to ride the last mile or two from Three Maids Hill, choosing to return to Winchester along the Andover road.

We were soon back at the start and clocked in having completed the course in 7 hours 11 mins 21 secs.

It had been a wonderful day out for me, recalling some of the past special events riding with Sarah and other mates.

I left the group outside the pub to ride the last 1.5 miles to Mortimer Close even managing to climb Nations Hill!

Thanks to my  three co-riders for a great day and also to John Spiers and his helpers who gave up time to deal with the necessary administration and paper work.

GRIDIRONMAN.