The Wintonmediate, PinkPal's Tuesday Ride and a reverse of largely the same route on Thursday.

Saturday 20th June 2015. 

The Wintonmediate, The highlight of my cycling year.

I was determined to join the ride again this year although my two Groupetta companions of last year were otherwise engaged. I figured out that if I rode to and from the start I should just about cover a mile for every year of my life. 

The King Charles.
Our start and finish location.

I left home at 8.33 a.m. and had plenty of time to get to the King Charles in Kings Worthy for the 9.30 start. As I rode through Itchen Abbas it started to rain so my heart sank a little. I stopped put on my shower proof top. That did the trick it immediately stopped the rain!

At the start there was a relatively modest number of riders. It seemed to be less than previous years. A number of good friends were taking part and after registering, enjoying a coffee and chat, we set off promptly at 9.30, well I did anyway, there was a mad last minute scramble by others to move their cars onto the grass at the request of the landlady.

Faster riders soon caught and passed me and I was joined by Steve Cherry just after Three Maids Roundabout. We spent the rest of the day together, encouraging one another to keep up a good but sensible pace.

Some more late starters passed us as we descended towards Kings Somborne and on the steep Beech Tree Walk onto the Roman Road we were caught by David Foster, Mary Wallbank, Julie, & Joanne.

We rode together as a group to The Winterslows where David and Steve pulled ahead on the hill. I was trailing behind the ladies and in trying to adjust my mirror I knocked it off and had to stop to retrieve it, fortunately undamaged. Luckily the  ladies  paused where the route turned left along Pincroft Lane otherwise they would have gone the wrong way. All six of us descended the steep hill to the A30 enjoying high speed for a short while. We crossed Porton Down and in the village turned up the steep but thankfully short climb to Gomeldon, here there is a short downhill with a sweeping S bend in the middle. great fun at over 31 mph!

We were joined here by Simon Davies who had started late.

Soon we were crossing the river Bourne by footbridge. Another gentle climb over the ridge past High Post and then downhill again to cross the River Avon at Upper Woodford. The hedgerows all along the way were resplendent with common hog weed, dog roses and elder flower, but they all seemed to be especially prolific here.Steve and I had left the others behind as we climbed  and it wasn't until later that we found out that Mary had had a puncture. 

We reached the check in at The Friar Tuck Cafe to be greeted by John Spiers. Some of the faster riders were just leaving having enjoyed refreshments. Steve and I both opted for the traditional English breakfast with coffee for the very reasonable price of £6.25, it was delicious. Just before we left the other 5 arrived.

I suffered with "after lunch legs" climbing over the ridge to Bulford but by taking it easy I was soon fine again. We made excellent time along the road past the military firing ranges due to a tail wind and the possibility of being shot, there being lots of sounds of small arms fire. Through Tidworth and up the hill to Perham Down we went before another high speed section with the help of the wind to Kimpton.

We were now on much more familiar ground but my legs were beginning to tire and I made full use of my granny ring on the short sharp climb from Monxton and then up the one in Abbots Ann.

The highest speed of the day was achieved on the descent to Fullerton, over 35 mph. Of course for every downhill there is an uphill and we had two more significant climbs first from Leckford to the A30 and then through the lanes to Crawley. John Spiers passed us in his car here but we didn't realise that it was him until he told us later. He did call out to us but I guess we just thought it was a bit of banter from a frustrated motorist who had to wait for a wider space to pass.

The rest of the ride seemed to go very smoothly and we were back in Kings Worthy and at the pub at 3.55 p.m. (6hrs 25mins elapsed time at an overall average of 10.4 mph including stops).

I was very pleased as this was a big improvement on last year's elapsed time of 7hrs 11 mins. My average speed on moving time was 12.4 compared to last year's 12.0.

We joined with others in celebrating our day with a pint; necessary for re-hydration?!

David and the others still had not arrived by the time I left, John told me that unfortunately David had had a tyre blowout whilst in the cafe at Amesbury.

Despite the forecast of light rain apart from a few spots before the start and a couple more near Amesbury it had remained dry. In a couple of places there were puddles so there had been a few showers it would seem.

Zoe, my granddaughter.
Much better than a picture of me!

With still 7 miles needed to achieve my aim of a mile per year I popped into see my granddaughter Zoe who made me a cup of tea and provided enough leftovers from an end of exams party for my supper!

The last 6 miles home seemed easy. I managed it in under 30 mins.

Sorry no pictures taken en route, too busy riding!

Had a very pleasant evening after a hot relaxing bath watching cycle racing on TV and the very exciting cricket match between England & New Zealand.

Very many thanks to John and his team of helpers for the day for their hard work and dedication, the Certificates were produced by Caesar Slattery who also helped at registration and the finish check-in.    Registration was by Debs Chandler and finish check in with Caesar was Ken Ebbutt.

My map and Data for the day  from and to Alresford.

Tuesday 16th June 2015

Pink Pal led a group of 8 of us from Itchen Abbass to the Springs Coffee Shop in West Meon. She had chosen a good route, based on one of her training routes, along the valley to Ovington and then up Gander Down. After a short run along the A272 we turned off along the ridge past the Milbury's. We zoomed down Wheeley Down but then had to climb Old Winchester Hill. One wag suggested we should just ride to two miles to West Meon but we decided that would be wimping out and tackled the hill. Only the first few hundred yards is hard the rest of it being easily manageable provided one paces oneself. I was left behind by the stronger riders but am pleased to say I was not the last up the hill.
As we rode along the ridge to The once HMS Mercury we had wonderful views to both the NE and SW. 
PinkPal has set her heart on one of the new mansions being built on the old RN site. Just needs to win the lottery now.
We descended the hill to East Meon achieving around 34 miles per hour, the same average speed as Wiggo achieved for an hour. Imagine!
We decided to resist the temptation of the pub in the village and carried on to West Meon where we popped into the cafe. Service was a little slow and with some folk enjoying club sandwiches we were their for an hour and 20 mins, some coffee stop!
Eventually we got on our way and PP led us from Brockwood along the little lane to Hinton Ampner.
In Cheriton we split up with one lady deciding to ride all the way home and three of the Alresford Groupetta taking a long way round home via the battle site to the Ropley roundabout, whilst the others found there own way back to Itchen Abbas.

PinkPal's Excellent training route.

A most enjoyable ride. Thanks  PP.

Thursday 18th June 2015.

I was keen to try Tuesday's ride in trhe reverse direction and persuaded Simon that this was a good idea. We set off around ten o'clock to ride to the HCMF meet at Tichborne.

Here are Simon's Comments:

Another 30+ miles today to the Titchbourne Arms (all of 2 miles from home) so Bryce Mansfield led me on the reverse of the ride we did on Tuesday although slightly shorter. A good turn out of the Thursday Fellowship Group filling the beer garden, glorious weather. Bryce pictured here in East Meon where we stopped just before the climb to the top of Old Winchester Hill.

We climbed the hill we had sped down on Tuesday somewhat labouriously but Simon rewarded me at the Sustainability Centre's Beech Cafe with coffee and chocolate cake.This time our coffee stop was a mere 14 mins and we headed back towards our destination in Tichborne into a fairly strong breeze. The views were extensive with the Isle of Wight in the far distance. We are lucky to be able to ride in such a beautiful area. It was great descending Old Winchester Hill at speed , it was quite cool under the shade of the trees.

Having climbed Wheeley Down we knew our serious climbing was done and enjoyed the magnificent views from the ridge before descending through Beauworth to trundle through Cheriton to the pub in Tichborne.

Lots of interest in Simon's fabulous Paris Galibier bike. here he is with it together with his comments.

Eroica Britannia here I come! Over 100 miles ridden in the last 3 days, 70+ plus on the bike I'll being using for Eroica a 1952 Paris Galibier pictured here with me in period dress in East Meon today.

Eventually the day had to end and we soon covered the 2 miles home where I enjoyed a pizza and salad for a late lunch.

GRIDIRONMAN.