Tuesday 4th August 2015. Basingstoke to Chapel Row.
Three of the Alresford Groupetta joined 5 other riders to explore North Hampshire and Berkshire. We met at West Ham leisure centre car park, Basingstoke. Unfortunately the car park is very large, about half a mile long so whilst four of us were waiting at one end the other four were at the other. Eventually we linked up and left about ten minutes later than our planned time of ten o'clock.
We wended our way through a series of cycle paths and small roads and over a footbridge to avoid the worst of the traffic.
Simon and I were paying strict attention to the route as we were using one we ought to have used last Saturday to avoid the centre of the town.
As you will see from the map, our route was roughly due North passing through Baughurst where David, one of my friends, lives. We didn't see him.
We crossed the the Avon and Kennet Canal, the railway and the A4 in Woolhampton and then climbed to upper Woolhampton. We passed a very interesting complex of buildings. They are part of
Douai Abbey which is home to a community of monks of the English Benedictine Congregation. The monastery is under the patronage of St Edmund, King & Martyr, and was founded in Paris in 1615. Uprooted by the French Revolution it settled at Douai in Flanders. After more political turmoil the monastic community finally returned to England in 1903, settling at Woolhampton in Berkshire, at the invitation of the Bishop of Portsmouth. More information can be found here: http://www.douaiabbey.org.uk/
A short while after we arrived at our coffee stop in Chapel Row where we were well looked after by a rather earnest young lady.
Our return route was a little longer than our morning one taking a route to the East of Tadley, not far from where Richard, another of my pals, lives in Pamber Heath. We were soon on the roads that Simon and I ought to have taken last week on our return trip from Odiham.
It was another very enjoyable day out.
On the top of the ridge soon after we had passed the Golden Pot we met our friend David Moseley again. Of course we stopped for a chat. We descended to Long Sutton and then climbed to Well hamlet where this well is situated. (No longer in use).
We were soon in Farnham and having climbed the hill to the Castle were exploring its ramparts. It appears to be very well looked after by English Heritage and there is a very well prepared information room with a animated display of the history of the castle.
Our return route was a little easier though we manage the steep climb of 1 in 7 in East Worldham and later Brightstone Lane.
We stopped for a coffee and strudel at the Country market, Kingsley; never had such large cups, they must have held nearly a pint!
We made good time along the A40 to Crickhowell where we did a circuit of the town because the way we had thought to go was an unfavourable one way. We crossed the narrow bridge over the River Usk before continuing to follow the river valley to the west. We intended to do a loop round some small lanes towards Talybont reservoir. We crossed a hump back bridge over the canal.
However the visit was well worth while. This castle seems to be in private ownership but we were given a very friendly welcome and afterwards Simon put a donation in the honesty box. Preparations were being made for a wedding the following day. What a romantic place for a wedding.
No cycling for us today. But we did get to see the last nine laps of the short loop of the Grand Prix of Wales, after they had ridden our route of yesterday, twice.
It was a good race won by Chris Lawless with Graham Briggs who won the Criterium on Friday coming a close third behind Yanto Barker.
It had been a fabulous week of cycling for me. 153 miles ridden in four rides with the added excitement of watching two excellent races.
Thanks very much to my friend Simon his wife Sarah and her mother Gwen for putting me up and entertaining me so royally.
Gridironman.
A short while after we arrived at our coffee stop in Chapel Row where we were well looked after by a rather earnest young lady.
Our return route was a little longer than our morning one taking a route to the East of Tadley, not far from where Richard, another of my pals, lives in Pamber Heath. We were soon on the roads that Simon and I ought to have taken last week on our return trip from Odiham.
It was another very enjoyable day out.
Thursday 6th August 2015. A Visit to Farnham Castle.
The Groupetta planned another castle visit but in the end only Simon & I were able to make it. Our destination this time was Farnham Castle. Both of us had been past it before but neither had visited it.
Here is our map from which you will be able to see we chose a hilly route to test our legs.
We were soon in Farnham and having climbed the hill to the Castle were exploring its ramparts. It appears to be very well looked after by English Heritage and there is a very well prepared information room with a animated display of the history of the castle.
Our return route was a little easier though we manage the steep climb of 1 in 7 in East Worldham and later Brightstone Lane.
We stopped for a coffee and strudel at the Country market, Kingsley; never had such large cups, they must have held nearly a pint!
Friday 7th August 2015. Day 1 in Abergavenny.
I must confess my little legs were a little tired the following morning as I prepared to go cycling in Wales. However by the time Simon's wife had driven us to Abergavenny and had lunch in the Lamb & Flag I was ready for a gentle evening ride with Simon to Llangynidr.
We made good time along the A40 to Crickhowell where we did a circuit of the town because the way we had thought to go was an unfavourable one way. We crossed the narrow bridge over the River Usk before continuing to follow the river valley to the west. We intended to do a loop round some small lanes towards Talybont reservoir. We crossed a hump back bridge over the canal.
Then found the road surface was poor and the hill was much longer & steeper than we had imagined. I was beaten by it. After I had walked about a quarter of a mile Simon who had ridden ahead came back with the bad news that he had not even seen the top and suggested we should abandon our plan and return to the valley. (The ceremonial stripping me of my Polka Dot cycling jersey will take place at some future date to be arranged!)
The return journey was much more fun being fast, especially when we found ourselves by mistake on a dual carriageway. Luckily the traffic was light in our direction with the Westward carriageway being much busier, feeding the Heads of The Valleys Road.
A good ride despite my shortcomings!
Later that evening we were able to enjoy watching the Criterium around the town centre. Fast and furious riding. After watching from various parts of the course we ended up beside the Start/Finish line where Hugh Porter was providing an informative & entertaining commentary.
The race was won by Graham Briggs.
Saturday 8th August 2015. Day 2 in Abergavenny.
Simon and I decided to ride the course of the Grand Prix of Wales to be run on Sunday. There was a little confusion over the exact route as the road signs did not agree with the sketch map we had been given. Simon, wisely, decided to follow the arrows. This took us through the town of Usk where we discovered another castle to visit. The entrance was guarded by a horrible cattle grid with very widely spaced bars. I had a major problem in walking across it. (There was no question of riding over).
However the visit was well worth while. This castle seems to be in private ownership but we were given a very friendly welcome and afterwards Simon put a donation in the honesty box. Preparations were being made for a wedding the following day. What a romantic place for a wedding.
Once out of Usk we had our first serious climb of the day, not hard, but quite long, some of it climbed at over 10 mph!
Our reward was a very long stretch of downhill to Raglan. The views were lovely with hills all around, the fields mainly green pasture but also some arable crops of wheat, barley and maize.
A good display of wild flowers too, Th MCC seem to have sown a lot of wild flower seed on the roundabouts and in other shared spaces. Well done!
We paused for lunch at the Somerset Inn. I have noticed a number of such named pubs in Monmouth. I wonder if there is a connection with the Monmouth Rebellion which had is heart in Somerset?
Refreshed we continued into Monmouth, bypassing the town. As we headed out of the town we were passed by five riders. They were from the PolyPipe team with a team car escorting them. No doubt they were checking the route for Sunday.
They remarked as they rode past England beats Wales. I wonder what they would have thought if they had realised that those two guys in the Alresford Groupetta, Welsh Branch, strip were actually from England. They were all probably at least 35 years younger too!
I found the return route to Abergavenny quite hard, no doubt because I had already ridden over 100 miles in the week. It was hilly but none of the hills were any higher than those we encounter in Hampshire. Simon pointed out various points of interest as we rode. It was a lovely afternoon with sunshine but not too hot.
You can see from the data and map that we managed a decent average of 12.2 mph.
A good display of wild flowers too, Th MCC seem to have sown a lot of wild flower seed on the roundabouts and in other shared spaces. Well done!
We paused for lunch at the Somerset Inn. I have noticed a number of such named pubs in Monmouth. I wonder if there is a connection with the Monmouth Rebellion which had is heart in Somerset?
Refreshed we continued into Monmouth, bypassing the town. As we headed out of the town we were passed by five riders. They were from the PolyPipe team with a team car escorting them. No doubt they were checking the route for Sunday.
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Alresford Groupetta, Welsh Branch. |
They remarked as they rode past England beats Wales. I wonder what they would have thought if they had realised that those two guys in the Alresford Groupetta, Welsh Branch, strip were actually from England. They were all probably at least 35 years younger too!
I found the return route to Abergavenny quite hard, no doubt because I had already ridden over 100 miles in the week. It was hilly but none of the hills were any higher than those we encounter in Hampshire. Simon pointed out various points of interest as we rode. It was a lovely afternoon with sunshine but not too hot.
You can see from the data and map that we managed a decent average of 12.2 mph.
Sunday 9th August 2015. Third day in Abergavenny.
No cycling for us today. But we did get to see the last nine laps of the short loop of the Grand Prix of Wales, after they had ridden our route of yesterday, twice.It was a good race won by Chris Lawless with Graham Briggs who won the Criterium on Friday coming a close third behind Yanto Barker.
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| The Victory Podium of The GP of Wales. Left to right Yanto Barker, Chris Lawless & Graham Briggs. |
It had been a fabulous week of cycling for me. 153 miles ridden in four rides with the added excitement of watching two excellent races.
Thanks very much to my friend Simon his wife Sarah and her mother Gwen for putting me up and entertaining me so royally.
Gridironman.
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