Three very different rides culminating in a special event, the Winchester CTC 80 km Spring Ride.

Alresford Groupetta News.

Week ending Sunday 19th March 2016.

Our performances this year have been somewhat mixed. I am fortunate in having plenty of time for myself whereas the others have families and jobs that need their attention. I am sure it won't be long before someone wrests the medals from my sticky fingers.
With rides still to be recorded this week I wonder if I have done enough (132 miles and over 4,900 feet) to hold onto the medals for another week. Watch this space!

Tuesday 29th March 2016.

Thursday 31st March 2016.

The Winchester CTC Spring 80 km Event.

Rides This Week.

Week ending Easter Sunday 27th March 2016.

With a mixed bag of weather this week I chose to ride in the drier spells. As most of you know I have arranged to ride the M2M, (Manche to Med),in June, covering some 700 miles in 15 days. In preparation for this have been trying to improve my stamina by keeping my weekly mileages higher than in previous years. I have had some success having covered over 100 miles in the week for 7 of  the 11 weeks. I have also ridden over 50 miles on a ride on ten occasions the longest ride so far being 68 miles. 

A host of golden daffodils, Swanmore.

I have been experimenting with including more of a report in my maps and details pictures. Feed back on this would be welcome. (Don't forget you can view these full screen by clicking on them)

Tuesday 22nd March 2016.

Thursday 24th March 2016.

Easter Sunday 27th March 2016.

Decided to ride today rather than join the Winchester CTC ride on Saturday as the weather forecast seemed better. Not sure this was borne out by events. I set out in bright sunshine intent on riding to Petersfield, but as I got near to Ropley it started to rain. I had expected that this might happen and I diverted into the village centre where I knew there would be some shelter. I got to the village hall just before it started to rain really hard. l joined a young lady who was already sheltering there with her young Labrador. She phoned home for a lift and while we waited we had a nice chat. The rain soon turned to hail and it absolutely hammered down. I was mighty glad I was under shelter. When it stopped I carried on towards Four Marks planning to have coffee at the GC. As I climbed the hill the hail on the road crackled under my tyres just like a fire. 

An accumulation of hail
on the road near Lyeway

As I was passing a farm the hail and heavy rain came back again. This time I sheltered in an empty farm building. A very brave cyclist passed by in the middle of it all in the opposite direction. She did not hear me shout to her that there was shelter here and continued into the teeth of the storm head down. 

More rain on the way!

When I got to the GC I found it was closed for Easter. Decided to carry on to Medstead to see what the weather was like then. The sun came out, so I carried on to Lasham where I stopped for a coffee at the Gliding Club. I chatted to some bikers. One was riding a Triumph Bonneville very like the Triumph Tiger 100 I owned in 1958.

Set out for home only to find the sun had disappeared behind another bank of clouds and with the wind blowing in my face. It was soon raining again. When I got to Chilton Candover it turned to hail and started to hurt so I dived for shelter again. This time under a very substantial Yew tree on the private drive leading to the big house. 

My third shelter.
 It was amazing how little rain/hail came through the canopy.

I waited here until it eased and set off for home once more. It showered a bit more and of course as I entered Alresford the sun came out. I should have had lunch at the Gliding Club and avoided the worst of the return home weather! Never mind apart from my legs and shoes which had been sprayed by the surface water chucked up both by me and cars, I was reasonably dry. 

Another fun (?) ride! I enjoyed the challenge and added another ton up too! I think I will retain the TUK medal for another week.

Gridironman.

Phil Hampton Memorial Ride

Saturday 19th March 2016.

The culmination of another good week's cycling. I rode to Medstead to join the Alton CTC for one of their special events. Certainly not the easiest way to start a 50 mile event as Medstead is over 400 feet higher than home and the breeze was in my face too. My average speed to the start was only 9.4 mph whereas the speed on the reverse route home after the event was 16.7 mph.

The scene in the Hall.

The village hall was buzzing with the riders having a last minute chat and indulging in the free coffee and biscuits. Dan waiting for others to sign in while Janice chats in the background. 

One of my friends Brian unloading his bike,

The Peleton about to depart. (Picture from Alton CTC FB Page)
Can you spot me?

At ten we were let loose onto the unsuspecting public filling the nearby lanes with cycling fanatics. I was in the middle of the peleton for a short while but it was not long before most of them had come past and were gradually disappearing into the distance. I could see one rider in my mirror about 200 yards behind me for a long time, maintaining about the same pace, however I did not see him/her after Tunworth, so maybe he/she was on the shorter 30 mile route.

Just after Upton Grey I passed a guy, with a bright yellow Hewitt, replacing a flat tube. I was now on my own and trundling along at my own decent pace. In the Old Basing area I managed to muddle up my memory of the route with that of another ride and found myself on the wrong road. Fortunately I had only gone a short way before I realized and was soon back on course. My mistake was actually good news for the rider on the Hewitt, for while I was deviating he had passed me and had also gone astray, so I was able to get him back on the right route. We rode together for the next 20 miles or so enjoying a chat as we went.

He left me behind on the climb to Ibworth but waited for me at the top. (Was this the steepest climb of the day? It certainly felt like it).

Descending from Ibworth at speed I had a frightening moment when on a sharp left hand bend I realized the road was potholed and covered in grit. I shouted a warning to my friend and realizing I mustn't brake took the corner far too fast narrowly missing a large pothole on the exit.

Over the next few miles through Oakley and North Waltham we were passed by other riders who had been passed by us while they took coffee breaks. 

After climbing the short hill under the M3 I had to pause a while as I was getting a bit tired and my Hewitt friend disappeared into the distance. (I did see him once more at the finish so was able to thank him for his company on the ride).

After Preston Candover at the top of the ridge I passed two guys who had paused for a break. They followed me down the hill into Old Alresford but as I climbed the lane from Old Alresford place they appeared ahead of me having taken a short cut, unintentionally they told me later, up Kiln Lane. I tried to keep up with them but failed as they pulled away over the ridge from Bighton to Ropley.

I usually romp up the hill from Ropley to Lyeway but with over 50 miles in my legs I struggled to make it even in bottom gear. Only a couple of miles now and I was back at the hall. Total overall time for the course 4 hrs 45 mins. 

I was really glad to have done so well and enjoyed the inevitable debrief, together with a cheese and tomato roll and a slice of delicious cake made by Janice. 

Our thanks to Dan & Janice and their other helpers for organizing a great event.

I was even home in time to watch the second half of the Welsh tryfest and later of course to see England manage to defeat the French and win the Grand Slam.

Gridironman.

Lovely day for a ride.

Thursday 17th March 2016.

Once again all my Groupetta Pals were otherwise engaged so it was another "billy no mates" ride. However I did get to meet a number of other mates at the pub and had a nice light lunch.

The big advantage of this kind of ride is of course you go where you want at whatever pace suits you. I did stop for an Americano at the Gliding Club in Lasham. Saw one glider take off and one land (maybe the same one, I'm not sure). It was great to sit in the sunshine and watch the various activities taking place.

The hill from Herriard to Upton Grey has a nasty pothole half way down right on the apex of a bend so take care if you are riding that way.

The verges were shining with little gold stars of celandines which open wide in the sun and close when it disappears. Also many primroses nestling like these in the bottom of a hedge.

I had been fighting a little against the NE breeze so I was glad of the easier spell through Upton Grey and Greywell, though that little pitch as you join the T junction on the edge of the village nearly caught me in the wrong gear.

I was at the pub before 12 and found Roger enjoying a cup of coffee whilst plotting a route home with the aid of his map.

We were soon joined by other familiar faces including  Bob had ridden from Chandlers Ford a distance of about 35 miles. Well done Bob.

Regrettably I had to leave by one o'clock due to family commitments later in the day. I chose a largely different way back but had to climb that hill from Upton Grey. 

I was home by 2.30 with plenty of time to have a shower and prepare for my grandaughter's visit for tea. 

Another good day out.

Lunch at the Hawk Conservancy

Another excellent day out, with the company of some friends for about 33 miles of it. I rode alone to Crawley Pond where I joined the others. We decided to go to the Hawk Conservancy for our coffee/lunch break. We climbed over the ridge to Leckford and thence into Longstock. Here we had an unplanned stop of 17 mins while Karen, with some help, had to replace a flat tyre. As usual I trailed on the hills but I was never too far behind and we made good time past Red Rice and through Abbots Ann and Monxton. It was almost mid day when we arrived, so I and a couple of others had a cooked meal while the others rhapsidised over the ginger cake, two pieces for some? We could see a Barn Owl on display from the cafe window.

A few nice (?) pongs along the way with one farmer spreading muck on the field near the Conservancy. A lot of bird activity, I think the brighter weather is encouraging them like us to think maybe spring is here.

A different route back to CP with a split near Longstock wher three of us went South to Houghton and Kings Somborne and four rejoined our outward route in reverse via Leckford.

After Kings Somborne PP and I were now on the last few miles to CP while another rider headed over Farley Mount. We made good time into the breeze thanks to PP pacing me and giving me some shelter. She is definitely getting her previous form back. She was in the lead for most of the day.

I had a short break at CP before tackling the last few miles home. varying my route a little.

By the time I arrived home at 3.30 pm I had covered almost 55 miles and I had broken through the 1,000 miles barrier for the year.

Although I was on Sporty, the slower of my two bikes, I had managed a decent moving speed of almost 12 mph. Thanks guys for helping me along.

Gridironman.

Winchester CTC Short Circuit of the city.

Saturday 12th March 2016.

I was staying at my daughter's house in Kings Worthy so it was only a short ride to the start for once. 

There was a very good turnout, on what was a proper springlike day with lots of sunshine. David had planned an interesting way out of town climbing Quarry Road to join the Alresford Road. Many of the group had not done that before. The Alresford Road was very busy so it was great when we turned off to drop back into the Itchen Valley at Easton.

As we left the village one of the group had a flat tyre. I, knowing the route to the tea stop, told the others to continue and I waited to assist and guide the unfortunate rider the rest of the way. 

We could not find the cause of the problem but after changing the tube we set off again. However all was not well, the tyre was not sitting on the rim correctly. Letting down the tube and re-inflating seemed to help but the rider decided that it still was not right, so he decided to go home to have a proper look at the matter.

I continued to the tea stop where I  found the other 15 still waiting for their tea to be served. I added my order to the list and we were all served together.

Afterwards some of the rugby fans decided to go home whilst ten of us carried on past Three Maids Hill, through Littleton to Sparsholt. Here we turned for home via Dean Lane. I left the group near Harestock and returned to Kings Worthy.

I had only missed the first 10 mins of the Six nations match between England and Wales. What an exciting match! Glad I saw the best part of it.

A short but enjoyable ride which perfectly fitted in with my other commitments.

HCMF Meet at The Half Moon and Spread Eagle, Micheldever.

Thursday 10 March 2016

It was a very uninviting morning at first but I was determined to enjoy meeting some of my pals at Micheldever, so I set off, past the Post Office to post a letter. Then I decided to go via the Candover Valley and North Waltham so I did not arrive too early. The wind was in my face until I turned at Axford, so my speed was well below my usual 11.5 mph. This was not important as I knew the wind would be behind me later on. Near Lasham airfield I stopped for a small snack and a drink and must have omitted to secure the cap of my snack bottle correctly for when I arrived at the pub it was missing. 

There was a modest number of riders once again, the usual regulars and not many more. I was able to sit with a couple of my favourite friends and we had an enjoyable time. 

A little later four more riders arrived from Winchester and points South. Three of whom I had not seen this year including Rodney who was sporting a black eye. Apparently he had a tumble from his bike two weeks ago and was knocked out, requiring the ambulance service. He has no idea how it happened. I'm glad to report that he had no serious consequences and seemed to be in remarkably good spirits. Well done Rodney.

My return route was another wriggly one to clock up a few miles more and to enjoy the fast descent from Northington Woods to Itchen Abbas and then the picturesque way through Ovington. I was still home by 14.45.

Today the sun is shining brightly, why couldn't it have been like that yesterday?

Gridironman.

Winchester CTC Ride to St Mary Bourne

Tuesday 8 March 2016.

I did not wake until 7.56 so I had to get my skates on to ride into Winchester to join the CTC ride. I just made it in time to join a very good size group. There were 14 of us from the start and we were then joined at Crawley Pond by another.

There was a little rain in the air at first but then it brightened up for a while. To get to Stockbridge from Kings Somborne we had to climb our only steep hill of the day. We all made it! I was the designated sweeper so I waited at the top of the hill for the last rider. (I was only just in front!). This route is very quiet and runs along the wooded valley to the edge of the town so it is very pleasant. I heard a spotted woodpecker a couple of times. 

The Farm Shop.

We turned north along the Test Valley and climbed from Longstock to the Waitrose Coffee/Farm Shop for refreshment break.

It was nice to find another of our members here waiting to join us for a short way along the Test Valley. 

Soon after coffee three others needed to leave us to return to Winchester because of other demands on their time, so they left us just after Wherwell.

At the Bourne Valley Inn we found the prices to be on the high side, so many of us opted for items from the starter's menu. I had soup, it was nice enough but only a small cup 3/4 full with a slice of toast, not in my opinion good value for about a fiver. 
We should have gone to The George. See their menu:

http://thegeorgeinnstmarybourne.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/George-Inn-Menu-2014.pdf

My route for the day. Click on it to see full screen.

However we did enjoy a nice social chat. I had not met several of the riders before so it was nice to make new friendships as well as renewing old ones.

After lunch most of the group seemed to be intent on getting up steam to keep warm and to get back to Winchester as soon as possible. However Linda was finding it tough and as I shepherded her along I was conscious that the others were long gone. We did briefly see Martyn, our leader just after Barton Stacey before I decided to take the less hilly way to Stoke Charity via Sutton Scotney. In the former Linda said she could manage the last few miles through Kings Worthy so I left her to ride it alone. 
I continued eastwards  through Micheldever and East Stratton.

I arrived home at 4.15 and was soon enjoying a shower followed by a cup of tea and a tasty piece of cake.

A good day out with friends old and new. Hope the next ride is a bit warmer though.

Gridironman.

Winchester CTC Easy All Day Ride to Lasham GC.

Saturday 5th March 2016.

I woke at 7 a.m., looked out of the window and saw a white lawn. Oh, dear! I was immediately worried that the roads would be dodgy for the ride I was scheduled to lead. I popped round to the local shop to get my newspaper and at the same time check the roads. They were a little frosty with a few patches of ice, but the main B3047 was free of ice. At ten to nine I set out to Winchester and as I rode I noticed the frost was disappearing. I was still uncertain about whether to change my route and told the other 5 riders (Julie, Caroline, Rob, John & Ken), that I might stick to the B road. 

However as we approached the turning to Easton I decided to take the lanes after all. A good decision as the lanes were fine apart from a few icy puddles at the side of the road.

As there were only six of us we stopped for coffee at "Chez Gridironman". I had just enough cake and flapjack for them.

After coffee Rob left us to go to watch Southampton play football.

As we climbed from Bighton to Medstead the sun tried to break through a couple of times and it felt a lot warmer but the cold N wind persisted and we were glad to get into the shelter of the cafe at the Avenue GC.

Service of food was not as good as usual, being so erratic that John had finished his lunch before some of us got ours. A mistake with my order meant that I had to wait over half an hour longer than the others. It was however very good when I got it. 

As we set off for our return journey there was a shower or two, some hail, but thankfully not very heavy. Still a lot of debris on the road in Ellisfield.

Near Northington we saw deer, one shot off along the edge of the field at a very great speed.

The sun lit up the road down the hill to Itchen Abbas like a silver snake. In the village I left the others to find their own way home. I popped into the village hall to see how the "Auction in a Day" was going. A couple of nice pieces of furniture were sold for reasonable prices. However I was keen to get home for a nice hot shower so I didn't stay long.

I was home before 4 having enjoyed a day much better than I had feared when I got up this morning.

Gridironman.

Alresford Groupetta/HCMF Meet at Blacknest.

Thursday 3rd March 2016.

I was keen to try out my legs after the punishment they had taken last Sunday so I suggested a ride for the Groupetta to join the HCMF meet at The Jolly Farmer, Blacknest. I plotted a route of about 36 miles which seemed reasonable. PinkPal & Andrew joined me and we set off just after 10.30. It was good to be back in the saddle once more and I was pleased that I felt fine once I had got warmed up. Only one major climb on our outward journey, the hill to Medstead. I managed this just fine. PinkPal is getting back her fitness too, having ridden at least once a week recently, so she climbed it well too.We opted to descend to Alton via the lane through Thedden and Wivelrod rather than the busier road through Beech.Just after Holybourne the road was closed for major works, however we were allowed through on our bikes.

At the pub we found Charles, Roger, Mick and David and soon afterwards we were joined by Diana & Ray. We had some tasty food chosen from an interesting and unusual menu. The beer was OK too.As we needed to be back by mid afternoon we did not tarry long once we had eaten and headed off back up the hill to Binsted. Not ideal just after lunch as it is quite steep near the top, however we all managed it well and soon were passing through East and West Worldham. There are a lot of converted Oast Houses in this area so hops must  have been a major crop here at one time. Once through Farringdon we encountered our last major climb of the day up Brightstone Lane. (However, we did not shirk when nearly home taking the route over White Hill to finish off the ride.)
I always enjoy the ride down through Ropley, lots of small rough patches, irregularities to avoid and parked vehicles to weave around. A good test of bike handling without any effort. We eventually arrived home before 3 p.m. having enjoyed a good day together. Much more sociable than my ride last Sunday and a lot less hilly!

Gridironman.