Count Down to M2M and Winchester CTC Ride to Hannington.

Less than six weeks to go now until my epic journey across France.

https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Bryce-Mansfield4

Saturday 30th April 2016.

Another good work out to practice my climbing yesterday with Winchester CTC,

Gridironman.

Winchester CTC Informal Ride to Mud Island GC near Boarhunt & other rides.

Thursday 28th April 2016.Alresford Groupetta ride to meet the HCMF at the Avenue Garden Centre, Lasham.

Tuesday 26th April 2016Winchester CTC Informal Ride to The Mud Island GC.

Don't forget you can view all pictures full screen by clicking on them.

Gridironman.

To Kingsclere for Coffee, HCMF Where were you? and To Finchdean for Lunch.

Saturday 23rd April 2016.

St. Georges Day!

Thursday 21st April 2016

The Source of the Lovely Scent

Blackthorn Winter.

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Tuesday 19th April 2016.

Three More Rides this Week, a HCMF Meet, A personal nostalgic Ride and an Audax.

Sunday 17th April 2016.

The Levels!

Saturday 16th April 2016.

Aubretia making a lovely Splash of colour near Trull.

Thursday 14th April 2016.

I was not sure about joining the HCMF meet today as I had in the past found The George Inn expensive, so I suggested we might meet at the other pub, The Izaak Walton. Unfortunately it was closed!  Here is my report of the day:-

Gridironman.

Winchester CTC Tuesday Ride.

Tuesday 12th April 2016. 

The forecast was mainly for good weather with the possibility of thundery showers. Fortunately we did not have any of the latter. It was overcast and misty in places to start but the day gradually improved and the afternoon was lovely and sunny, Cycmon and  I rode to the WH where we joined the Winchester CTC Tuesday ride. A good number of riders were there, all fairly strong.

We had gone less than three miles when the first drama unfolded. Ken had a puncture. This held us up for about 15 mins.

After the lovely down hill run to Standon I was of course last up Mardon Castle hill and when they waited for me at the top I zoomed past and led the "slower" group to Poppies. 

John  and Janet were already there having made their own way.

I was first of the group in the queue for coffee.

However I was to pay for my treachery later at Dandy's Ford where I had to wait to be served my lunch until everyone else had finished. I think the others had told the cooks what I'd done and they made me suffer. I know now not to be last to order a baked potato at Dandy's.

Sue explains how she would have mended it.

It was gone 2 by the time we set off for home but the dramas were not over. First a lose brake had to be fixed and then Ken had another problem, this time a broken gear cable. He had to ride the rest of the way home on a single gear. He made a very good job of that.

Regrouping Discussions outside Mottisfont House Grounds,
while we wait for John and Rob who had gone to look for us!

After King's Somborne we split into two groups one group of nine going via Farley Mount the other of seven through Crawley. One rider continued into Littleton whilst six of us continued to Three Maid's Hill where we split again. 

Cycmon once again set a good pace over the last six miles with PinkPal and I following closely in his wake. We parted company at "Farewell Corner" our regular dispersal point at the bottom of New Farm Road after using the footbridge over the river Itchen.

Another eventful but most enjoyable day out.

Nature Notes.

Bluebells now well out in many places. A lovely swathe of them in the woods at the top of Mardon Castle Hill. Sorry didn't have time to snap them! Lots of other flowers coming out with the fine weather. Tulips and Honesty on the roadside in one place and of course the carpets of Celandines are still everywhere. Skylarks singing and the ubiquitous Chaffinch singing his repetitive  trill in lots of the hedgerows. Also heard Robins a Wren.

Pace Judging & Free Wheeling.

Alresford Groupetta News.

Seems like we have all had other fish to fry this past week. Paddy being the only one to make a sustained effort which is rewarded by him taking the KOM medal. I retain the TUK medal as no one has exceeded the ton. In fact we only just managed it as a group!

Winchester CTC Special Event.

Gridironman.