Four More Days of Fun.

Ride One.

 Tuesday 6th June 2017.

Simon's report:

I had to rethink the route for this Sunday's VCC ride as the Bridge at Shawford wanted all the orders for meals in 48 hours beforehand! So I booked the Dolphin at Hursley. So today Bryce and I tested the new route, we weren't expecting to undertake a Cyclocross event, but with 2 trees down and branches across much of our route it began to approach such. Well it was ridden on the cycle paths across Winchester, see if you can spot King Alfred? 

Recorded 36 miles - still high winds but just avoided the rain. I must change the tyres on the Hetchins as I started the day repairing a puncture straight out of the shed, then picked another up 6 miles from home!

Ride No:2 

Thursday 8th June 2017.

Simon's report of the day:

Local BBC weather forecast this morning was for a mainly dry day with the possibility of a shower much like yesterday (but the cows were sitting down so perhaps I should have known better)! Now yesterday here was sunshine for nearly all the day - which was rather fortunate as I fitted a bike carrier to the rear door of Bryce's new Camper Car. Sooooo....I thought I'd ride one of the old bikes, in this case 68 year old Holdsworth LaQuelda of 1949. I also donned period attire with my 1940's hand knitted wool jersey. As soon as I got on the bike the rain started and basically didn't stop until we got to the pub! Its quite a challenge stopping a 70 year old bike on a steep descent with wet rims and brake blocks that were those originally fitted - exciting times. 


Today's chosen Pub was the birth place of Cricket, the Bat & Ball at Hambledon, it was so wet outside I decided I'd take some photo's inside of the historic pictures hanging on the walls. We ventured out after lunch still to be greeted by rain but about 6 miles from home it began to cease and brighten up, I asked Bryce to take a photo of me on the Holdsworth but I was obviously travelling so fast I was just a blur! Well I let you decide if it was operator error or my amazing speed?? 




I trust all my UK pals have voted now - an incentive of voting in Country regions is that some of the polling stations are Public Houses! One pictured here of the Tichborne Arms.

Bryce hugging the hedge to keep dry.

The drizzle whipping across the hills.

Ride No: 3. 

Saturday 10th June 2017.

A very enjoyable day in an area I know a little. It was great to revive memories of my first sweetheart. Elizabeth lived in Corse Lawn and I enjoyed my  last cycle ride with her  near the Malvern Hills some 64 years ago! Sadly she married a "Pongo".

There were about 35 of us taking part in the 100 km event, the 200 km riders had left earlier at 8 o'clock. We were soon out of Tewkesbury and bowling along at a good rate with a tail wind. I found myself in a small group of five somewhere in the middle of the extended peloton. I let them go on at our first information point and rode with three others for a while. The countryside was lovely some arable but a lot dairy farming. Very pleasant typical English Villages and churches too. We encountered two weddings that had just taken place.

At the first control, at Croome Park, there was no one to check us in, we were on our honour to actually pass through there. I rode on alone to the next check point which was at the "Singing Kettle" somewhere on the top of the Malvern Hills. 

This was the easy approach to the steep bit
 just behind the church.

A tough climb to get up to the top with a maximum gradient of about 1 in 6. I managed to climb the steepest bit, just, and then just on the last few hundred yards there were temporary traffic lights and I had to stop. I was unable to get going again so walked for about 80 yards before it eased a little and I managed to restart. I did not stay long at the tea room, preferring to get a move on as rain was threatening. A good decision as I eventually got back to the finish before the rain came.

A very fast descent managing, according to Strava, 38.7 m.p.h. 

No. It is not Creawley Pond.
This one is in Apperley.

I rode for a few miles with two other guys,through a gate and across a common and then many more lanes before our next control in a pub near the river Severn where there was a wedding reception in full swing. We were into our last few miles now which I rode on my own seeing other riders from time to time as they passed me or when I passed them. 

The second wedding had just finished in the church in Deerhurst Village. This Church was our last point to be visited to ascertain the full name before the triumphant return to Tewkesbury. I was extremely pleased to discover I had completed the course in a little over 6 hours. (5 hours 4 Minutes riding time).

Roundabout decorations as one enters Tewkesbury.

 My Brevet Card.

Ride No: 4 

Sunday 11th June 2017.

We met in the station car park where the "War on the Line" was taking place. This happens every year. Here are some pictures which I took before we started.