‘Rah!  A blog post that actually involves me riding the bike…how exciting is that?  Well, ok, it’s not that exciting, but it feels a bit novel.  As I got ready to ride this morning it felt like it had been so long since I’d been on my bike… I’d gotten to that place where you almost think you’ve forgotten how.  And my layering yardstick was all off kilter too.  The faff factor increased exponentially…  Luckily GB turned up at my place early so was able to offer informed advice as to what to wear.  Off came the Gore winter jacket, on went the black Rapha winter jersey.  I figured that even if he wasn’t right I would at least feel and look good in it.  That’s important, right? ;).

I was a bit apprehensive about riding full stop.  I had to call yesterday’s gym session short when I wiped out completely which didn’t really bode well.  I figured it was better to cut my losses and come home and have half a chance of being able to ride today than to push it too far.  But still…  So I made a point of eating properly yesterday, even if it didn’t sit well with me, and got me an early night.

Which brings us to this morning, when 7 of the ACG massed outside King John’s Hunting Lodge.  A real mixed bunch – from the usual suspects to newbies and returnees.  It was grey, fairly mild, but bl**dy windy!  It was GB’s route, since he wanted to be taken up the Gorge for the first time this year.  Apparently double entendres are juvenile and not at all funny…so we spent some time coming up with some equally immature jests involving motions and movements.  The things you do to pass time going uphill… ;).

The climb spread the group out quite a bit, but I did way better than I expected to, and particularly enjoyed the moment when, after the last steep bit, the tailwind cut in and helped push me along for a while!  There’s a gathering place not far from the top where generally we wait until we’re all together again, to which 5 of us made it…  The last two were so far behind that GB and I went to look for them – since that kind of delay implies puncture, as was indeed the case.  One of them was on his way back to join us already, so we continued down to find the afflicted rider.  GB stayed to help fix it, I sallied back up to the others and we decided to split up as it was too nippy to be hanging around waiting any longer.  Our recent newbie IT came back down with me to pick up the other two (more miles never hurt right?) – so, in case you’re confused – that’s 3 gone ahead, and 4 to catch up. Keeping up?

Across the top, along a beautifully resurfaced bit of road, which caused GB at least to wax most lyrical even if it was into the wind, before descending down Burrington Combe.  Wind braking!  In fact there may well have been some pedalling required.  Outrageous but…at least that way I get to feel more in control of the bike.  The car behind me sat a very respectful and restrained distance back leaving me to get on with having fun all the way to the bottom :).  I thanked him with a wave and a smile at the crossroads too – gotta love a cycling friendly motorist.  At this point one of our 4 musketeers decided to take a more direct route to coffee, having worn himself out doing something tri-related yesterday, while the remaining 3 cut across in a Blagdon type direction and caught the other 3 on the way.  So that’s 1 gone ahead, and 6 to join up.  With me?

We wiggled around the back roads there, which are always lumpier and muddier than you’d think.  There’s one which is actually more riverbed than anything else – complete with flowing water and everything.  There’s also quite a long climb out of Nempnett.  The sort of long slow climb where you can sort of forget what you’re doing, leaving your body to get on with it and your mind to wander…in other words my kind of climb.  And Brockley Combe is my kind of descent.  Nice and sheltered, nice and smooth, not too bendy.  Fun :).

The wind across the flat bits after that wasn’t a lot of fun, and we spread out a bit again.  Mind you overall GB’s route did a pretty good job of keeping us out of it in so far as that’s possible.  By the time we got to the Strawberry Line Café, I definitely needed a coffee though.

old railway poster

Not only was our advance scout there waiting for us, but so was Dad, which was nice :).  We colonised the café pretty conclusively, as you can see.

Dad, aka the Captain

four of the ACG

three of the ACG

Coffee and cake for £3 can’t be bad.  Well actually if you’re me, it can.  The banana loaf was very nice, it really was, but food really isn’t doing me much good at the moment so…

..time to go home.  Nice, direct, fast.  We totally split up and spread out, which ain’t great on the G is for Group front, but I really needed to be at home feeling sorry for myself, and besides which it was cold, so pushing a bit warms you up.  I know, enough with the excuses already :).

No hanging around.  Yatton, Congresbury, Churchill, Sandford, and back up Winscombe Hill, just as a final kicker.  Someone is very concerned about the possibly plight of frogs there.  Or toads.  Last year’s signs were a little on the amateur side, but this year’s are in a whole different league.

amphibian alert!

another amphibian alert

I have to admit to having taken the last two photos a little later on, as had I done so then it would have meant stopping and losing what little momentum I had!  I’ve never seen a frog or toad there, squashed or otherwise, but clearly it’s a big issue ;).

Cycling time: 2:43:50 hrs
Distance: 42.36 miles.
AVS: 15.5 mph.
ODO: 11748 miles

I hit 31 mph down the bypass to home without really trying, thanks to the wind, which was the best kind of way to wrap up a ride.  Since we’d been scattered starburst stylee by the wind and the weather, each man for themselves, I just went straight home. A good ride, which went far better than expected, and also an about time too ride 🙂