The ACG turned out at 9:30am, to unseasonal warmth and sunshine.  There were 6 of us, split into two groups, which worked well.  One half went off one way, and the other half, myself included, headed off to the Walled Garden at Wrington for coffee and cake.  It’s nearer than I’d remembered, and it only took us about 45 relatively easy minutes to get there.  It’s clearly very popular with cyclists too – as there were others there, and a group of 24 due in!   It was a very lovely place to sit – nice cake, great views.  What more do you want?  Well, if you’re K, a bacon butty, but he reckons just for once that he wouldn’t have had one even if he could *grin*.

Off we went again, and discovered the reason it had been relatively easy all the way there.  Very strong headwind!  That’ll do it every time…  We slogged back towards Sandford from whence we were due to loop out and ’round again…

The wind blew.  The roads were horrible – wet, covered in leaves, muddy, full of pot holes and manhole covers, one of which nearly took me out in Winscombe.  Every obstacle was panicking me, and I’d slow down too much, and then have to try and catch up – I just couldn’t loosen up today.  And it’s not like I was fast anyway – I don’t know if it was knowing I had to get back in time to get out again, or due to the time of the month, the related medication I’m on, being slightly over dressed, the red wine last night, the moon being in Capricorn (or some such), but it really wasn’t happening for me today.

So, when we got back to Sandford, I bailed.  The other two headed off as planned, and I took the direct route home up and through Winscombe.  Oddly enough, my average speed went up, probably because I only had myself to worry about and could relax a bit more.  And then there’s the 25mph down the bypass which was very enjoyable 🙂

Cycling time: 1:27:01
Distance: 20.50 miles
Avs: 14.1 mph
ODO: 2528 miles

Not the greatest ride ever, but it was still good to get out.  I’ll be posting again later, but that’ll do for now 🙂

The ACG were out again this morning, albeit only 3 of us.  The others don’t know what they were missing…

G led us the direct way to Brean Down, taking in the hills at the Webbington and Bleadon, where we stopped at the café there for tea and in my case, a very nice cherry scone.  I do like their scones 🙂  Then it was back in more circuitous, and flatter, fashion.  The long straight bits between Mark and Burtle were the kind of heaven cyclists probably dream about.  Apart from the ones that like hills that is.  It really was perfect cycling weather – again! – especially on the way back, with the wind at our heels, the sun shining.  The only slight draw back was that the weather was so lovely an awful lot of motorists were insisting on being out and enjoying it too!  Very inconsiderate *grin*.

Having taken the plunge and dug the longs out I was nice and warm too – warm enough to take the arms off the top layer half way ’round – so I think I’d got it just about right.  Clothing decisions are a nightmare!

Cycling time: 2:13:53
Distance: 37.00 miles
Avs: 16.4 mph
ODO: 2368 miles

As you can see, we weren’t hanging around.  G and I flew back – apparently he was desperate to get back and go up Shipham Hill (strange man) where as I was more keen on just getting home!  There was another serious looking cyclist in the distance on the bypass home, and it being one of my favourite stretches, I had to go rabbit chasing…  I kicked off, reeled him in, and went smoothly past at speed before turning in for home.  Very satisfying.  Mind you, after all that effort, I was drenched by the time I got home!  I think it was worth it for the buzz… 🙂

PS: minus the winscombe/shipham bit, our route is here.

A little while ago The Railway Inn in Yatton got in touch with me, and invited the ACG to pop over some time.  Well, any excuse for a pub lunch works for me, so today was an ACG jolly.  Everyone was up for it, and committed to coming along, so that the pub knew roughly how many people to expect.  It all got a tad complicated but…essentially there were three groups.  One for the hill inclined, one for the Strawberry Line, and one for anyone else to get there anyhow else.  For some reason I’d convinced myself that hills were a good idea, which made me one of 5 who set off from the Square at 9:30am.

The route had nothing to do with me, which is probably just as well.  If I’d be warned I’d be going up the Gorge for the second time in a week, I might well have had second thoughts!  Yatton is only 10 miles away, but we went a properly circuitous and lumpy route that included the Gorge, Charterhouse, Blagdon, Butcombe/Redhill and Wrington Hill.  The latter was a killer so it was a case of mp3 player in, head down, and plod…for quite some considerable time!  I think my legs may feel it in the morning.  I could definitely feel that the odd glass of wine I may have had last night probably wasn’t such a good idea *grin*.

Having done the hilly bit, we did a nice flat loop round from Cleeve to Yatton, and had an awesome sprint down Kenn Moor Road into Yatton – doing some serious speed.  OK, so I started it, but if I’d remembered quite how long that road was I might not have done.  It was fun though 🙂

We were joined at the pub around midday by those from all the other routes, as well as family and friends which made around 25 people in total – a fantastic turnout.  Some of them were even mad enough to cycle home too, but I wimped out (bike racks are great!) and enjoyed a well earned pint (ok two) with a very generous and reasonably priced Roast Pork lunch.  At £5 a head for lunch, and £2 for apple pie and ice-cream, all enjoyed sitting outside, in the sun, in September…well, you can’t go far wrong with that 🙂

Cycling time: 2:02:53
Distance: 27.83 miles
Avs: 13.5 mph
ODO: 1924 miles

It was a lovely ride, and a really sociable occasion.  Definitely worth doing something similar again in the future I reckon 🙂

If you’re interested, and this works, according to GB, this was our route.  If you did the whole thing and didn’t bail at Yatton of course *grin*.

PS:  S joined us for lunch and, the Man from Delmonte, he say yes!  Yes – he agreed to do the 2011 Etape with me.  He did attempt to add caveats afterwards but…really, too late…*grin*  Mind you he has deprived me of several happy months of nagging and cajoling…  Come to think of it, maybe that was why he caved.   😀

Another Sunday, another ACG ride.  Only 5 of us this time – the usual suspects – and we headed out at 9:30am to go to the seaside.  We kinda made the route up as we went along – being organised like that.  First off it was out of town and up (and then down) Winscombe Hill.  I don’t like that down at all – it’s very wiggly, there’s a high likelihood of cars coming in the opposite direction, there’s frequently gravel/leaves/wet on the road…  So, that didn’t go so well (she says gripping the handlebars and braking too much) but luckily that turned out to be the worst of the downs today.  After that it was a wiggle round the back roads and then up the steep bit to come out at by Banwell Castle – a little stinker that – where a peacock was waiting for us…giving a handy opportunity for me to catch my breath whilst pretending to admire it.  😉

From Banwell we were on to the levels across towards Puxton, then round Sand Bay before another steep up past the Commodore Hotel to reach the toll road.  Along the swoopy toll road, which is always good fun, and we arrived at our coffee stop in Kewstoke.  I never can remember the name of the place, but it’s probably The Cliffs Tea Rooms, on the RHS just before and above the old pier.  I’ve always meant to stop there but never managed to.  Well, today we did, parking in the bike stands provided, and I can proper recommend the carrot cake *grin*.

Off again, and down into Weston to admire the grockles, and all the “street” cars that were attending some meet or other on the lawns.  By this time folk were getting a little spread out, and then further separated by traffic lights, so following a well-established tradition, by the time we reached the main road we were a man down.   One intrepid soul headed off in search and rescue fashion (I think he just wanted an excuse to hare off and add some miles *grin*) and we were, albeit briefly, back together again.  Rather than come back via that Bleadon Hill, we turned right off the main road instead and came back through Lympsham…by which time we were two groups.  A three – including me – and a two.  We wiggled our way back separately, past the Rookery and Webbington Hotels and back to the Square.  Ah well, it wouldn’t be right if it all went to plan!  😉

Cycling time: 2:05:14
Distance: 31.79 miles
Avs: 15.1 mph
ODO: 1723 miles

Apart from some drizzle around Sand Bay, we were lucky with the weather.   I’ve decided to work at corners, and then I can work at downhill corners.  One step at a time…  The best thing of all is that, post cleat tweaking, my knee didn’t twinge at all!  It felt a bit weird to start with, with the slightly different position, but no pain is definitely a gain! *grin*.  I know I keep saying it, but I’m really enjoying riding at the mo.  Bet it’s a different kettle of fish soon when the temperature plummets, the layers come on and the summer, such as it was, really has gone.

PS: my new Stelvio Raceguards + 2 new tubes arrived earlier this week from Schwalbe in black/silver.  Very cool :).  Looking forward to getting my Ultremo Rs as well – they should be brill for next season.

A larger than usual contingent of the ACG gathered in the Square on Saturday morning – eight of us in fact.  After a brief conflab we decided to head out to Glastonbury, which is about the right distance and fairly flat.  We stuck to the usual kind of route from Cheddar to Wedmore and then across the levels out to Glastonbury where the roads are quieter.   We got a bit spread out from time to time on the main roads but, oddly for us, actually managed not to lose anyone permanently!  Well, not until after the coffee stop when two of us had other places to see, leaving 6 of us to make the return journey in fairly similar fashion.

It was a really good ride.  Everyone was at the same speed, flying along happily.  The weather was mostly ok…until the end when it started raining, something the gathering clouds had been warning us about for some time.  I got to enjoy my favourite bit of road again and put my head down and zoomed back to home, undeterred by the rain.

Cycling time: 2:09:56
Distance: 34.45 miles
Avs: 15.9 mph
ODO: 1661 miles

The bike was feeling good, my left knee only twinged a bit, and I had a really good enjoyable ride.  I think we all did.  Well, possibly apart from the two that were unlucky enough to be stung by wasps…yuck.  I’m feeling quite positive about my riding, but am still disastrous down hills and am going to have to work at that…I think I’ll start by putting grippier tyres on the bike for the winter, that should help!

My last ride before the “big one”.  I managed to find a member of the ACG to join me – my instincts were telling me that going out on my own was a bad idea, but I needed to test out the bike post-service and me post-accident – so I was really pleased to have company.  Instincts are there for a reason you know, and whenever I ignore them, well, that’s when I come a cropper, and I can live without doing that again for a while!  *grin*

We did one of my usual easy training loops ’round the levels, not pushing it, just enjoying being out and having a chat.  I felt a bit wobbly early on, especially going down a wet Winscombe hill, but after a while I got a bit more into it.  I’m still a bit more cautious than I was I think, but hopefully that will wear off.  We nearly missed the rain…but not quite, and got soaked from Wedmore home.  Ah well…I guess that will have washed any dirt off the bike!

Cycling time: 2:01:47
Distance: 29.76 miles
Avs: 14.6 mph
ODO: 1263 miles

I don’t plan on getting on the bike again before the L2P now.  I need to get my kit all washed and sorted, and my packing done.  There’s a pile growing in the front room…which I plan on finishing tomorrow night.  So, nearly there now then.  3 whole days and that’s it…and in a week’s time, it’ll all be over already.  How weird is that?!  🙂