News for April 2015

Thursday 2nd April 2015. Ashton to Portishead. Report from Bill Balchin: Another seasonal milestone was passed last Sunday when the clocks went forward. I heard about a native American Indian who said that only a white man could cut the top off a blanket, sew it onto the bottom and think that he had a longer blanket. Anyhow, it was supposed to mark the start of summer time, but actually brought a cold day with strong winds and non-stop rain. The winds continued during the week but by Thursday had petered out leaving a cool and cloudy day but much lighter winds - we'll take it. Lara joined us at the Ashton start. I would have liked to have waxed lyrical about her golden hair streaming out from under her BTOTC cap in the sunshine but with no sunshine all day and a load of grey haired geezers under a grey sky my literary options were limited. Keith Borissow was today's leader offering a tour of Bristol before a tour of Portishead Marina. The twelve strong group started towards Ashton Court before quickly turning right, past the allotments, under the road network and over the river to the Create centre. Along the cobbles of the chocolate path there must have been some blurred vision as the front of the peloton took the left turn for the floating harbour while the back half followed the wrong person to the end and ended up by the Bathurst Basin. A quick call and we were back together by the Princes Street Bridge. Along the waterside and over the bridge towards the Ostrich pub we passed the Golden Guinea and found some cobbled streets to take us to Redcliffe Way. If Bristol council wants to put on a cycle race in the mould of Paris Roubaix they have the ingredients. Through Queens Square onto the centre and along Anchor Road there seemed to be a lot more buildings since the last time I was in central Bristol. Then the climb of Bridge Valley Road took us onto the relative calm of Durham Downs. Keith's route took us round the houses on a winding ride past the posh mansions of Sneyd Park, posh houses of Westbury on Trym and finally into Shirehampton where we crossed the Avon on the M5 bridge. Since I was last out this way the old railway line has been stripped of overgrown vegetation and looks almost ready for rail traffic - apart from a few yards where it has been tarmacked over for cyclists. After wriggling past thousands of new Toyotas we came out on the Sheepway followed by a ride through the marina. They reckon that most people own a bike that spends most of its time stuck in a garage. I wonder how many of the boats in the marina ever get out to sea, it's always full when I go past. Just the climb out of Portishead and we arrived at the Windmill at about ten to twelve - always a good idea to beat the rush at this popular venue. I am a fan of country pubs but I cannot fault the Windmill for its choice of beer, great value meals, slick service and super location. And all this while catering for hordes of customers. In fact everything was so slick that most people had finished their meal and drink before one. So we had an unhurried chat with Bry Trott and Phil Hodgson who had made their own way plus the easy rider group who had pootled along just after us. Pete mentioned a cycle firm called Temple Cycles who emailed via the website to ask if they could mention our group in their blog - go for it. I have put a link to their site on our links page. Then it was time for an early departure back into Portishead and over the bridge again. Apart from Lara who was determined to risk the mud of the Pill path despite Keith's warnings. The tour of Bristol - where did we actually go? Thursday 9th April 2015. Amcor to Slimbridge. Report from Bill Balchin: Oh yes! The day we have been waiting for. In a week of warm dry weather it was going to continue into Thursday for our cycle ride to Slimbridge. The early morning chill made long sleeve tops coupled with short trousers the popular choice. Judging by the pasty whiteness of most of the legs on display it was the first time for many - although it was easy to spot who had recently been on a caribean holiday. Our leader today was Mark Brough who takes the leading duties very seriously. He had tried to work out a different route but Winterbourne to Slimbridge is such a distance that there is not much scope for anything other than a fairly direct run if you don't want to be late at the lunch stop. So the seventeen strong peloton followed the well tested ride

through Tytherington, Damery and into Stinchcombe. Mark was vigilant about keeping the group together but had the added nuisance of me continually overtaking then dropping back trying to video the ride for another BTOTC masterpiece - well a piece of some sort.

Mark put his own stamp on the route at Cromall where we climbed up Knapp Lane to go past Leyhill prison. That can be a bit of a nightmare (Knapp Lane I mean, not the prison) but today it was dry with a minimum amount of debris - like most of the roads we used today. We skirted around Cam via Elstub Lane where you ride past open fields high above the Berkley Vale before dropping down on a cycle track to rejoin the main road. It was on that section that we passed a bloodied cyclist nursing his wounds after an off with nobody else involved. With doctor Arnold and vet Lara in our group he could have received expert attention but declined. In a bid for interesting filming I sprinted ahead again to record the bunch as they crossed the bridge at Cam & Dursley station. Blow me! An old car with a scruffy trailer pulled out of a side turning and stopped right where I was filming. No ambience added at all. Just before Coaley we took the left turn into the lane that takes you into Cambridge, a jink across the A38 and a couple more miles of flat lanes to bring us to the Tudor Arms and we arrived at our lunch stop on schedule along with the easy riders who saved a few miles on bigger roads. (Don Ford was delayed a mile from lunch by a thorn in the back tyre of his brand new Giant, out for the first time today. With a bit of support from Pete Campbell they were at the pub a few minutes late.) The Tudor Arms was pretty busy, especially on the outdoor seating as many grabbed their first chance this year for a bit of Al Fresco dining. Somebody reckoned about forty cyclists so it was no surprise that the meals did not rush out. But there were no great delays and we were able to start for home before half past one. Although we did not have

very much in the way of hills on the way out, the trip home was even flatter - which suited me as I had gone for the two course meal deal and had to scoff down an apple pie and ice cream before being allowed to leave. Berry had been in the bunch this morning and cruising along the lanes through Wanswell and Berkley he got onto the front and rode like a steam train - by which I mean strongly, not puffing and blowing. (Wrote this before hearing the news about Berry’s crash). And when you got home - the icing on the cake, no bike cleaning required. Click here for Mark's route in the sun. Thursday 9th April 2015 Supplementary: At the end of the ride to Slimbridge the first group were cycling up Morton Way around the edge of Thornbury when Berry Parker crashed into a van. Berry had dropped behind a bit and was pushing to catch up. A large UPS delivery van was stopped at the roadside with two sets of hazard warning lights flashing when Berry rode into the back of it. His helmet was smashed but there was no obvious injury although of course he was shaken up. A motorcycle paramedic was first on the scene, later followed by an ambulance which took him away. The van driver has taken Berry's bike to the Emersons Green depot. What a nasty end to what had been a fabulous day. Let's hope that he recovers quickly. Friday 10th April 2015 - email from Berry: Just to say am o.k thank you apart from superficial cuts and bruising to my head and back plus damaged pride and bicycle. The accident has been well documented on the web site. My thanks to the many folk who have made kind enquiries. See you soon I trust K.R. Berry

Tuesday 14th April 2015 Longer Tuesday ride report from Mike Chouings: Just two of us (Mike and Sean) set of well after 9am. and followed the traditional route via Easton Grey to Tetbury, where we stopped at the main road junction to decide on which cafe to use. We went to Cafe 53 using the rear entrance to put our bikes in the garden. What a pleasant surprise, gone was the old toilet and the rear of the cafe has been extended into the garden in the form of a Sunlounge, with the serving area against the old rear wall of the cafe, the result is a nice light roomy area to sit and enjoy our Toasted Tea Cakes and beverages. I should also think it is the best value in Tetbury, so a happy start to first leg of the ride. We set off in sunshine for the loop via Rodmarton and Kemble with the wind on our backs and at peace with nature. A very different picture to when we cycled the route in reverse in February as part of the Flapjack audax in virtual zero temperatures! We arrived at The Bakers Arms at 12.15, where there was a young family sorting their menu out in the garden. Just a couple of punters inside the pub, so it did not take long for us to get ourselves sorted out and also chose to sit in the garden. After a very leisurely lunch, we set off at 1.30 for the Malmesbury leg and by now the pub was getting more busy than we normally see, with a few tables in the garden taken. Again, we went via part of the Water Park to Minety, then the diversionary route to Lea, where I had a very pleasant surprise. I had warned Sean that we approach the right turn quite fast on a downhill section and the road is little better than a farm track. The lane to Lea had been given the Billiard Table Treatment and was a real pleasure to cycle over, we paused in Lea to let the moment sink in. Next up was the Garden Centre at Malmesbury for Tea, to brace ourselves for the physical onslaught that we could expect on the road from the roundabout down the hill before the climb up into the town. Another surprise, another supersmooth surface down to take a flyer at the climb to the centre! We soon dealt with Corston, Seagry and Stanton St. Quinton to the direct headwind section to Grittleton. That was

the most troublesome part of the ride as the route had been constantly changing direction to crosstack the wind from the pub, which is what makes the ride so pleasant and there were no complaints about the loss of the Paris-Roubaix bit. We finished the ride back at Castle Combe at about 4.15, in gloriously warm Summer type sunshine and 58.88 miles done. Thursday 16th April 2015. Bitton to Shoscombe. Report from Bill Balchin: Another fine day in prospect and another big group - eighteen assembled at Bitton for Richard Hill's ride to the Apple Tree at Shoscombe. Richard led a ride to the same destination last year which was well received so he decided to repeat the same route. The only person to be disappointed was Alex von Tutschek who had battled out of the Bath traffic with his bike in the car intending to do part of the ride and go to an appointment later. If he had known the route he could have left the car at home in Bath and cycled the whole thing. Just shows the danger of letting other stuff get in the way of Thursday cycling.

A flat start to the day saw us down the railway path followed by the two tunnels where I was impressed yet again by Mike Chouings's lights which come on automatically and are powered by dynohub. Expensive but good value considering the distances that Mike racks up on Audax rides all through the year. Leaving the track at the Hope and Anchor at Midford the bunch were strung out as we ground up the long hill to Hinton Charterhouse. It could have been awkward as cars managed to get alongside and then decide to take a left turn but it all worked out without any drama. Continuing along the main road past the imposing George pub at Norton St Philip we finally took a right turn into Mackley Lane bringing us to one of the highest points on today's ride and the end of busy roads. The lanes were perfectly dry - not a puddle in sight so I wondered how Martyn managed to get mud splattered over his white jersey with the rainbow bands of a world champion. Turns out it is not mud but dye, after the jersey was used as a film prop - unfortunately it will not wash out. Following single track lanes under a blue sky with hardly any traffic through Laverton and Buckland Dinham, Alf managed to ride into the high bank at the roadside after running into a pothole while distracted by a bumble bee flying into his mouth. No stinging but the left hand brake lever collected a bit of mud from the bank. After a few miles of lanes we joined the Colliers Way for a wonderful section into Radstock. Initially passing through flattish fields with bright yellow rapeseed on one side and bright white Blackthorn on the other, the surroundings gradually changed to rolling hills. There would be a big drop to your left, a grassy hill to your right but the path continued on a gradual descent all the way into Radstock town centre - brilliant. Navigating through Radstock was a little awkward but we soon picked up the continuation of the cycle track accompanied by a wonderful smell of roasting coffee from what I guess must be the Round Hill Roastery. The upcoming election caused a brief outbreak of democracy near the end of the ride when Richard offered a short but hilly alternative to a longer but flatter option. I followed Pete (with the mapping device) on the flatter option. Not that it was very flat, especially on a left hand bend when an oncoming delivery van blocked the road causing us to stop where it was too steep to get going again. A footpath into Shoscombe was pretty flat but a swing gate letting us through one at a time slowed progress so we arrived at the Apple tree after the hilly route group and the easy riders.

On such a glorious day everybody ate outside in the garden and the pub did well to provide twenty nine meals in an hour - much more than their normal amount. There were more choices on offer for the trip home, again I stayed with Pete in a group of nine that by-passed the big descent into Camerton in favour of the equally huge descent of Radford Hill into Timsbury and the familiar roads through Farmborough, Marksbury and back on the railway path at Saltford. There was a general meeting up at Bitton where several decided to push on to Warmley for a tea stop. Hungry cyclists had already scoffed all the scones and bakewell tarts but there was plenty of flapjack and coffee cake in reserve. No sooner were we settled in that the easy riders arrived to make gruppo completo. A fine end to fine day, and you could even get to go in a TARDIS in the garden. Click here to see the route we took.

Thursday 23rd April 2015. Ashton to Priddy. Report from Bill Balchin: There were no surprises with the weather this morning. After many days of dry, bright sunshine we were expecting the cold, cloudy start - although looking forward to it brightening up later. What was a surprise was only ten starters for John Upwards "St Georges Day" ride to that local treasure - The Hunters Lodge at Priddy. The second surprise came soon afterwards as we cycled into Long Ashton and passed by the entrance to the Festival Way in favour of the high street. Since we started using the cycle track the road has been resurfaced so we glided along the smooth surface, without much traffic to Wildcountry Lane a bit quicker than the twists and turns of the Festival Way. Through Winford we kept to the main road and then turned off for Chew Stoke and on past the lake. With thoughts of how we were going to get up onto the Mendips we passed the Ubley turning (not the Wrangle thank goodness), turned left for West Harptree (not the Wellsway either) and headed into East Harptree - ah, Smithams.

The bunch was well strung out by the time we had ground up the long climb and regrouped at the Castle of Comfort in a cloud of steam. Not all of it was from cyclists as a lady in the car park had boiled the engine of her car. She had forgotten her phone so Pete stepped in and lent her his to call for assistance. By now it was around eleven thirty with only a couple of miles to go - what to do? Put in a loop or arrive early? Having just put in a big effort nobody was keen to expend more energy, besides, it felt pretty cold now we were at altitude so lets go and get in the warm. There was a slight delay when Jane's chain tied itself in a knot when she attempted an upshift into the big ring, but Mike Sennett showed it his multi-tool and it jumped back into position. So we all arrived at the Hunters Lodge at around ten to twelve. When Paul McCartney wrote the song for the James Bond film "Live and Let Die" he included the line "But if this ever-changing world in which we're living makes you sit down and cry..." Well Macca, not everything changes. I am sure the Hunters Lodge is the same now as when it first opened, whenever that may have been. Stone floors, plain wooden furniture, simple meals, scrumpy out of the barrel - there must be a preservation order in force. I expect there would be a riot if somebody attempted any sort of "modernisation" or "improvement". What we could have used was a bit of that promised afternoon sunshine to sit out in the garden but nothing doing. Numbers were down on recent weeks with Brian and

George there, two of the Bath boys and then Gordon Waddington arrived after making mistake number two - going to the wrong start point (mistake number one is getting the 10:00/10:15 start time wrong). Still most of us have done it at least once, don't feel bad Gordon.

Some of us had a drool over Denis's new Cipollini racing bike before we left - as much of a work of art as a bicycle.

After our early arrival we made an early departure - before one o'clock! Those who removed some extra clothing for the trip home soon put it back on as it was still chilly although a bit brighter as we made our way through Priddy village, Charterhouse and a blast down Burrington Combe where cars mixed in with the cyclists prevented those near the back ripping along too fast. After Wrington a huge pothole hiding in the shadows caught out Gordon whose front tyre went down immediately. Finding himself without a tube, Pete came to the rescue again - we will have to change his name to St George. As soon as somebody suggested cake in Claverham the rest of the afternoon was sorted. It was a first for me at Poppies Cafe and probably for several others. By now the sun was out properly and it had warmed up nicely so we whiled away a few minutes sitting outside in the sunshine, drinking tea and eating cake - that's got to be a proper ending for any cycle ride.

No map today due to technical difficulties.

A Longer Ride on Tuesday 28th April 2015. Report from Brian Trott: When I rode this route during Easter week it was pleasantly warm with an easterly breeze and before lunchtime I was down to shorts and a summer jersey. The forecast for this Tuesday ride was like the previous day, cold overnight with frost in rural areas, strong westerly wind and possible showers pm.

I had received several apologies for absence, one from Spain and I suspect some regulars were still recovering from Sunday’s Audax. Four of us met at Congresbury, all with mudguards and full fingered gloves. There was a smattering of overshoes and ear coverings to supplement layers of clothing and winter jackets. Lara rode from Axbridge, so was the only one warmed up as we got away at 9 o’clock CTC time.

A few miles on the busy A370 into the strong and chilly wind until the turn for Wick St Lawrence where we passed a group coming out of W-S-M. Along the toll road from Sand Bay and despite the bright sunshine the churning Bristol Channel couldn’t quite manage a Mediterranean appearance. The Weston sea front was best described as bracing, and judging by the number of coaches outside of hotels, the holiday makers were late in coming out to play. Our coffee stop was at Wharfside in Uphill. The café is in the old chandlery shop and built into the quarry face, so the rocks form part of the décor. Tea cakes all round were very welcome and Steve revealed that he was wearing 7 light layers!

Another short stretch of main road to clear W-S-M, then across Bleadon Level and Wick until Brent Knoll was dead ahead. An enquiry if anyone had ridden over the Knoll before was ignored, so with the bait not taken we rode around it as planned. Across the A38 towards Watchfield brought the wind more behind us and by the time we were zig-zagging across Mark Moor we had a full tail wind most of the time. A right turn in Burtle across Catcott Heath showed the Levels at their spring best, with the green of hedgerows and pastures dotted with colourful flowers and blossom. Throw in bright sunshine, birdsong and a tailwind – not a bad way to spend a Tuesday. From Catcott, through Shapwick to Ashcott and the Ring O’ Bells by 12:20 for lunch.You know it is a good venue when the publican does some local cycling and has a signed bike parking area with stainless steel ring bolts to lock up your steed. He had also given us a reserved table near the fire – and the food was good too, no doubt why the pub was almost full with diners.

The ride was advertised a “flattish” but we had reached the heady altitude of 209ft at Ashcott, the clear visibility giving good views to the Mendips and Glastonbury Tor. A fast descent back to 16ft above sea level and the new facilities at Ashcott Corner for the RSPB Ham Wall Nature Reserve. The large new car park became necessary due to the many people visiting in winter to see the spectacular starling flocks – it could be a convenient place to start bike rides also! After Meare we turned west and by the time the route crossed Tadham Moor we were straight into the strong headwind again. A little respite was provided by hedgerows through Heath House, Blackford and the Stoughtons, then around Nyland Hill on Cheddar Moor to enter Cheddar by the back lane. Lara left us here, while the remaining 3 headed for our regular stop at the Moushole Café.

Steve had also ridden the Audax on Sunday and had a painful back since the start of the ride. The sit down in the café appeared to make it worse and he had difficulty in getting a leg high enough to remount his bike, so it was an uncomfortable ride back to Congresbury by the smoothest and flattest route. Thank you to the three who supported the ride, and even the two locals said that they were taken on lanes that were new to them. Wall to wall sunshine all day and the countryside looking at its spring best – oh yes we rode 61 miles.

Thursday 30th April 2015. Severn Bridge to Tintern. Report from Bill Balchin: That's it for April then, a third of 2015 gone already. With Spring firmly established our trips into Wales can restart after the Winter pause - and who better to lead than Jane Chapman. Most ride leaders specialise around their home. I asked Jane at the start how she managed with all points of the compass. "Maps" came the answer, working with them in her job at Sustrans then passing on the benefit to us on a Thursday. After the noisy motorway bridge the thirteen strong peloton went through Bulwark and the off-road path into Chepstow to sound of bird-song and swishing tyres. Gordon had brought an extra inner tube to return to Pete for last week. Just leaving Chepstow by the old bridge he was able to repay the debt when Pete punctured. Heading up the St Briavels road we detoured off to the right through Boughspring. Unfortunately the road dropped initially adding a bit more to our climbing total but the traffic-free lanes were much nicer than the main road. After looping back onto the main road we continued climbing to the turning for Hewelsfield Common. According to the signpost Tintern was three miles away - and all downhill, at eleven thirty. But anybody who has been on a Jane-led ride knows that isn't how it works. After a brief plunge down we took a right fork onto a delightful little corniche type lane gradually descending with wonderful views into the valley to our left. Unfortunately it did not go very far and we had to turn around and take a right to descend a bit more before we took another right turn into Sandy Lane. I joked with Sean that I used to go out with Sandy Lane. I was making it up but if it were true I would have dumped her for being a hard bitch. Starting gradually the steepness increased until half the peloton were forced to get off and walk. After a bit more lane wriggling we were descending on a mega steep lane with two clear strips separated by gravel. Those folk with disc brakes were ok but I was conscious of cooking my rims.

Rejoining the Hewelsfield road it was a short trip to the bridge at Brockweir, along the valley road and into Tintern by about twenty past twelve. With a big easy rider group, Mikes Whiteman and Chouings plus Brian Griffiths we numbered about two dozen with probably a similar number of non-cyclists. Despite the crowd service was rapid with most of us in the cafe area and some in the bar. Pete presented Mike Chouings with a birthday card for his eightieth birthday new week. As normal there was no gift but he had already bought his own - a carbon fibre Bianchi, electronic eleven speed Campag, disc brakes - just what your typical octogenarian needs. Shortly after one there was a mass exit, some taking the direct route but the official group taking the Llanishen Road past the fish ponds. The lower section has been resurfaced and is now like

silk. The climb up and subsequent descent into St Arvans were mostly traffic free making a fine alternative to the main road. After the bridge crossing I left the bunch as they rode to Easter Compton in search of cake - I hope you found it.

Note from Pete: We went to the Dinki Deli cafe in Easter Compton which had decent coffee, a selection of cakes, and various cycling consumable for sale, like inner tubes and co2 cartridges. I was pleased to have a refuelling stop before hitting the hills up to Henbury and the Downs.

For Jane's hilly route to Tintern and back, click here.