Couple of rides offered, all welcome (if you think you can manage :twisted: )
Saturday 13th March 2010 - offroad ride in the Forest of Dean, currently with me leading so expect a relaxed place and group decision making at various points. Meet at Pedalabikeaway at 10 a.m. for a 10.30 a.m. departure. Helmets required. Aim is 4 hours or so of riding but can be flexible to meet needs of those who come and and weather.
Cancelled due to lack of interest (!)
Saturday 20th March 2010 - road ride from my house (!), depart at 10 a.m. 65 hilly miles on beautiful, quiet roads with absolutely stunning scenery, especially over Gospel Pass. Compact chainset recommended. Plan is as follows for those who want to check it out on a map - start at Hampton Bishop (HR1) - Mordiford - Holme Lacey - Kings Thorn - Much Birch - Wormelow - Orcop - Garway - Kentchurch - Pandy - Llantony - Capel-y-ffin - Hay-on-Wye - Clifford - Bredwardine - Madley - Hereford - Hampton Bishop. Tea, cake and possibly pork pie at the finish.
Riders signed up:
Ed
CAS
Russell
Dave J + 1
15th March update for the ride on the 20th
I planned to ride the route on Saturday but was forced back after 25 miles or so with a self unscrewing b/b (got to love those Italian threads...). Nevertheless it was stunning. Headed out again on Sunday on an alternative bike, got further but then a broken spoke leading to a slashed rear tyre drove me back. Nevertheless it was stunning and at one point I saw no cars or people for almost 45 minutes - it's going to be good.
On to logistics. As above, depart from my house at 10 a.m. (please PM me if you want address/directions/phone number) so please allow for some 'time lag' when planning your arrival.
What you can expect:
- all riders to be provided with a map/directions (with some options in case of bike/rider mechanicals) and general briefing
- sausage casserole and crusty bread on return
- a guided tour of my shed (!)
What you need to bring:
- a bike in good mechanical order (so not like the two I used last weekend
) as we will be quite isolated; and make sure the brakes work!
- a compact or triple and decent sized cassette recommended unless you are strong and then 42x23 will do fine
- relatively stout tyres as some of the road surfaces are pretty poor
- at least one spare inner tube if not two along with a multitool etc
- no Camelbak (it's a road ride!) unless you want to carry a load of spares "just in case" and I'm thinking headset spanners, chain whip, 6" adjustable etc.
- at least one large water bottle and some food
- cash for food in Hay (40 hilly miles in with few shops/pubs hence the need to bring food)
- by all means bring a mobile but reception likely to be patchy/non-existent
- helmet optional (I wouldn't say that for an offroad ride)
I think that's all for now, look forward to seeing you on Saturday
Saturday 13th March 2010 - offroad ride in the Forest of Dean, currently with me leading so expect a relaxed place and group decision making at various points. Meet at Pedalabikeaway at 10 a.m. for a 10.30 a.m. departure. Helmets required. Aim is 4 hours or so of riding but can be flexible to meet needs of those who come and and weather.
Cancelled due to lack of interest (!)
Saturday 20th March 2010 - road ride from my house (!), depart at 10 a.m. 65 hilly miles on beautiful, quiet roads with absolutely stunning scenery, especially over Gospel Pass. Compact chainset recommended. Plan is as follows for those who want to check it out on a map - start at Hampton Bishop (HR1) - Mordiford - Holme Lacey - Kings Thorn - Much Birch - Wormelow - Orcop - Garway - Kentchurch - Pandy - Llantony - Capel-y-ffin - Hay-on-Wye - Clifford - Bredwardine - Madley - Hereford - Hampton Bishop. Tea, cake and possibly pork pie at the finish.
Riders signed up:
Ed
CAS
Russell
Dave J + 1
15th March update for the ride on the 20th
I planned to ride the route on Saturday but was forced back after 25 miles or so with a self unscrewing b/b (got to love those Italian threads...). Nevertheless it was stunning. Headed out again on Sunday on an alternative bike, got further but then a broken spoke leading to a slashed rear tyre drove me back. Nevertheless it was stunning and at one point I saw no cars or people for almost 45 minutes - it's going to be good.
On to logistics. As above, depart from my house at 10 a.m. (please PM me if you want address/directions/phone number) so please allow for some 'time lag' when planning your arrival.
What you can expect:
- all riders to be provided with a map/directions (with some options in case of bike/rider mechanicals) and general briefing
- sausage casserole and crusty bread on return
- a guided tour of my shed (!)
What you need to bring:
- a bike in good mechanical order (so not like the two I used last weekend

- a compact or triple and decent sized cassette recommended unless you are strong and then 42x23 will do fine
- relatively stout tyres as some of the road surfaces are pretty poor
- at least one spare inner tube if not two along with a multitool etc
- no Camelbak (it's a road ride!) unless you want to carry a load of spares "just in case" and I'm thinking headset spanners, chain whip, 6" adjustable etc.
- at least one large water bottle and some food
- cash for food in Hay (40 hilly miles in with few shops/pubs hence the need to bring food)
- by all means bring a mobile but reception likely to be patchy/non-existent
- helmet optional (I wouldn't say that for an offroad ride)
I think that's all for now, look forward to seeing you on Saturday