News for February 2017

Thursday 2nd February 2017. Amcor to Falfield. Report from Pete Campbell: To the meeting point near Winterbourne which we call Amcor, which we used to call Rexam, and I suppose we now ought to call the Winter Stream Farm but that's too much of a mouthful. My first ride with the BTOTC was from here, eight years ago. Today we had another first-timer, Julian, who contacted us late last year and only now has a spare Thursday. Julian picked what was forecast to be a bad day, weather-wise, and that showed with the reduced numbers turning up for Bill's ride to the Huntsman's Inn at Falfield. We had ten people ready to deal with wind and rain, but by ten o'clock I'd not felt any raindrops and the wind had been behind me so far, so it was looking like a good day.

Bill's route took us on one of our old favourites, through the back streets of Winterbourne, Frampton, Iron Acton and Engine Common. Any trace of ice from previous Thursdays was gone and was replaced with a generous coating of mud along most of the lanes. My Dawes Galaxy had started the day almost clean but it was already looking a disgrace and we hadn't got any distance. In the past I've found the main road outside Wickwar quarry is exceptionally bad but today was clean. I guess they've been thinking of the local community or something. I suppose Bill was surprised as well, as he soon after turned onto lanes south of Charfield which I remembered are always filthy. I was not disappointed. My bike was getting dirtier. The extra weight of mud was slowing me down, or maybe I needed my lunch. Through Michael Wood and over the M5, and a loop around Rockhampton brought us to the Huntsman's Inn at noon.

I'd revised my initial estimate of the usual 25 down to "around 15 to 20" when I called the pub yesterday, and it turned out to be pretty accurate. Hamish was already there in the room that had been set for us, and after the ten riders had settled in, five more regulars turned up in their cars. I always think the food at the Huntsman is good, if maybe more expensive than some places we go to. My haddock in batter with chips was very good. There was only one beer on tap, with a promise of another coming on very soon. But it was Butcombe Bitter so that was okay. Hamish had solved the beer problem by asking for Guinness and being told they don't keep it, but they did have something similar, from Mexico: Negra Modelo which, according to the brewer, was:

First brewed in Mexico by Austrian immigrants back in the 1920's Negra Modelo is a dark Vienna style lager - quite an unusual beer. It has a smooth and creamy taste and with its characteristic wide bodied bottle is one you'll certainly remember.

I didn't hear him complaining.

So back home, due south, which meant heading into the wind. Its apparently going to be worse tomorrow when it will go by the name of Storm Doris or something equally stupid. Today it's merely a strong wind which was getting stronger as we got closer to Amcor, with Alan Partridge doing an excellent job of sheltering the remaining few riders from the worst of the storm. And no rain all day. Only a bike to wash.

For today's muddy route, touch here.

Thursday 9th February 2017. Bitton to Clutton hill. Report from Bill Balchin: Today's ride for the Bristol Thursday Old Time Cyclists was from Bitton Station to the Hunters Rest at Clutton Hill. And for the second time in five weeks our leader was Alan Partridge. For Alan's previous ride it rained non-stop and only eight people took part. Today the forecast was for a cold easterly wind with temperatures just above freezing but dry. A peep out of the window early on confirmed the absence of frost and ice resulting in sixteen riders at the start. I am glad there was a decent turnout as Alan had devised an ingenious route which he described as flat to the two tunnels and then undulating westward through Timsbury. I thought I was well wrapped up with five layers of clothing but Mike Finch went one better with six. The headcount had a bit of a wobble when Keith

punctured on leaving the start - not to be seen again but then Ian Deegan appeared in the bunch through Linear Park. Entering the longer of the two tunnels two things became immediately apparent. The temperature went up several degrees and your glasses steamed up, although were clear by the time we reached the Hope and Anchor at Midford.

Flat stuff over it's time to undulate. We took the tricky right turn off the path, up the hill for a short hop and left onto a small lane that dropped down steeply following the line of a brook. And that wasthe pattern for the next hour - small lanes going up and down. They would be quite scenic on a summer's day but everything was bare branched under grey skies today. But at least Alan took us onlanes which were generally free of mud, something that I spectacularly failed to do last week. On through the charming villages of Combe Hay and Dunkerton we slogged up another climb. "what is the village up here?" somebody asked. "It's something to do with beer". Ah. Carlingford. And we promptly zoomed down another lane.

I wondered how Alan had managed to remember the route. "Easy" he said "It's a straight line most of the way". It did not feel like it to me but looking at the map - yeah it looks fairly direct. A few more ups and downs and we arrived at the Hunter's Rest bang on twelve. I've been there many timesbefore but was so disorientated I did not know if it would be on our right or left.

I mentioned once before how a large meal in the middle of a cycle ride was not a wise move. I wish I read what I wrote as I found myself tucking in to a huge plate of liver and bacon. Delicious but I was as full as an egg afterwards. No complaints about the meals or service today. The Otter Ale waslike nectar, and Mike Sennett praised the local cider so highly that Martyn was forced to try one. Well he has been missing proper drinks after a week cycling in the sunshine in Lazarote. Back out in the cold at one fifteen we continued the theme of undulations onto the main road at Chelwood before turning off through Hunstrete and Compton Dando, then climbed Fairy Hill as our last big test and rejoined the cycle track at Saltford. I expect that I was one of the last to get home (just before four) but it was still light and no snow. That will do for me, but I would not mind if it could warm up just a bit.

See the route and a saw-toothed profile here.

Added 9th February. Mike Sullivan's funeral on 2nd February was well attended by many senior members of the BTOTC and CTC.

Thursday 16th February 2017. Ashton to Axbridge. Report from Peter Ralph: I have often wondered whether other BTOTC members have a pre-ride routine for their Thursday rides. Most I am sure will check the start point just in case the AAB sequence has been interrupted with an excursion into Wales, others will check the weather for choice of clothing or bike, will it be hilly of flat or could they benefit from one of Steve’s more gentle routes.

Andy always seems to know what food is on offer at the pub so that is clearly what he does, some wait to see what bike Martin is on, hoping it is his fixie, when mere mortals might get up the hills without expiring and most hoping above all that Shirley doesn’t start suggesting “the route is a bit hilly”.

For me though it is checking out where the Pub is in relation to Bridgeyate and working out how to find my way home should my regular guides leave me behind.

Our web site tells us we are off to The Lamb Inn, Axbridge, an old fashioned coaching Inn dating back to 1480, but famous in BTOTC circles for its 2 course meal deal on Thursday’s. But beware if our ride leader Mike Finch decides to return via Cheddar Gorge.

21 riders gathered at the Ashton start for Mike’s briefing “fairly flat with a couple of options depending on timing and a string of familiar sounding villages that we would be going through”.

We welcomed Terry, a first time rider with the group, who I noted stuck closely with back marker Pete Campbell so we knew he was in safe hands. Please join us again Terry and hopefully will become a regular BTOTC member.

Off up Festival Way, a pretty standard route from Ashton so no surprises there, however we didn’t make the left towards the Link road or Dundry, but continued the length of the Festival Way cycle path and retraced the familiar lanes we regularly use when returning from the west.

I refer to our rides as “many unfinished conversations” as we change from single file to more casualriding when a friendly chat is possible, one such today was a notable crash in the darkness of the Strawberry Line tunnel, little did we know that was where Mike would take us when time was running short. Despite the best efforts of a number of tree cutters and hedge trimming we made it safely through the debris and apart from being scared in the tunnel, as I had forgotten to remove my dark glasses we arrived at The Lamb Inn just as the Church bell chimed 12, well done Mike you couldn’t have timed it better to cover the 20 or so miles to Axbridge.

There certainly seemed more bikes than riders when we entered the pub, a few easy riders, us and a few late comers creating a group of around 30 lycra clad cyclists. Food arrived at a pace, good quality as always with great beer and cider, certainly everyone seemed to be complimenting the staff. So it was quite surprising when Mike rounded us up for the return leg, we had actually been there for 1.5 hours. No worries though, as we only had to conquer Cheddar Gorge and a few other hills that were missed on the way out.

We all made it up safely, at our own pace remembering most still had a long ride to get home, I think some more exuberant riders did the “I’ll beat Martin to the top game” and they certainly picked the right day as I am told he did push his fixie when a bus prevented him weaving across the road on the steepest section. At the top we re-formed and congratulated Terry for his efforts, possibly the most challenging first ride possible. As usual the ten strong Bristol centre group turned left and the seven of us continued back to Bitton, but not before we thanked Mike for a great ride.

Touch here to see the longer than usual route (50 miles).

Thursday 23rd February 2017. Amcor to Hillesley. Report from Bill Balchin: One of my favourite musical films is Calamity Jane starring Doris Day in the title role. Today was described as Doris Day, but nothing to do with the Deadwood Stage coming on over the hill. No, storm Doris was bringing our latest dose of rain and high winds to batter the country.

What was needed today was a sensible ride leader. We already had one lined up in Sean Hudd but he was sensible enough to realise that cycling in 60mph gusts could be dangerous and declined to ride. After seeing his Facebook message on Wednesday I planned out a couple of alternatives. And that is how a group of nine non-sensible cyclists led by a non-sensible leader (me) found themselvesbattling the wind. I could say that it was not too bad - but I would be lying. It was really strong and blustery, trying to blow you over each time you passed a gap in any shelter.

My thinking was that as the Fleece has been strict on not serving before noon, and with the wind generally in our favour on the outward journey, we would need twenty miles to fill the time. But Andy came up with a more cunning plan to avoid excessive wind exposure - stop for coffee on the way, simple. With new recruit Thierry in the peloton we negotiated Winterbourne Down (where the wind was playing havoc with the roadside rubbish awaiting collection), Coalsack Lane and the Westerleigh Road to pull in for coffee at WotNot. No, I didn't know they had a cafe either. It is not deluxe but the coffee was good and only one pound fifty - plus we were out of that wind.

After coffee Thierry decided to return back to start as the bars on his Harry Hall bike were in need of attention. We also lost Wayne who was unhappy about parking his bike in case it disappeared.

But we gained Phil and Roger to maintain the nine. Up Wapley Hill and down into Chipping Sodbury we made ourway onto the common where a check on the time suggestedthat the direct route could get us there too early. So we turned right for Little Sodbury and a flirtation with the Cotswold Way gave us the hill climbing that everybody loves. On Sandpits Lane into Hawkesbury Upton the crosswind was so strong that Shirley was blown of her bike, luckily she realised what was happening and escaped injury to rider or bike.

Just a descent past the monument now where you needed a firm grip to hold your course. Anyone with time to look over the Severn Vale would have seen a couple of wind

turbines, ironically stationary on this windiest of days. Maybe it was to strong for them.

When it comes to pubs we must be different to most customers as the venue is usually secondary to the route to the venue. Not that we put up with inferior pubs, oh no. So the Fleece scores highly on both counts. Rescued from closure in June 2012 by over a hundred local residents who formed a consortium to buy and run their own pub, the pub is thriving. And for cyclists it has the added advantage of being served by five roads leading to Wotton under Edge, Kingswood, Hawkesbury Common, Hawkesbury Upton and of course the picturesque but steep Kilcott Valley. Pies were a popular choice for lunch today, we must ensure that Mark Brough is present the next time we visit.

As for beer there was an impressive choice. I went for Arbor Ales Megs Bomb which is bit of a rarity but just my taste. Mike had some Gwatkins cider but found it rather sweet. Pub landlord Rod saw he was struggling and brought over a half of dry cider (which almost filled a pint glass) so Mike could blend it. That's what I call service. The wind managed one more victim while we were inside when it blew the Vent Axia cover off and it landed on Phil.

We could have happily waited for the wind to die down, say on Saturday afternoon, but that's not really an option, so at one thirty we were on the road again. Now we were properly into the wind. I'm not sure which was worse, when you were heading into the teeth of it at five or six mph, or when it was blowing from the side trying to knock you off. But we were up to the challenge taking the route over Inglestone Common and through Wickwar as the theme of bright sunshine alternatingwith driving light rain to the accompaniment of strong wind saw us home. Only a thirty two mile round trip from the start today but I think we all had enough.

See today's shorter than average route here.