A cold damp morning with a NE wind didn’t prevent an impressive turn out of around thirty five at the Square. The Sport Ride left first, heading South, followed by Vice Captain Ian Wareing and a handful of riders using the the challenge of a B+ ride though Littledean and the Forest of Dean to keep themselves warm. The President then led a hand picked (well, self selected) group of nine through Tibberton and Kent’s Green to Newent. A stop at the traffic lights let us catch our breath for the next phase through Oxenhall and along Whitehouse Lane where the Brockmore Farm ford was taken without difficulty, despite severe warning signs to cyclists and walkers advising of its slipperiness and three recent casualties. We continued over the motorway and through the golf course to Phocle Green where, on account of our being early and the rain having stopped, an extra loop was decided upon to get us to the Engine Shed cafe for eleven o’clock. We realised over our coffee and bacon that the group was almost exclusively made of Thursday riders, excited to have recently read in “Bicycles and Blancmange” that the Thursday group ride predated the Club’s Sunday rides by some years. Colin brought the A ride in from the cold and we sat and chatted on the cafe’s mezzanine floor, wishing that it was as warm and cosy as the serving area.
Finally, it was time to leave and unfortunately to find that that not only did we face a headwind home but that the weather had taken a turn for the worse. We fought the rain and a bitterly cold headwind along the Wolford valley, then felt the sleet turn to snow as we descended from Mitcheldean to Gunn’s Mill, one of the most complete surviving 17th century blast furnaces in the country. Respite came in the Red Hart at Blaisdon where a warm fire, hot soup, and good ale awaited. The final push home was fortunately dry but served to remind everyone that winter miles come hard earned.