The Beacon Message Board

A wonderful day for cycling on Sunday saw another 40 Beacon cyclists on club runs. Especially gratifying to see so many people who 'normally' ride C-runs step up the Si's B-run to Charlecote...this is exactly what we want to see...different rides of different lengths encouraging people to switch between rides and test themselves. Hope everyone enjoyed it.

Anyway, let's hope the weather holds this weekend, and the rides planned are:

A: Tewkesbury - Phil Richards (08:15 start)
B: Wyre Forest - Neil Lynch (09:15 start)
C: Tewkesbury - Helen Jamieson (08:15 start)

Alternative B: Snowdonia - James Tate (see facebook details)

Alternative ride 5: Clent hills with Pete Marshall (09:15 start)


...and start to add your names to the Summer months listings that has just appeared on another thread.

Here's the proposed route to Tewkesbury for the A-run on Sunday
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/13709435

This is another flat route, and I promise no fiendish hills, just a jaunt down to coffee#1 for some nosh. The route is 119kms long so with an 08:15 start, I would hope to be back in Brum before 13:30, so this is one to get some brownie points back (if you need them).

This is also an ideal club run for some 'B-riders' to try an A-ride as there's no major hills to speak of.

Anyone fancy a ride out starting at 9:15 then I shall pop over the BH before heading Clent way for a few hills and interesting roads. Back to BH by 13:30 or earlier.
Not a C or B ride, taking hills at whatever pace you fancy but coming together at an agreed café.
Beacon Hill, Winwood Heath Road and perhaps Waltonburg included.
Tea and bacon sandwiches at the NT café.
http://www.gpsies.com/map.do?fileId=hvhgkrivucjeybrq

Route for Snowdonia trip....

https://www.strava.com/routes/2565682

we will decide on the day which way round we wish to go as the reverse route includes two of the '100 greatest cycling climbs' from Simon Warren's book.

Are both groups going to Coffee#1?

A-ride is going to Coffee#1, George, as indicated above. ETA is 10:30, bladders permitting.

Don't forget your cafe locks for Tewkesbury.

Well, seen as the A run has decided to copy the C run in going to Tewkesbury .....

The C run route will be similar, but don't rely on it in your garmin as I may divert...!

Distance approx 125km. It is only intended for there to be one stop, so you may want to bring food with you. Cafe will depend on numbers on the day, we have a choice of coffee #1, the jelly roll, or croft water park. Bring cafe locks.

Speed will be fast down hill and slow up hill. No one will be left behind. It is a social ride.

Hels147 wrote:Well, seen as the A run has decided to copy the C run in going to Tewkesbury .....

The C run route will be similar, but don't rely on it in your garmin as I may divert...!

Distance approx 125km. It is only intended for there to be one stop, so you may want to bring food with you. Cafe will depend on numbers on the day, we have a choice of coffee #1, the jelly roll, or croft water park. Bring cafe locks.

Speed will be fast down hill and slow up hill. No one will be left behind. It is a social ride.

I'll join at Tutnall - near the bridge where you go under the A448.

If there is any body left who is not in Tewkesbury, away in Snowdonia or following Pete up the Waltonberg I'll be taking a B run to the Wyre Forest Cafe.

Pace will be 15.5 or so. Lumpy on the way out via kinver & Arely Return via Heightington and Chaddesley. 56 miles BH to BH depart at 09.15 .

I'll post a route shortly

B run route

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/14291734

NeilL wrote:If there is any body left who is not in Tewkesbury, away in Snowdonia or following Pete up the Waltonberg I'll be taking a B run to the Wyre Forest Cafe.

Pace will be 15.5 or so. Lumpy on the way out via kinver & Arely Return via Heightington and Chaddesley. 56 miles BH to BH depart at 09.15 .

I'll post a route shortly

Not sure many will be following me, my aim is to follow someone else or enjoy a nice stroll pushing

Andy Terry wrote:

Hels147 wrote:Well, seen as the A run has decided to copy the C run in going to Tewkesbury .....

The C run route will be similar, but don't rely on it in your garmin as I may divert...!

Distance approx 125km. It is only intended for there to be one stop, so you may want to bring food with you. Cafe will depend on numbers on the day, we have a choice of coffee #1, the jelly roll, or croft water park. Bring cafe locks.

Speed will be fast down hill and slow up hill. No one will be left behind. It is a social ride.

I'll join at Tutnall - near the bridge where you go under the A448.

Andy - I'll DM you my phone number just in case.

Suspected the forecast would have put a few people off from riding this morning, but a decent turnout on the A-ride to Tewkesbury, namely:

Phil Richards (leading)
Fenella Brown
Neil Orchard
Vince Tennant
Ben Walmsley
Craig Walmsley

A wet journey down to Tewkesbury saw absolutely no moaning from a happy bunch of riders, but it cleared up a few miles from the cafe and a dry, tailwind return saw the speed rise.

Coffee#1 is a good venue but the particularly miserable staff surpassed themselves by refusing to warm up Neil's cake in the microwave...my, how he laughed.

Thanks for leading today Phil and for everyone else for the company, a tad damp but the ride home dried us out I think, I promise to eat cake cold from now on.

Thanks all for a very enjoyable C run to Tewkesbury. We had sunshine and showers and even managed to catch the A run at the cafe.

Helen Jamieson (leader)
John Deeley
Cedric gioan
Dennis snape
Ryan Evanston
Ash turner
Si turner
Andy Wrightson
Andy terry
Mark mcconkey
Mark gardiner
George barker (met at cafe).

Oh, and well done to John Deeley for doing the ride in his trainers because he forgot his shoes!

A wet and hilly B run at the top end of the B pace. Good company & a surprising cheerful bunch considering the conditions.

Neil Lynch (leading)
Paul Robinson
Joe Warwood
Chris Thompson

One unfortunate accident to report. Paul came off bike hard after his brake cable slipped, he was a little shaken but ok. His tubeless front tyre suffered a cut and **flat**. Joe kindly donated a inner tube to get him on the Rd to the cafe.

Further inspection and adhoc repairs on brake and a bulging inner tube ment he was able to get home safely by a more direct route.

2 lessons learnt for me: DON'T overcook it on a 20% decline going into a sharp left-hander, and DO carry spares, tubes, tools etc (tubeless sealant won't fix a 5mm cut apparently!)

Thanks to Neil, Joe and Chris for helping me patch up. The spill was my fault entirely as I had taken the lead at that point. A really enjoyable ride out, but I took the A roads back in case the repairs didn't hold and I got another flat and needed picking up.

Any advice on repairing a cut tyre (and preferably being able to still run tubeless) appreciated. Gatorskins back on for now.

Helen, thanks for an excellent c run today.

Good to mix it up with some extra miles coupled with good route, good pace and good company. Can't believe I forgot my shoes, glad the route was not vertically challenging.

Cheers to all

JD

The Alternative 'away day special' B run was attended only by 3 in the end:

James Tate (Leading)
Alistair Hey
Claire Fudge

Great route with plenty of uphill, 2300m of climbing) over 146km. Nice social pace and plenty of good banter and top scoff in Llanberis (the biggest cheese & chip buttie seen by man). Only one **flat** and we remained dry despite some fearsome black clouds about.

John D wrote:Helen, thanks for an excellent c run today.

+1

Thank you Helen for leading the C run and making me feel welcome (as did everybody else). Hopefully out with you all again soon
Ash (the noobie!)