Club runs - 19th November

[WorcsPhil]

Well, a real 'audaxey' type of day on Sunday, bitterly cold, rain showers, **flat**s, getting lost, but ultimately enjoyable. Thanks to the 28 riders who braved the conditions, and to Stuart, who led the A-run that took no prisoners, and isn't a winter ascent in full cold weather clobber of Ankerdine so welcome( )...to Phil E, who led a magical mystery tour on the B-run to most of the towns in Warwickshire, and to Matt, who pushed the boundaries on the C-run, but made the schoolboy error of missing the 11:30 breakfast deadline at Cobhouse. You do realise, Matt, that if Mr Johnson had been on the C-run this week, he would have pushed the leader into the duckpond.

Anyway, these week's rides are:

A: Mickleton (Decades Tea room) - Phil Richards
B: Bewdley SVR - Alan Weaver
C: Flyford Flavell - George Barker

[ballintrane]

You do realise, Matt, that if Mr Johnson had been on the C-run this week, he would have pushed the leader into the duckpond.

The very least he deserved!!!

[WorcsPhil]

Good post, chortlesmith Paul.

Anyway, here is the probable route of the A-run this week:
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/26460856

The A-run is just over 65 miles so everyone will be home before 13:27, and will be so text book, it will be embossed in leather with a foreword by the Prince of Wales. I have taken Philip Whiteman's recent post on new cafes and gambled on a new venue in Mickleton, east of Honeybourne. It even has a picture of Abba on the walls, so if anyone is coming direct from Flares nightclub, you'll fit right in.

Vince?

[Philip Whiteman]

I have taken Philip Whiteman's recent post on new cafes and gambled on a new venue in Mickleton, east of Honeybourne. It even has a picture of Abba on the walls, so if anyone is coming direct from Flares nightclub, you'll fit right in.

If the Decades meets everyone's satisfaction then please feel obliged to give me the credit for the wise identification of a cafe venue. Alternatively, if Decades proves to be a complete disaster then blame Phil Richards. More seriously though, I did not establish whether they appreciate advanced warning of group visits, so a call may be a provident act.

[George]

Sunday's C run will go to Flyford Flavel. Auntie Rita has been forewarned.

The route is a rolling 85km (53mi) loop, to be followed anticlockwise, with the café a little over half way. Overall average speed is likely to be in the region of 22kph (14mph), probably a little faster out than back, due to the lie of the land. Weather forecast is currently okay for the time of year: 5 to 8C, dry, lightly overcast, light westerly wind. ETA back at the Black Horse: 2pm.

Here is the route:
- On BikeHike
- On Strava

[AlanW]

l'll do a steady and relaxed B run to the railway carriage @ Bewdley

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/17307779

[Philip Whiteman]

l'll do a steady and relaxed B run to the railway carriage @ Bewdley

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/17307779

Alan, I know that you were short of a few numbers but here is the rosta for Sunday at Bewdley:

GWR Pannier 0-6-0PT 1501
SR Light Pacific 4-6-2 34027 'Taw Valley'
GWR Pannier 0-6-0PT 7714
Class 107 DMU
Beans-on-Toast

[AlanW]

Alan, I know that you were short of a few numbers but here is the rosta for Sunday at Bewdley:

GWR Pannier 0-6-0PT 1501
SR Light Pacific 4-6-2 34027 'Taw Valley'
GWR Pannier 0-6-0PT 7714
Class 107 DMU
Beans-on-Toast

[Philip Whiteman]

l'll do a steady and relaxed B run to the railway carriage @ Bewdley

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/17307779

Great ride Alan though I am not convinced by the relaxed claim. Now it was completely my fault for not viewing the route profile. Given a sluggish ride into Northfield, at the time it seemed more sensible to not join the A group and opt for an easier B ride. However, I am glad that I never viewed the route profile before leaving as I would never have swapped. It was a great ride along an ingenious route that appeared to include every vicious hill possible starting with London Lane, Tardebigge; Pig Hill; Jennings Wood Bank out of Dunley followed by the scary descent and re-ascent out of Ribbesford Ford. The slightly later arrival at Bewdley meant that the cafe was not too busy. Good company on route too!

[chris ankcorn]

Many thanks George for leading the C Run to Flyford Flavel.

It was a Pity Auntie Rita wasn't able to accommodate all of us but I had a very enjoyable ride back with Martin Loxton and Sarah Dowden.

Chris

[AlanW]

Todays steady and relaxed B ride to Bewdley were:-

Alan Weaver (leading)
Nick Shenton (la Tea)
James Tate
Ryan Evanson
Esta Rantzen
Philip Whiteman
Joe Woodward
Indi Singh

[WorcsPhil]

On today’s steady but boisterous, loud and brisk A-run were, in alphabetical order:

Phil Richards (Leading)
Starsky and Hutch
Ben Crone
Phil Elwell
Adam Green
Paul Johnson
Neil Lynch
Andy McGrath
Neil Orchard
Steve Philpott
Jon Williams
Andy Wrightson

We tried a new cafe in Mickleton (Decades), but although the cafe was nice, the food and drink pretty good, they struggled to cope with 11 cyclists, and their ‘make one meal at a time’ approach meant a wait of an hour...worth re-trying if there’s 6 or fewer riders.

Thanks to all the co-riders on today’s ride.

[Nicks_77]

Todays steady and relaxed B ride to Bewdley were:-

Alan Weaver (leading)
Nick Shenton (la Tea)
James Tate
Ryan Evanson
Esta Rantzen
Philip Whiteman
Joe Woodward
Indi Singh

I thought it was just myself and the Dark Lord Whiteman that threw in evil hills on a club ride! Who knew Alan also had a dark side?

Joking aside, a great route along some local lanes and nice not to be too far from home on a chilly day.

Just a shame I got Tea in stead of a Latte at the cafe. I must work on my Black Country accent before visiting a'gen...

[ballintrane]

We tried a new cafe in Mickleton (Decades), but although the cafe was nice, the food and drink pretty good, they struggled to cope with 11 cyclists, and their ‘make one meal at a time’ approach meant a wait of an hour...worth re-trying if there’s 6 or fewer riders.

Phil here is a picture of my tea arriving!!

[George]

On today's C ride were:

As reported above by Chris:
Chris Ankcorn (co-leading, insofar as he led a small overspill group home)
Martin Loxton
Sarah Dowden

In the main group at the café:-
George Barker (leading, increasingly from the back)
Paul Derbyshire
Laurie Derbyshire
Vince Tennant
Claire Ingles
Matt Hale
Toby Hale
Tim Hodges
Sam Hodges
Neil Evanson
John Hitchcock
Dave Hughes
Adrian McHugh

With the group as far as the café before returning independently:
Pete Norman
Si Turner
Si Walker

Independent arrivals at the café:
Andy Terry
Tony Webb
Pat Haddon
Ken Haddon
Bob Green

Completing about half the route with the group before returning independently:
Dave Cole

So, just every so slightly more than the ten that I told Auntie Rita to expect. And there were eight or more from the Saracen as well. Auntie was a little flustered, but very good natured about it. If the food was a little slower to arrive than usual, that was only understandable, and I don't think that any of us had to wait as long as the A run.

Thanks everyone for your company. Good to see some new faces and equally good to see some old faces returning to the scene.

[neilo]

Thankyou for leading today's A run Phil, nice flat route on some smoooooth tarmac, note to ones self.....if you order your food first, expect it last!!!

[Si_Walker]

George, thanks for leading, it was a popular ride, Auntie Rita should be able to afford and extension to the cafe now!

[Yosser]

Thanks for what can only be described as a genuine old fashioned club run George. I have not enjoyed myself more for many a long year. Average speed 13.6 mph and absolutely no rushing up hills. Much conversation and time to view the scenery. Poor auntie Rita overflowing with both cyclists and goodwill. Loved the ‘charge of the light brigade’ up the last hill to get a place at the table or at least inside the cafe! Satisfied customer.