Four units and a solo out for a lovely Autumn ride. some of us arrived early at the meeting point for breakfast and stayed on after the ride for lunch at the King Fisher Lodge, Sibthorpe. The day started fresh and somewhat misty, but developed into a sunny day, allowing the autumn colours to really glow. We stopped for a quick group photo at Scarrington, having the worlds largest pile of horse shoes! suitably adorned for the day. Coffee stop was at Hickling Wharf, where we had tables reserved. From there, the roads were super quiet all the way back to the start. Another great day out!
Please email/phone yout lunch time meals selection for the ride on Sunday November 21st to the organisers. See the What's On information for menu and contact details.
A mixture of tandems and solos met at the Avalon Marshes Hub for coffee and bacon sandwiches on a fine November morning before a 30 mile meander around the Somerset Levels and Polden Chain.
Because the levels can be wet and muddy at this time of year, Rex rode the route the day before to check.
Upon arriving at the Shapwick Church turning, our memory was jogged about Remembrance Sunday. We cycled to the next village – Catcott and reached the war Memorial at 10.55 to pay our respects at the given hour.
We zig zagged across the levels spotting plenty of birdlife and passing the main pumping station on the Polden Levels called Gold Corner. We were amazed as Malcolm pointed out the sign recording the level of the highest spring tide on the side of this building.
We made steady progress to arrive at the allotted time for Rich’s Cider Farm and a fulsome lunch.
It was a gentle ride back on full tummies to the Hub.
Special thanks go to Malcolm for plotting the route on gpx, Garmin for us.
The Mince Pie Ride 4th December 2021: Seventeen tandem pairs came on the ride to Brockenhurst today, though not all on two wheels... And the sun shone almost all the time, though the wind was pretty cool! Four pairs were on their first Wessex ride, and we were delighted to welcome riders from as far afield as Poole and Eastleigh. Seven tandems and two solos rode in a group from Lymington while the rest rode or travelled from home direct to the Thatched Cottage Hotel in Brockenhurst where we received a warm welcome and enjoyed coffee, warm mince pies and chat.
24 members of the Lancashire and Cumbria Group enjoyed their Festive Lunch at the Crooklands Hotel today (12th December). Lots of ideas for 2022. Look out for the Rides Programme in January :-)
Christmas Lunch at the King Fisher Lodge
We had a great time on Saturday. 20 members turned out for lunch, some rode there and back, some arrived by car. The food was very good in quality and value for money. Everybody seemed to enjoy the meal, and we've had some very good feed back.
Christmas Lunch at the King Fisher Lodge
The December ride and Christmas meal for the Taunton Group was smaller in number but as colourful as ever. The fancy dress costumes were amazing. We met at the Walnut Tree for coffee and then Ian and Lisa led the group for a 15 mile ride around the lanes to Bridgwater and back to North Petherton for a Christmas meal for 28 people.
As always, everyone took part in the quiz, music and singing were provided by James and Nick and the trophy was awarded to Andy and Anita for attending the most rides during the year. Fancy dress winners were Nick and Rachel with their amazing Hawaiian themed costumes complete with decorated tandem, flamingo and palm tree!
The online booking system for the 2022 Easter rally is now open. Book early to secure the type of pitch that you prefer.
I have just opened the online booking system for the 2022 Easter rally, which is being held at Greenhill Leisure park in Bletchingdon, north of Oxford. It is a lovely site with excellent facilities.
Book early to secure the type of pitch that you prefer.
Full information at the rally webpage: 2022 Easter rally
Our next planned Wessex ride is scheduled for Saturday 19 March, starting from Romsey at 10am. David writes: "Not too long a ride, maybe aim to get back to the house for a late lunch inside. Possible coffee stop/shop on the way." More details later.
Bookings for the 2022 National rally at Corsham are now open
Bookings for the 2022 National rally at Corsham are now open. See 2022 National Rally Page
Just four units braving the cold this month, Colin and Rosy Gray, Richard and Jane Fuller and my wife and I, Martin and Alison Purser met us at Kneesal. Although it turned out to be not as cold as we thought, with some welcome sunshine. Nice stop for coffee at the New Field Dairy Cafe, near Hockerton. Photo courtesy of Martin and Alison Purser.
Sunday 23rd January Dai and Lucy will be leading the ride from Faversham.
Saturday 5th March 2022 – please contact organisers Megan and Mark Whittaker at meganb1985@gmail.com if you would like to join them for this ride.
Megan writes:
Meet us from 10 am at the Pavillion Café in the middle of Stamford Park, Stalybridge for hot drinks, then set off at 10.30am. Toilets available.
Route: approx. 35 miles. Average difficulty, steady pace – a few hills but mostly flat or slight inclines – a nice steady social ride.
From Stamford Park we will head up towards Mottram, via Mottram Road. We will then head to Gee Cross, Hyde. We will make our way towards Marple Bridge then onto the Middlewood Way at Rose Hill. The Middlewood Way is not tarmac in parts but is described as a good surface.
We will have a rest stop at the picnic area on the Middlewood Way *bring own snacks/lunch and drinks * then head towards Macclesfield where we will turn back a few miles short of Macclesfield to make our way home.
Middlewood Way leaflet: https://assets.ctfassets.net/ii3xdrqc6nfw/4M0ZqIBVq8suYW6MA0geWi/51725871270e420af544b6d07f221310/Middlewood_way_map.pdf
Car parking – the nearest car parks to Stamford Park are those at or near Stalybridge hospital – charges from £3 to £6 for more than 3-4 hours. See map below:
https://www.tameside.gov.uk/TamesideMBC/media/trafficmanagement/TGH-car-parks.pdf
The Mossley Road car park appears not to have a height barrier. The other two in Mellor Road and Darnton Road have 2m and 2.1m height barriers. Some street parking nearby may also be possible but the streets nearest the park are limited to 4 hours. Please note that the most convenient car park in Darnton Road east of the boating lake is in use as a Covid testing centre at the time of writing.
We had a superb time on the January tandem ride. This should have been the shortest ever Taunton ride designed for winter in uncertain times. 15 of us met at Hestercombe. Within a ride distance of just 13 miles, we climbed 1300 feet up onto the Quantocks , stopped for coffee and cake at Fyne Court , and found we had lost five tandems and 10 riders. This was disheartening because the average number we usually lose is 2.3. And while people usually turn up eventually, there are still some cyclists unaccounted for from a ride back in 2009 around the infamous Somerset triangle.
This time making use of satellite technology and contacts in Cheltenham we managed to link up again with the missing riders who had mysteriously elected to do an extra 3 mile loop. It didn’t rain, there was very little traffic, the conversation was of the usual high standard and there were beautiful views out over mist in the Vale of Taunton.
Nick & Rachel
Next Ride 13/2/2022 starting Billingshurst. Tim 07843 864746. See whats ON
Next Ride 13/2/2022 starting Billingshurst. Tim 07843 864746. See whats ON