Saturday 29th November - Chepstow or the bogs

12 degrees and sunshine... november!!!

can't argue with that; let's stretch our legs again whilst we still can and head for the land of some fathers (do ave 'em.)

we'll try out the new cafe just to the left, under the archway, if it's no good, it'll still be warm enough to sit outside cafe #1 with our greggs baguettes.

pretty straightforward route with no major hazards of note (unless your father sang in van halen.)

triathletes can go to the toilet together at the new cafe in sea mills, if we all ride pist it together and drop them off we won't need to use the slippery path to destruction at blaise castle, using the road route instead. as i remember, this is as an 80 miler - but you've heard that before! (home around 3:30.)

route out will be via huish and congresbury.

I NEED YOUR CHRISTMAS MEAL ORDERS BY NEXT SATURDAY (6-12) ideally message me via the meal post in notifications/events on this forum (you're only 3 clicks away!!!!!)

Twenty of Westons best riders turned up for a foggy start but with sunshine promised. It was good to see Sam in attendance as the destination was Chepstow and so there were a few ghosts to slay. The shorter stop was going to be the old toilets at Sea Mills. Strangly most people didn't fancy this and elected the farm shop at Long Ashton. We set off up the A370 a reasonable pace although some decided it was too fast and dropped back to 14mph :-) In Yatton we regrouped although we had one renegade who didn't turn off and tried to go down the main high street but our ever faithfull sheep dog Ivan bought him back to the fold. Around the backlanes before Nailsea someone (?) had a puncture. Unfortunately the replacement tube also defalted. We then split in to 2 groups - Chepstow and LA. The Chepstow group headed out to Nailsea. A four man breakaway got a good lead to Belmont hill. Cornish Chris ascended the hill like a mad man and took the honors. It was to be a day of highs and lows for Chris. The usual dash along the top of Failand was concluded by a 20 yard sprint to the lights won by Ivan. Once we had crossed the suspension bridge we made our way across the Downs and then entered the Blaze Castle Estate. This is always a joy to greet the many dog walkers who love to see us. Some of the posh locals told us that we shouldn't be cycling! However I beg to differ - http://www.betterbybike.info/leisure-rides/route8. On to Halen, Pilning and across the SSC with beautiful views. As we decended the bridge to the Welsh side Sam took the honors of entering first and negotiated the bollard without hitting it this time. And then a short dash to Chepstow town centre. This time we choose a new venue just under the arches which was a pub. It turned out to be great. Excellent bike parking and Nick was even able to put his bike behind a red cordon rope. The food and prices were good. The return journey was via the usual route of Avonmouth, Portishead etc. Unfortunatley it was going all too well when Chris decided that the roads around Wick St Lawrence were not to his liking and entering a corner his back wheel skidded resulting in him doing a head first dive into the bushes. He seemed to be stuck with one foot still clipped in. Once extraced from the ditch, Ivan kindly yanked out a 6" thorn that was stuck in his check. Luckily no significant damage to rider or bike.
All in all a good day out.

Don't forget to order your xmas meal!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!11


TTC - 4.5/5 - Great ambience and good food at a reasonable price. Got to have the Welsh cakes when in Wales!
OJC - 3
KF - 3.75/5
Stats - http://ridewithgps.com/trips/3824133

I still have a piece of wood in my face...any ideas anyone?

I think you'll need to ask on a different kind of forum for that kind of specialist advice.

I'm sure a Brighton based cycling forum would be full of experienced ideas.

There is just no consideration for cyclists. Am I talking about motorists? Maybe. Am I talking about dog walkers? Maybe. Or am I talking about the bloody inconsiderate tree that chose to grow right where Chris came off? Of course I am. I mean, not only does it place itself right in the firing line, it camouflaged itself as well! I mean, with all those leaves on it how are you meant to see it? I noticed his mate next door was from Thorn, Bark and Bough - the well known personal injury lawyers. Not their main office though, just one of their 'branches'. I'll say no more and 'leave' it there. After all, the 'root' of the problem was the slippery road. No-one had 'twigged' that until it was too late. Sorry Chris, I know this is a bit of a 'thorny' subject. Hope you are feeling okay.

PS I like the link Martin. Did you photoshop the dog into the photo?

Ivan giving Chris a helping hand:-

yes yes, I thank you..

Marvellous!

I always feel that I'm missing out on a few good sprints cos I peel off in Churchill. Providing us with a pictorial description of "the incident" is definitely appreciated.

Chris if you'd followed me that would never have happened!

if had followed you nobody would have found me in the bush for days.