Home
Ivan's away this weekend at a wedding (insert joke).
Saturday's forecast is good. Lets head for Freshford which is south of Bath.
I have the route on my Garmin so what can possibly go wrong :-)
4 posters
Saturday 2nd September - Freshford
Martin- Admin
- Posts : 518
Join date : 2012-06-24
Location : Worley
Ivan's away this weekend at a wedding (insert joke).
Saturday's forecast is good. Lets head for Freshford which is south of Bath.
I have the route on my Garmin so what can possibly go wrong :-)
Laser light- Posts : 121
Join date : 2016-03-07
Age : 55
Location : WSM
What does your Garmin say the route out is?
Martin- Admin
- Posts : 518
Join date : 2012-06-24
Location : Worley
Laser light- Posts : 121
Join date : 2016-03-07
Age : 55
Location : WSM
Thanks Martin. However my government computer wont let me load such hi tech imagery. Can i have it in words please.
Are we going up Burrington? Cheddar? Chew Valley?
Are we going up Burrington? Cheddar? Chew Valley?
anti-climb max- Posts : 781
Join date : 2012-07-05
Age : 110
Location : location location, homes under the hammer, flog it
Ah, now I'm glad that nine pints has chipped in on this; I've just had an email from the MacMillan people in Castle Cary confirming that their town square bash is on the 30th; I've just seen a MacMillan advert for their new fund raising ruse 'Sober in October'; I've just seen Phil's forum post...... are you thinking what I'm thinking? Is it fate????
...... I'll pledge a fiver and if we all chip in, nine (or should I say zero) pints could raise a pretty penny for our chosen charidee.
Pledge your donations and we'll ask Phil later; obviously, if he is up for it, we'll need reliable, independent verification; I'm currently reading George Best's autobiography, and if that has taught me nothing else, it teaches me not to trust an alcoholic who tells you he's not touched a drop.
No pressure Phil, but think of the kids.....
...... I'll pledge a fiver and if we all chip in, nine (or should I say zero) pints could raise a pretty penny for our chosen charidee.
Pledge your donations and we'll ask Phil later; obviously, if he is up for it, we'll need reliable, independent verification; I'm currently reading George Best's autobiography, and if that has taught me nothing else, it teaches me not to trust an alcoholic who tells you he's not touched a drop.
No pressure Phil, but think of the kids.....
Martin- Admin
- Posts : 518
Join date : 2012-06-24
Location : Worley
showmethecakes- Posts : 350
Join date : 2012-07-01
Age : 110
Location : Weston-super-Mare
WCG Freshford
Turn out was surprisingly low for the ride to Freshford. The magnificent seven left EPO behind for the Freshford suffer fest minus Ivan who was getting married again and Neil who has apparently gone to Southern Spain to guide Froome around those dodgy mountain bends. No Andy C either who was probably stuffing up the motorway network with his tanker. Jeannie was clearly still a bit sore after bonking in Canada but we were however honoured with the presence of Alex who proudly announced that it had been a year since he came out with the chain gang and that he might be a little rusty. You wait till you hit your fifties then you'll know what rusty is. Talk to Ivan.
Picked up a couple of stragglers on Stinky Bridge, Nick and Pete, which swelled the numbers to nine. I'm not a maths teacher for nothing! No messing on this ride. Straight through Sandford and Churchill without stopping. R2 asked for a temporary halt on the A38 before the ascent of Mont Burrington. We all know how he suffers on the climbs. Oh, apparently he was waiting for Tomasz to join him. Never mind, we all carried on anyway. After a regroup at the top we followed the Mendip motorway east. There was the inevitable split in the group allowing the breakaway to exchange pleasantries in a lay by while waiting for the others. This obviously made a change from the usual exchange of bodily fluids in the lay by. I say pleasantries, Nick and R2 held a conversation about their various illnesses and how air conditioning is responsible for the spread of diseases. It was nice to hear two nations speak to each other about sharing culture. Boy George then turned up asking to join the club. We told him we were off to Freshford. He looked a bit concerned: "Do you really want to hurt me"? Yes we all replied. So he left Culture Club and went solo.
Nine Pints was looking strong on the climb out of Chewton Mendip. It was the same kind of strength you find in a Citroen Saxo as it pulls a 3 tonne caravan up a 15% gradient. After the run across to Uncle Ernie it all started to go pear shaped. Alex led us to Radstock where we swung left and up a steep hill. You never forget near death experiences and to me every hill is a near death experience. I didn't remember this one from the two previous outings to Freshford. However, based on the fact that on both of those occasions we got lost it didn't seem important. When we crested the hill I thought I recognised a right turn we'd been down before. Feeling optimistically smug that I'd got the route correct and that everyone else had bombed down the hill the other side I was disappointed when Martin said we needed to go straight on.
At the bottom of the hill we had a group discussion about which way to go next. It wasn't that we were lost because we knew we were in Paulton, it's just that we were unsure of the way to Freshford. We then went up a big hill and then down a big hill, up a big hill and down a big hill, up a big hill and down a big hill, up a big hill.....
Eventually we arrived at the Community cafe. I'd forgotten they do not sell hot food. Pete asked if they had any hot food. No - only cake and coffee. Do you do anything like beans on toast? No - only cake and coffee. Okay I'll have cake and coffee. Then Alex appeared. Have you got any hot food. There was the little scratching sound you hear as the needle jumps on the record player. No - only cake and coffee. Have you got anything like beans on toast? No - only cake and coffee. I'm getting a little embarrassed at this point and about to announce to all and sundry "THEY ONLY HAVE CAKE!" when the waitress said she could rustle up some scrambled eggs on toast. Hey - no one else was offered this. What's he done to deserve that? So what did Alex reply? "No it's okay thanks, I'll just have some cake." Some smart arses bought pasties off the shelf in the shop and then got them heated up. I hate a clever sod. In our recent quest for inappropriate literature, this weeks guest publication was called:"How Drinking Helps". Perfect for nine Pints!
Within 30 seconds of departing R2 had to return to the cafe having left something behind. As per the running joke we all just carried on and left him behind again. Ade was keen to get a shift on as he had a deadline to meet. I put myself on the front and promptly led him the wrong way resulting in a 10 minute delay and an extra mile or two.
Route home followed the same pattern. Which way do we go Martin? Oh look, there's a hill - it must be that way. To be fair Martin found his way to his favourite descent and promptly took the KOM. I chickened out over a couple of rough bits of road and enjoyed the smell of burning carbon at the bottom.Pete was now starting to struggle and Ade was getting anxious. I love it when someone is in a hurry to get home and we all spend more time arguing about the most direct route than actually riding.
Through Radstock the group split again and the break had a good 10 minute wait for the others. Understandably Ade pushed on and when the second group rolled up it turns out that Steve being the power house that he is had busted his cassette. They always say you should buy cassettes and chains together. I think the same is true for breaking them - chain last week, cassette this week.
Most were feeling it across the Mendips but strong pulls from Nick, Tomasz and R2 brought us off the Mendips. Nine Pints was in no rush to get home and meet the mother in law so I put myself on the front in an attempt to drag him there as fast as possible. Didn't work because he just conveniently kept losing my wheel!
Long day, tired legs, but look on the bright side. Nick's got his extension done so Jo won't be complaining about size anymore and Alex has still not been arrested by Interplod. Long story.
OJC: mmm 3 maybe. TTCR:4/10. KFC: 9/10
Turn out was surprisingly low for the ride to Freshford. The magnificent seven left EPO behind for the Freshford suffer fest minus Ivan who was getting married again and Neil who has apparently gone to Southern Spain to guide Froome around those dodgy mountain bends. No Andy C either who was probably stuffing up the motorway network with his tanker. Jeannie was clearly still a bit sore after bonking in Canada but we were however honoured with the presence of Alex who proudly announced that it had been a year since he came out with the chain gang and that he might be a little rusty. You wait till you hit your fifties then you'll know what rusty is. Talk to Ivan.
Picked up a couple of stragglers on Stinky Bridge, Nick and Pete, which swelled the numbers to nine. I'm not a maths teacher for nothing! No messing on this ride. Straight through Sandford and Churchill without stopping. R2 asked for a temporary halt on the A38 before the ascent of Mont Burrington. We all know how he suffers on the climbs. Oh, apparently he was waiting for Tomasz to join him. Never mind, we all carried on anyway. After a regroup at the top we followed the Mendip motorway east. There was the inevitable split in the group allowing the breakaway to exchange pleasantries in a lay by while waiting for the others. This obviously made a change from the usual exchange of bodily fluids in the lay by. I say pleasantries, Nick and R2 held a conversation about their various illnesses and how air conditioning is responsible for the spread of diseases. It was nice to hear two nations speak to each other about sharing culture. Boy George then turned up asking to join the club. We told him we were off to Freshford. He looked a bit concerned: "Do you really want to hurt me"? Yes we all replied. So he left Culture Club and went solo.
Nine Pints was looking strong on the climb out of Chewton Mendip. It was the same kind of strength you find in a Citroen Saxo as it pulls a 3 tonne caravan up a 15% gradient. After the run across to Uncle Ernie it all started to go pear shaped. Alex led us to Radstock where we swung left and up a steep hill. You never forget near death experiences and to me every hill is a near death experience. I didn't remember this one from the two previous outings to Freshford. However, based on the fact that on both of those occasions we got lost it didn't seem important. When we crested the hill I thought I recognised a right turn we'd been down before. Feeling optimistically smug that I'd got the route correct and that everyone else had bombed down the hill the other side I was disappointed when Martin said we needed to go straight on.
At the bottom of the hill we had a group discussion about which way to go next. It wasn't that we were lost because we knew we were in Paulton, it's just that we were unsure of the way to Freshford. We then went up a big hill and then down a big hill, up a big hill and down a big hill, up a big hill and down a big hill, up a big hill.....
Eventually we arrived at the Community cafe. I'd forgotten they do not sell hot food. Pete asked if they had any hot food. No - only cake and coffee. Do you do anything like beans on toast? No - only cake and coffee. Okay I'll have cake and coffee. Then Alex appeared. Have you got any hot food. There was the little scratching sound you hear as the needle jumps on the record player. No - only cake and coffee. Have you got anything like beans on toast? No - only cake and coffee. I'm getting a little embarrassed at this point and about to announce to all and sundry "THEY ONLY HAVE CAKE!" when the waitress said she could rustle up some scrambled eggs on toast. Hey - no one else was offered this. What's he done to deserve that? So what did Alex reply? "No it's okay thanks, I'll just have some cake." Some smart arses bought pasties off the shelf in the shop and then got them heated up. I hate a clever sod. In our recent quest for inappropriate literature, this weeks guest publication was called:"How Drinking Helps". Perfect for nine Pints!
Within 30 seconds of departing R2 had to return to the cafe having left something behind. As per the running joke we all just carried on and left him behind again. Ade was keen to get a shift on as he had a deadline to meet. I put myself on the front and promptly led him the wrong way resulting in a 10 minute delay and an extra mile or two.
Route home followed the same pattern. Which way do we go Martin? Oh look, there's a hill - it must be that way. To be fair Martin found his way to his favourite descent and promptly took the KOM. I chickened out over a couple of rough bits of road and enjoyed the smell of burning carbon at the bottom.Pete was now starting to struggle and Ade was getting anxious. I love it when someone is in a hurry to get home and we all spend more time arguing about the most direct route than actually riding.
Through Radstock the group split again and the break had a good 10 minute wait for the others. Understandably Ade pushed on and when the second group rolled up it turns out that Steve being the power house that he is had busted his cassette. They always say you should buy cassettes and chains together. I think the same is true for breaking them - chain last week, cassette this week.
Most were feeling it across the Mendips but strong pulls from Nick, Tomasz and R2 brought us off the Mendips. Nine Pints was in no rush to get home and meet the mother in law so I put myself on the front in an attempt to drag him there as fast as possible. Didn't work because he just conveniently kept losing my wheel!
Long day, tired legs, but look on the bright side. Nick's got his extension done so Jo won't be complaining about size anymore and Alex has still not been arrested by Interplod. Long story.
OJC: mmm 3 maybe. TTCR:4/10. KFC: 9/10
anti-climb max- Posts : 781
Join date : 2012-07-05
Age : 110
Location : location location, homes under the hammer, flog it
Should we switch to a twitter account?
|
|
|