It was the 3rd event in my Gravelton series yesterday. Interest in this one compared to my others has been a bit low and I suspected numbers might be a challenge. I’m not sure if it was because it was too easy, the route but my suspicion was the summer holidays. Anyway, to cut a long story short, no one turned up except moi (not strictly true which I’ll explain later) so I rode it solo which was fine. I need to remind myself these rides are not events. Riders don’t enter so there is no commitment and people have other stuff going on.
Anyway back to the ride. I rolled out just after the 10.30am start time. This was my first proper ride on my new 40mm tyres which I had deflated a bit. They were a bit squirmy out of the saddle but as soon as I hit the towpath I could tell the difference. It reminded me of when I used to race cyclocross and I got the pressure in my tubs just right. It’s a nice feeling, you just ping along.
Despite the headwind and the odd walker, the start was pretty easy because it’s down the flight for quite a few km .
At Tardebigge reservoir a small group of ‘gravelleurs’ coming the other way said Hi as I whizzed past. The towpath is pretty good down to Stoke Prior. Quite wide and gravelly. It can get a bit muddy in places but despite the amount of rain we’ve had recently I was pleasantly surprised how dry it was still.
As I approached a bridge at Shernal Green. I could see a cyclist stood underneath blocking the path. As I rolled up a couple walked the other way and the cyclist said to me ‘We have a swan incident going on’. Now I know from previous rides a couple of swans kind of live the other side of the bridge and I could see they were looking after a couple of cygnets but without a word I just rode around them and carried on. No drama and no idea what the other rider was doing other than scared of them maybe. Then a few minutes later I looked back and I could see his flashing front light in the distance. Just after Tibberton as I began descending the locks he suddenly popped up behind me. I said I didn’t know he was there and he said something rode past then shot off. A pace I couldn’t hold but when he got 20 meters or so ahead I couldn’t help it. My racing instinct kicked in, I dropped a gear and wound it back up to his rear wheel. As we approached bridges he slowed down to check and I used that to fly under them and around the corners blind and catch him. Decked out in his Rapha top, he clearly hated me being on his wheel. You can tell. The constant looking around, the hard accelerations away from the bridges. I was chuckling to myself and then without any signal or word he just turned left and he was gone. I don’t get some people.
It got a bit busier as I rolled into Worcester and Diglis. It’s a nice tarmac path from Perdiswell and quite a nice way into the city on a bike or to walk to avoid the traffic.
As I was on my own, I decided not to stop at the Narrowboat Cafe which was quite busy anyway. Instead I eased back a bit and had a pootle over the bridge and along the meadows, soaking up the view of the River Severn and the Cathedral.
I crossed the main road and took the shared path to Sabrina Bridge which crossed the river and took me onto Worcester Racecourse. I hadn’t checked this bit and my original route was blocked due to a new stand was being built but they do actually let you walk and ride in front of the original stand and pick up the path that runs counter-clockwise around the outer edge of the racecourse.
Pitchcroft done, it was a ride around the houses now back to Perdiswell which included a short section of nice residential gravel. Back to the A38 and across and into Perdiswell Park. I tried to take some pics here but my phone crashed which meant I had to restart it and carry on back up the towpath.
I was making good time so I called Sally and asked her to meet me at the finish for lunch at the Cafe. I was in time trial mode now. 45 mins to finish. I picked up and passed a couple of riders just outside Tibberton and then I had the towpath mostly to myself.
I began the Tardebigge Flight at Stoke and was quite impressed how strong my legs were feeling. I rolled quite a big gear up each pitch, the leg work at the Gym classes recently have clearly helped.
I got to the Cafe about 5 mins before Sally so I’d made good time back with the tailwind but I was hungry now so I smashed a coffee and a club sandwich
Ride done, I was quite impressed by my wider tyres. Much more comfortable without compromising speed. I rode without any mitts and my palms weren’t sore.
And finally….
I thought I was the only rider but last night I had a lovely email from Clare who had ridden the route with some mates. They were the guys I passed at Tardebigge reservoir and were just running a bit late and I missed them again at the Forge Cafe at Dunhampstead on the way back because I was in TT mode!
Keep the faith!