Originally planned for Saturday, the weather ended that idea with a day of rain. Even though it wasn’t as biblical as I expected it was enough to make me push the ride back to yesterday. However, Sally had booked us into a spa hotel for the night so I was on the clock to get back for noon. This prompted a much earlier start than I anticipated.
I’d set the alarm for 7am but I was awake and up at 6.45am with not the best of sleeps under my belt. My plan was to get away no later than 7.30am so I cracked on with breakfast and broke the cardinal rule, I had a mug of tea instead of coffee. Sacrilege!
Although the sun was out it was pretty nippy when I left the house and I was glad I’d donned arm warmers and my lightweight gilet. I dropped down into the lanes and gingerly took a corner, the scene of my near-death experience last week. Which had rattled me more than I thought. I have since mailed a complaint to the council. Not heard anything or even an acknowledgement yet but I feel better for doing it. He’s just plain dangerous.
When I got to The Swan no-one was there, as expected, so I turned left then right and headed for Pepper Wood. On the left were two ladies getting ready with gravel bikes. Doing the ride or just coincidence? I shouted hi as I whizzed past then it was straight into the first sector, a nice wide gravel path down through the woods.
Back on tarmac, Hockley Brook Lane and it’s punchy pitches were a reminder to knock it back a bit. The route is littered with short, sharp climbs that sap your energy and I was looking at 4.5hrs minimum, so pushing on so early on wasn’t really a good idea.
At the Bradford Lane bridleway is was back on proper gravel through the farm yard which was dead bar the dogs barking. I expected the trails to be quite gloopy after the rain on Saturday and this one was no exception. It had held up well, even where you turn left at the bridleway crossroads part way down. The single track from here to Dordale Road was in good nick too.
I passed a couple of other cyclists out early too as I cycled over to the top of Barrow Hill and dropped down to Drayton full gas where I met a driver who turned out of the T-Junction left in front of me at 5mph and then continued at that speed up the hill before turning into the Robin Hood pub. Of course, no indication and completely oblivious to my shouts. Classic driving that just seems to be the norm now and getting worse.
Over the top of the Drayton Rd climb and the next bridleway was showing signs of the rain with plenty of puddles. It was bit overgrown too soaking my feet for the first few yards, but I do like this one. Flat n fast.
After dropping down into Hillpool, the climb back out always feels twice as long as coming the other way. At the top it was left through Sion farm which always feels like you’re riding up someones drive. Out the back you pick up the the trail which serves as a track for the tractor so it’s always pretty cut up unless you ride the centre ridge. Crossing the usually busy Stourbridge Rd was breeze at that time of the morning and then I was straight into the short but super steep pitch over Barnett Hill. Along the top is usually pretty overgrown but it was ok with the odd awesome view over to Abberley Hill peeking through the undergrowth. The usually sandy and squirmy descent wasn’t too bad either. That or my skills had improved.
Back in the lanes I was met by a very enthusastic dog out for his Sunday morning walk. As I cycled past, he came running alongside me. No aggression, just loving life before his owner abruptly cut his fun short and apologised. No need. Then it was down the next trail where as I rounded a left, I spooked a Muntjac which ran off into the hedge. Again I crossed another busy A-road without a problem and I was quickly offroad again picking up the trail that runs parallel to the Blakedown Golf Club. This one was always overgrown for the first few metres but looked like it had been cut back recently and was great. It’s a deceiving trail, nice and wide and sheltered but it does consistently climb making it a bit of a test in places.
At the top it was right onto Waggon Lane for few hundred metres then left onto one of the longest bridleways on the route. This one was definitely more overgrown than last year but riding down the centre was fine. Towards the end it did open up more though.
With the trail, road, trail sections done it was a bit of a breather on open roads now dropping down onto the canal. From here, I think it’s some of the best towpath around. It bends and twists quite a lot and the scenery changes quite a lot too. Rural then you literally ride through Kidderminster and out the other side and wouldn’t necessarily know. I particularly like the section from Kiddy to Stourport-on-Severn which is a lot quieter and remote.
At Stourport I rode past the Stourport Sports Club and caught sight of the riders into the last few hours (12 noon finish) of their 24hr ride for charity after riding through the night around the track. Some were feeling the chill all wrapped up in winter jackets and tights.
From Burlish top it’s a nice traffic-free descent to the outskirts of Bewdley. I took the B-road into town despite saying Road Closed which was for flood defences by the bridge. It looks like they’re building a concrete wall to help. I got through on the path before crossing the bridge and climbing out of town tracking NCN Route 45 which takes you through the houses then drops down a lane to pick up the disused railway line straight onto the forest.
After a couple of km the route took a left and began to climb the meandering forest road to the Visitors Centre. I passed a few walkers and horse riders on what seemed like freshly laid gravel in places. At the visitor centre it was busy but the car park wasn’t full yet. I didn’t stop and dropped past Go Ape and back out into the forest enjoying the descent back to Route 45. When I rode this last year it was heavy rain. It’s much nicer in the dry.
After a km back on the disused line the route takes a sharp right and drops down to Dowles Brook before tackling the lengthy climb to Button Oak. It was here last year I began to crack but I felt good, finding a nice rhythm. I was looking forward to a coffee and some food at Upper Arley once I’d dropped into Button Oak. Just a steep descent over the Severn Valley Railway and across the footbridge over the River Severn but when I got there I was to be disappointed. It was 10am but the tea room didn’t open till 10.30am. Gutted, I reluctantly had to carry on.
Climbing out the village is a leg-burning 16% climb before a right and back offroad into Eymore Woods with its own steep climb followed by the mile long road climb away from Trimpley Reservoir. At the top, Trimpley Lane continues up before a right to pick up the Hollies Lane byway which always delivers a nice view as you drop off the top out of the trees.
After a quick transition skirting Franche it was back onto the canal at Wolverly retracing thr route earlier but heading on further north to Whittington where I got off and crossed a much busier Stourbridge Road.
I was becoming aware of the time now and beginning to make calculations in my head when I would get back. I had a suspicion I was going to be later than I planned but I’d have a clearer picture when I got to Clent. The bridleways which skirt Stourbridge were their usual best. In good nick and quieter than usual. The one I properly cracked on last year and had to stop was fine although a bit overgrown. Here some dog walkers kindly stepped aside, others look at you like scum. Even when you say thank you they can’t bring themselves to acknowledge you. It’s a common tell. You get it on towpaths too with the ones that just will not move no matter how many times you politely ring your bell to warn them. Some people just don’t like to share I guess.
At Clent I knew I probably had time to climb to Four Stones but Walton Hill was going to be a push. I opted for Four Stones as it has the better views. It was a bit of a slog as my legs were beginning to complain but I wasn’t disappointed. Views south to The Malvern Hills and views over to Dudley and beyond the other way. I didn’t hang around, I dropped off the top and followed the bridleway around the side of the hill to the top of St Kenelms Pass. As I approached quite a large group across the trail I pinged my bell and they began to move to the sides but their dog was off its lead and came at me quite aggressively barking. I almost stopped and passed slowly and as I rode away the dog came at me again, this time really aggressively so I pulled over and completely stopped. I was about to tell them to control their fucking dog but it ran off. I didn’t even look back. Not a murmur or apology from them. Just silence. A few yards on a couple had stopped and witnessed it with (ironically) their well-behaved dog on the lead which I commented and thanked them for. They laughed obviously aware of the piss poor owner behind. (It’s never the dog’s fault in my mind, just bad owners)
Back on the road, a bit pissed-off and tired it wasn’t hard to decide not to climb Walton Hill. Instead I took the road descent and cycled back to Fairfield to complete the route and then ride home. The plan was get back for noon, I arrived 12.05pm. Relationship still intact.
Wyre We Riding is one of my favourite routes but it is hard on your own with lots of energy-sapping climbs. A stop at Upper Arley would have been nice though.
With 4h 40mins of riding in my legs I was looking forward to a swim, a beer and a good feed at our hotel later.
Adios till the next one.
