The Arrow Valley Allroad

Yesterday’s #NewEvent was originally intended to be a gravel version of The MMH road event I’ve announced I’m resurrecting next March. I still may run it next year alongside the road event, so yesterday was a good chance to recce the full route and see how the slight change in format worked.

After a scenic ride in to the start along the canal, a smaller group turned out for this one. New event’s always seem to have depressed numbers, in addition to the format change and school holidays it was still a good turn out though.

I welcomed everyone and decided we should all roll out of the park together slowly which was a safer option. After we’d negotiated the path around the lake, the walkers thinned out and we were able to crack on up past the hospital on traffic-free paths. On the outskirts of Studley as we turned for Sambourne, the group began to split naturally and groups formed. I found myself in a nice little group which taclked the first offroad sector of Arden Way together. A nice draggy climb to warm the legs up. Then we were straight into the next sector which took us back down to Coughton Lane and off towards Alcester.

No drama’s through the town we crossed the A46 then enjoyed a great lap of Oversley Woods which has given me some ideas for the Winter but more on that at a later date. It was warming up very early on and when we ascended the short, sharp kicker to Ardens Grafton we stopped briefly to let Chris in our group reset his bars and levers that had shifted and the dry n dusty trails out of the woods.

After a lovely fast descent to the main road we were held up briefly by a stream of traffic before dropping into Bidford-on-Avon and over the bridge. Then left to Barton and into the lanes now where I put in a shift on the front and dragged everyone along at a reasonable pace and delivered the group to the foot of Bakers Hill in Mickleton. From here it was everyone for themselves until the top where we would regroup.

Bakers Hill was fine but the steep offroad climb from Hidcote Boyce was quite technical in places with big, loose rocks to deal with on the steepest section. Then it got exposed and the heat became very real and I was unusually struggling with it.

We regrouped at the summit, enjoyed the views then set off again across a series of bridleways before a steep and very fast descent into Ilmington. We’d turned into the wind now. It was quite hard work but I was glad of the breeze. After Meon Vale, we jumped onto a very, dry and dusty Stratford Greenway where Bobby’s Cafe beckoned at the end. I needed food and water as I was feeling pretty ropey by now.

At the cafe I ordered a toastie, a couple of cokes and refilled my water bottle. I was told 10-15 mins for my food, which was fine, but it turned out to be closer to 30 mins and the rest of the group left. I would have too tbh. Eventually it came and it was fine but nothing amazing and I struggled to eat it to be honest.

I left and headed for the canal with legs that just felt drained. I thought the towpath was flat but a series of locks sapped what little energy I had.

I got off at Wilmcote and on the drag out of the village I was beginning to think about where I stop and call Sally to come and get me because I felt done and really struggling in the sun. I said to myself just keep pedalling and then through Aston Cantlow I saw a couple of riders ahead which gave me a boost and distracted me enough to keep going.

When I caught them just outside Shelfield, I was beginning to feel a bit better as the food began to kick in and we rode steadily through the lanes briefly splitting up on the climb out of Ullenhall where we passed another couple of riders, Paul and Darren who looked as bad as I felt.

Eventually we got to the A435 where a nice descent beckoned to Beoley via Moss Lane the final offroad sector. Just one more kicker up Beoley hill then it was more traffic-free paths back into the park for a busy lap of the lake to finish.

I faced the prospect of an 8 mile ride home but some shade and an ice-cold beer off Jackie did the trick. I limped home and rolled in with just shy of 80 miles in the legs for the day.

It was great day but I really struggled in the heat.

I’d set myself a little challenge of trying to nail exactly 100.00km. When I’d finished I was on 98.6km, so as I left to ride home I kept my GPS running and as I was on the outskirts of the park, it flicked over to the magic number and then I stopped and restarted it. A tiny bit of cheating but I don’t care.