HLaB
Marie Attoinette Fan
My Sunday ride went to Picks Barn Cafe up in Rutland. I like the Rutland area as its full of shortish (3-4mins) steep climbs and I can get a bit of a workout without it getting too split up.
Perfect cycling weather at last! Warm and sunny in this part of Gloucestershire today, but with a gentle cool breeze. I set off for a morning 50km ride, heading out via Whitminster, Eastington, (where I opted for a detour up a short but very steep little hill on Church Lane), Frocester and Kings Stanley to do one of my favourite climbs up the Cotswold escarpment to Middleyard. First stop a quick bit of shade and a glug of water in a bus shelter opposite the Frocester George:
View attachment 815367 The Middleyard climb was the first route up the escarpment that I ever managed, and it is still within my capabilities today as it goes up in three separate steps, giving you just enough recovery time between exertions. The views across to Whiteshill, Randwick and Ruscombe are amazing, and I often stop there to watch deer grazing in the valley below. It was looking very parched today, as Gloucestershire has been like a blast furnace lately.
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I turned around and coasted back down the hill and retraced my route past Frocester and stopped for a milk shake and a flapjack at the Eastington Farm Shop Cafe before heading home via Frampton, Fretherne and Elmore. 31.3 miles today. Lovely.
Yesterday I hired a Santander Cycle in London ...
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