Good Numbers!

Saturday morning at At the Chapel was busy, a few BCC in non cycling attire but the majority (15 of us…) were lycra clad and good to ride. Mr SC and Mr PC were off on another long jaunt to West Bay, whilst the main pack headed out through Wincanton, and towards Stoke Trister, then up the cheeky Cucklington Hill, always a joy, to enjoy the view at the top. Some more muddy lanes brought us to the outskirts of Gillingham and we met Mr RA of CCRCC, circling around waiting for our tardy bunch to arrive at Cafe Newt. With such a large group we had to take the outside tables, so thankful for the more springlike weather. On from here the group split into several groups returning to Bruton via the usual Wincanton route, or via Shaftesbury, Mere and the like.

Sunday also brought good numbers despite the threat of rain. 7 brave souls headed out up the main road south from Bruton, into Galhampton and the Cadburys and onto Corton Denham skirting round the back of the Beacon, and onto Sherborne. Showers started from here, and rain jackets were on by Bradford Abbas, apart from Mr TW, who left his in Loaf Bakehouse last week, and Mr SC and Mr Trims who are just so hard that they didn’t need one. Once on Bailey Ridge another cyclist was spied in the distance, and always up for a chase, the lads were off like the greyhound after a hare, leaving Dr L and MsJP to take a steadier pace up to Lyons Gate. Mr TW was going to head on the proposed route to Merriott solo, but was persuaded by the pack to stick with us, as we headed back through Glanvilles Wootton, Holwell and Milborne Port. Mr SC and Mr Trims again being so hard, declined the offer of a fuel stop in Corton Denham, so the rest of us got to eat all the cake on offer, before the final roll back into Bruton. 52 miles, but loads of climbing, and not a flat section of road in sight, add to that headwind and rain and it felt like it’d been a lot longer than the stats said.