DIY Mr Shiner's Autumnal Outing

Ride Details

Series 6 Audax Season 2024-25, Ride number 12

Ride Stats

Ride Notes

I had entered Mr Pickwick’s Autumnal Outing at the week end - but because Amy blew up a storm I bailed. So with a free day Wednesday, and the prospect of better weather (No 50mph winds!), I decided to follow the route as a DIY.

After arriving early at the depart in Tewkesbury I headed out across the Evesham Vale - the roads were quiet as was the weather with mist sitting over the Costwolds. At 32km the route took a right up onto those hills towards Chipping Campden via the 20% climb out of Willersey before dropping back down towards the first calendar event control at Halford Bridge. I didn’t stop here, as its a convenience store rather than a cafe control, and pressed on to Daventry through villages with excellent names (the particular standout being Bishop’s Itchington).

Daventry, like most English towns of a simlar size, is ringed by ‘Nowheresville’ housing estates and approached via endless dual carriageways and roundabouts with inadequate cycle paths. I was glad to get into town and the control at the Deja Vu cafe. I’ve been here before on another CE and its a nice place to stop. After a brekkie I was feeling good, having covered the first 94km in 4:25, and started on the return leg.

After about 10km, towards Priors Hardwick, there were signs indicating a road closure. The route notes had indicated some possible issues but not in this section so I pressed on confident I’d be able to do the usual cyclist’s trick of squeezing through on the pavement or verge. No chance. At 110km there was a big anti-climb fence and a hole where the road should be. This was filled by an earth mover (well several) and a nearby crane for the HS2 bridge section they were installing. They yellow-jacketed chap looked at me sternly as if to say ’no chance old son’ even though I was only about 250m from the road I needed to be on. Cue a 10km detour as I retraced my steps, re-routed using Google Maps, all while my Garmin angrily beeped about being off course.

Mark advertises this ride as “A perfect way to see Autumnal Cotswold colours” and he’s not wrong. What he doesn’t tell you is how lumpy it is after half way. Chipping Norton was the next control point and I negotiated several steepish climbs and bumpy descents through unlikely named villages before arriving in town in the late afternoon sun. A coffee stop was welcome although the control cafe was full - I opted for Cafe Nero. It was very warm in the window seat so I moved outside to watch the world go by.

The weather was lovely now, with a low Autumn sun, and the 50km from ‘Chippy’ to Winchcombe was very, very pretty but has lots of ‘up and down’ and is quite challenging in places - especially out of Lower Slaughter. I was thankful for the drop down off the hills for the final 20km easy roll into Tewkesbury as the sun started to set.

A lovely route to top off RRtY #5 - just glad it wasn’t windy!

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