After feeling not to brilliant after yesterday's ride it was decided, last night, that we should take today very easy. After a small panic of not being to find my water bottle. We bid farewell to The Beaufort hotel, our home for last night and set off. Today was just the trio of me, Jordan and John.
As has been typical of our trip we started the day's stage in the rain (well I guess we were in Wales). Our first stop of interest was Tintern Abbey
Although it was wet the the Wye valley rather lovely. My Garmin did have a hissy fit and decided to turn itself off (Garmin GPS are notorious for having these moments). The miles ticked by John setting and very sensible steady pace with Jordan right on his wheel. I would follow for a while then go off and ride up the climbs at my own pace. Slowing on the descent so we form the trio once again. This was pretty much how we rode most of today. As we climbed out of the valley we noticed the wind had picked up. It was a very helpful WSW. Which meant that for most of the ride we had the wind coming over our left shoulder. The great thing was we knew weren't going to have to turn round and face it. Any cyclist knows that this a dream, as mostly all our rides are a loop.
It wasn't too long before we started to catch the other members of our group. We saw Dave sitting on an old monument having a small snack and a rest. He gave us the thumbs up and we went past. There was much amusement as we found a post office in St Leonards that had a sign showing how we had come and how we had to go (photo opportunity)
Just before the first feed stop was spotted (more cake and today, fig biscuits!) We were held up by one man and his dog hearding sheep down the lane. Made a change from the usual cars and lorries. Group by group everyone rolled in to the feed stop. Yesterday we had the Andy trying to take his bike apart at the feed stop and then having to use the spare bike. Luckily for him, last night his girlfriend drove over from Cardiff to Chepstow to give him his old bike (that's three different bikes ridden in four days). However this didn't stop him from fiddling with the saddle at the feed stop. Earlier in the ride I noticed that Spencer's chain wasn't looking particularly great. Jordan took care of the chain (which hadn't seen any oil or been cleaned in months or possibly ever) while I sorted yet another spoke on Pat's bike. In the meantime Rachel had knocked over her bike (dreillieur side down) all looked OK, but not to be the case later in the ride.
Water bottles topped up and bikes repaired we rode on towards Hereford.
In to Ludlow, past the Feathers public house and out the otherside. Meanwhile further back down the road Rachel was having problems with her bike. The earlier drop had resulted in the rear dreillieur being knocked out of alignment, reducing the number be of gears to choose from. Off to find another cycle shop for a quick repair and having to race back to join the designated route. What Rachel hadn't realised was that she had ridden fifteen miles with the rear brakes rubbing the rear wheel. The mechanic in the shop hadn't seated the rear wheel correctly. Also unbeknownst to all of us Dave's HRM had packed up. So he stopped at a garage to buy a replacement battery but needed a coin to remove the covering cap to swap the battery. He asked the chap in the shop if had one. Fortunately a lady came to the rescue with a coin. Battery was swapped and ta da! Still didn't work.
In the last fifteen miles Jordan found his legs today giving us more of a taste of what he is capable of when he is fully fit. One occasion saw John trying to close down a gap which he just couldn't. As we neared our destination the terrain became more Jordan's sort of thing and he casually rode away from myself and John. Never the less the three of us rolled in to the hotel car park and agreed that today was a far better ride than yesterday. Same again tomorrow?
BTW Dave tried his HRM in the hotel room and it worked!
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