It was cold, but we rode

Last year three of us hit the hills on the afternoon of the 21st of Dec. And it was misty and frozen at the top of the Beacon. This year two of us pedalled our way up the Beacon, it was on the 28th Dec, and it wasn’t as misty, but it was frozen!

We met in the usual place, at 10:30, and took some time to admire Bnnis new lights (very nice i must say). Then we hit the trail, we started the Wyche, then suddenly did a U-turn, raced back down for a few hundred yards, then took a left onto a path. Our speed catapulted us up the firt, steep rocky slope. We followed this path along to St Annes, I collected some water while we were there, then hacked up to the Knoll. We headed across Happy Valley and onto North Hill. We rattled along the lower north Hill route. Then took a left onto the zig-zags. We crawled our way up and round, Benni failed on some of the corners, which meant I failed because he was in front at this point. Anyway, we got to the top in decent time. We then raced along the higher north Hill route back toward the Beacon. We stopped for a breather next to the Dias before selecting a low gear and slogged our way up the Beacon using our usual path, we both made it over the Rock Patch without any troubles, and got to the summit.

Up here, in the freezng wind and possible could, it was bloody freeeeezing! Even thick skinned Wozzer had to give in and put his coat on! The wind howling over the ridge meant our light bikes were blown majorly to the right (facing the Toposcope) and I ended up riding leaning at a weird angle inot the wind. After looking briefly at the veiw (inside of cloud) we descended. We dropped down and ’round the back’. on the way we passed a group having some champane. Anoraked, hooded, gloved, scarfed, and drinking champane out of the wind. I said “cheers” as I passed. Originally Benni and i were planning to go down the ‘back route’ but with the amount of wind, numb hands and walkers we decided it’d be better to go down the tarmac path. which we did. we went slowly to avoid walking folk. at one point we hit the ridge quickly to get round a large group. The ridge up to the Beacon is incredably rough, and roucky as heck. Never the less, we bumped our way down, and ‘nut-cracker suite’ was experienced (i.e. when the saddle hits one in the groin).

We bidded each other “Happy New Year” as we rolled through the Wyche Cutting. Benni got out in front of me, and i couldn’t get past him through the corners (he pulls a wide line, so it’s hard to over take and undertaking is out of the question – not enough room) but i got him after the bends, i rocketed past him at 31mph!! From the Wyche Road he drops down Lower Wyche Road and rattles across Peachfeild to get home. I head all the way down the Wyche, join the Wells road, rocket through Belle View terrace, along the Worcester Road, left at Link Top and Home.

I made it 8.7 miles in the end, house to house. It was really fun, and good to get out on the hills with Benni. As always, I can’t see why I don’t go more! Anyway, maybe in the New Year we’ll get our game together again and go cycling more.

Until the next Ride!

Uncle Austin Wozzer