Drop in temperatures fails to deter local cyclists (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Drop in temperatures fails to deter local cyclists

DESPITE a sudden drop in the temperature and having to conten with a fierce headwind, 14 Corinium Cycling Club enthusiasts ventured out for the weekly run on Sunday.

As leader of the gentle run, Andrew Tolman elected to take his party of six out through Ampney Crucis, Barnsley and, using the tailend of the Welsh Way, on into Ready Token.

After Akeman Street, they dropped down into Quenington and on to Macaroni Woods in a vain attempt to shelter from the wind.

Eastleach and Westwell offered no respite from the wind and so the tea-break at the Burford Garden Centre was very welcome.

Meanwhile, the fast run, which had also accumulated seven riders, departed via a slightly different route.

Led by Cliff Dutton aboard his a MTB/road bike hybrid nicknamed 'Ermintrude', the group rode up the Whiteway before turning right into the teeth of the wind, along a leaf-strewn Welsh Way.

Turning left at the outskirts of Barnsley, they continued into Winson which was followed by Ablington.

Next stop was Bibury where an impatient motorist came close to mowing them down.

But the strong headwind saw riders starting to fall behind schedule and so the planned route had to be shelved.

Instead, they headed up the climb out of Bibury, along the A433 with heart monitors shrieking with indignation as they pushed themselves to the limit up the hill and into the wind.

Once at Kilkenny Cottages, there was to be no hiding place from the elements.

And there was certainly no respite as they tackled the long drag from Aldsworth to the A40 with Gareth Hughes, Peter Holden and Steve Gouch all taking it in turns to push along the pace.

Once in the warmth of the Garden Centre, the majority decided to return home, leaving only a handful of keen riders to continue on to the Witney lunch-stop.

Details of all Corinium Cycling Club activities can be found on their web site at www.coriniumcc.co.uk