I used to have a connection to the Cotswolds and in particular to Nailsworth so it seemed like a good option for a ride to shake out my tired legs and grab some more riding before heading to London. Using another guide in the well known series that I have been impressed with for rides further East on the Chilterns I decided a 30KM “Epic” would do the trick knowing the terrain was nowhere near as severe as the Brecons.
The ride was simple enough, out on roads, and tracks and back in the same way, using roads to gain height mainly and with straight stone-based tracks to hammer along. So far so good. One navigation error was my fault and, influenced by a tired brain and it all seemed fun enough. Hardly epic and the directions were sparse, but adequate.
And then it went wrong.
As you can see I was attempting to pick up a track that simply seemed to not exist. In a mess of new buildings and dirt tracks that may have now been paved I backtracked several times, eventually giving up and rolling back down the big climb I’d time trialled my way up and cruising home on the roads. Disappointingly this missed the final downhill, billed as the best in the area.
Before I totally blame the book and the directions I should bear in mind my tiredness at the end of another 2 hour ride, compounded on the day before, but they still seemed not thorough enough for the area. I don’t think it’s enough to simply say to turn left after 1KM onto a track with no detail of what might be a good landmark for it and I felt this was the case through the whole ride, almost assuming that anyone riding the route would know the area well. Still, I will go back and see if it makes more sense. Hopefully I can report back positively then. Until then see below for a graphical demonstration of my confusion.
Wednesday’s Giro stage was a flatish stage, with a kick in the tail. It was business as usual as a break went out to about 6 minutes and was reeled in. Various attacks had a go but were swallowed up, Cavendish lost touch and then in the end a zebra crossing led to a crash on the run in that separated the field and allowed Degenkolb through for a win. To clarify - not a real zebra. That would have been a big story. Wiggins finished in the bunch and lost no more time to his rivals this time round.
In news of bikes pointed downhill, Brook MacDonald is enjoying some scree-time:
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