A short report...
All very last minute though I'd prepped the bike and lined up accommodation, finally made the decision to weather the storm with 55 mins to go before the train to Leominster left.
Women heh, who'd have them!
Made the train ok ...
Nice sandals !!!
Took the flats off the Jones as I know them and the sandals are a winning combo.
Anyway, arrived shortly thereafter in Leominster and mere seconds later was on my way south. Forecast was for rain so I set off trying to beat it...
The new 39T gearing proved to be a great modification.
Not a huge amount of flat on the route but all was rideable.
It was lanes all the way, but a really enjoyable ride through Bodenham and skirting the east side of Hereford through Withington and first crossing the Wye at Holme Lacy.
I then crossed, and recrossed several times, a disused railway that used to run from Hereford to Ross. It's too far gone to be a sustrans . Shame.
I managed to get up Ballingham Hill which warned of 15% though personally I doubt this.
The Brompton does ride exceptionally well, with the Ergon GP3 grips putting your hands in quite a 'hoods' like position.
I rolled into Carey and with but a few miles to Ross, stopped at the Cottage of Content for a pint. Ok two.
The remaining ride along the Wye through Hoarwithy was very pleasant.
I'd booked a cheap B&no B in Ross so after a shower and change of clothes found a suitable curry house ( The Mint) for sustenance and beverage.
Saturday morning I was on the road with my pack of Eccles cakes by 07:40, continuing south east and upwards to Mitcheldean to collect the first BCQ point there.
Then it was briefly back the way I'd come to rejoin the Wye near Walford and passed Goodrich Castle and into Symonds Yat
It was then along the Wye on the east side all the way to Monmouth, presumably along another disused railway, very possibly the same one as Fridays.
This was lovely , riding with the river flowing next to me most of the way.
At Monmouth I'd routed to go on the A466.
Oh FFS !!! Look at that map Corne!! Though oddly no obvious way to get onto to the that bridleway and, looking at the satellite photos, not suitable for a Brompton, there's a disused railway running along the west bank of the Wye... I probably made the right choice considering the bike.
Anyway the A466 was ok but not brilliant. But it got me to Tintern and another BCQ, and a Brie panini with a coffee and a great cycle friendly cafe.
It was then back a short way to get the bridge over the Wye and on to the Greenway. This was muddier than anticipated but the Brompton coped, without me dabbing, all the way to the tunnel....
I'd bought the Six-pack for this 1kilometre long tunnel... but upon arrival lights were forbidden due to a colony of bats.... luckily there's subdued downlighting that just about lights the way.
From the other side it was a short stint into Chepstow and the train home.
About 70 miles. Loved it. And I avoided ALL the rain !
though currently it's not ace. Leave work at 15:30 and mooch on down to Ross, about 45 miles a way ... or if it's shizen maybe detour to Hereford and get the train back !
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