Welcome to the forum
CCA TdF Super Summer Seventy Social - Friday 26th July
For the third year in a row, the mid summer ride / social is on once again on... this time to align with Stage 19 of Le Tour de France (Col De I'Iseran / Tignes mountain stage). A short, punchy mountain stage of just 80 miles which will, no doubt, be influential in deciding the overall standings of this years race.
The day starts with a classic club ride across the chiltern hills (including our own beasty climbs... Invinghoe Beacon and Bison Hill) to Tring where a welcome break is to be had at The Cog cafe link for coffee, bacon sarnies, cake etc etc.
It's then the run back under the Luton flight path to Letchworth and the Garden City Brewery link to watch Stage 19 of Le Tour, accompanied by beer, cheeseboards, scotch eggs and pork pies...
Everyone is welcome, either to ride, ride and drink, or just turn up to watch the racing and the craic.
Route will be the same as last year, Starting at 9am sharp from the Garden City Brewery, The Wynd, Letchworth, returning for approx 2pm.
Route here
Stick you name below to give an idea of numbers...
The day starts with a classic club ride across the chiltern hills (including our own beasty climbs... Invinghoe Beacon and Bison Hill) to Tring where a welcome break is to be had at The Cog cafe link for coffee, bacon sarnies, cake etc etc.
It's then the run back under the Luton flight path to Letchworth and the Garden City Brewery link to watch Stage 19 of Le Tour, accompanied by beer, cheeseboards, scotch eggs and pork pies...
Everyone is welcome, either to ride, ride and drink, or just turn up to watch the racing and the craic.
Route will be the same as last year, Starting at 9am sharp from the Garden City Brewery, The Wynd, Letchworth, returning for approx 2pm.
Route here
Stick you name below to give an idea of numbers...
Comments
Looking forward to this ride. Thanks for arranging Matt.
Matt
Stef
Martin L
Stef
Martin
Paul
Harvey
I'm thinking meet at Esquires Coffee Shop on Leys Av for a cheeky go-go espresso at 8:30 for a 9 o'clock roll out.
All welcome... Ride will be club paced - nobody left behind. Drinking will be most definately session paced!!
Start - Esquires Coffee Shop, Letchworth
Half way - The Cog Cafe, Tring,
Finish - Garden City Brewery, Letchworth
Post drink Curry - TBA
Stick your name down and turn up.
Ride on!
Looking forward to it.
Dave H put me on to this cycling-related beer. It's a bit of a template for the as-yet-unmade Grass Track Beer we plan to brew and take over the world with.
It turns out it's made by the Tring Brewery, that has a brewery shop on-site - that's only 2 minutes from our cafe half-way point. I think we should pop in and ceremonially try one.
I look forward to the ride, and watching the exciting TdF in the afternoon in Letcheworth, and catching up with anyone who pops in after work for a drink too.
Riders: see you 8.30-9am @ Esquires.
Will: yep - would love to drop off a bag. Ta.
Will, bag drop would be great also...
Thankfully looking cooler tomorrow, possibly a refreshing sprinkle of rain!!
For those last minute riders, feel free to turn up ready to set off at 9. I will be at Esquires shortly after 8:30.
For those last minute drinkers, we should be back at LGC brewery for 2:30 ish, feel free to turn up and join in... We'll be there til early evening at least.
See you all in the morning.
Note, this doesn't include the Tring Brewery detour, but literally 100m of course on the outskirts of Tring
Collecting ourselves on the continental-esque outdoor seating at Esquires Coffee House in Letchworth, we set off west, with a shot of caffeine in our stomachs, desperately trying to avoid the red smudge on Martin's rain radar. We failed, and after a few miles, we were slowly getting wet, although in a relatively refreshing way.
Heading across the Luton flight path and into the chilterns, the roads resembled those normally riden in November, with dark tint sunglasses smeared with water, dull roads hidden by the shadows of the trees, the clearest thing to make out was the stark white 'ASHWELL' writing on the back of our jerseys!
12 miles from Tring, Phil's slowly weeping back tire finally let go and we stopped outside the houses of some affluent residents of Bedfordshire. Hoping that we might have pity taken on us and a tray and tea and cake would suddenly be assisting our tire changing efforts... however the dream wasn't realised and heading back on our bikes the old classic 1-2 hit us as Martin's front tire was as deflated as we were about the lack of tea and cake.
Onwards to Tring via Invinghoe beacon (now able to dry ourselves off in the warm breeze) We arrived at the Cog just before 12 and swiftly ordered our bacon sandwiches and coffee. Slick, friendly service meant we were soon back on the road, heading out of Tring and away from the abusive car drivers that can be found there. Before vacating the area completely, a quick detour to Tring Brewery for a swig of the cycling inspired 'Drop Bar' pale ale... We were not sure whether it was the fact we were mid ride or that it is just a fantastic tasting beer.. either way, its probably best that we all buy some and find out for certain!...
Popping up Bison hill, it was clear that Paul was already fit for Italy despite having 7 weeks left to train (strong) however, we regrouped and headed back across the lumpy lanes to Letchworth, rolling into the Garden City Brewery just before 3pm and bang on queue for the racing on the TV (what there was of it).
Some great beer, pizza and a few more friendly faces made for a very pleasant evening after a tough ride.
Thanks, Martin, Paul, Phil, Stef, Will & Keith for a great ride. See you next year!
More mudguards needed, clearly...
form on Friday is on the back of the winter rollers you (Matt) & Martin are good enough to run through the dark winter months. Is it too early to plug Monday Night Rollers 8.30 -9.30...end of October !
Looking forward to the Wells ride, but still not sure on the there & back option.
Will, Good to see you sporting the Ashwell flapped mudguards.......despite it being July.....proper proper cycling.