Mad dogs and Englishmen

– A ride from Gloucester to York

The original plan was to catch the train from York to Bristol and ride back. What could possibly go wrong?

Mike Cowling and his brother Nigel, both Fenland members but living in Yorkshire, planned a southwest to northeast tour before the threat of industrial action on trains and the high temperatures the country experienced in summer.

As the departure date drew closer, we knew that the transport unions wouldn’t interfere with our plans in their pursuit of a decent pay rise, the weather, on the other hand, was a problem. As the train didn’t arrive in Bristol until lunchtime and we didn’t fancy struggling in forecasted high temperatures out of Bristol we altered our route to get off the train at Cheltenham and ride south to Gloucester to be on our accommodation schedule.

Early morning saw us ride ten miles to York station from home along the Selby to York bicycle path in shady coolness. Collecting sandwiches and water from a small Co-op we arrived at the station to find that the train, from Edinburgh, was on time but no departure platform was available. We chatted with a very helpful station worker who said that she was in charge of despatching the train and she’d make sure we, and our bikes, were on board. Reservations for the bikes had been made but getting them on the train wasn’t easy. Panniers came off to reduce weight before they were both suspended from hooks in a small compartment in the carriage. They don’t make it easy.

By the time we arrived at Cheltenham the mercury was nudging 40C and the struggle to get the bikes off the train was a reminder of how hot it was. The first stop was directly out of the station at a trendy cafe, latte in jam jars etc, that offered the absolute luxury of air conditioning. Refreshed with cake and coffee we set off for Quedgeley, south of

Gloucester, and our hotel for the night. Using the good cycle path network we left Cheltenham, past GCHQ and over the M5 into the countryside. Arriving in Gloucester we stopped for ice cream and a drink at the city centre canal basin before using the Gloucester and Sharpness Canal towpath to head for Quedgeley.

It had cooled slightly overnight but not that much. After a good breakfast we headed north to Gloucester, back through the city centre, past the Gloucestershire Airport and struck out for Tewkesbury. We rode a lengthy section of off road across fields collecting a covering of mud after a short rain shower. Nigel, cursing the mud on his pristine bike, received quizzical looks from grazing sheep. Onwards to Evesham for a cafe stop, we diverted from the route and wished that we hadn’t. I’m sure that Evesham has more to offer than what we found. Still heading northeast, we rode along the Stratford

Greenway, with the River Avon on our left, into Stratford upon Avon for our second night. Showered we walked into the town centre and did a circuit of the tourist spots before replacing lost calories.

After a good breakfast, delivered to our bedroom door, we set off for a 52 miles stage to Leicestershire in good shape. We headed east and turned south for a short while before heading northwards towards Warwick. The wind dropped in behind us as the road climbed through Warwick and Kenilworth. The rain started as we rode through Coventry city centre following the pre-loaded GPS route on the Garmin. We picked up the canal towpath and rode for several miles past narrow boats and their associated canal side communities, exchanging pleasantries with folks. We left the canal behind on the outskirts of Nuneaton and rode towards Watling Street, the A5. A quick turn right and left and we were in Leicestershire. Keeping Market Bosworth on our right we rode through Carlton and Barton in the Beans to our lodge, south of Ibstock.

Bikes washed and breakfast eaten we set off on what was to be deemed the “Queen Stage” towards Staveley near Chesterfield. Just like the day before we head south for a short while before swinging north, again with a favourable tail wind. We rode to the west of Coalville and crossed the >>