Cotswold figure of eight

The weather looked promising for the weekend, and Sunday being the best option forecasting a high 18 to 20 degrees with rain coming in from the west later in the day, so an easterly ride for a ride out in the Cotswolds seemed the obvious choice. I logged on to that very good on-line route plotting website MotoGoLoco and did a search through all of the "Cotswold" routes, settling for an interesting figure of eight ride as far south as Bibury and almost as far out to Banbury. The route description suggested a stop at Hook Norton Brewery and a ride around Charlbury too.  I modified the route slightly to place a start waypoint near Feckenham and ending in Henley in Arden then emailed the exported route files (both GPX and ITN) to Lindsay to load on his TomTom Rider.

 

With a 9am meet arranged somewhere in Feckenham, the biggest challenge for the morning would be finding a route from home to avoid the Birmingham Velo cycling event that looped around Kidderminster and parts of Droitwich with closed roads that affected parts of Bromsgrove too. Thankfully the A422 down through Rushock and Droitwich remained open so I soon pulled up at the village shop in Feckenham after a spirited bright sunny ride along those twisty lanes past Hanbury Hall, arriving around 8.50. Lindsay arrived a little after 9.00.

The intended Cotswold route shared on Motogoloco

While on the bike, it suddenly occurred to me how I hadn't started out with a ride in an easterly direction in a long time. With it being late September the sun was tipping below my helmet peak, almost blinding me at times as I lined up for an upcoming bend so I needed to give the old visor a good clean before we set off again. The route took us down through to Honeybourne, with Lindsay leading as he's more familiar with these parts to avoid the A roads cutting across country. Sometime after I took the lead again and the Garmin's interpretation of the route meant it cut corners between waypoints using country lanes running through the Cotswolds I had never ridden before. These incredibly scenic roads were quite 'choppy' even on my GS, poor old Lindsay on the Bandit was suffering more though, and just as I was thinking how uncomfortable it might of been on my last bike - a Harley Davidson Low Rider, I was quite surprised when at Burford Cafe, parked outside was a very nice looking 16 plate Low Rider in a blue and white two tone colour scheme.

 

Almost 'stock' Low Rider

Just as I was taking a photo, the owner, a guy with what sounded to me like an Australian accent appeared and we swapped a few stories of Low Rider ownership. This later version was slightly different to the one I owned with a black not chrome clock surround, different battery and filter box as well as bigger capacity engine. He had fitted T-bars and a two into one screaming eagle exhaust system. I do like the new Low Rider, and if I could own one again as a second bike for sunny days I would. They handle well for a heavy bike because of the Low centre of gravity and a lot of fun but could never swap one outright for my GS though!

My Low Rider near Riano in the Spanish Picos 2012 (click to enlarge)

 

After our full English, and despite my dodgy u turn on the crossroads in Burford apparently (oops), and Lindsay's dodgy guts (urghh), our route just kept getting better and better as we took turn after turn across country up and down dale, passing through all of those farm tracks and valleys to more chocolate box villages. I don't get to visit the Cotswolds so often on the bike these days as they do get congested, yet this route has proved if you can avoid the main roads and get off the beaten track you won't see much traffic at all even on a sunny Sunday.

Hook Norton

Later in the afternoon after dodging squirrels and pheasants again in secluded forest areas (what is it with me and squirrels eh ?) and after seeing the most amazing Red Kite hovering over us, we arrived in Hook Norton. We settled for a drink at the Pear Tree next to the Brewery, and a rare thing on a bike ride I decided to make an exception and try a swift one of the local brew, while Lindsay tried to tame his grumbling constitution with a posh pot of Coffee. While sat outside the pub we got chatting to a young chap who showed us a You Tube video of his mate having a confusing 'off' while riding his GSA in Spain. We all agreed he was a lucky chap, and couldn't work out how he lost control of it.

Our route home via Stratford Upon Avon was accompanied by what seemed like the cast of bikers from the Mad Max film. I had been watching the original film in the week for the 'umpteenth' time and was sure I would see 'Toecutter' amongst them as these riders were overtaking cars at great speed causing the car drivers to brake sharply as two or more tried to get into the gap between cars. Personally, I think this is reckless, and gives the biker community a bad name, so best to hang back and let them get on with it. Never mind, apart from a crowded one lane Stratford town, a very pleasant day out, and made it home around 5.30 without getting wet this time and thankfully the Velo road closures had lifted too. 

I'm definitely going to ride that route again - maybe in reverse next time. The Cotswolds are great and almost on my doorstep so there's no excuse. Thanks to Lindsay for his local knowledge too. 209 miles.

  

A new bike ride to Aber..flickofthewrist..wyth

Due to a recent family holiday at the end of August and other family commitments I hadn't been out for a ride since the Snowdonia trip, and was chomping at the bit to get out. Last week, via social network I noticed that Mark had finally taken delivery of a new bike. He'd been test riding quite a few big bikes of the Adventure genre throughout the year but couldn't quite find the right machine to match his silky smooth Bandit. None of the twins he tried quite did it it for him and although he liked the four cyclinder BMW XR, he settled on the very nice Kawasaki Versys 1000 stopping short of test riding a GS that was next on his list. Last Sunday we were both free for a ride, so a good ride out west into Wales was the obvious choice to put the Versys through it's paces.

Crossgates Cafe

After loading up an old trip I had lying around the internal memory of the Garmin to take us out through Knighton then round to Llandovery via Lampeter and back in the direction of Brecon, I met Mark at Cleobury Cafe and parked outside was this 'cracking' looking Versys in a very sexy black with red trim (stockings and garter colour scheme maybe? 😙 ) We set off towards Rhayedar, with a stop at Crossgates Cafe for an all day breakfast where the Versys was drawing quite a crowd, before heading on down to Aberystwyth. Mark had to keep the Versys under 4K revs for the first 500 but you really wouldn't know it. A very nice machine I have to say and following behind he looked much more comfortable on it than he did on the Bandit. 

Mark ... very pleased with his new Versys in Aberystwyth.

From Aberystwyth we followed the route, first down to Lampeter, then on to Llandovery stopping at the bikers cafe there. Even late in the afternoon the place was full of bikers as usual. I overheard someone mention Fire Engine and Accident but didn't pay too much attention. As we left Llandovery on the A40 toward Brecon we noticed bikes waving us and car headlights flashing and eventually came to a halt at a long traffic queue. As we understand there was an accident and the Air Ambulance had landed nearby. A guy at the head of the queue was directing traffic to an alternative route, and advised us to take the forest trail road up and over a quarry that would bring us back on to the A40 past the accident. Not sure if Mark fancied taking his shiny new bike on a dirt track so I was pleased when he jumped the lead and headed straight up the gravel track entrance. 

The forest trail diversion just outside Llandovery.

The forest trail was great fun, Mark testing his traction control settings almost immediately. I found this quite amusing, a brand new bike straight out on to the dirt 👍. Not sure I would have, but I guess when faced with an adventure on an adventure bike you can't refuse! 

Kawasaki Versys 1000 on its first trail road.

The view from the forest trail was amazing, you could see for miles toward the Brecons as the road wound round up and over a quarry and across the valley. The surface was gravelly and churned up in parts, not too difficult, just right for my liking and Mark was enjoying the ride too it seemed. We stopped to take a few photos and were passed by cars pulling horse boxes and all sorts who it seems followed us up the trail. I wouldn't mind riding this trail again I thought, so on my return home I logged the 'route tracks' using base camp. 

The trail road winding around with traffic in the distance.

 

Our ride back led us over the edge of the Brecons as the sun was starting to drop long shadows on the valleys creating quite a a stark contrast in the light from one side to the other, bathing the sides of the valley in a golden glow. We came back in to England in Herefordshire via Whitney on Wye passing by that spooky looking Baskerville Hall before parting our ways in Leominster. 

The total route track loaded into Basecamp.

Really pleased Mark has now got his new bike sorted and I have to say I really like the look of the Versys - a very good choice. I can see it fully loaded with the supplied panniers and roll bag next season as he heads off on a few trips away. Good day out, 246 miles door to door, sadly one of the last of the season I guess, roll on next year I hope to ride with Mark again soon.