Cycling - slow and steady

Our most recent ride:

Seventeen members enjoyed a challenge on the rather hilly, Pilton Circle but the weather was glorious for cycling and had lovely views all the way round and a delicious cake and coffee stop at the New Room, Pilton. Thanks for Ian for leading us on this outing and taking great care of the treaders bringing up the rear with lots of rest time!

We had sixteen riders today, 9th April 2026. It was a shame the sun didn’t shine for us as it did yesterday but it was dry. Wind was against us across Godney, Tilham and Tadham moors. At Blackford we did the Sexey bit! Then we rode on to Heath House and Sand. Great down hill run at Mudgley, then into Sweets for our well deserved coffee and cake. Back on the road we did Westhay Meare and the old railway line from Ashcott corner to Sharpham. Then home!

And thanks to Sandra for devising and leading the ride, much appreciated.

The baker's dozen enjoyed a lovely outing on the nineteen-mile, Lovington Loop led by David on 26th March 2026, stopping for a feast of delicious hot cross buns at Lievito's Bakery. Thanks to David for devising and leading the ride. David wrote, "Thanks everyone for not getting punctures, losing chains or getting lost. It was a good ride to lead." A good time was had by all.

Nine members enjoyed a challenging ride on the twenty-two mile, Crushing Croscombe outing on Thursday, 12th March 2026. We were challenged by some hills and high wind but helped by a delicious refreshment break at Loaf, Wells on the return loop. Thanks to Ian and Sue who devised and led the ride, much appreciated.

Eleven members enjoyed a lovely ride in dry weather led by Barry on his seventeen-mile, Westhay Wander with a lovely coffee stop at the always delightful Sweets Tea Room on Thursday, 26th February 2026. Thanks to Barry for devising and leading the ride. We had just one hill to climb and our average moving speed was 8.9mph, which was nice and comfortable for the two treaders.

We enjoyed a lovely outing in suitable weather, with just a bit of wind on the run back, out to Wheathill Golf Club and back led by Lyn on Thursday, 12th February 2026. Thanks to Lyn for devising and leading the 21-mile ride and also the gift of cake to celebrate her birthday, much appreciated. The route was just right and the cake was delicious. Nice to meet Jenny at West Bradley on the way out and see Sheila P was okay following her fall from grace, tipping off the road bodily into the ditch!

Twelve members enjoyed an outing between rainy days, avoiding floods, going out on the railway path, through Meare and Burtle to Chilton Polden for a coffee break on Thursday, 29th January 2026. We had the first of a drama of small groups going astray in the Shapwick-Ashcott section and turning the wrong way on the return journey. But everyone reached home safely. Thanks to Alan for devising and leading the ride and finding a detour for the flood on Meareway.

Eight members enjoyed a winter outing on the Butleigh Chicken Run led by Sheila of West Pennard in foul weather. It rained most of the way round. Yet a nice time was had by all. Thanks to Sheila for devising the route and leading the ride on 15th January 2026.

Eleven members enjoyed a splendid, New Year's Day run to Chilton Polden and back in nice winter weather and a following wind on the way home. Thanks to Barry for leading the ride. on 1st January 2026.

Eight members took on the challenge of the Middlewick Circle (7.5 miles) and a Christmas lunch stop at the end on Friday, 19th December 2025. It was an enjoyable outing with lots of sunshine, following lots of rain the day before, but we should have done a few more miles to justify that second mince pie!

Eleven members enjoyed a cold and wet outing doing fifteen miles on the Avalon Marshes Loop with some sunny intervals on Thursday, 4th December 2025. Nice coffee and cake at the Avalon Marshes Centre. Today's most popular jacket colour was yellow.

Twelve members braved the cold weather on a return ride to Beer Cafe, Aller lead by Danny and Sheila on Thursday, 20th November 2025.
It was an eventful bike ride. Danny’s bike light jumped off bike onto road and smashed on the way to Glastonbury. Sheila had a puncture after we left Walton church and after three tyre inflations changed inner tube at cafe. On the hill after the cafe Julia came off her bike and bruised her hand. Luckily she had her helmet on as she did make contact with the ground with her head; also a bent mud guard. Then as we departed Walton on the way home Gill's chain came off. Quite eventful. A beautiful day and otherwise a good ride. Thanks to Danny and Sheila for devising and leading the ride, much appreciated.

Fourteen members enjoyed a mainly flat, eighteen-mile outing in fine, autumnal weather on the Westbury Wander, which should really be named Westbury Wonder or Wookey Wheel as we left out the Westbury bit following our nice coffee stop at Wookey Hub on Thursday, 6th November 2025. Thanks to David who devised the route and was back-stop for the first part. Thanks to Tim who was backstop for the second part.

Ten members enjoyed a lovely sunny outing, before the cold and the rain, on the nineteen-mile Pilton Circle on Thursday, 23rd October 2025. It's the hilliest of our regular routes. Maybe it should be renamed, Pilton Peaks! Today, was particularly hard for the sole member of the group pedalling with no e-assist. But, the other nine were very kind and waited patiently at the top of each hill for the pedal-only person to catch up, much appreciated.

Thirteen members took the twenty-one-mile Keinton-Charlton Challenge led by Sandra and Graham on Thursday, 9th October 2025. We had glorious cycling weather on the way out, a nice stop at the Newlands Farm Shop and a good romp home when the weather was a bit chilly. Thanks to Sandra and Graham for a lovely outing, much appreciated.

Sixteen members enjoyed at sunny outing led by Barry on 25th September 2025. Lyn wrote, "Super cycle, thoroughly enjoyed it. Also, my bit of market research on tasted tea cakes, Sweets (Tea Room) is in the lead so far. Thank you, Barry".

Six members set out on the Castle Cary Circle on Thursday, 18th September 2025. A slightly drizzly start but otherwise the weather stayed dry for the most part and we enjoyed some good views from higher up. The route went past Butleigh to Charlton Mackrell & Adam, crossed A37, looped round towards Babcary, Foddington & North Barrow, followed railway line into Castle Cary where we enjoyed lunch at The George. Our return took us out of Castle Cary past the railway station, to Alhampton, Ditcheat, West Bradley. Glastonbury folk peeled off to return home via Kennard Moor Drove. Granville & I went back via Baltonsborough and Middle Drove. 36 mile round trip from Street.

This was the last of this year's longer summer rides, led by Julia and Granville on Thursday, 18th September 2025.

Eight members enjoyed breaking a sweat on the nineteen mile Street & Shapwick, Hills & Heath ride led by Tim and Veronica with two nice climbs onto the Poldens with splendid views to the north and the south. then doing a welcome bit of flat to the Avalon Marshes Centre for our coffee break. We were fortunate with the weather as the forecast rain did not arrive until we were home. It was a lovely ride.

Thanks to Tim and Veronica for leading our ride on 11th September 2025.