Stroud Thunderbox - re-run - new date set - 16th Oct

[Jaded]

This ride starts at Stroud Rail Station, the Cheapside side (if there are people coming by train - it is on the FGW mainline from Paddington to Cheltenham) at 10:00 latest . Stroud Station has parking for under £2.50 per day.

From London you'll need to be on the 8:15 from Paddington. Gets to Stroud at 09:44
From Cheltenham you'll need the 08:59. Gets in at 09:33
From Bristol area the best station is Cam & Dursley, which is 8 miles away and the 08:41 from Temple Meads gets in at 9:15. I can give directions from there to Stroud.

The ride is 70 miles, including a lunch stop at Cotswold Water Park (provisional location) and a visit to the famous Thunderbox Cream Tea farmhouse. Sunset is 18:15 so lights would be advised in case we run a bit late, also some parts of the ride are in wooded areas.

The first part of the ride has a couple of short stabby hills, but nothing outrageous. I'm going to provide 2 routes home after the Tea stop, one of which will involve hills for mental people. Routes will be available as gpx downloads.

There'll be a curry in the evening in Nailsworth. Shower available at my place beforehand - if there are too many people the last ones will get a cold shower   . If anyone want to stay over after the curry, PM me, we may have space.

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Can you PM me if you are coming, if you'd like a curry.

[rogerzilla]

9th October clashes with the FNRttS.  Which you might be riding  

Sun is up from 0735 to 1813 BST on the 16th. 

[Jaded]

Ah yes! It wasn't in my diary for some reason, although there was a nagging 'there's something on that date' in the back of my head.

So looks like it's only the 16th as an option. 

[border-rider]

Maybe.  Dunno where I'm going to be in October yet.

[jogler]

I'm afraid this re-arranged date clashes with the weekend of my October RRTY audax ride.

[Jaded]

Just start the day 50 miles away from here

[Feline]

I could do this date, but the big question is will you guys be riding too fast for me to keep up? 

[border-rider]

From what I hear, you'll be off the front.

[Feline]

From what I hear, you'll be off the front.

LOL! You should ask RZ about my uphill (walking) speed on the last FNRttS 

[Sergeant Pluck]

Interested (again   ) and currently see no reason why I cannot do the 16th.  

[border-rider]

I walked on the last Thunderbox ride I did

No worries.

edit:

Both Francis and I turned up on fixed today, and Sgt Pluck could have his arm will twisted to do the same, so we'll all be struggling on hills anyway

[Feline]

Cool 
Is there only one station in Cheltenham? I could drive but I am trying to be green on bike rides and there is a station 8 miles from me on a nice off road Sustrans route

[Jaded]

You might be better going to Cam & Dursley if (as I think) you would be coming from Bristol area? That's 8 miles from Stroud and the train that get in at 9:14 would give you the opportunity to be very fast to get to Stroud by 9:45


If anyone wanted a bed the night before or the Sat night we'd probably be able to sort that. You'd have to like cats!
 

[Feline]

Yeah I am coming from Yatton station. Apparently I could buy a return ticket to Cam & Durlsey for £8.40 arriving at 9.14am 

[Jaded]

See my edit above.  the route fro C&D is pretty straightforward through Frocester to the A419 at Stonehouse 

[Feline]

Hmmm that would give me half an hour to do 8 miles, a bit over my usual CTC-stylee average of 12mph 

[Jaded]

We could wait until 10:00 

[Feline]

 
Is this date for definite then or should I wait until I book anything?

[teethgrinder]

This is tempting.
Will the ride pass through those nice leafy lanes around the SW Cotswolds?
They are fantastic in the Autumn, like cycling through fire without getting burned. I'd like to do lots of those. Hills would be good too, so's I can test my mettle with a low gear, or perhaps do some walking.
The cafe sounds tempting too as well as the company.

I could well be up for this, maybe.

[Jaded]

I think you'd be disappointed about the number of hills, the biggest roller coaster bit from the previous route is not in the new route.

[teethgrinder]

Never mind.
Good scenery and quiet roads are more important than hills. It can't all be flat if it starts from Stroud.

[Jaded]

OK, i'm going to confirm the date. That way people can book tickets etc.

If one or two of the local hill-grinders come on the ride we can always split about 15 miles from home and send the loonies up and down the Cotswold escarpment several times on the way home, full of cream teas.

Stroud is the start. 

[αdαmsκι]

A direct train service to Chelteham Spa (arriving either 08h10 or 09h10) makes this a tempting offer....  I'll have a think.

[Chris N]

A direct train service to Chelteham Spa (arriving either 08h10 or 09h10) makes this a tempting offer....  I'll have a think.

That's what I was thinking too.

[αdαmsκι]

I'd forgotten that that particular service also stops at to Gloucester, which would make more sense than Chelteham Spa.