Pubs that do food between Gloucester & FoD;

On A48 west of Gloucester – Apple Tree at Minsterworth, Red Lion at Westbury-on-Severn; then A4151 to FoD – Belfry at Littledean; then B4226 towards CycleCentre – Speech House.

On A40 west of Gloucester – Kings Head at Birdwood, Red Lion at Huntley; then just off A4136 to FoD – Red Hart at Blaisdon.

All the above do food but I haven’t eaten at any of them in the last few years so can’t comment on quality. You may have to pre-book though for Sunday lunches, sunday lunch out at the pub is pretty popular round here!

Others to be recommended but just off the route are The Ship at Newnham-on-Severn, The Dean Heritage Centre at Soudley (not a pub but worth a visit), The Malt Shovel at Ruardean (if you can find it!). A few ideas for you.

The Cycle Centre do a mean Bacon & Egg bap and Chips too :-)

Another big thanks to organisers, marshals, helpers, etc.. Great day out. Have to say though, even after a 2nd piece of the mouthwatering flapjack I couldn’t get anywhere near Mr & Mrs SSStu on the descent from Cleeve Hill, how do you fly so fast DH on a tandem!?! Sunshine, fine views, good company. Excellent.

As TJ says really.

The advice on here is always first class, accurate, and factual. I personally am an expert on most things and freely offer that expertise on here.

Having said that, I really would appreciate advice on how to get out of this secure institution I’m in…

It looks like one of the previous generation P7s, i.e. pre longer travel forks. Designed around 100mm travel. Probably somewhere between 2000/2005? Can’t remember how long they did silver frames for. They were available frame only or built up with Deore / WTB / own brand kit (there was also a higher specced ‘pro’ model).

I don’t know, you young pups… I remember the days when we only bathed once a week and shared the same hot water between five of us.

£800 or £2000? I’d look at the shower rota Martin! ;-)

where Monmouth to Walford, Ross-on-Wye along the Peregrine Trail.

what Usually Dean Torreys x-bike.

Rarely see anyone through the winter, spend a lot of the time dodging grockles in the summer ;-)

Didn’t an old Bugatti recently sell at auction for £3million plus?

I’ve never been one to question why anyone would spend whatever amount on anything – if you want something and can afford it, why not. If someone has splashed out on something you wouldn’t splash out on, what does it matter.

If I had a million to spare and wanted a particular car, then I’d buy it. That’s a hell of a big if though! ;-)

Plus they come in, like, a gazillion different diameters ;-)

Did being aware of cyclists undertaking on the nearside crop up in the test? ;-)

Are the wall panels pre-drilled where they bolt to the frame struts? (Assuming they bolt on!) If so, could you fix the battens to the same mounting points using longer bolts?

I think it is now a legal requirement on certain sizes of lorry to have the sign plus blindspot mirrors fitted. This applies to new vehicles and is not retrospective.

Whether it is right or wrong to undertake, it is pretty stupid to do it approaching a left-hand junction to do it alongside a large vehicle.

Bolt wooden battens of whatever size may be appropriate between the structural frame as and where neccessary to carry hooks, brackets, what-have-you.

“IHN – Member
There’s a bothy at the summit isn’t there?“

Not so much a bothy as a shelter. Dark and dank, room for a few people in there. Possible to get a night’s sleep in there, bivi-bag and sleep mat would be useful (essential!!) though.

Can get quite busy in there at weekends!

Rich, that’s a shame – the photo of Imogen at last year’s event has got to be one of the best photos…ever!

Mostly love the show, love the stalls, hate the ride (during the laps), love the ride (after the event), love the chill.

I know a lot of people moan about riding round a field in the wet but I think they’re mostly missing the point of the event as a whole ;-)

Will be at Pedalabikeaway between about 10.30 & 11.00 having a coffee. Probably have a Buff on my head, wearing glasses, maybe wearing a green camo jacket (no carnation though!).

Lawnmower (aka Matt’s) starts over the fence opposite Staple Edge Bungalows.

Dr John’s is a bit more difficult to find. It starts behind the Rising Sun (Moseley Green) and runs down towards Parkend. You’ll probably need to be shown the lead in to it ;-)

For you Dyfi first-timers – tyres suitable for slatey ridged rock and [irony]don’t believe anyone who tells you the first fireroad does not involve a climb[/irony]. Great event (just remember, when you get to the end there’s still a while to go back to town…). racing_ralph – it’ll be worth the journey :-)

I’m terrible at recognising people I’ve met previously – some people must think I’m really ignorant sometimes! I don’t mean to be. Shortsighted, poor memory for names, and an apparant inability to recognise faces.

Normally recognise you and Sascha though (even in pubs in the Lake District – I wasn’t even sure then, was I !?!)

I still use a Phoenix Phreak (one for the older campers amongst us!), well cared for and still going strong after more years than I can remember. Fortunately never gone up in flames despite cooking in the porch numerous times. Common sense is the main point. I can understand the point smee is making that it can be dangerous but with experience, the right kit and common sense it doesn’t have to be. Like druidh, I too keep an open penknife in the tent when I’m in it.

Sorry to the OP, but have no experience of what to reccommend of todays available tents.

My first thought was that, should there be a separate forum on STW for females, the top 20 posters on it would probably be pretty much the same top 20 posters as already post on the existing forums i.e. mostly male posters! Initially anyway.

I think once the ‘novelty’ wears off then the females will be able to discuss female specific kit, getting together for rides, and so on in more peace.

At the end of the day, it’s would not be a separate site like shecycles was where some effort had to be made to access the site which meant that it was more female exclusive (and where Sue_W’s points 1-4 are applicable); it would be just one click away from the existing STW forums and therefore much more accessible to males (making Sue_W’s points less applicable).

Unneccessary and divisive idea IMO and probably wouldn’t work – or at least until the novelty wears off with the ‘lads’ :-)

Me. Finish at noon. Might get out later if I get all my chores done in time!

No. 7 bikes, 2 cars. Cars cost more.

The Forester and the Forest of Dean & Wye Valley Review. Both local weeklys.
Don’t bother with dailys, mostly keep up with the news via the radio.

Sounds like you need a Kona A…

I used to call a friend ‘Chum’ but he complained it sounded like I was calling him a tin of dog food. I said “sorry Pal”.

Boom Boom ;-)

“Pete that dropbar Litespeed looks great. You still got it?”

Sure have Stu. Gets used mostly as a commuter these days but has had a fine previous life with knobbly tyres and flat bars. Appeared in many 90s MTB mags and books when ridden by a guy called Chris Marsden, now sadly passed away.

Another non 0n-one example: Why would I have ti painted? ~ Because I can ;-)

An early on-one perhaps?!?

;-)

Tssst, You youngsters! Oasis were just on the radio – are they Britpop? I’ve got one of their CDs and still listen to it.

More my era, interesting to see old Mr Plant winning awards recently ;-)

You can get muscle rubs for use before exercise which will warm up the muscle tissue. Having said that, can’t advise product names or where from but a quick search should locate.

“A bridleway is a highway, so must be kept clear.”

A Bridleway is actually a Right of Way, not a Highway. That means it is a route along which you have a right to pass and repass over owned land. It should not be obstructed and you should report the obstruction to the local RoW Department. May be difficult for them to deal with though if it is only a temporary obstruction which changes from day to day; perhaps suggest that they should notify the business that their staff shouldn’t obstruct the RoW with their cars.

Doubt if the police would be interested about the obstruction because it would be a civil offence, not a criminal offence, since it is on private land and the car driver may have the permission of the landowner to park there.

As to knocking off the mirror, that’s up to your moral judgement. Perhaps leave an (anonomous) note suggesting that it wouldn’t of happened if they had more respect for where they park and not block a RoW. That’d teach ’em ;-)

…it was heavy going …

Sure was, wasn’t it. I rode out to take in a few stages of the rally, ended up mostly walking up the hill from the Wye Valley to Yat Rock [coffee & Cake ;-) ] and again from the Cannop Valley up towards Edge End on the way home. Had a few wipe-outs in the snow and a few pedalling-furiously-and-not-going-anywhere moments. Great fun! :-)

The volume of traffic generated through the ads being free probably does have a benefit for STW. Selling advertising space on the site is enhanced by the number of ‘hits’ the site receives; the busier the classifieds are, the more ‘hits’ are recorded, the better to gain revenue through commercial advertising.

Hi Matt. I’m amazed the Wyedean is going ahead given the conditions but they’ve confirmed it’s on, just starting one hour later than scheduled. Could be interesting!

Hi Steve, my pleasure ;-)

Plenty of lovely snow here though ~ it’s going to be seriously mucky when it thaws!

Peter

The Wyedean Rally takes place in the FoD tommorrow (Saturday) so riding opportunities will be very limited.

A stage in the woods behind the Cycle Centre starts at approx. 10.00am and then there are stages in the woods over the road from the Cycle Centre and behind the Speech House for most of the day.

The A40 / A4136 are passable now but will likely be icy early tommorrow. I would seriously suggest leaving it til Sunday if you can.

I am with Joe, Its 98.32% in your mind,

It may be in your mind but I can feel the difference between each of my 4 ti bikes and between them and my steel bike and my alu bikes. Which leads nicely to the point that it’s not just the material the frame is made of but the way that material is worked and put together.

IME steel is probably the most ‘comfortable’ material for a ht xc frame for ‘leisure rides’.

Looks like fun. My usual commute takes me along the river through Symonds Yat but I drove this morning because I had to pick people up from the Forest to take them to work… then take them home again two hours later at 10.00 when they decided to shut down for the rest of the day! Great fun driving through 8 inches of snow up in the Forest. No riding for me though… the wife had a pot of paint and paintbrush ready for me when I got home :-(

Out tommorrow though, riding up to the Forest and watching some of the Wyedean Rally stages (still going ahead but starting 1 hour later than scheduled).

If the Vectra was travelling at less than 12 mph and its driver was not wearing a helmet, you could claim that he was negligent and may have contributed towards any injuries he received during the incident. That should reduce the amount of ‘compo’ that may be claimed.

Additionally, if you have his vehicle impounded and checked for defects you may find that he should not have been on the road in the first place in which case you may reasonably be able to claim against him.

HTH :-)