I have done this ride several times in the last year or so (but only once in the dry warm summer!) I left to meet Mike (a new recruit and friend from my old UWE days) at 9:15am after 15 minutes or so of waiting for him to fix a puncture oh and get dressed (I was early arriving as normal!) we got to Gray's and he was ready and willing - so we started on our merry little way from Longwell Green to Long Ashton. Made it quite quickly really considering there was a strong headwind, only stopped once and that was for Mike to get some air in his rear shock from our friendly local bikeshop. In to Long Ashton and up the B3130 and on to Barrow Court Lane, that hill's a bugger starting fine and ending in a leg crumbling ascent in to the fields. Across some fields (carrying our bikes - same problem with sticky mud as last time ) then onto some nice but wet tracks these took us all the way to Bristol Airport and beyond. After meeting the A38 then down the hill and right over the cattle grid (dodgey - must get the right line!) next right and up past the oast tower. Followed the perimeter of the field - stopping at the top for four nutri-grain bars and a drink & minor adjustments. Then a descent downhill past the Japanese fighting dog (makes you ride a bit quicker than you should!) Follwed some more excellent single track sodden with mud.
Next stint was a mixture of track and country lane, then on to the worst bit ---- Dundry Hill! I think this is the worst Hill I have ever ridden and it really takes no prisoners, words fail me - you need to have ridden it to gain our respect!! Finally after getting to the top and waiting ten minutes to recover, we carried on (by this time my feet were numb!) down some more great single tracks and on to the A38. The ride does actually continue off road for a few miles after this point but we really couldn't face carrying our bikes over that mutant mud again. So we opted for the long descent down into Bedminster. Just after reaching it the heavens opened followed by a hail storm -- What, we do this for fun! and the rest as they say is history. Road stint to St George the along the river and up on to the Avon ring road then home.
The most painful experience of the day was my shower, I hadn't been able to feel my feet for about 2 1/2 hours by now and when that warm water in the shower hit them I had to be peeled off the ceiling! Next time I'll try the deep heat trick.
Anyone interested in coming along then let me know