Pie Piper 100 mile Sportive Gloucester

[ChrisP]

An early start to get to Gloucester Rugby Club.

Only a couple of showers while driving down the M5.

Sun comes out for start nice and warm, summer kit on.

Ten minutes after start cape up for heavy shower doesn't last long but roads wet for the next hour.

Cloudy for climbing out through Forest of Dean but after first feed station sun appears and by the

time I reach Chepstow it turns into a nice summer day.

Getting ready for the off.

Climbing starts Forest of Dean ahead.

 

Starting to catch someone at last wearing pink jersey.

when I catch him find a real hero. Doing the 60 mile route on a shopping bike with carrier and wearing sandals.

We met again and had a chat at the first feed stop. Brought the bike from Tesco £200 only needed some grease in the bearings. .

Feed stop which was used twice on the 100 mile route as it was almost a figure of eight route. 

More climbing about 15 miles from Chepstow.

 

Couldn't take any more picture from this point as both hands were needed to grip the bars as it got really steep, 30 tooth gear engaged.

At the top a really attractive hidden church stopped to look for some divine intervention.

 

.A poor picture on the move over looking the River Seven.

Just about to cross The Old Chepstow bridge.

 

Fellow travellers catch me waiting for the lights to change.

 

Views from the bridge with the castle on the opposite hill.

 

Heading into Chepstow.

Nearly dropped the camera.

 

Farthest point out Chepstow and the sun out.

View up main street.

Closer view.

 

Tintern Abbey  well worth a day trip.

OOPS a close up of handlebars.

 

 

 

 

Almost in the grass will have to start stopping to take these pictures.

 

Finally the black hole which drops down to Symonds Yat.

 

 

Time for lunch will continue..

Popped out to see our man in Kiddy Hospital.

Seems in good spirits accommodation and food to his liking nurses taking good care of him and can watch the tour all day.

Back to the Sportive.

A ride well worth doing. 101.33 miles 6 hours 10 mins.  6556 feet of climbing. 6588 ft descending.

Although a wet start turned out warm and mainly bright, wind a bit tough in places.  

[Sean Barker]

Great report and I know all those roads only too well from the Tewkesbury to Chepstow audax.

A great descent into Chepstow on that road though

Just love the photos, really capture the day