The route

We travel 70 miles in seven and a half hours, including a welcome sumptuous lunch break. The route is loosely described as "Wye Valley" and meanders through the delightful terrain south of Monmouth.

The ride

The weather is kind in that the skies are clear and blue all day, with barely a whisper of a breeze. However the temperature has even the brass monkeys reaching for their tool warmers, resulting in ice on the sealed roads as well as the green lanes.

The lanes are fantastic: rocky steps, muddy ruts, stream crossings, and the occasional bike-swallowing pool masquerading as an innocent puddle. See all the pictures here.

Given the recent high winds, it isn't too surprising that our way is blocked by fallen trees three or four times. On one occasion we successfully deploy Dave's beaver-powered chainsaw to clear the obstruction but the rest of the time the trees beat us and we have to drag the bikes underneath.

The damage

Alastair is christened 'Lane Kanga' after demonstrating his ability to leap unexpectedly from the bike into hedges, rocks and other detritus. His most impressive get-off is caught on video by the ever-vigilant Dave. Dave says Kanga must have learned his get-off techniques from Mark 'Brains' Holland... Kanga also adjusts his bark busters after they are bust by some particularly resilient bark.

Stewart waves a sad goodbye to his front sprocket. He swears it was brand-spanking when we set out, but based on his past dismal maintenance record, we know better.

We wearily pack our bikes back in our vans/trailers for the journey home - to Devon, Worcs, Mids and Glos. What a fine ride! We vow a rematch some time soon, maybe in Glos!