Veteran-Cycle Club video archive – Almeley to Hay on Wye

This Hereford section ride was filmed from a head cam while riding a high wheeler. Almeley to Hay on Wye is approximately 14 miles on quiet roads. This ride celebrates two long standing and popular members of the Section, Ken Mais and Colin Barrat, who were good friends and who both lived in Madley. Fourteen of us gathered for the ride at the Bells Inn Almeley but it was not open so we mounted up and rode to the New Strand, Eardisley. Here we were able to enjoy coffee and excellent cake. Suitably fortified we recommenced the ride, through what Wordsworth describes as the most beautiful landscape in Southern Britain. The Herefordshire countryside was certainly looking its best in the sunshine. We rode to Whitney on Wye and then a short stretch on the A438 before turning left over the toll bridge rumbling over the wooden planking. At Clifford the group divided, Mike on his ordinary and a couple of others opting for the flat route to Hay, the rest turned left up the hill and over the route of the old railway to Priory Wood. Then it was mainly downhill into Hay and the Cafe Hay for lunch. The return route was through the centre of Hay and the sight of an Ordinary certainly turned heads. The return ride was flatter along the Wye flood plain, the only issue being the uneven and potholed road surface for which Herefordshire is notorious. On reaching Eardisley we took a short detour to the 900 year old Great Oak thought to be last survivor of a forest mentioned in the Domesday Book. On reaching Almeley we retired to the Bells Inn which was now open for a drink and a natter before the journey home.

[Music] back a bit back a [Music] bit picture of a twig think I we go come Ona get the professional that a I was wondering everything you move your penny across a bit I can such a wonderful piece of should be right no it’s not no get a Paris as well the same shot you watch that hey steady on right have a smile thank you you’ll be luy right to the strand for second breakfast [Music] we’re aiming to be in the caffeine hay for about about 12 very impressive okay up [Music] here for [Music] to watch on this road okay I might have to push to get up here yeah for [Music] come on man know coming on the outside me he’s a very quiet man car on you h we went to um I G up the New Castle here up there for whoa love it feels [Music] yeah we volunteer to help get the old cath down the stairs you want you do it there and then no there we after cooling down Jerry cooling down to get going and R my legs Co of attention one woman was standing posing by it see people’s heads to take a picture of you you want to try it no you’re well welcome to I’ll hang on to it what I’ll hang on to it go on try get on it Rachel you’ve got to take a picture of this if I do fall off it’ll make him BR I’m hold I’ll hold on to the bar go left foot on there right foot on there sorry no the other one the other step that’s the St that’s it and then just straight up on you’re going to hold on to yeah onto the seat put your hands on the end on the end that’s it now you got there’s your balance got it don’t let go wow a long way up fantastic okay okay now bring your foot back so you feel the step there you’re on it and just step off there you go it’s Absol that’s e e we want to have a look at this I think that’s what there the big open there okay yeah yeah yeah yeah concert on Friday is yeah [Music] wor say hello to Great o they do that’s what they do is go and then they they don’t stand right falling off falling off station position his fine oh what somebody dump some old rubbish new rubbish well new rubbish okay and I’m filming we’re going to put all our bikes in front of it you won’t see it yeah leave it there I have a shot as well BL Bells yeah that’s nice we all our yeah you want it sorry thank you good okay you know she that said that thing of beauty and ask you to move yeah well do for do for a script script do for that I got a lovely group shot and you’ve got your bike in the air your penny father in the do it want to do it yeah yeah you’re right Paul yeah you didn’t get your camera on no we were just too busy laughing I’m sorry you want to go to go lie down yeah go Road you can swap bikes going back if you like oh move it cheese your bum enough it’ll never work now that’s better don’t make me laugh it’s a known fact that is you sticky backside that so how old is this tree uh I think I think I meant to look it up I think it’s mentioned in Doomsday Book is it yeah I think I think it’s part of an Ancient Forest It’s the Last Remnant of an for wow it it must be about that age doing all [Music] right there’s one in US isn’t there last one that’s not cycling Heaven alwayss nice we brilliant excellent thank you very much borrow a 50in gear if you want one Sprint back oh you heard about this last the beer obviously your idea just drop a gear yeah how’s your back feeling it’s okay yeah it’s not a distance I’m it’s a distance I’m all right with you know have you heard of the uh the um beachy head hill climb no it’s every August okay and starts in East Born By the Sea and then climbs up onto beachy head and they’re all on the it’s about 2 and 1 Half Mile right and it’s steep yeah I’m amazed days with your what they did manag to ride up cuz in wer we’ve got this famous Hill called anine Hill yeah it’s on a modern bike with really low gears I struggle really there was a time event ping going up it you it all it you think how the hell bet either no yeah just yeah they uh some legs to get up some of that H yeah my friends are a tandem a modern tandem nice and light really good frame and they’re both really Pi I say why are tandems solos really because the tund is lighter than two solos okay so you’ve got less friction for two people you got two wheels not two wheels per person yeah but they are not good on yours going up we don’t don’t understand physics why no a really stiff aluminium frame you know ping wall big big tubes theoretically it should have been fine yeah nearly there G you don’t can’t show up too much BS yeah that’s it keep hey keeps you fet just about oh I was might sleep tonight get point