Winter Grit and Good Spirits on the Towpaths
BWCC Gravel Ride
Sundayβs club ride with Brereton Wheelers delivered exactly what winter riding promises: challenging conditions, a few unexpected problems, and a strong sense of camaraderie by the end. Three of us β myself, Rich, and Ian β set off from the Mansfield Club at 9am and headed straight onto the canal towpath from Rugeley.
After three solid days of rain, the towpath was predictably slippy, especially leaving Rugeley. With many of the surrounding lanes already flooded, it felt inevitable that weβd be dealing with water in one form or another. That sense of βexpect the unexpectedβ proved accurate when, just outside Rugeley, I lost all pressure in my front tyre. The rim tape had finally given up, so an inner tube went in and we were back on our way β a small delay, but a good reminder of the value of riding as a group.
Just the other side of Handsacre, we left the canal to cross farmersβ fields on bridleways into Alrewas before rejoining the towpath. Walkers warned us that the River Trent had burst its banks, leaving sections of the canal under around 12 inches of water. We carefully picked our way through, only for Ian to suffer a puncture shortly afterwards. Three hawthorn thorns from recently cut hedges were to blame β a classic winter towpath issue. Another quick fix, and morale stayed high.
We made it to Barton Marina for a well-earned cup of tea before deciding to reroute on the way back, avoiding the flooded towpath and thorny hedgerows. Quiet back lanes led us back towards Handsacre, where we picked up the canal again and followed it all the way back to Rugeley, splitting off for home after a proper winter adventure.
Ride stats (from Strava)
- Distance: 33.3 miles
- Moving time: 2 hours 56 minutes
- Elevation gain: 691 ft
Three things this ride reminded us
- Adaptability matters β changing the route kept the ride enjoyable and safe.
- Teamwork counts β mechanicals are far easier to deal with together.
- Winter riding builds resilience β every challenge adds confidence for future rides.
Summary
Flooded towpaths, punctures, and slippery conditions didnβt detract from what was a cracking club ride. Good company, shared problem-solving, and a warm brew at Barton Marina turned a tough winter route into another memorable Brereton Wheelers outing.
