Weston Wheelers Cycling Club members took part in their toughest ride of the year so far.

Weston Wheelers Cycling Club ride took the form of a challenge posed by Jonathan McMillan.

It was a metric century ride with 1,200 metres of ascent (62 miles and 4,000 feet).

Nine Wheelers left Priory School and headed towards St Georges. Enjoying a favourable breeze, the group passed through Banwell and Winscombe.

Skirting Axbridge, the group arrived at the first significant climb of the day, Shipham Hill. Having crested that incline, the lesser climb up Longbottom beckoned.

On towards Charterhouse and an exhilarating descent down Burrington Combe, before climbing some minor inclines around Blagdon Lake and a much anticipated stop at the Salt and Malt cafe at Chew Valley Lake to refuel.

The cafe break marked the halfway point and the Wheelers resumed after a relatively short pit stop. However, the wind was no longer in the preferred direction. So, battling wind and light rain, the group headed towards Winford and onto Belmont Hill, the last significant climb of the ride, and the relatively flat run towards Portbury via Failand.

A tough headwind welcomed the riders at Portbury as they turned towards Clevedon. From Clevedon to Weston, the wind continued to present a significant training opportunity, but at least the route was virtually flat.

As Weston approached, the sun made an attempt to provide a welcome as the club made their way through Wick St Lawrence and back to their starting point.

The Wheelers who enjoyed today’s challenge, to a greater or lesser degree, included Dave, Andy B, Jonathan, Andy P, Paul, John, Duncan and Andy C.

The Wheelers extended a welcome to Jeremy, who might not quite have appreciated at the start what lay ahead, but acquitted himself well on the toughest ride this year.