I’ve been known to moan about doing hills with other people, so I thought I’d go do some on my own in decent conditions, which I find makes them more palatable.  The weather was as forecast – lovely and clear and bright.  I knew it would be gorgeous on the top of the Mendips, and the only way to get up there is to climb something!  It was a bit windy, but that’s less of an issue going uphill…

So I set off around 9am ish.  As the forecast had the temperatures in double figures and I knew I’d be doing a lot of climbing (by my standards!) I’d gone for the long sleeve jersey with the windproof jacket over the top, but the rest as winter standard, which just about worked out.

First off, up Shipham Hill.  It was the usual slog – the first bit is the worst and always feels awful because you’re not warmed up yet.  I took it easy enough, and was proper warm by the top though.  Straight through Shipham, down to the main road, and down again to the lights at Churchill.  I headed east towards Wells, pausing briefly to take the arms off my jacket as I was getting a tad boil in the bag, and I knew what was to come…Burrington Combe.  I plodded my way up, cursing the amount of traffic that was using the road as if cyclists didn’t exist…  I went straight all the way, no deviations, over the top of the Mendips, cursing the side wind but enjoying the views.  I opted to come down into Wells on the Old Bristol Road, which I’m not very familiar with, via Upper Milton, which is an interesting down…I’m glad there wasn’t more traffic on that bit!  I’ll have to use that bit of road more often – it’s pretty up there 🙂

Before getting to Wells proper, I swung a right and opted to go through Wookey Hole instead,  up that nasty little steep bit there, and then down round the back road to Easton.  Deer Leap didn’t appeal…odd that.  I took the main road for a bit before taking a wiggle across the levels from Rodney Stoke to Nyland, for variety, before heading back into Cheddar on the main road, and then home.  The Cheddar Ales van passed me pre-wiggle and was coming out just as I went past their place having rejoined the main road, so I bet they think I’m incredibly slow!  😉

Cycling time: 2:24:21
Distance: 33.05 miles
Avs: 13.6 mph
ODO: 2730 miles

Apparently that’s 1955ft/600 metres of climbing.  Doesn’t sound much does it?  I think my legs know about it though 🙂  I did enjoy it more on my own tho’ – no-one to keep up with, be left behind by, or to notice how much hard work I might be finding it!  I think I was a tad colder than I thought I was because it took me a while to warm up once I got in…but that’s better than being too hot on the bike.  So, a good ride to make up for last week’s less than brilliant ones.  Marvellous 🙂