Finally an ACG ride that I could actually make.  Thanks to my sportive habit (yes it is an addiction *grin*) I’ve missed the last couple of rides, which is daft considering that I organise them but hey ho.

Having spent another afternoon this week with my pit crew, aka Andrew, getting my bike tweaked and putting the winter wheels and tyres on, I went out a bit early just to do a quick loop around town to make sure everything was working before meeting everyone in the Square.  I met GB coming into town as I left, which was quite amusing, or possibly bemusing for him.  As it turns out all was well with the bike, which was good.  OK, so I miss my summer wheels and my slick tyres and my bike feels a little more carthorse and a little less thoroughbred, but actually it didn’t feel as bad as I’d feared it was going to, and it has to be good training right?

I wasn’t sure how many we’d be, what with the letters RSVP apparently not meaning a great deal, but I knew we’d be at least three and as it turns out, we were five.  Myself, GB, DM, MD and Figgy.  I probably should call him CT, but it’s too late, Figgy has stuck…  GB had created us a route which started with Shipham Hill.  Luckily, having done that loop, I wasn’t comparing like with like, so I didn’t need to see how fast I could go up it.  No personal records set today then.  It was the usual kind of slog, but not unbearable and the little kick up to Charterhouse wasn’t a whole heap of fun, but then it never is.  After that it was pretty much plain, if muddy, sailing over the top of the Mendips.  Actually not so much sailing as if there had been any wind then it would have blown the clouds away.  Instead we were up amongst them with that damp kind of almost drizzle and very limited visibility.  Not to mention seriously mucky roads.  One of those days when being a mouth breather is not a good thing – let’s face it, not all of that is mud, and only one of us has mudguards… Nice ;).  We were running a bit early, since allegedly the café didn’t open until 10:30am, so we tweaked the route a bit to add a few miles, which had the added advantage of taking in one of the best descents locally, through West Horrington and into Wells, where I managed a max of 41.3mph chasing GB downhill.  Much much much fun :).

From there it was just a hop skip and a jump to our coffee stop at Fenny Castle tea rooms, which was a first for the ACG, if not for GB and I.  The coffee and carrot cake proved to be just as good as last time too.  I recommend ordering cake – it arrives instantly.  There was a distinct delay for those insisting on bacon related fodder.  Although how you can eat pancakes and bacon and maple syrup at any time, let alone mid ride, is beyond me.  That’s Figgy for you.  Proof that there is no justice in the world.  If I ate like that I’d be the size of a house.  He’s a whippet – in size and speed!  Still, the delay gave me time to have more coffee, so I wasn’t complaining.  I should also mention that it’s only £1 for a coffee top-up – that’s the kind of deal I like :).  Just FYI – it actually opens at 10:00am…

DM, MD and GB

Figgy post pancakes

Fenny Castle - one for the good coffee stop list

the ACG steeds - all a bit muddy!

Back on the road again, and we were caffeine-fuelled and on the flat – so not hanging around.  There was definitely some half-wheeling going on – tut tut.  *grin*.  As a result we did drop MD and then DM along the way, but with no hard feelings I hope.  By now the sun was coming out, the clouds had cleared, and there were even patches of dry road – ooh, the luxury.   Not on Notting Hill though, which meant descending that with a little more restraint than sometimes.  GB still managed over 43mph though!  Back up the A38, through Cross, and there you go, full circle done, and back to Axbridge again.  I walked through the door at home and got laughed at for the state I was in.  Justifiably – I was proper head to foot mud splattered.  Still that’s what the washing machine is for.  And the shower.  Even my bike is clean again – since I resorted to the slave labour option and employed MiniMe again.  His rates are still unbeatable *grin* – and he did a better job this time too :).

Cycling time: 2:36:54 hrs
Distance: 45.20 miles.
Avs: 17.2 mph
ODO: 10995 miles

Today was one of those days when I was feeling capable.  Which is an interesting choice of word, but does sum it up.  It might be to do with wearing my arms and having to roll them up – rolling up your sleeves feels very get down to business like.  Maybe it was just because my legs were feeling good.  I’m trying to get better at being out of the saddle and when I did get the chance, they were feeling pretty powerful, which was nice.  In other news, my new overshoes, which finally arrived this morning in the nick of time, totally rock, and my new longs (in a size smaller and still a little large – get in!) were definitely an improvement as since they fit better than my current pair, there are less baggy/chafing issues.