I rode with Mim yesterday which was, although undeniably pleasant, not all that noteworthy. It looked a lot like this, which it would, since recording it is what Bella does, and she’s very good at it. It was familiar, without contempt, grey but mild, flat but fairly fast. ‘Nuff said really.
Cycling time: 1:52:26 hrs
Distance: 29.36 miles
Avs: 15.7 mph.
ODO: 1103.15 miles
Today was a different kettle of fish. It may seem a little daft to drive for 80 minutes just to ride with a friend and then drive 80 minutes back, but it’s not, honest. Well for starters if I rode to Minehead to ride I’d have to go through Bridgwater, and that’s never a pleasant experience. And by the time I got there I’d be too tired to go up the unavoidable Exmoor Hills and Gaz would drop me like a stone! So, however un-environmentally friendly it may be, t’was the car or nothing, and the car it was.
It was a little grey and miserable and drizzly when I arrived, which seemed only reasonable as the weather is always like that when I go to Exmoor. Whether or not that weather is something I bring with me, or generate by my very presence, is frequently a subject for debate. However, somewhat amazingly, by the time the bike was reassembled and I was appropriately attired, it had brightened up somewhat, and it only continued to improve as things went on. Exmoor with hints of sunshine, and blue skies…unprecedented! It’s pretty even when it’s ‘orrible out there, albeit in a bleak and statuesque fashion, but today it was doing the autumn colours and sweeping views thing…just beautiful. Which is yet another reason it’s worth going that far away to ride.
It wasn’t my route, so I don’t know the names of details of much of what we did. Bella knows though. Told you she was good ;). It seemed quite lumpy, though mainly in a fashion that I can cope with. As ever it took me ages to warm up, and in fact I think it wasn’t until we were cooling down again at the top of the Wheddon Cross climb that I realised I was feeling semi-human at last, and that was around an hour in! I really need to figure out how to speed that process up…
The sun was pretty much out as we sat in the quite attractive bus stop taking a breather, waving at other passing cyclists, and rehydrating. There were even free toilets, if you needed them, in a building covered in mosaic work. Interesting. Still, this was not an architectural appreciation trip, this was a ride, so it was time to get going again. After the Wheddon Cross climb, which was a long one, the subsequent climb to the top of Dunkery Beacon was easier, although maybe deceptively so, and with sun and views and sweeping moor land, it was also properly enjoyable.
I wish the same could be said for the descent. Well, it was stunning with regards trees and foliage, but steep, wiggly, and extra hazardous thanks to the wet, muddy, leafy road surface…my back wheel was feeling a serious urge to go sideways by the time we finally reached the bottom, after the bone jarring cattle grid. Shame, cos we’d earned some downhill fun!
Not too much to do now. A lovely pootle through some very attractive villages, a last draggy slog up the main road back towards Minehead, and then some silly fast stuff for a laugh. If it wasn’t for the fact that I’m not familiar with that road and felt liable to overshoot the left turn to get back so was being a bit restrained, I reckon merely fast might have been replaced with proper enthusiastic sprinting *grin*. Next time? ;).
Cycling time: 1:50:22 hrs
Distance: 22.40 miles
Avs: 12.2 mph.
ODO: 1125.55 miles
It’s been nice being out on the bike. It’s a good place to be, and I’ve had good company to be there with. Shame I can’t do it forever…sooner or later it’s back home and back to the real world :/.
