On Sunday I rested.  On Monday I did a wattbike session + workout.  On Tuesday I did half a wattbike session because that’s all that I could manage – I kinda bonked.  Yes, I know, but there’s no telling me, as many people will tell you ;).

But I’d rearranged my schedule so that I could ride on Wednesday morning.  The forecast was good.  And I was feeling ok.  On top of that, I was to be riding on my own, with no-one to keep up with, no agenda but mine own.  No pressure, in other words, whether actual, perceived, or imagined.

Which is the best way to go up hill.  Or up hills.  On top of that, the sun was shining and I fancied enjoying it from the top of the Mendips instead of the bottom.  What better way to do that than to go up Cheddar Gorge?

I pottered my way up happily enough, without pushing, chatting to the goats/sheeps as I went.  However the nice weather was rapidly disappearing now, as was the scenery, behind what could have just been low cloud, or maybe it was fog.  I’m sure there are lots of ways to tell the difference.  All I knew was that by the time I reached the top there was s*d all visibility, I only had three tiny lights with varying degrees of not a lot of power, and was wearing a light blue jacket – not precisely high-vis.  You’d think the traffic hurtling around the bends would, considering the conditions, slow down and drive with caution.  Ha, ha, ha…

It was, quite frankly, scary.  I felt very invisible and very vulnerable.  I headed across towards Burrington Combe debating whether to take the more main roads – wider, more space, straighter but with traffic going faster, or the little back lanes – quieter but narrower and nowhere to go if something comes either way without seeing you, which kept happening.  I went for the latter option, and carefully cycled the Charterhouse way across the top, slowly, listening out for traffic, and finding usually very familiar roads oddly new and frightening!  Yes, I’m a big girly wuss :).

I stopped at the top before descending Burrington Combe to put my overgloves on, since I was getting cold.  In that I can’t tell whether it was cloud or fog, I probably can’t tell whether it was freezing fog or not either, but there was fog and it was freezing!  Flying downhill for a while is not known for making that any better, and so just for once I did the sensible thing.  Stop, take a break, drink, and put those gloves on.  And take a photo of course…I’m sure this sign has featured before, but since everything looked different, maybe I can be forgiven? 😉

It was a relief to get back down t’other side of the Mendips where everything was much clearer.  It was also quite a lot of fun getting down there too *grin*.  Why do I always forget it’s colder over there though?  It always is, by a good couple of degrees.  Chilly!  Still, I pushed on, warmed up, made up quite a nice little route as I went along, and even finished up by going up Winscombe Hill.  Go me!  Well I’m impressed, neither Strava not anyone else is or should be ;).

As I turned onto the bypass for the final cruise home, the sun came out, the clouds/fog vanished, the temperature rose, and suddenly it was beautiful out there again.  Bl**dy typical!  Still, to be honest, the sheer predictability of it actually made me giggle.  And there are worse places to be than riding down a road in the sun, fairly fast, while laughing :D.  It was a pretty good ride all in all really.  I did some hills, I did some miles, and I wasn’t hurting particularly.  Amazing how nice that is…gotta love it when the drugs do work 😉  And yes, I know, I should still be resting….

Cycling time: 2:10
Distance: 30.2 miles
Avg 13.9 mph
ODO:  17351 miles

I was supposed to be riding with George today, but having woken up to fog outside, and informed by all the above, we bailed.  Since it hasn’t cleared all day, that was clearly a good decision.  And the not clearing away is also better than it cheekily doing so just in time to be gorgeous all afternoon once riding is no longer an option of course ;).

Sadly my wattbike went away yesterday…but I have bought a lovely replacement (works out cheaper than a year at the gym), so I resorted to working out at home instead.  Better than nothing by far :).