Another sunny day, another perfect day on the road.  I don’t know whether the Torq recovery is the reason – but even after Tuesday’s long run, I’ve been feeling fine.  I had a good gym session last night, and my legs were full of the joys of spring this morning.  Looks like there might be something in it!

Cycling time: 2:12:07
Distance: 33.738 miles
Avs: 15.3 mph
ODO: 9008.5 miles

M, S, and I did the usual kind of pootling around the sunny Somerset levels, and I really enjoyed it.  Gorgeous weather, happy legs…happy me 🙂  I wish it was always like this!

As you may have noticed – this bike, and my legs, have now done over 9000 miles!  That’s another landmark for you.  I may have to throw a party when I break the 10,000 mile barried *grin*.

It would appear that I should probably have replaced my back tyre somewhat earlier, as it exploded underneath me on the Shapwick road on the way back from today’s ride…!  Ah well, hindsight is a lovely thing.  Hubby came out and rescued me, allowing my 3 cycling partners to carry on as I took to riding Shank’s Pony again.  Twenty minutes walk later I met him at Sweets Peat Museum, we slung the bike in the back of the car, and finally finished the journey home.  Not quite as planned, but hey, a nice quiet walk in the sunshine ain’t a terrible thing.

Cycling time: 1:48:33
Distance: 28.472 miles
Avs: 15.8 mph
ODO: 8465.6 miles

It’s a shame as, with the group we’d had, we’d clearly been cycling quite a bit faster than I have of late, which has got to be a good thing.  At least I nearly got a full ride in before it blew…and it was still lovely to be back out there.  Although still distinctly chilly.

I use Continental Grand Prix 4 Season Fold tyres and Paul at my LBS has got a replacement pair (albeit 23mm not 25mm) put to one side for me.   I have a ride on Sunday so have to replace ’em by then and have to go with what I can get, which is a pain as normally I’d shop around the ‘net to get the cheapest ones – I could save myself c.£14 that way – but it’s just not an option this time, and by the time you’ve paid for express delivery (if you can find somewhere that does it) it tends to wipe out the saving made anyway,  Cycling seems to be costing me a lot of money that I don’t have at the moment 🙁

There may have been wind, rain, and yes, snow, last night…but ‘rah – it didn’t settle.  When I looked out of the window this morning, the sun was shining, the road were wet, but clear, and ok, it was windy…but that wasn’t going to stop me!

M and I headed out first thing.  Nothing special, just a couple of hours zig-zagging around the water-logged levels, but oh, it was good to be back out on the bike again.  Mind you, it reminded me that my cold hasn’t gone quite as far as I thought it had – making breathing a tad tricky.  Having said that, I was kinda worried that after so long (well 10 days felt like a long time) not being on the bike that it would be very hard work and it wasn’t, so that was a relief.

Cycling time: 1:51:43
Distance: 26.793 miles
Avs: 14.4 mph
ODO: 84137.1 miles

The aforementioned wind was bitter and quite strong, and not behind us half often enough…as was ever the case.  However our average, considering this and our tendency to chat, was pretty good really.  It was lovely to be out, in the chilly sunshine.  Hopefully I’ll be out on Thursday and Sunday…but that’s up to the weather.  *fingers crossed*!

My new saddle bag which arrived a few days ago finally got a test ride, and seems to have survived. It’s bigger than the Specialized Wedge I had for Christmas (the zip broke after about 3 rides) so I’ll be able to fit more stuff in it come the summer.  I’ve also ordered a rear light to go with it, to clip on the back, for those days when it’s nice to be a bit more visible.

I joined the TOR lot for their Social at the George and Pilgrim in Glastonbury last night – partially because I really like the pub, and also because I wanted a chat with Andy of Kalas sportswear fame who’s going to be sorting my Cycling Mayor kit out.

It was a very pleasant evening. We talked cycling a lot – as you might imagine. I’ve been doing a lot of 30/35 mile type rides and mentioned that I really need to get some longer rides in, build up stamina etc, as well as doing some new routes to stop things getting boring. S, who is endeavouring to train me up properly for the season ahead, selflessly abandoned his Burnham run plans, and we hatched a plan to go out this morning. Which could have been the Hobgoblin talking… Actually the barrel went after the first pint and we had to move on to lesser tipple, which is maybe just as well. Who knows what kind of ideas 2 or 3 pints of the stuff might have inspired! 😉

We met up around 9am, and headed out into a surprisingly sunny and almost warm morning. It wasn’t even as windy as I was expecting.  A good start.  I left the route entirely down to him – it’s always less stressful doing a new route if someone else knows where they’re going and you don’t have to worry! I knew there would be hills…(there are always hills!)…but at least the first part was flat so I could warm up properly, and work the worst of the night before out of my system.

I’m not entirely sure where we went – I was concentrating! – I know it involved Wedmore, Meare, Ashcott, and Butleigh. It got a tad wiggly and quite hilly in places, and the low sun on wet roads proved interesting occasionally, but to cut a long story short, we ended up in Ilchester, where a nice cafe provided coffee and essential carrot cake. Essential because I was clearly not going to be back in time for lunch and I needed fueling! We came back via Glastonbury, Godney, Wedmore, Cheddar and home, a more typical route, which is nice when you’re starting to feel a little tired and you know time is getting on.

So, are you ready for the stats?

Cycling time: 3:50:36
Distance: 58.627 miles!
Avs: 15.3 mph
ODO: 8172.9 miles

Yes. That’s 58+ miles. Quite a step up.  I was planning on working up in small increments you know… That said, it didn’t feel like that far.  I didn’t, and still don’t, feel totally knackered.  Apart from one short sharp hill up to the Wedmore ridge on the way back where I resorted to Shanks’ pony, I think I managed the hills ok – though S may beg to differ on that front.  So that’s hills and miles. ‘Rah! A pretty good ride all ’round I reckon.   I definitely enjoyed it.  Remind me I said that when I get up tomorrow morning and my legs are killing me *grin*. Thanks S 🙂

The Festive season doesn’t stop me cycling, it just stops me having enough time to write about it!

Dad and I went out on Christmas Eve, starting from their place, which made a lovely change from seeing the same roads over and over.  We went down into Portishead, over the motorway, and up the long long climb up Failand Hill.  I’m sure it was much worse last time I went up it – maybe it was only easier because I was doing it at my Dad’s pace not mine?  Either way it went well, which is always nice.  Up the hill, down the nastiness that is Belmont Hill (very steep, very bendy, with lousy road surface), then along the main road through Wraxall and Nailsea to Clevedon, and back up up up and along past the golf course back.  21 slowish miles in dead calm fairly pleasant weather.   A very nice way to get out of the house and away from the Christmas craziness, and it also meant that Dad could try out his new bike properly (me, jealous?!).  My turn will come one day…*grin*.

Today I went out with M and M.   The morning had started grey and gloomy but as we headed out, the sun came out.  We went out via Bleadon to Brean and round to a coffee stop at Burnham on Sea, before heading back through Highbridge and Mark.

Cycling time: 2:29:43
Distance: 37.806 miles
Avs: 15.2mph
ODO: 7985.8 miles

Blimey was it ever cold though!  Although the roads were clear – lack of moisture lately – it was definitely freezing.  However good the socks and overshoes are, there’s only so much they can do…and by the time I got home, I had no toes.  They’re back now though, after a long hot bath that is!  I’m glad to have got out, and we made pretty good time all things considered.  Not bad :).

In other news I’m also now signed up to all the sportive events I currently plan on doing before the L2P.  There’s a gap in April that I guess I could fill, but we’ll have to see.  So that’s the Mad March Hare in March (no, really?), the Forest of Dean Spring Classic in May, the Dragon Ride in June, and the Merlin Ride in July, as well as probably Bristol’s Biggest Bike Ride in June.  I need my head examining!  Still, it’s good to have it all booked in and paid for…now I can worry about the training and raising the sponsorship money!