As I’ve said, it’s been harder to get out in the past week or so – mostly due to the weather, and sometimes due to laziness.  Although I like cycling on my own, if you’ve arranged to go cycling with someone else, it’s easier to get yourself out of the house and on the road because you don’t want to let anyone else down.  If it’s just you, and it doesn’t look that appealing out there, it’s a lot easier to wimp out and go to the gym instead.

Still, even though I couldn’t find anyone to ride with today, after having taken the gym option yesterday, I really couldn’t let myself do that again, so I headed out this afternoon on my lonesome.  The weather is mild, a tad windy, and fairly gloomy, but nothing serious in any respect.  I decided if it was going to be just me, then I would actually do some hills!  S would be proud of me *grin*.  I planned myself a hilly route on bikely.com and made myself stick to it.  Up Shipham Hill (plod plod), down into Sandford, back into Winscombe and along the main road up to Banwell Castle.  Left through the back roads, up the hill over the motorway, up and down into Loxton.  Flat for a while into Mark, then whizzed along the Levels for a few miles doing 20mph (clearly with the wind behind me).  One last up – up Mudgeley Hill, then back through Wedmore, Cheddar and home.

Cycling time: 2:06:24
Distance: 31.400 miles
Avs: 14.9 mph
ODO: 7926.6 miles

Considering all the hilliness, my average speed is pretty darned good (in my clearly very humble opinion).  I’m quite pleased with myself.  I do feel a bit tireder than I would usually after a ride, but then I’ve been feeling a bit achey again lately anyway.  Christmas is going to force me to have the odd day off, and that’s probably not a bad thing.  I think I’ve earned myself a beer, so it’s off to the pub now!

Winter sun makes for lovely rides, but winter weather makes for lethal roads.  There was black ice aplenty this morning, then broken ice all over the country lanes where cars have driven through frozen puddles.  However it wasn’t half as treacherous as I thought it was going to be.  I met up with M, who managed to fall off pulling in to meet me, luckily without doing any serious damage.  We did the seaside loop – Winscombe, Sandford, Puxton, Ebdon/Worle, Kewstoke, the seafront at Weston-super-Mare, Uphill, Bleadon, past the Webbington, through Cross and home.  I’ve done it many times which means it doesn’t involve much thought – allowing us to gossip away without interruption!

Cycling time: 2:11:14
Distance: 31.961 miles
Avs: 14.6 mph
ODO: 7862.5 miles

Other than that minor blip, we both managed to stay on the bikes, and I enjoyed the ride.  The seaside is lovely when you’re not sharing it with the summer crowds.  I managed my way up the few hills on the route without much grief, and my legs felt fine once they’d warmed up.  My feet stayed with me – like I said before, the new kit helps but doesn’t solve completely – and it really wasn’t too cold.  Sunshine makes it all a lot easier too, and a lot nicer 🙂

After a late and mildly raucous night out last night, this morning I should have felt terrible, but I didn’t.  Outside the window the morning sun was shining, so after giving myself time enough to have breakfast and check that yes, I really did feel ok, I headed out on the bike.  I was dying to test out my new woolie socks and overshoes that arrived yesterday (check out the kit page for details), so me and my mp3 headed out on one of my normal loops.  Since it’s been ages since I’ve cycled on my own, I’ve actually not done it for a while, and it was even nicer than usual.

In fact, it was glorious.  Just fantastic.  One of those “in the zone” rides.  Cycling across the levels, road all to yourself, legs going happily and smoothly ’round, doing 18mph without really trying.  No wind.  Gorgeous winter light, the sun low but still just above the visor.  Blue skies, green fields, stretching for miles.  Perfectly still water turning all the rhynes into ribbons of mirror.  Swans, herons, buzzards, clouds of starlings.  A fox going about his business.  Makes you feel glad to be alive – and you discover you’re smiling all the time 🙂

Unsurprisingly it’s far more enjoyable when you can feel your feet – and the new kit really seemed to do the trick.  I wouldn’t say my feet were toasty, but I could still feel them – and in a good way, not a painful way!

Cycling time: 1:57:54
Distance: 28.596 miles
Avs: 14.6 mph
ODO: 7830.5 miles

I’d forgotten how nice cycling on your own can be.  Don’t get me wrong, it’s nice to cycle in company, but there’s a particular kind of head space when you’re out there on your own.  It’s almost meditative.  A truly awesome ride 🙂

Another Thursday morning, another dubious weather forecast.  Set off as 3 girls, to meet 3 lads on the Wedmore to Wells road as usual – except we pretty much made it to Wells before we found ’em.

I’ve got a cold brewing, and am at that stage where although you’re not all that blocked up (yet!) you still find yourself breathing through your mouth, which kinda puts pay to conversation, supposing I was in the mood for idle chit chat anyway.  Cycling as a group wasn’t proving to be all that enjoyable, so I was kinda plodding along at the back.  Or at the front at a distance, as I have no mudguards.  Neither do they, which makes riding in close proximity a tad messy when the roads are soaking wet.

Having met the testosterone element, we headed off from Wells towards Glastonbury, and I got dropped off the back.   M dropped back to keep me company, but then I hate feeling like the slow coach bringing up the rear, and I wasn’t feeling chatty anyway, as I said.  I spied a right turn to Godney, and decided to carpe diem, said ‘bye, and took it, leaving M to catch up with the group instead.   I was instantly much happier – (I expect she was too! *grin*), plugged my music into my ears, and settled down to please myself for another hour and half or so on the levels.

Cycling time: 2:18:09
Distance: 34.120 miles
Avs: 14.8 mph
ODO: 7801.9 miles

It wasn’t essentially as cold as it has been, but this is not to say that it was warm, as the strong blustery wind and occasional driving rain added a lovely chill factor.   The wind was really pretty nasty from time to time, ‘specially head on, which definitely slowed me down.  And I think some of the rain almost qualified as hail.  Nice.  I decided that since I was on my own, and therefore not trying to keep up with anyone, that I would go up Mudgeley Hill, which I tend to avoid, and which went pretty well.  Not the most enjoyable ride in the world, but it’s been a while since I cycled on my own, and I enjoyed that part of it – it makes for good head space :).

I had meant to go out this morning, but a red-wine induced headache had left me a little less than motivated. Luckily it turned out that S was up for a ride this afternoon, otherwise I might not have got out at all.
I wrapped up warm as it was only about 2C and headed out at about 1pm. It’s nice going out with someone else because you get to go down new routes. New extremely muddy routes as it turned out. It hasn’t rained quite enough lately, which means the roads are covered with mud and dirt from tractors and livestock which doesn’t get washed away. It’s very slippy, clogs up your mudguards (which S has and I don’t) and generally slows you down a bit, so our average speed was actually pretty good all things considered.

Cycling time: 2:44:19
Distance: 40.266 miles
Avs: 14.7 mph
ODO: 7736.2 miles

S only dragged me up a couple of hills and I think I acquitted myself ok. He’s better at making me feel better about that than some. Mind you, this was merely a joy ride for him before a club ride tomorrow! We pootled around down to Edington, across to Shapwick, back across the Levels etc. By the time we were heading back it was starting to get dark, the wind was up and really cold, and I’d lost my feet completely. (Must get some decent socks and overshoes methinks). I came back via the reservoir to avoid the main road – I only have a rear light as I never go cycling at night. Even with the chill factor it was pretty enjoyable and I’m glad I got out. I was also very glad of a long hot shower to warm me up! I think my feet are just about mine again now 🙂

The Thursday morning group ride is turning out to be regular thing. We set off as the usual group of girls and headed out to meet up with the usual two guys on the Wedmore to Wells road, so at one point this morning there were 6 of us. Luckily we dropped down to 4 almost instantly as two of the girls had to head back. Which is good as 4 is a far more manageable number, as well as taking up less road space and annoying less car drivers.

Cycling time: 2:24:24
Distance: 37.602 miles
Avs: 15.6 mph
ODO: 7696.0 miles

We headed off into Glastonbury and had a very pleasant coffee stop at the Rainbow Café there – a favourite stop. Shame I couldn’t afford any of their yummy cake – I had to beg a coffee from someone as it was having no cash on me. Mind you, I did need the coffee!

On the way out again, I was sitting at the front with one of the guys, (the pair of ’em are fast), pushing myself and keeping up fairly well provided I didn’t have to talk too much and could breathe! He asked if I’d been out Tuesday, to which I said yes as I had. He commented as to how I must be getting fairly fit now, getting out so often. I didn’t really have the heart to tell him that this is about as often as I usually get out and if I’m not out I’m in the gym, so this is probably the same fit as I always am…ie. pretty much as good as it gets! I think what he was really commenting on was how well I was keeping up at the time, which is nice, but I wouldn’t go getting used to it! *grin*

It was a pretty good ride, faster again which I’m always happier with than the slow rides, and fairly enjoyable. I was glad to get home again though 🙂

Out again.  I seem to be managing about three times a week at the minute, which is good.  As the weather gets colder I can see it’s going to get harder though.  M and I were going to do hills today, but it wasn’t meant to be.  I had a dodgy tummy.  She rolled her car last night and though ok, is achey and sore.  The guy we were supposed to meet up with up there had a puncture that totally did for his tyre.

To be fair we did start Shipham Hill, but her head was throbbing way too much, and I was feeling under motivated, so we gave up, came down, and did a Levels loop instead.  The weather was gorgeous – clear, crisp, sunny – but nippy with it.  By the time I got home I was missing my feet and my little fingers.  It’s definitely that time of year again.  As you can see from the stats it was a pretty slow ride, and I’m not surprised, I certainly didn’t feel like I was whizzing along.

Cycling time: 2:09:21
Distance: 29.330 miles
Avs: 13.6 mph
ODO: 7658.4 miles

The important thing at this time of year is just to keep getting out as much as possible.  The new brake pads and chain should help with that – the roads are all mucky and slippery so the ability to stop is important!  Apparently my wheels are slightly buckled, and can’t be fixed, so at some point they may “go”…  I’m hoping they’ll last me ’til next spring when I’m hoping hubby will get a bonus and I may be able to get a new bike…  Lots of “ifs” there though.