Yes yes, I know, I’m supposed to be resting.  Well I’m sorry, but I’m not very good at it, and it’s been doing my head in.  A week of it was better than nothing, right?  I tried…  ;).  So having done a few sessions at the gym, and that little ride at the weekend, I decided the gym was boring me, a fourth session in a row did not appeal, and that it was time to go and see how riding the bike felt.  By myself, with nobody to keep up with or cater to.  Just me.  No pressure.  Etc.  Since I didn’t want to be pushing it, I opted for the familiar, but the main upside to the dearth of riding recently was that even my normal training loop was fairly appealing, it having been a while since I’ve done it!

It wasn’t as nice out there as it was supposed to be but it could have been worse.  As ever it brightened up as the ride continued, and I expect by the time I was in the shower post-ride it was blue skies and sunshine!  It was a bit warmer than the weekend though and my layering skills were a little less rusty, so I got it bang on, which was nice.  And hey, it didn’t rain, and there wasn’t much wind, both of which are good things :).  I don’t ask for much you know…

It was still hard work pushing those pedals around though.  I think the main problem is how long it takes me to warm up at the moment, and I don’t know why that should be.  The first 20 minutes or so are properly miserable and I always have to kick myself not to judge my form by them.  Even after that it felt more laboured that it should have done, until I’d been out for the best part of 90 minutes.  So I resolved to just do my best, not stress too much, and to enjoy some of my favourite bits of landscape wearing their autumnal colours.

Besides, on roads this muddy with tyres like mine, pushing it would probably have been unwise even had that been an option.  Believe it or not, before I set out, my bike was very shiny and clean.  It mostly certainly ain’t now!  I did rinse it down a bit when I got in but I didn’t have time to return it to its previously pristine state.  To be fair I was short on time, and I’m waiting on a delivery from Purple Harry as I’ve run out of cleaning stuff, if excuses are needed ;).

Wide open skies, wide open views, wide open head space…lovely 🙂

I came back into Wedmore, and on the way out t’other side realised that I was feeling much better, and that I’d not been out long enough if the two hour rule was to apply.  Of late I’ve been happy just to be out and to get home when I was done, but today there was just a hint of a glimmering of a stirring of mojo…and I swung a right to add the Nyland loop in.  Muddy, mucky, but it did the job, as you can see :).

Cycling time: 2:02:08 hrs
Distance: 31.34 miles
Avs: 15.4 mph.
ODO: 1038.01 miles

Getting better maybe?  My lack of PMA and being convinced that I’m off my game is probably not helping me ride well, so I think I’m probably doing a little better than I think I am.  It was nice to be out there, oddly relaxing, it was good for my head, and it’s another step on the way back.  Maybe ;).  Still dreading doing GB‘s hilly ACG route on Saturday though…*gulp*.

In the meantime I’m very annoyed to announce that after only a few wears my expensive new Gore bib winter tights, which were doing the job nicely, have already worn holes in the seat.  Not impressed, and will be having words where they need to be had!  OK, I know I’m not sylphlike, but I’m a fairly average kind of shape and size so I don’t think there’s any justification for this happening.  Oh, and I’d recommend not disagreeing with me unless you’re into risking life and limb…*grin*.