As I explained to GB at some point during this morning’s ride, after a crash it takes me while to reset my proximity. Which means that not only am I not pulling my weight at the moment, but that I’m also not happy to sit close enough behind the wheel in front of me to allow someone else to pull my weight. *sigh*.
Ah well. Let’s face it, with every ride that I do I am making progress. For starters, every ride I complete without having “tasted tarmac” is an achievement, along with every bend I go round properly, every bit of downhill I do that bit less cautiously. Yes, every day, in every way, I’m getting better and better 😉 Just don’t tell me I’m doing really well. I may have to deck you…
GB took me up hills again today. Do you know that makes 3 hilly rides in a row? We started with Shipham Hill which makes it twice in a week for me. I have no idea why this seemed like a good idea but that’s what happens when you get someone else to set the route… It took 15:30 to get to the top this time, which is an inexplicable 2+ minute improvement. Especially when you consider that I did not enjoy it, felt crap for most of it, and developed a stitch to boot. I can only assume I was going up it faster, in an attempt not to drop too far back, but it sure as heck didn’t feel like it! GB, as would become habit as ever, waited for me at the top. Very gentlemanly. I wonder when he’ll be tired of dancing?
From there we went down to Churchill, and over to a café somewhere near Chew Valley Lake where, as it turns out, I’ve been a couple of times. Wiggling around north of Blagdon is NOT flat. Although apparently it’s not hilly, it’s more like interval training. Which clears that up. I feel much better about it now. Yes yes, I know, it’s good for me. As was avoiding all the mud and the occasional bits of ice on shady roads that probably haven’t seen sunshine since last September…
Coffee was as welcome as ever though in hindsight sitting inside in the warmth might have been a better call. Especially as the temperature dropped as we sat there, and by the time we left it was bitter cold again. Gotta love a NE wind… At least the caffeine buzz helped us go a bit faster to warm up again.
We came back via Litton and Chewton Mendip, up the long slow climb past the Waldegrave Estate, and along the top to Cheddar. That road is not as flat as it looks. It’s all very well for you to whizz along it in your Scooby, but on two wheels it’s surprisingly up and down. Until you get to the big down of course. GB left me to panic on my own, and I did really quite well for the top 2/3 of the Gorge but the last steep S bend bit…crap as ever. I did stop and let traffic past twice on the way down as that kind of pressure does my head in. And all that going downhill and not pedalling meant I cooled down, and lost all feeling in my hands. Which is not good when you’re trying to brake! Winter gloves next time methinks. But I got down in one piece, and that’s the main thing. OK, I know GB says he only had to wait a couple of minutes for me at the bottom (which means it was probably more like 5 minutes) but either way that’s not the end of the world. Shaving minutes off my time really isn’t my main concern.
Cycling time: 2:35:48
Distance: 36 miles
ODO: 6810 miles
My stats are only approximate since my computer flooped for a bit after Shipham Hill… The time is probably ok, the rest, well…it’s not important right? What is is that I finally got another ride in, and *fingers crossed* it won’t be the only one this week. As promised, it wasn’t miserable, and it was another few miles under the belt and closer to where I have to be. On top of that I came *this* close to not washing my bike when I got in but buckled down and did it nonetheless. Who’s a good girl then?
PS: With all those hills done of late…I so have an excuse to do flat next time I go out 🙂