Third time lucky…  Today was the third time George and I had scheduled to go for a ride this week but, thanks to abysmal weather, the first time we actually did.  Mind you, having had one of those weeks, I’d decided I was going out this morning whatever the weather!  However, as it turns out, the weather wasn’t precisely balmy, but it was pretty mild, mostly dry, without much wind, and for this time of year, that’s pretty awesome!

George has a penchant for hills.  However few miles she claims to have been doing, she’s always like the Duracell bunny, it never seems to make any difference, she just goes up ’em the same way she always has, effortlessly and leaving me behind! *grin*.  Still as it was my 3rd best time up the Gorge this year, trying to keep up with her was clearly good for me.  And because we’d gone up, I got to go down Bristol Hill, which was much fun and didn’t involve the brakes once…which is just as well as until I get the rear brake cable sorted, I can’t be relying on ’em 😉

It was a very sociable loop, with lots of nattering, and a very good coffee at Bar Italia in Wells.  As everyone knows, it’s the coffee that’s the important bit, right? 😉  Plus you can sit at the counter in the window and watch your bikes, and watch passers by checking out your bikes, and then realise you’ve caught them watching and then exchange grins.  Spot the cyclists in civvies! 😉

We came home the flat way, though not at what you’d call speed.  And, as you can see, to add a little scenic je ne sais quoi to it all, we came back around the very still reservoir, which was very atmospheric ‘n all.  It was definitely better to be out than in 🙂

I’m pretty tired now though.  It would appear, as if I didn’t know already, that my current “diet” is really not conducive to cycling and I ran out of energy on the way back.  Again.  Not sure what to do about that, to be honest.  Anyway, bearing that in mind, and with tomorrow looking chilly and probably wet, I’ve decided the ACG ride is not for me.  I struggle to keep up on a good day, and it seems unlikely to be one of those.  Besides I need to change the pedals on youngest’s bike, and I can’t do that if I don’t collect them from my folks first, supposing I can do it at all.  Excuses, excuses 😉

Cycling time: 2:04
Distance: 29.9 miles
Avg: 14.4 mph
ODO: 7176.6 miles