Somewhere out there is a cyclist who has quite perfectly described how I’m feeling about my cycling at the moment, and it does seem rude to try and better that, especially since I doubt I can.  But it is a beautiful feeling.  (wo)Man and machine working together, in partnership, doing what we were designed to do.  Well, ok, I probably wasn’t designed to be a cyclist, but there’s an odd satisfaction to making your body work properly…heart rate up, sweating, blood pumping through veins, muscles extending and contracting.  To being fit and healthy, to being so much better than I was, to being out there in the bigger, perspective inducing, world.  It’s that zone, and it’s an awesome place to be, and it’s a drug that keeps you coming back to see if it’s still there, still working…

Which today it was.  Today was an ACG ride, with 6 of us in total gathered at 9:00am- a quite respectable turnout even without the two that didn’t quite make it.  Maybe next time?  I had meant to put together a route last night but for various reasons hadn’t managed to, so there were the usual route deliberations with no-one wanting to make a decision, but something having to be decided.  Eventually we decided to do the usual kind of seaside loop, albeit in reverse.  With gorgeous autumnal leaves, sunshine, blue skies and yes, ok, a little more wind that is ideal but hey, you can’t have everything, right?  As it turns out, it’s a good thing we had dilly dallied before setting off, as with the speed we were doing initially, it only took about 45 minutes to get to the New Castle Inn, which opens at 10:00am.  Luckily they were just opening up, and we were able to drink vats of coffee and discuss plans for next year’s events.  I’m not the only one thinking Etape Acte 2 looks awesome – and I could feel a hint of jealousy creeping in….but no, I have plans of my own, and the Maratona will be awesome 🙂

Time to head for home, with an additional wiggle to add miles and take in a hill as at the speed we were doing, we ran the risk of having only been out for 1 and 1/2 hours, and we all know that’s not acceptable!  *grin*.  In this case that meant adding Rowberrow and Shipham to the route which meant a nice long climb up, and what is one of my favourite descents to get down again.  Cue one massive grin :D.

Cycling time: 1:53:27 hrs
Distance: 31.20 miles.
Avs: 16.5 mph
ODO: 10648 miles

It was a Good ride with a Great Group, and we even managed to mostly stay a Group too, which is, if not unprecedented, still fairly impressive.  I got to go fast every now and then, and to not get dropped on hills, and to feel like, for the moment, I’ve still got it :).

After last Saturday’s ride, having apparently acquitted myself respectably, Matt Stephens from Sigma – asked me who I raced for.  Which is, when you think about it, a fairly massive compliment.  Of course I don’t race for anyone.  But it is an interesting thought…  Having said that, I’m perfectly capable of having accidents on the bike all by myself, let alone amidst the in-fighting of a cycle race, and it has been suggested that the chances are that I would get hurt, which is not ideal and would not go down well.  But I can’t help it if there’s a little bit of me wondering if I’d be any good at it, and half thinking I might be…  It’d be nice to be good at something :).