Outside my window waves of ominous grey clouds were blowing past at alarming speed and even through the double glazing, all I could hear was the wind.  My resolve wavered… But the twitterverse was behind me, so if I’d wimped out, I’d have had some explaining to do.  Besides it would be wrong to break the rules, right?  So I did some work, time passed, and out there started to look a little more attractive.  Time for Rules 5 and 9 respectively.

There’s only one thing to do when the wind is in your face, and that’s to head out into it, so last night I planned my route accordingly.  A seaside loop with hills – which meant starting by going up Shipham Hill.  Only 5 minutes down the road, just as I started heading upwards, I looked down and realised my pump was not where it should be.  Now I could have continued, crossed my fingers, and hoped…but I know better than to tempt the cycling gods *sigh*.  A quick u-turn, back to the house, one pump duly attached, and time for Take Two…

It was cold, and it was into the wind, and it wasn’t a whole heap of fun, but somewhat bizarrely my time to the top of Shipham Hill was 14:15.  Not my best ever but…my 2nd best ever!  To be managing that at this time of the year, in winter kit with winter wheels, is quietly gratifying :).  OK, not that quietly, since I’m telling you all about it *grin*.  On with the show…and round the back roads and out to Puxton, where it’s flat but pretty exposed.  Head down, into the wind, with a mind full of tacking, reefs, battened down hatches, and any port in a storm.  My nautical thoughts were interrupted by what is rapidly becoming the bane of my life.  Yes – more cows!

Yep - more stupid cows.

It took a while for the bovine road block to be moved on to wherever it was they were going.  Once they finally did, it was a case of once more unto the breach..but as I got underway again, who should I see coming towards me, amidst a flock of multicoloured MAMILs, but the Captain of the good ship Gandalf himself.  Also known as Dad *grin*.  He rides, they ride, I ride – the laws of coincidence say it was bound to happen sooner or later.  We chatted briefly, two ships that passed in the night, before they went one way, I went the other, and the nautical metaphor stretched so far it broke.

That was followed by an interesting footbridge detour on the way to Wick where the bridge over the railway ass closed and I had to carry the bike up several flights of stairs – all very cyclocross and probably quite amusing for the watching building crew.  I was starting to wonder if I was ever going to get the chance to build up some momentum!  Especially when I discovered that the worst of the wind was to be found at Sand Bay, where progress became crab-like, and the airborne sand was verging on the painful.  I never have been a big fan of exfoliation ;).  It was a relief to get up the hill to the coast road, though it was a good thing that I’d decided not to have a coffee stop as the New Castle was closed.

Sand Bay beach

Waves at Sand Bay

I took a quick break half way along to take a couple of photos and show you how choppy it was out there.  The Police may have informed me at some point along here that I did not have to turn on my red light but at this time of year, with low light, shadows, no light, I’m afraid that my little flashing red light will be staying on just to make me that little bit more visible.  Every little helps right?

Eventually I turned the corner and headed down into Weston with the wind finally and blissfully behind me.  Well, apart from the one random massive gust at the traffic lights that nearly blew me over…there was very nearly an embarrassing failure to unclick in time incident.  But I triumphed over adversity, stayed upright, and headed off at wind-assisted speed to Uphill and beyond.  As I went up Bleadon hill I could actually feel the wind pushing behind me which was unusual, and not unappreciated ;).  It continued to be useful for quite some time too!

Having had that mini hiccup to start with, and what with the hills and wind, I could easily have cut the route short at various places, but I couldn’t bring myself to do it.  A plan is a plan right?.  So once again I came home via Christon and Winscombe Hill rather than the Webbington, even though either route would have conformed to my nearly set in stone over two hour rule ;).

Christon church

Christon has a lovely Norman church that I keep meaning to check out – the arched doorway is lovely as you can see.  I’m a sucker for a good Norman arch *grin*.  Christon is also where our Christmas tree comes from – we go and pick one out every year, and ours is currently sitting in the corner looking very lovely :). Anyway, it’s one of my favourite routes home, especially with the light at this time of year and the clear views all over the valley, and then of course there’s that lovely down over the motorway to be enjoyed too.  It’s also easier done when the BW isn’t sitting on your wheel!  Then it was time to go up Winscombe Hill – which is getting to be a habit again.  Well, going up it all the time is clearly good for GB, so I figure it’s worth seeing if it works for me too *grin*.  It went much the same as ever, and my reward was the effortless (for which read wind-propelled) swoop down the bypass to home.  As close as you can get to flying… 🙂

Cycling time: 2:25:15 hrs
Distance: 36.72 miles.
Avs: 15.1 mph
ODO: 11325 miles

Not bad right?  977 metres of climbing apparently.  That and the wind will account for the speed, which isn’t that bad anyway.  I’m very glad I (wo)manned up and went out because as it turns out, I really enjoyed it :).

Dressing for cycling is a bit like Goldilocks.  Sometime your layers are too cold.  Sometimes your layers are too hot.  And sometimes your layers are just right.  Today it was just right :).  The wonderful thing about the winter jacket is that though the wind hits you, and goes round you, and pushes you, it does not go through you, which makes a massive difference to keeping warm.  It was the first time out for my new woolie boolie socks too, and they helped keep my feet toasty and warm.  All in all another good ride :).