It’s been one of those weeks. Which means it’s been a non-riding week. This is not a situation that should be allowed to continue for too long…and what better a way to rectify it than to ride with others on a sunny and wind free Saturday? OK, so it was a bit nippy…but that’s what layers are for, and I have lots of those. However such a combination of conditions apparently also equates to foggy…which meant much pre-ride faffing trying to find a back light in working order. I ended up nicking MaxiMe’s rear Knog light as my Topeak one has decided that functioning is no longer something it feels like doing. Too much British weather for it, it would appear. Something else I need to buy for the bike then; a list the currently includes brake pads, chain, rear mech, and rear wheel…and that’s just the winter bike! Looks like I need to start saving…*gulp*.
What with the moisture in the air and everywhere, by the time I got to the Square it was hard to tell whether it was really, really, foggy, whether my glasses were covered in mist, or whether my contact lenses were just having a bad day. A combination of all three methinks ;). See what I mean?
There were five of us today, which meant that deciding where to go took at least twice as long as it sometimes does. Probably more. I didn’t really care, as I was just happy to let someone else decide and go along for the ride, as it were, though I did have an urge to stick my fingers in my ears and sing la-de-dah everytime Martyn mentioned Canada Combe. Be proud of me – I didn’t refuse, baulk, or veto! Although I was tempted to follow the sign and go back to bed instead ;).
Meet my fellow riders, or three of them at any rate. Welcome back Gary, it’s been a while. The break hasn’t slowed you down any has it? Then there’s no longer newbie Jon, sporting very fetching matching kit. I’ve figured out that one of the reasons (and there are many) that he’s faster than me and makes it look so easy are that with that height his legs are at least a foot longer than mine! And then there’s Chris (aka Figgy) performing kit origami. We all know how fast he is! He’ll be the one waiting for me for hours at the finish of the Quebrantahuesos with a well earned cold beer with my name on it ;). Anyway, considering that I was in blue, weren’t we a colourful bunch? As we represented all the primary colours, Chris reckoned if we went fast enough we’d just turn into a white blur…*grin*. That would be a serious case of powerful imagination and/or wishful thinking…
So we rode. And yes we did go up Canada Combe, and yes I still don’t like it. It’s steep for chrissake! But I made it up, slow but steady, as ever. The legs were happier about it than my lungs were! It was good to have the big climb of the day behind me, though I might have done it better if it had come after the 45 minutes it takes me to warm up at the moment. I do love the long straight essentially downwards bit along the top afterwards though – much fun :). After that it was just a matter of keeping up with everyone, because as I believe I mentioned, none of these guys are slow! And that includes you Martyn! ;).
Our coffee stop was at the NT café at Brean Down which was, luckily, open. We sat upstairs for the first time ever, where the views are fabulous. Why haven’t we done that before?! Mind you it’s cold up there, and after a while I realised I could see my own breath, and I wasn’t the only one. With all the windows I bet it greenhouses up there in the summer, hopefully we’ll get to find out at some point :).
We took a circuitous loop home via Burnham, Highbridge, Mark… The fog came and went, the sun shone when it could break through, and the pace ceased to abate. But let’s be honest, I kinda like flying along in a group when I can, and working that bit harder is good for me. I do believe I even had a few zone moments today… :D. Even better, although I had the odd painful patch towards the end, I managed to avoid taking pills until after the ride, which has to be a good thing. And, even better, no-one in a white van tried to run me off the road, which is a trend I’d be happy to see continue *grin*.
Cycling time: 2:16:17 hrs
Distance: 36.71 miles
Avs: 16.2 mph.
ODO: 15925.43 miles
