“Mary Mary, quite contrary”…  That’s my middle name you know.  And that’s probably the only characteristic associated with the name that applies in any way at all to me.  Come on, me, a Mary?  I think not.  (and stop sniggering at the back there…!).  Anyway, there are those that would probably say that stubbornness is not an admirable character trait, and there’s always a chance they might be right.  But I think when it comes to cycling it’s practically essential.  I think it’s what keeps me going.  What gets me through the sportive hours.  And up the hills.  And stops me giving up when I’m outclassed, as is frequently the case.

I went for a longish ride today with Mim and Brian.  Mim is fast, Brian is faster, and three is never my favourite number.  However actually in cases like this it can work in my favour.  Brian led the way, and Mim went back and forth between the two of us to chat.  I would have taken more of a turn at the front, honest…but there’s no way I could go fast enough for him.  When I did try, he just took the lead again.  I’m thinking that’s just his thing.  It’s not like it was exactly stressing him out.  And hey, I’m not averse to enforced wheel sucking *grin*.

Our route was mine, created as we went along so that I could do some hills, but not the usual familiar ones.  Which essentially meant out to High Ham Hill, up it, and back.  There were other hills too.  And they all went ok, by my standards.  Pretty well you might say.  Dogged determination and all that.  Brian dropped back and picked me up on the way up High Ham, which people who know me better know better than to do, but he meant well.  And I expect I went faster as a result.  Maybe.  To be fair I was finding it easier than usual anyway so it was hard to tell :P.

We had a very civilised refreshment stop in Somerton, sat outside a café, in weather that was so far removed from that on Sunday that it seems hardly possible that the two days were in the same season let alone the same week! Sunshine makes such a difference.  Although my tan lines are fairly ridiculous already, and my Frankenstein’s monster hands are a constant source of amusement to the mob *grin*.  The lack of any real wind was a bonus. Sun, warmth, light winds – practically ideal cycling conditions – which is just as well given that the weather is due to go downhill again round about now…

Cycling time: 2:54:26 hrs
Distance: 49.03 miles
Avs: 16.8 mph
ODO: 8891 miles

I did my ride my way.  OK, I got dropped on the hills, but that’s because I wasn’t trying to keep up.  I was persevering in doing my own thing, and refusing to be depressed by my performance compared to theirs.  I did well, and that’s all my PMA needs to know.

So I had a great ride.  In fact I’m still smiling.  Of late, with plans gone astray, and weather gone to pot, a little of the love had been missing.  Today it was back.  My bike and I were flying :).

(PS: did I mention I love my wheels? ;)).