Hot, sunny day yesterday. I spent the afternoon at a bar overlooking Stoney Cove, an inland scuba diving site that was originally a granite mine. Conditions were still quite warm at 4:40pm, when I set off on the Cannondale on the eastbound route. I was determined to do at least 40 miles, which meant that I’d be cycling in the dark for some of the return leg, so I took lights.
I’d done 23 miles before I decided it was probably about time to turn back, not wanting to be too far from home in the dark. The sun was still above the horizon at this point, but would set in another 20-25 minutes. However I thought I’d go exploring for a mile or two first, so I took a left turn to Old Dalby. I turned back to the main route again about a mile later having done 25 miles exactly.
Just after Six Hills on the way back I saw a road signposted to Wymeswold, and decided to take that. The eastbound route used to go through Wymeswold before being replaced with a more interesting route through Stanford and Burton on the Wolds. But the older route has road surfaces better suited to riding at night and I reasoned that it might be better illuminated, albeit I’m not sure I was right about that – so I decided to come back the old-fashioned way.
Nice quiet road to Wymeswold, I’ll definitely do that one again. Curiously, I hit a pocket of cold air a mile or so after the turn – very sudden, like pedalling out of a centrally heated house out into the cold. I’m aware that cool air can pool in dips in the terrain, but that didn’t seem to be the case here. Quite surprising, and a few minutes later I emerged from it just as suddenly. Very pleasant, like sinking into a warm bath.
When I got to the village though I didn’t find myself at the usual main road, and I took a wrong turn, to a place called Hoton. Again though this was a really pleasant, quiet road and one I will reacquaint myself with some time soon.
At Hoton I broke out Google Maps. Rempstone was a short run up the A60 away. I was there in another six minutes or so, although I was putting my boot down a bit, as the light was failing now. I enjoy riding after dark, but not so much on unfamiliar roads.
Arrived at the familiar crossroads at Rempstone along a different road than usual and took a left. Back on a familiar old route. One of the reasons that route is deprecated now is that the road back between Rempstone and Zouch can be a bit of a drag on a long ride, especially in the dark. But last night in the warm air and with a very light tailwind, it was a joy. I didn’t feel tired – I think the large bowl of chips I’d eaten a few hours earlier had given me more energy than I needed. At this point I still hadn’t put proper front lights on, but the light western sky reflecting faintly off the road gave me enough visibility.
It wasn’t until I reached Long Whatton at about 8:15pm that, under the illumination of a street lamp, I fitted the LED front light that I’d thrown in my backpack to the handlebars. I also put on a head torch. To prevent the peak of my cap from interfering with it, I wore it backwards from this point. I must have looked the business.
I took the following pic there, scoffed a slice of pizza, then continued on my way.
I listened to a couple of hours of my Jack Reacher audiobook, then the footy on 5 Live. The third Reacher novel is a definite improvement on the second; much more coherent and believable. Probably stronger than the first, as well.
Back on 51.14 miles – My impromptu detour didn’t add much more than a mile, surprisingly.
That takes me to 300 this month, 4592 this year.