Month: May 2021

Windy. Not the best afternoon for a run out after work, but beggars can’t be choosers. I have a conflicting appointment tomorrow and it’s going to rain on Saturday.

So I wheeled out the X and set off at about 3:35pm. I was struggling into the wind before I’d got 50 metres from the garage, which I think is a first. I’d decided on a Twycross Bypasser, and I chose to do the version with an extension to the west that takes in Warton before rejoining the usual route at Pinwall.

Conditions were tolerable enough early on when the sun was out, but when the clouds rolled over the temperature dropped dramatically and it was awful out there in the cold wind. My fingertips were freezing, even though I was wearing a thoroughly creditable pair of cycling gloves. And yet three years ago exactly, on 6th May 2018, ‘er indoors and I went on a cycle ride and we were sweltering in the heat. I expect I documented it here. I know this because a pic from that memorable journey came up in my Facebook feed this morning.

To make matters worse, the rain started to come down about 6 miles from home. Misery. But it stopped with about a mile to go and the sun came out so I took this snap.

Passed a few polling stations on the way including one at a church, which strikes me as a good way to deter rational people from taking part in our democracy. Fortunately, I didn’t have to visit anything sillier than a leisure centre when I went to vote myself.

Back on 30.15 miles. Glad to have done them but I can’t say I would have if I’d known what it was going to be like out there.

https://www.strava.com/activities/5252469145

My wife often asks if I’m going to wear a helmet, just before I set off on a cycle ride. Usually, as was the case this time, the answer is “no”. Today I explained that it was too sunny, and I’d need a cap.

“It’s always either too cold, or too sunny”, she observed. Then she went for my soft underbelly, my vanity. “If you were a proper cyclist, you’d wear a helmet”, she continued.  But she missed the mark with that one, because I happen to think my habit of wearing unconventional cycling headwear lends my appearance a certain raffish, maverick quality. However – I decided not to bother with the explanation about statistics, and I agreed to wear my helmet, to give her a bit of peace of mind.

And I must admit, it was nice to have the proper uniform on for a change. Especially with sunglasses. I always think clear cycling glasses with a helmet look a bit nerdy.

Anyway – I wanted to do a Fondo today. Dry and sunny with a moderate wind blowing from the west. I decided to go south, down to Welford. But after about a mile, I changed my mind and decided to go west, along the flat A road south of Derby. So I did a U turn and propelled myself through Coalville, up through Belton and Isley Walton, to Melbourne. From there, up over Swarkestone Bridge. I stopped to take this pic, but actually decided to have a snack here – the wall looked comfortable enough to sit on. I ate two cheese rolls before setting off again.

The headwind was a bit annoying going west. By the time I got to Doveridge I’d done 35 miles, enough (I correctly guessed) to make my distance up to the requisite 62.14 miles if I came home the quicker way from Melbourne.

So much nicer on the way back with a tailwind. It was a bit warmer by then as well. I stopped at a pub at Hilton for a half lager and some food – they were only doing pizzas. Unusually, no doubt as a social-distancing measure, they were providing table service today which was ideal as I didn’t need to leave the bike unattended.

I was careful to wear a face covering.

A pleasant chap at a nearby table wanted to know how much the bike cost, how many miles I did on it and so on. He told me he was an ex Para and had buggered his knees, so he didn’t think cycling was for him. I told him that it might well do them a bit of good. He was impressed that I was doing 60-odd miles today as people often are when they ask, but of course it’s easier than it sounds. Got to be easier than jumping out of a perfectly good aircraft, even with a parachute.

Back on 65.09 miles. Nice to do that route again, I don’t often go as far as Sudbury and Doveridge. Not sure if it’s a Fondo distance if you take the direct route to and from Melbourne both ways. I don’t think you can really get any further than Doveridge unfortunately, without going onto a very busy road. I must check that.

Listened to 6 Music mostly – Cerys Matthews played some good stuff in honour of the Cheltenham Jazz Festival. Then footy on 5 Live until Arsenal scored their first goal against Newcastle. Then the Reacher audiobook, Echo Burning which is unfolding nicely.

https://www.strava.com/activities/5231208693