I was going to go out tomorrow rather than today but my dhb shorts arrived from Wiggle, and I thought I’d brave the cold north wind and try them out. I thought I’d do the eastbound route for 20 miles or so then come back. Conditions didn’t really seem to suggest a longer ride than that.
The eastbound route is actually a bit north-east-ish, at least as far as Eastwell. So actually I had a blend of sidewind and headwind to contend with and it had become a bit of a struggle after 20-odd miles. As I stood at the entrance to a garden furniture depot to the east of Six Hills, contemplating the famous Loughborough skyline in the distance and munching a cheese & onion pasty, a light rain started to descend. I did think I should probably turn for home, at this point. But Eastwell (my default Fondo endpoint) was only six miles away so I pressed on.
The rain got a bit heavier. Not a lot of fun propelling yourself uphill with a wind blowing stinging cold rain in your face. But – I was a lot more comfortable after turning back at the Eastwell crossroads, especially when the rain stopped.
Stopped to buy provisions at Burton on the Wolds on the way back and had a sandwich and doped myself with a Malteser bar at the log near Cotes, where I took this pic.
The rain started up again shortly after this, but it was light and only lasted 15 minutes or so.
Mostly listened to footy on 5 Live.
I passed a young man deploying a hazard warning triangle behind his white BMW near Six Hills as I pedalled east, and he was still there sitting in his car nearly two hours later on the way back. Waiting for the AA or similar, I assume. Poor lad.
Annoyingly my Garmin bike computer only lasted five hours on its charge, and I had to track the last 12 miles or so using a GPS app on my phone.
The shorts fit well and are very comfy. I’ll probably save them for longer rides.
Back on 62.37 miles, dead on sunset. Lovely sunset as well with the tall trees in the village silhouetted in front of a glowing orange sky. Good timing.
Pretty tough one that, at least in parts, but ultimately satisfying. Pleased to have got the March Fondo in early.