Month: September 2024

The weather forecast for today improved slightly overnight, with the day forecast to be rain-free from 1000 or so. The wind was coming from the north-west. I wanted to do 66 miles ideally, to get the September distance up to 400. But I knew that if I didn’t, I’d have a chance to overcome the deficit over the weekend – the forecast for the last two days of the month also having improved.

I set off at 1100, to do the Upper Westbound route. Up through Coleorton, up through Melbourne, over Swarkestone Bridge, west along the Beloved A Road, through Willington, Hilton, Hatton, Sudbury then north toward Ashbourne. I stopped not long after a village called Little Cubley, because going any further along that route means coming back along a long, steep hill. I’d done nearly 31 miles at that point. I turned back, bought some goodies (including an ice cream Mars Bar – nice) at the petrol station at Hatton, then turned west to Foston to add some distance. Then I came back the usual way (pretty much the same way as the outward leg) from there.

I was going to do something different on the way back to avoid Rotter’s Rise south of Melbourne, but I just sucked it up in the end. It wasn’t as bad as I expected, I think partly because I’d doped myself with a chocolate milkshake and some chocolate M&Ms.

Thought I might encounter some flooded roads near Sudbury but nope, all good. The roads dried out nicely in the afternoon and the temperature climbed a bit as well. So the return leg was a lot more pleasant than the first half of the ride, especially with a tailwind. The headwind was definitely an irritation on the way up.

Listened to 5 Live, the Pale Fountains album Pacific Street and more of my audiobook.

Back on 66.06, and that’s just got me over the 400 mile line for this month. If I can do the same for the remaining three months, this will be the first year I’ve recorded a minimum of 400 for each month.

https://www.strava.com/activities/12517417185

With a break in the rotten weather we’ve had over the last few days, today’s plan was to get up reasonably early and do 80 or 90 miles. I’m very keen to get the September distance tally up to 400 miles, and as of this morning it stood at a meagre 233.

I got up earlier than I expected and was pedalling away from the garage by 0730, on the Boardman. The roads were a bit wet from overnight rain. It was pretty cool as well, so I wrapped up warm with a wooly hat.

I decided to go down the Fosse Road route. The wind was coming from the west, but the weather promised to be better (ie less likely to rain on me) to the south. I also wanted to try a new road after Princethorpe (toward Leamington Spa).

So: I did that. Unfortunately, after about four miles of the new road, I was confronted by road works taking up the whole road. Work going on for HS2.

So I turned back to Princethorpe. From there I took a road signposted Banbury. I wasn’t going all the way down to Oxfordshire, but I got as far as Southam. Then I turned back again. I took a wrong turn n the way back up, but connected with Fosse Way again anyway, just a bit further to the south. Then I encountered more HS2 roadworks, but this time there was a dead end sign with the qualification “except cyclists”. Nice! I manouevred the bike very carefully past a large digger, attempting to catch the operator’s attention so he wouldn’t swing the business end round and smack me in the head with it. He very thoughtfully jumped down from the cab and moved the barrier for me. The only bummer was that there was mud all over the road and the tyres got filthy.

By this time it was clear I was going to be home on 90-something miles. Rude not to kick it up to 100 so I took a couple of detours, one near Broughton Astley and one near Ellistown. I took a rather deviant route back into the village as well.

Stopped at the shop at Brinklow on the way back for a bit of a feast at the bench outside, most notably including some sort of gourmet spicy sausage roll with posh pastry. I think they’re competing with the Deli along the road.

Much warmer in the afternoon, but I was fine after I backpacked a fleece. Probably could have got away with bare legs as well but I didn’t.

Listened mainly to 5 Live and my audiobook, Chickenhawk.

Back on 101.40 miles, very happy with that because it takes my September total to 334. I could get the monthly tally to 400 with a single ride on Saturday if the weather forecast holds true.

Hadn’t done a 100-miler on the Boardman for a long time. Interestingly, four of my last five rides have been fondos, and three of them 100 milers.

https://www.strava.com/activities/12493566439

After ten days away from my garage and its accumulation of bicycles, I was very keen to get back in the saddle again. Rain at lunchtime but the afternoon was dry enough. The wind was coming from the north-east. I hoped to do at least 40 miles. I really want to get the September distance up to 400 miles, and the weather for the rest of the month looks rubbish.

So I set off on the eastbound route. Quite cool and cloudy out there and after ten days in (mostly) sunny and warm Montenegro, I was frightened of the temperature. So I overdressed.

I took the Boardman. I’m experimenting with using 3-In-One on it after reading somewhere that it works nicely as a chain lube. Seems fine! I can’t imagine the difference between the various lube products are more than marginal. Then again even the pricy ones aren’t really expensive. Just playing really.

I got as far as a couple of miles past Six Hills, then, having done 23 miles, I took a left along Old Dalby Lane. I’ve done this a couple of times but I couldn’t remember where it goes, or how far I’d gone along there. Well – I went right along it then when I got to the end, I did the obvious thing and turned left again. This took me pretty quickly to Wymeswold, and the “Old Eastbound Route”. From there I came back the usual way except that I did the Long Whatton / Diseworth detour back in Leics to bump up the distance a bit.

Had a beautiful view of the sun about to set near Long Whatton. One of those rare times when it’s visible as a perfect, sharp orange circle.

Back some time after sunset .. had to put lights on .. it’s that time of the year again. I didn’t bother with a proper front light, although I did have one with me. Regretted that over the last mile, on the unlit descent into the village. I was glad when a car with lights on came up behind me.

Anyway .. 49.32 miles. 233 this month. A 100 miler and two Bypassers would take me to 400. We’ll see.

https://www.strava.com/activities/12461330383

The basic idea for today was to to do at least 80 miles, but I woke up at about 0430 and decided to get up there and then and do a longer ride. I knew that the temperature overnight wasn’t going to dip under 16C, which of course would make an early start a lot easier.

I set off at 0536. Very dark at that time, but by the time I’d passed through the street-lighting-illuminated roads of the village then Coalville, it was light enough that I didn’t need to use my head torch. A little strappy LED blinker sufficed on the front. Very cloudy early on, gloomy almost. But very mild, and dry. I was very comfortable with leggings and two layers on top. I didn’t feel a need to strip down to minimal clothing until about 50 miles in, when the sun had started to burn away the gloom. I stashed my cycling jacket and tights in a hedge near Little Bytham.

I stopped for Breakfast II at the village shop at Buckminster at around 0920. Spent about ten minutes at the bench outside, then set off east again. I did the same route I intended last Friday, except that I took a wrong turn after Little Bytham (I backtracked after half a mile), but this time I made it onto The Fens. Didn’t spend long there – I just pedalled along Baston Outgang Road for a bit – but I didn’t think I’d get another chance this year, so I was happy to spend a few minutes there.

I’d done more than 60 miles at this point, and I decided to head back. I did have time to go further – it was only about 1130 – but I have a lot of travelling to do at the weekend, including a very early start. So I didn’t want to give myself too much to recover from. And I wouldn’t say the conditions were ideal. The headwind was stronger than I’d normally entertain on a 100+ miler.

Stopped at Buckminster again for more fuel and hydration. Back home by 1740, on 120.92 miles.

In hindsight it might seem like an odd choice to have set off at 0536 when I was back two hours before sunset. But the sun was uncomfortably hot in the afternoon, and conditions were very accommodating early on. I suppose I’d have had the same peak sun period either way. Anyway I’ve definitely topped up the tan on my arms and legs, but I don’t seem to have burned.

Something quite odd occurred in the morning. I was happily gliding along a flat stretch of road east of Six Hills, when a large dead rat, a really big bugger, descended from above and slapped onto the road about 12 feet in front of me. It bounced about half an inch. Its neck was bloody and ragged. I assume a bird of prey dropped it. If I’d set off half a second earlier, it might have hit me on the head.

I listened to a Sinatra album (Sinatra and Company – lovely), a couple more hours of Chickenhawk, 5 Live and LBC.

https://www.strava.com/activities/12342746272

Wasn’t able to leave the house until after 1330, but I was pedalling away from the garage at 1345. Decent weather, a bit cool but due to warm up later in the afternoon.

The wind was coming from the north-east, so I did the traditional eastbound fondo.

The fridge was a bit short of cycling food so I bought a sandwich and a tube of Smarties at Burton on the Wolds. Had a pleasant 10 minutes munching the sandwich on the bench at Eastwell, then came back. As usual I came through Wymeswold and Rempstone on the way back. There was a ROAD CLOSED sign at Narrow Lane but I ignored it. Didn’t see any roadworks along there at all. I did see some of those traffic counters stretched across the road in a few places. They weren’t there last time (Friday) so perhaps the road was closed to allow them to be installed.

I listened to 5 Live – interesting coverage of and discussion around the first round of the Tory leadership election. I haven’t even worn my I’m Picking Priti t-shirt yet and it’s already too late! Also a couple of hours of my audiobook, Chickenhawk.

Warm enough to remove a top layer and strip to bare legs after 17 miles, when the sun came out. Really nice out there. Back twenty minutes before sunset.

And that’s September off to a decent start. 62.73 miles.

https://www.strava.com/activities/12326757892