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.