Decent enough weather except for a threat of showers and a strong wind from the west. Hoping to take a decent bite out of the 257km I needed to do in the remainder of the month, I embarked upon an Upper Westbound fondo at about 1110.
I went up through Swannington to avoid the gravel nonsense on Alton Hill, and up to Isley Walton – where I took the sharp left toward Swarkestone Bridge and the Beloved A Road. When I came to the A515 about 45km later I turned downwards, then at the roundabout north of Draycott in the Clay, I turned eastward along a road called Fauld Lane. Hadn’t been along there before, but last night a route planner told me it would be reasonably flat. I quite liked it.
Unfortunately when you get to the A515 and find yourself needing to do another few km to complete the first half of a fondo, there are no good options really. Not much more than the A50 to the north. Too hilly if you go south. Certainly in terms of doing the distance today’s choice, to go along Fauld Lane, was fine. But it seems a bit of a cop out to be cycling eastward toward home, only to turn and go westward, then eastward again a couple of km further to the north. I suppose it doesn’t really matter. Just feels a bit contrived, when the furthest endpoint of a ride isn’t actually the most distant point from home.
Anyway – after Swarkestone, I came down through Ticknall, where I took the pic. Happy to see that The Wheel Inn, one of my favourite pubs, is due to reopen in the summer.
From Ashby I detoured through Heather and Ibstock, again to avoid Alton Hill.
I did get rained on briefly, near Willington. But the headwind going west was far more troublesome. Relief to come back the other way.
Listened to more Reacher, then coverage of the final Premier League games on 5 Live. Back on 108.76. Can I get another 149 in before June? Depends on the weather but at the moment it’s not exactly encouraging:
