Normally I wouldn’t go cycling the day after a long ride, but since it was a beautifully sunny day again, and since my knees didn’t seem to be complaining today, I decided I’d go out for a spin on the S Works while I still can. Who knows if I’ll still be allowed to a month, or even a week from now?
First thought as I set off, at about 16:25: What the Actual Fuck? The saddle seemed far too low, almost as if I was riding a kid’s bike with my knees swinging up round my chin. I’d raised the saddle on the Boardmans (Boardmen?), the X, the Tricross and the hybrid, but hadn’t bothered yet with the Cannondale or the S Works. And although the higher riding position felt odd at first, in the months since I last took the Spesh out, it has become the new normal.
I U-turned to the garage to made a quick and cautious adjustment. It’s a carbon seat post but I don’t think I over-tightened it; I didn’t bother with a torque wrench. And I set off again.
What a joy it is to ride – zippy, effortless and refined. I wanted to be back by sunset and only wanted to do 15 or 20 in any case. I did a ‘Truncated Twycross’ with the left turn to cut across to Congerstone, then Barton. A bit of a cool headwind going east to Barton, but other than that pleasant and spring-like. It’s weird though that there’s so little traffic at that time of the afternoon.
A couple of other cyclists around, and quite a few joggers. I exchanged a smile or a friendly nod with most of them. A lad walking a dog near Bilstone looked a bit afraid when he saw me coming. Two geese in the road at Odstone were unhappy about something, just standing there and doing that odd squawky bark thing they do.
Back just on sunset. Nice run out.
The PM is making an address to the nation in 25 minutes as I type, which suggests to me that fairly Draconian measures are coming – given that he was prepared to announce closures to pubs and restaurants at a mere press conference. So I do wonder, not that it’s the most important thing in the bigger picture, what restrictions affecting cycling might be about to come into force.
Anyway – 20.91, 414 this month.