Author: james

I had every intention of doing a fondo today. The forecast had promised a dry, sunny day with a moderate wind coming from the east. A perfect opportunity for my beloved eastbound fondo route, to Eastwell crossroads and back

I set off after 1100, to give conditions a chance to warm up a bit. The weather was beautifully bright and sunny. But six kilometres later, just after I passed Thringstone, I saw a patch of fog up ahead. It was as though a cloud had landed, about half a klick in front of me. I assumed I’d pass through it quickly enough and emerge back into the bright sunshine a few minutes later, but nope – I was still cloaked in fog 25 kilometres later.

I’d worked out a slightly different route, avoiding Burton on the Wolds and taking in Walton on the Wolds to the south instead. Done it a couple of times before. After Walton, visibility improved substantially. I’d been making a mental note of distant objects emerging from the bright, white curtain of fog in the distance, then measuring the distance to them with my watch. A couple of km further back it had been down to about 150 metres, now it was more like 400. Luxury. But another few km further on, it was down to about 80 metres and I started to feel unsafe. I put the rear light on and turned back, with 41km done.

Despite the fog the sun was really bright. Apart from being a bit colder than I expected, the conditions weren’t uncomfortable. Just dangerous.

I took a wrong turn at Paudy Crossroads and found myself in Seagrave, but I stopped at the bench there for an impromptu lunch. Here, I was completely out of the fog, there was no sign of it. But by the time I got back to Cotes, it was back (or I was back in it), albeit not as thick as it had been earlier. The sun had finally managed to burn it off by the time I got back over the Leicestershire border.

I took a longer route home through Long Whatton and Diseworth. I did ponder tacking on another 11km to make it a fondo, but it was starting to get dark and I was already colder than I was supposed to be.

Back about 10 mins after sunset, on 88.79km. Listened to 5 Live and another couple of hours of my audiobook about the collapse of Yugoslavia. Shocking.

I do like that alternative route through Walton. It adds about a klick and a half, and some climbing. But it’s a nice change.

https://www.strava.com/activities/13557454583

I got up before 0800 today, which is rare for me these days. But conditions looked pretty unaccomodating out there – gloomy and damp – and an hour later, I’d gone back to bed. But I’d got up again, clothed myself and mounted a bicycle by 1055. The sun was due to set six hours later. Plenty of time for a fondo.

I decided to do the southbound route – was going to go down to Sibbertoft gliding club again. But on the very spur of the moment, at Stoney Stanton, I decided to go down Fosse Way instead. I’d already gone a couple of metres down the left turn, so I u-turned back to the roundabout and took the road down through Shamford.

Nice to go down that long, straight bit of Fosse Way south of High Cross. It’s always unaccountably quiet along there, despite being a fairly wide and decently surfaced road. Unfortunately, not long after I passed High Cross, a persistent cold drizzle set in. Particularly annoying since I’d avoided going cycling yesterday on the basis that today’s weather was going to be nicer. It definitely wasn’t. Wouldn’t have minded so much if I’d put contact lenses in, but I could barely see through the moisture pebbling on my specs. Horrible.

I went down as far as Bretford. Did a little bit of exploring along the road to Rugby rather than carrying on down Fosse Way. Then I turned for home. Had a bit of a feast outside the village shop at Brinklow. The weather dried up very nicely after Stoney Stanton. Actually I suspect it hadn’t rained that far north, so maybe the forecast was right after all. The sun came out. Really quite pleasant after that.

I tried a more economical route over the last 25 km through Barlestone. I was going to come straight up the A447 from there but I chickened out when I got there. Wrong time of day. Too busy. So I went straight over at the crossroads and came up through Odstone and Heather.

Listened to LBC and 5 Live.

Back on 101.95 km, a few minutes after sunset. The bike was a bit filthy and I was tempted to hose it, but I settled for a good seeing to with a bathroom wipe.

https://www.strava.com/activities/13529690520

This weekend’s cycling strategy was to take it easy today and do a fondo tomorrow. But the weather forecast for Monday improved to the point where it was a bit nicer than tomorrow’s, so I decided I’d do a short one today and have a day off tomorrow instead.

Cold and gloomy out there, but dry. Unfortunately the wind made the temperature a bit unpleasant so I decided to keep it even shorter than I intended.

I did an unusual sort of route. Down to Kirkby Mallory as per the usual southbound, except that I had a big old detour along Beveridge Lane, past the enormo-warehouses and distribution centres that must be visible from the ISS. But after Mallory I went west to Sutton Cheney and along Fenn Lanes.

I’d intended to cut north to Bosworth rather than do the whole length of Fenn Lanes, but I had to anyway (see photo). On the way up from Bosworth I did a detour through Nailstone and Ellistown.

I listened to footy on 5 Live. Forest beat Brighton 7-0, quite a comeback considering they got tonked 5-0 in their previous game.

Back on 50.68 km (31.49 miles) but given the conditions that’s good enough. Quite enjoyable but I wouldn’t have wanted to stay out another half hour. Back about 15 minutes before sunset but the light was already starting to dim and my extremities were a bit icy.

https://www.strava.com/activities/13512089815

I’d intended to do a fondo today. But when I woke at about 0800, my bedside Echo Dot claimed that the outside temperature was 2C. I dozed and slept intermittently after that and didn’t get up until 1030.

I think the Dot was wrong actually, I think it was probably warmer than that. But I decided to do a shorter ride anyway. I set off at about 1205, giving the air temperature a chance to climb a bit.

I took the newly-adjusted Planet X, to see if the gears were working properly following the hanger realignment. And they weren’t, quite. Up-changes were very laggy. But I lowered the tension in the cable with one of the barrel adjusters after a few km and got it spot on. Nice and slick.

I was going to do part of the Upper Westbound route and I guess I did, except that after Swarkestone Bridge I took a right up into the nether regions of Derby, along Infinity Park Way. Disappointingly busy with traffic up there, don’t know why it would be, early on a Thursday afternoon. I thought of coming back via Weston and Aston but I was short of cycling food – I’m overdue a trip to Tesco – so I headed back to Swarkestone to take advantage of the Texaco garage there. I came back home via Ticknall and Ashby, which meant that I had to face Bastard Hill. But it’s been resurfaced and it didn’t seem so bad as usual.

Oh yes and this was the maiden voyage of the X’s new saddle. It’s nicely padded, but it’s not as comfortable as the old one. Looks like the old adage “buy cheap, buy twice” probably applies. But I might get used to it, or adjusting the pitch might improve it. Or it might wear in. I’ll give it a few more goes before the next round of retail therapy. Actually I might give the fibreglass-reinforced plastic saddle I bought about eight years ago another try.

Back on 52.37 – not a lot really. Felt like more than that, maybe because it was a bit climby, maybe because it was a bit unusual. That’ll be it for January anyway I’m sure. 738 km or 459 miles. I did 12 rides this month, same as January 2024, but despite having to work for a living I did 37 km more last year.

https://www.strava.com/activities/13493589056

Nice day today, mild, dry and intermittently sunny. But I didn’t want to go far, because I want to do a fondo tomorrow. I thought 35-40 km would do nicely. Just a quick run out.

I decided to do part of a Twycrosser then turn and come home the same way (instead of the usual circular route). Down as far as Twycross, then back up. I did come a different way out of Packington though. Then I took a left for a quick visit to Ashby. Then home.

I listened to 5 Live mostly. Bob Harris was a guest on Matt Chorley’s politics programme.

Quite a pleasant 40.31km. Only 25 miles in old money but that’s fine.

When I got back to the garage I decided to have a go, on the spur of the moment, at realigning the bent hanger on the Planet X, which has been languishing on the stand in there for a week or two. It was pretty easy, the alignment tool worked very well. Just takes a bit of patience and force. I put the rear mech back on and it seems to be changing through the gears nicely on the stand, so we’ll see how it does on the road.

https://www.strava.com/activities/13485269161

A cold day but forecast to be sunny in the afternoon. I thought a Bypasser would do, but wanted to do a reasonably long one, 65km or so.

So I did a bypasser, with a bit of an excursion toward Polesworth at the bottom. Along to Witherley and Atterton Lane. But on the way back up, I cut in to Sheepy Magna and Twycross. Then back via Gibbet Lane.

Noticed a light aircraft taking off in the distance as I stopped near Orton. Hadn’t seen that before. But looking at the map, there is a little aircraft logo 2km north of where I was, with the text “Cottage Farm Airstrip”.

Beautiful sunny day, wish I’d worn a peak cap under my woolly hat. The glare on the flip-up shades I’d attached to my old varifocals was pretty irritating. I was getting cold over the last few km though, or at least my feet were.

I listened to LBC, then a new audiobook: The Collapse of Yugoslavia 1991-1999 by Alastair Finlan.

Back on 72.90 km. Looks like rain for a few days now.

https://www.strava.com/activities/13450113897

Didn’t think I was going to ride a bike today but the forecast improved enough to allow a window of decent weather in the afternoon. Wasn’t sure what to do really .. I did sort of an odd combination of a trip up towards Donington, but only as far as Tonge. Back down through Lount and back to the main road to Ashby. Went along that (not pleasant, busy traffic) for 3km or so then left to Packington.

I planned to do a Twycrosser from there but the weather was a bit rubbish. Not wet but slightly damp, and getting colder. Actually I’d been a bit too warm an hour earlier. So I cut it short by taking a left homeward through Swepstone from Snarestone.

Only 44.87 km but considering the conditions, enough. Quite enjoyed it but I wouldn’t have enjoyed another half hour. Back about 13 minutes after sunset, but I didn’t need lights.

https://www.strava.com/activities/13424411408

Following the mishap I described a couple of post back in which my Planet X’s hanger got bent, I’ve bought a hanger alignment tool. I just went for the cheapest one I could find (on eBay) but it seems nicely manufactured. I may only ever use it once.

It turns out that the Planet X’s saddle got chewed up in the same mishap. I bought a new one off Amazon. It was only £10, about 1/5 of the cost of the Prologo saddle it’s replacing. But again it seems well-made and comfy, and it even has green trim to go with the frame. And a gap down the middle, which the old saddle didn’t have. Which if nothing else will make it easier to get at the forward allen bolt that secures it to the seat post.

A cold, overcast day. Having clocked up a reasonable km count this month, and having got a fondo in, I thought 55k would be enough. I’d normally consider 34 miles (a typical Twycrosser distance) to be an acceptable bog-standard ride distance, before I metricated myself. And it’s close enough.

I knew I wanted to go roughly south because of the wind direction, but set off without a clear idea of the route. I was going to start by going down through Ellistown but rather than approach it via Ibstock as I usually do, I started off down Standard Hill. I avoid this usually (and I haven’t done it for at least a year) because it involves a steep climb.

Anyway I survived the climb, then took my occasional detour after Ellistown, along Beveridge Lane – past the big warehouses and depots, then back to the usual route via West Lane. Nicely surfaced along there, not too busy. Just easy kilometres really.

After Bagworth, rather than heading down to Kirkby Mallory à la usual southbound route, I went down to Newtown Unthank and across to Kirby Muxloe, on the very outskirts of Leicester. Idly pootled both ways along Ratby Lane for a bit and came back the same way, except that I detoured along Heath Road / Wood Road, and didn’t detour along Beveridge Lane.

I was particularly interested to come back via Standard Hill because it was resurfaced a couple of years ago on the left side as you approach Ravenstone – making it unusable for cycling. They managed somehow to make the road surface ripply, and the last time I tried it, well over a year ago I think, I was nearly bounced off the bike coming down the hill. Now to be fair I could have applied the brakes to slow down, but I don’t like to do that. It wastes kinetic energy and brake pad material.

But I had an inkling that Standard Hill had been resurfaced again in recent months, so I gave it another go and happily – it has. I was able to whoosh down the hill toward the village without incident. I’m happy about that because there are only five ways to return to the village, so I like to have the full set.

Back on 46.46 km, not as many as I intended but it was really cold out there – my fingers were icy, even in thick gloves. So I think I’ve done my bit.

Listened to footy coverage on 5 Live.

https://www.strava.com/activities/13388606993

I like to do at least one fondo every calendar month; a sort of mandatory self-imposed target. And I was a little concerned that I’d let half the month slip away without getting it done for January 2025 – mainly due to dismal weather. Don’t think I’d left it so late for years.

And the weather was pretty dismal today as well, but I was determined to get a 100km ride in. So I did.

I’d hoped to set off at about 1000, which would see me back before sunset. But the view out of the window was not encouraging, when I got up. Thick fog. So made sure I had lights, and set off a bit later at 1038.

I’d decided on the southbound route. Cold and murky for the first hour or so, but nice once the sun came out and chased away the fog. Conditions warmed up nicely, I had to take off a layer after the first couple of hours.

I took the bypass round Earl Shilton and approached Stoney Stanton from the west. Fortunate that I did, because when I got to the crossroads there I noticed that my usual approach had been blocked off – the whole width of the road was being resurfaced.

I crossed the border into Northamptonshire after about 54 km. Pootled past the gliding club (nothing happening today) then came back the same way – except that I came up into Ibstock along the A47 rather than the usual considerably quieter route through Bagworth and Ellistown. I only did this to get home a bit quicker but it was definitely a mistake. Busy with traffic and quite unpleasant, especially in the dark.

Listened mostly to 5 Live. Much discussion about the impending (or not) ceasefire agreement between the two usual belligerents in the Middle East.

Back on 107.45, 426 done this month. I don’t feel as if I’ve done that much distance this year so far, but surprisingly 426 is a record for Jan 16th. A little more than 2km ahead of this time last year.

Oh, and although I don’t do imperial measurements now, for what it’s worth I’ve now done 50,026 miles since Jan 15.

https://www.strava.com/activities/13372517863