Properly warm, sunny weather today. A bit windy. I did pretty much my
default route, a Twycross Bypasser. I think I’d have been surprised, a
few weeks ago, to know that I’d do a relatively short route on a whole
day off work like this after all the rubbish weather. But having done a
long one on Wednesday I didn’t really fancy it. Other things to do!
I took the S Works.
Didn’t
quite take enough lime-flavoured water; I’d run out by the end of the
ride which is rare for me. I did actually dress a bit too warm, in a
long-sleeved top. I guess after all the cold weather I’m just not used
to the idea of going out in bare arms. Noticed that the bottle cage was a
bit loose near Sheepy, but I’d brought an Allen key due to having just
made a saddle height adjustment before I set off. Clearly I hadn’t
tightened the bolts properly when I fitted a mini-pump mount the other
day.
I was actually feeling a bit worn out by the time I
completed 27.04 miles. Mostly the heat I think, but partly still not
100% recovered from 84 miles on Wednesday.
1460 done this year now, 720 more than this time last year.
I noticed at the weekend that the weather forecast for Wednesday afternoon was highly promising – comfortable temperatures, intermittently sunny and not much wind – so I booked the afternoon off, and I departed the garage on the X at about 11:45 yesterday.
I’d decided to go out east, with perhaps a little exploration of previously untravelled parts at the other end.
Beautiful
out there. I had slightly more headwind going east than I’d been led to
expect from the forecast, but it wasn’t annoying. Almost perfect,
really – so liberating to be riding on dry surfaces in light clothing,
after all those cold expeditions on wet roads. Very nice to see that all
the waterlogged fields are now dry, leaving yellow / brown grass where
they were covered by water for months.
Took enough food / fluids
for the whole ride; didn’t want to go in a shop. I didn’t actually have
that much suitable food in the house – I’ve been limiting my trips to
Tesco – so I emptied half a tin of macaroni cheese into a small plastic
tub. I sat on a log near Cotes, and ate it with a plastic spoon. Not
exactly Marco Pierre White. Or even Jamie Oliver, but it wasn’t as bad
as it sounds.
I stopped short of Eastwell, then decided on a whim to take a left to Harby, and continue eastward via Long Lane, which runs parallel to my usual route. I’d done this once before years ago but I’d forgotten what a long, steep descent it was – like a rollercoaster ride. Of course I was slightly disheartened by this as in cycling, what goes down must come up. But I hadn’t actually been east of Harby along Long Lane before so I was exploring new territory from this point. I stopped at a bench at Harby for a bit first.
The
part of Long Lane east of there is absolutely beautiful cycling
territory – long, flat and with lovely scenery, including a view of
Belvoir Castle in the distance, on a hill. Of course I can’t say how
quiet it would be in normal circumstances, but it was very quiet
yesterday. I aimed for the castle, to come back the usual way from
there.
Conveniently, I came to a right turn signposted for
Belvoir a few miles later. However, two police cars were parked there,
next to a large black car that was literally on its side, wheels
pointing sideways, right on the junction. The road was coned off. I
asked one of the police officers in attendance, from a safe distance of
course, whether I was OK to take the right turn anyway – but he replied
that I’d risk puncturing a tyre on broken glass.
Good point. The windscreen was properly shattered.
So
I continued on for a bit hoping to find another right turn toward the
castle. I ended up in a pretty town called Bottesford, where I stopped
in the shadow of a shop building to consult Google Maps. An elegant lady
in her early 40s stopped on the pavement to ask if I was lost, or
looking for something. I literally had to step back a metre or so from
her to maintain a reasonable distance, but I replied that I’d found what
I was looking for and thanked her, and she continued on her way. It
really feels so rude and inappropriate to be backing away from someone
who’s trying to help you as though they might give you the plague, but I
suppose that’s one of the lesser inconveniences of the situation we’re
all in at the moment.
I plotted a route that would take me round onto the A52 for a short distance, before turning down a road called Woolsthorpe Lane to Woolsthorpe, which is my usual Lincolnshire “neighbouring county” destination. When I got to the A52 I did ponder turning the other way, toward Nottingham – not something I’d normally do, but it seemed quiet enough yesterday. It would have been a bit of an adventure, but I decided not to. I was a bit pushed for time already – I’d come further than I intended, and I didn’t have a proper front light.
The road down to Woolsthorpe was delightful and a few other cyclists were out and about. Really nice scenery over there.
Back
the usual way home from Woolsthorpe and Belvoir. Normally the last ten
uphill miles of a long ride along Ashby Road are a bit of a slog, but I
stopped at Cotes again, and doped myself up with half a flapjack, 100ml
of Mars drink and some chocolate that I’d brought. That seemed to help
considerably.
Back not long after sunset, no problem with the fading light.
Nice day yesterday, couldn’t leave work until after 5:30pm but I thought
to do 25 miles or so. Conditions were a little windy, not too bad.
Mostly sunny. Dry roads.
I did the Orton detour to Twycross. I came home the most direct way from there, as I didn’t really have proper lights.
The
roads were phenomenally quiet – I only saw one vehicle on the road
between Sheepy and the A444. Really quite idyllic in the evening
sunshine. But sad passing through Heather as it was getting dark, and
seeing both pubs closed.
I stupidly came out to the garage in my
reading glasses instead of my varifocal cycling glasses, so I decided to
rely on my unadorned eyeballs for this one. I could still make out my
watch if I squinted, so that was fine. The only annoying thing was
getting little flies in my eyes a couple of times. I think I’d probably
wear sunglasses or goggles if I had perfect vision.
Took a pic near Orton which I hoped would give a sense of the view of the landscape, stretching miles into the distance. But the phone camera overexposed the background. I must start taking a proper camera on shorter rides.
Stayed
out a bit longer than intended and was back a bit after sunset, but I
had a head torch with me and the Tricross has a decent rear light.
Lovely view of a near-full moon, even in the bright sunlight before sunset. Always love to see it during the daylight.
Horrible news about the PM on 5 Live, just about a mile from home.
I
used my Garmin Edge to record the track, and was going to use a GPX
editor to tidy up the part of the track where I stopped near Twycross –
due to GPS error a track will normally do a wild squiggle if you stop
for a while, like this:
.. and it all gets added to the distance of course, which I regard as cheating. But when I had a look at the track recorded by the Edge, it looked like this at the same point:
I
guess it must use an algorithm that only records track points if you’ve
moved a certain distance first. Or perhaps it recognises small distance
detours from your main track, and deletes them. Handy.
I thought a discreet attempt at the April Fondo was in order. Decent day
– mostly sunny, not too cold, dry but with a moderate wind coming from
the south.
Normally I’d probably opt for a trip out East in those
conditions, but perhaps I’ve just done it a bit too often in recent
weeks. I didn’t fancy it. I wanted something a bit less familiar. So I
opted to head south and suck up the headwind for the first half of the
ride. I thought I’d probably go as far down as Husbands Bosworth, or
maybe a bit further, then come back the same way.
I took the
Cannondale, not having had a run out on it for months. Unfortunately my
set-off time was delayed by having to look for the correct Allen key to
tighten the mirror. I’ll never learn to check these things properly well
in advance. But I left the garage at about 09:45.
All went fine,
a nice run out on quiet roads until I got down to Dunton Bassett, and
failed to take the correct turn for Gilmorton. I found myself on the
A426 heading down to Lutterworth. But no worries, I thought to myself –
I’ll just keep exploring in this direction for a few more miles, until
I’ve done 32. Then I’ll come back the same way.
But only a couple
of miles later I found myself bearing down on Lutterworth town centre,
which I didn’t really fancy. So I took a sharp left to head back north,
once I saw a sign for Gilmorton, after about 28 miles. The road leading
there from Lutterworth was really pleasant, and of course I’d lost the
headwind from this point.
At Gilmorton I stopped for refreshments at a bench directly opposite the village store / caff where I normally stop for a breather. It was open, but I was on a strictly no-shop strategy today, and anyway they’d quite properly taken away the benches and tables outside. I would assess the probability that the painted surface of the bench was loaded with an infectious dose of the virus as being very slight, but nonetheless I was careful not to touch it once I’d removed my gloves.
Set
off again on the usual route back, but somehow got confused at the
crossroads at Stoney Stanton, where I turned for Sapcote instead of
Potters Marston. From Sapcote I followed signs to Hinckley. I didn’t
fancy going right into Hinckley; I assumed I’d probably find a signpost
to Bosworth or Stoke Golding or somewhere similar. But in fact I did go
right into Hinckley. Normally a busy town, but today it was like a
Sunday afternoon in Hartlepool before the Sunday trading laws changed. A
bit creepy. I shudder to think of the business damage the virus is
causing.
I also crossed a bridge over the M69 on the way there and that was rather strange, as well. Six lanes and only about three vehicles in sight.
I
knew my way home from Hinckley but was surprised to calculate that,
despite having taken a wrong turn at Stoney and navigating without a
map, I’d taken a sufficiently efficient route that I was still going to
be a few miles short if I came home through Market Bosworth. So I took a
detour to the west to go up the A444 then come home along Gibbet Lane,
taking an additional detour along Barton Lane to Barton in the Beans.
Home on 62.66 miles.
Really
quite a nice run out, and the challenge of navigating home along an
unfamiliar route made it a bit of an adventure. Surprised I had to do
that though, I thought I had that one down.
Quite a lot of
cyclists about – disappointingly, riding in groups in one or two cases.
Saw a couple of ambulances out and made a point of giving them a
respectful nod and a wave, in appreciation of the splendid and difficult
work that Matt Hancock’s men and women are doing at the moment. Lots of
joggers, as well.
I powered my DAB with a pair of Duracell AAs
that I’d taken out of my electronic safe, since they’d been in there for
three years – and they lasted the whole six hours. I guess my safe
doesn’t use a lot of juice. I don’t use it that much.
Definitely more windy than I’d have liked today but despite a brief
shower around midday the roads were dry, it was mostly sunny and it
wasn’t that cold either.
I did a Twycrosser. No Orton detour this time, and no A5 stretch. Came back via Nailstone and Ibstock for a change.
Worryingly,
the roads didn’t seem quite so quiet today. Saw a couple of lads out in
those single-seater kit type sports cars; not exactly exercise and I
had to wonder if their journey was really essential. Then again,
providing they kept themselves to themselves they probably weren’t
spreading the virus around.
Listened to Matt Hancock delivering what I really thought was a bravura speech before the Q&As at the daily virus press conference. I was really pleased that he dealt with all of the recent criticisms and even more pleased that he’s clearly on top form following his encounter with the virus. I think most people will have preferred the new format, where the questioners get to come back following the replies. And even the Guardian journo asked intelligent questions.
Stopped at the Judith Birch bench again.
I
was quite amused to see people queuing to get into the little Co-op at
Bosworth, while maintaining a two metre distance from each other. I
think they must have imposed a two customers-in-the-shop limit.
I did a longer distance than I intended to again, 34.47 miles. Nice run out.
Wanted to do at least 24 yesterday, to get the March mile total up to 500. But I had time for 30 or so. I did a longish version of the Twycross Bypasser. Nice and dry again, only a light wind, not too cold. And of course that extra hour of daylight is very handy.
Quiet out there again of
course. A few cyclists, a few joggers. Not many cars. One canoeist,
paddling along the canal at Snarestone. I went right down to the A5 near
Atherstone at the bottom of the route; I only ever did that twice
before deciding I was taking my life into my own hands. But today I
guessed that it would be safe enough, and it was. It’s only half a mile
of A5 anyway.
Took the short cut to Bosworth via Shenton from Fenn Lanes and stopped for a while at the bench dedicated to Judith Birch, as pictured below. Such a peaceful spot.
Ended up on 35.27 miles, a bit more than I intended.
That’s a wrap for March then, 512 miles. 1224 this year.
I wanted to do 20 or 30. A Twycross Bypasser seemed the obvious choice;
not far from home and mostly discreet quiet roads. Not really the right
climate for a long ride, meteorologically or indeed socially.
After
the brief teaser of spring we had last week, the cold, windy weather is
back again. Back on with the tights, the helmet cover and three layers
on top. But the roads were dry so I took the X.
I could feel the
wind pushing me along a bit going SW down through Snarestone and Norton,
so I knew I’d have a spot of bother pushing back on the second half of
the ride, up through Sibson, Congerstone, Shackerstone and Heather. And
so it proved; a fairly brutal cold headwind.
A few joggers and other cyclists about. The B-roads and lesser country lanes don’t feel much different, but the two mile stretch along the A444 seemed eerily quiet.
The
stretch between Shackerstone and Heather is covered with chunks of
dried mud and stones at the moment; bloody annoying. The owners are
supposed to clear up after their vehicles but they never do, at least
not round here.
The sun did come out for brief periods. Which was nice.
Improbably,
a discarded underwear sighting about a mile from home, along Heather
Lane. White, skimpy and lacy with a little gold bow. I observed this
from an appropriate distance, of course.
Beautiful day. Bright sunshine and not much more than a breath of wind. I
left work early to take up the Prime Minister’s suggestion to suspend
myself from house arrest and get a bit of exercise.
I took the S
Works again, partly because I had so much fun with it on Monday and
partly because I wanted to test the angular adjustment to the handlebars
that I put into effect at lunchtime.
Quite a strange experience to be out on a bike in the present circumstances. I thought a simple Twycrosser was the best plan. I decided to do the longer detour that actually bypasses Twycross via Orton, but for reasons I can’t particularly explain, I took the turn to Appleby Magna instead of Orton. I didn’t actually realise I’d gone wrong until I was heading south out of Appleby. By this time I was heading to Austrey on a road I’d never been along before, which interestingly took me past some sort of transmitter tower that I’d often noticed from a distance.
From Austrey I followed a sign to Twycross. That was a rather nice stretch. The bit between Appleby and Austrey had involved a steep climb and descent, so I don’t think I’ll make it a regular feature.
Found
myself on the A444 not long after taking the above pic. But today I
didn’t mind that at all, the traffic was very quiet. From Twycross I
took a fairly typical route home through Sheepy, Sibson, Barton, Odstone
et al. Came back home through Ibstock rather than Heather. Ibstock felt
a bit more normal, with a few cars and vans running around.
Really
a glorious run out in perfect cycling weather; the spring sunshine was
almost warm. The first legs out day of the year is always a red letter
occasion, though I dare say the tights will make a comeback soon. So
nice to have summer bike weather back for a bit; the S Works rolls along
beautifully. There’s a twisty pair of curves following a fast descent
coming north of Bosworth that’s slightly hairy on the Boardman or the X,
but on the S Works when you get down in the drops you go round like
you’re on rails.
I saw 8 or 9 other cyclists out, which made me
feel a bit more comfortable riding around during what has been termed a
“lockdown”. But at no point was I in any danger of interacting with
anyone in such a way as to make the transfer of an infection a realistic
proposition, and I don’t think I was putting myself at significant risk
of hospitalisation.
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.
Beautiful sunny day today, lovely weather except for low temperatures in
the morning, and a moderate wind blowing from the east. Given the wind
conditions I’d thought of going south, but instead I decided to head out
east, and tick the final neighbouring county box for 2020. I felt that
my mood was better suited to an easy, more familiar route.
I set
off on the X at about 0925. The headwind on the way out east was
annoying, but not a struggle. Got to Belvoir Castle and noticed a lot of
cars in the car park there. Plenty of people sitting around having
picnics on the benches, even though the cafe was closed, sometimes in
groups of four or five. I wondered if they were from the same household.
Normally
I’d stop at a pub, or a cafe or a shop but this time I’d brought enough
stuff to keep myself fuelled for the whole trip, including a bottle of
Mars Drink – which is just the job to keep you going on a long ride. It
comes in a bottle with a bidon-style nozzle, unfortunately a bit slimmer
than a bidon but I found that it stayed in the rear bottle cage. I do
have an adjustable bottle cage actually, which would have been just the
job. But I haven’t fitted it to a bike yet. It will go on the
Cannondale, probably.
This was the first ride for months that I managed to avoid any running or standing water completely.
Got
to the border with Lincolnshire at Woolsthorpe (above), went over it
for a bit then came straight back. Stopped at the bench at Eastwell on
the way back, six miles later. Conditions had warmed up a bit and I
removed my helmet cover and outer layer, and stuffed them into my
backpack. I adjusted my hijab to tubular neckscarf mode. Very enjoyable
ride on the way back with no headwind. Bright sunshine the whole way.
Lovely.
I thought that this was the Woolsthorpe where Sir Isaac
Newton was born, and where he was inspired by a falling apple. But
apparently that Woolsthorpe is about 8 miles to the south-east of this
one.
Pretty quiet out there in the main, but there were quite a few other cyclists on the roads.
The
two Energizer AAs I popped in the DAB just before setting off lasted
7hr 40 mins before I switched it off, and I’d guess they still have an
hour or so left in them.
That was my 7th Fondo this year; 76.35
miles, 393 this month. 1105 done in 2020 which means that I’m 545 ahead
of this time last year. But for how long?
