Author: james

Today’s forecast improved over the weekend, to the point where it was unlikely to rain. Nonetheless I only intended to do 40 or so, perhaps a Twycross Bypasser. However when I examined my spreadsheet this morning I noticed that a bit more than 50 miles would take me over 5000 miles for 2024, so I decided I might as well do another fondo.

The wind was coming from the south-west. I came up with the idea of doing a Bypasser, with the Dad’s Army route tacked on at the bottom. I’ve developed a modification that leaves the (rather busy) A5 earlier, and (more importantly) avoids the roundabout that joins it to the M42.

So I did that. I didn’t use the eTrex or a GPX app. I just had a careful look on the map beforehand and reminded myself of the turns, and I managed OK. I went down as far as Coleshill, then turned back. To bump up the distance I took a right turn to go exploring through a village called Nether Whitacre on the way back.

I also missed a turn, but this was fortuitous, because it meant that I went past a garden centre with a little butcher’s stall outside, based in a sort of open-sided hut. It’s not the best cyclist’s pit stop really because they don’t sell drinks, or chocolate, or flapjacks. Just raw meat, uncooked sausages, pork pies and (occasionally) samosas. The only immediately-edible food on offer today were pork pies. so I bought two, a stilton one (lovely) and a red onion one. Very handy, I definitely needed to refuel.

Listened to more Chickenhawk (nearly finished now) and 5 Live. I think I listened to music as well, but I’ve already forgotten what it was.

Back on 63.90 miles, which pleasingly takes me to 234 this month, 5013 this year.

It was a mild day, warm enough for bare legs. Very nice to go down that way again, I must look for options to expand that route on the other side of the A5.

https://www.strava.com/activities/12599371161

A dry, very mild day with a moderate wind from the south. I set off on the southbound route shortly after 1000. Once again I intended to do a fondo minimally, but most likely a bit more.

In recent weeks when I’ve gone down that way, I’ve taken a left to the gliding club at Sibbertoft. Today I went down through Welford. I bought some food and a small bottle of orange juice at the petrol station there. Annoyingly I left the orange juice there somehow, after opening it for a quick gulp outside. But a few miles further to the south I took a left to Naseby and bought Lucozade at the village shop there. I’d done about 40 miles at this point, so I turned back.

The plan for the way back was to come back up the “old” way to the east, but to cut across to the “new” way, ie the way I’d come, after Foston, to avoid busy roads through Blaby, Enderby and Desford. This would involve navigating roads I’d never done before.

Unfortunately I took a wrong turn just after Countesthorpe, but I found my way back to the “old” route anyway, on a different set of roads than I’d intended. I suppose I should have rehearsed the turns on Street View, or used a GPX app or the eTrex. To be fair I quite enjoyed the route I did take. Very quiet and scenic. But I probably wouldn’t do it again. Too hilly, and my planned route would have got me across quicker.

Came back up through Barlestone and Nailstone. I reckoned the A447 would be quiet enough on a Saturday, and it was.

Back on 83.68 miles, very happy to have done 170 miles in October already.

I listened to footy coverage on 5 Live, LBC, Be Bop Deluxe’s Live in the Air Age and more of Chickenhawk.

https://www.strava.com/activities/12584176934

A dry day with light winds from the east was promised, so I planned to do the eastbound route. At least 80 miles. I woke up at about 0630 and asked my bedside Dot what the temperature was outside. Four degrees C. So I went back to sleep. I woke up again later than I hoped and didn’t set off until 1015.

I’d expected to be a bit cold even at that time, but as it turned out I overdressed. Ended up taking a couple of layers off only about an hour into the ride, and carrying them round all day in my backpack. I really must try to be more scientific in my choice of cycling apparel.

Because I assumed that the roads near Stanford might be flooded, I took the “old” route through Rempstone and Wymeswold. Picked up some spotty rain approaching Waltham – annoying, because the forecast had estimated the chance of rain at 0% all day. But I must admit I hadn’t checked the forecast for 30 miles to the east. In any case the large, dark cloud squatting over East Leicestershire like an irregular-shaped mothership was surrounded by much brighter skies all the way to the horizon in every direction, and it floated off to annoy someone else after twenty minutes.

I went as far as Colsterworth, just short of the A1. I came back the same way, except that I took Narrow Lane to Wymeswold (I nearly always do that on the way back now) and I came down through Griffydam and Coleorton rather than Thringstone and Coalville.

Saw ‘er indoors coming the other way in her white Polo near Belton! On the way to her dance class. So I gave her a friendly wave.

I listened mainly to my audiobook, which sounds much better now that I’ve AI-speech-enhanced it (it was originally a cassette recording that someone had noise-reduced a bit aggressively). Also 5 Live, and the Level 42 album Guaranteed which is poor overall it must be said, though it does have some lovely moments. And Allan Holdsworth plays on it.

Back about ten minutes before sunset. Nice day out on a bike, glad to have opened the October account with 86.11 miles. More on Saturday I hope.

As of this morning I was slightly less than 2 miles ahead of my October 3rd distance total for 2023. Pretty consistent. Anyway, 88 miles in front now (though I have no particular wish to outdo 2023).

https://www.strava.com/activities/12566449736

The weather forecast for today improved slightly overnight, with the day forecast to be rain-free from 1000 or so. The wind was coming from the north-west. I wanted to do 66 miles ideally, to get the September distance up to 400. But I knew that if I didn’t, I’d have a chance to overcome the deficit over the weekend – the forecast for the last two days of the month also having improved.

I set off at 1100, to do the Upper Westbound route. Up through Coleorton, up through Melbourne, over Swarkestone Bridge, west along the Beloved A Road, through Willington, Hilton, Hatton, Sudbury then north toward Ashbourne. I stopped not long after a village called Little Cubley, because going any further along that route means coming back along a long, steep hill. I’d done nearly 31 miles at that point. I turned back, bought some goodies (including an ice cream Mars Bar – nice) at the petrol station at Hatton, then turned west to Foston to add some distance. Then I came back the usual way (pretty much the same way as the outward leg) from there.

I was going to do something different on the way back to avoid Rotter’s Rise south of Melbourne, but I just sucked it up in the end. It wasn’t as bad as I expected, I think partly because I’d doped myself with a chocolate milkshake and some chocolate M&Ms.

Thought I might encounter some flooded roads near Sudbury but nope, all good. The roads dried out nicely in the afternoon and the temperature climbed a bit as well. So the return leg was a lot more pleasant than the first half of the ride, especially with a tailwind. The headwind was definitely an irritation on the way up.

Listened to 5 Live, the Pale Fountains album Pacific Street and more of my audiobook.

Back on 66.06, and that’s just got me over the 400 mile line for this month. If I can do the same for the remaining three months, this will be the first year I’ve recorded a minimum of 400 for each month.

https://www.strava.com/activities/12517417185

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.

https://www.strava.com/activities/12493566439

After ten days away from my garage and its accumulation of bicycles, I was very keen to get back in the saddle again. Rain at lunchtime but the afternoon was dry enough. The wind was coming from the north-east. I hoped to do at least 40 miles. I really want to get the September distance up to 400 miles, and the weather for the rest of the month looks rubbish.

So I set off on the eastbound route. Quite cool and cloudy out there and after ten days in (mostly) sunny and warm Montenegro, I was frightened of the temperature. So I overdressed.

I took the Boardman. I’m experimenting with using 3-In-One on it after reading somewhere that it works nicely as a chain lube. Seems fine! I can’t imagine the difference between the various lube products are more than marginal. Then again even the pricy ones aren’t really expensive. Just playing really.

I got as far as a couple of miles past Six Hills, then, having done 23 miles, I took a left along Old Dalby Lane. I’ve done this a couple of times but I couldn’t remember where it goes, or how far I’d gone along there. Well – I went right along it then when I got to the end, I did the obvious thing and turned left again. This took me pretty quickly to Wymeswold, and the “Old Eastbound Route”. From there I came back the usual way except that I did the Long Whatton / Diseworth detour back in Leics to bump up the distance a bit.

Had a beautiful view of the sun about to set near Long Whatton. One of those rare times when it’s visible as a perfect, sharp orange circle.

Back some time after sunset .. had to put lights on .. it’s that time of the year again. I didn’t bother with a proper front light, although I did have one with me. Regretted that over the last mile, on the unlit descent into the village. I was glad when a car with lights on came up behind me.

Anyway .. 49.32 miles. 233 this month. A 100 miler and two Bypassers would take me to 400. We’ll see.

https://www.strava.com/activities/12461330383

The basic idea for today was to to do at least 80 miles, but I woke up at about 0430 and decided to get up there and then and do a longer ride. I knew that the temperature overnight wasn’t going to dip under 16C, which of course would make an early start a lot easier.

I set off at 0536. Very dark at that time, but by the time I’d passed through the street-lighting-illuminated roads of the village then Coalville, it was light enough that I didn’t need to use my head torch. A little strappy LED blinker sufficed on the front. Very cloudy early on, gloomy almost. But very mild, and dry. I was very comfortable with leggings and two layers on top. I didn’t feel a need to strip down to minimal clothing until about 50 miles in, when the sun had started to burn away the gloom. I stashed my cycling jacket and tights in a hedge near Little Bytham.

I stopped for Breakfast II at the village shop at Buckminster at around 0920. Spent about ten minutes at the bench outside, then set off east again. I did the same route I intended last Friday, except that I took a wrong turn after Little Bytham (I backtracked after half a mile), but this time I made it onto The Fens. Didn’t spend long there – I just pedalled along Baston Outgang Road for a bit – but I didn’t think I’d get another chance this year, so I was happy to spend a few minutes there.

I’d done more than 60 miles at this point, and I decided to head back. I did have time to go further – it was only about 1130 – but I have a lot of travelling to do at the weekend, including a very early start. So I didn’t want to give myself too much to recover from. And I wouldn’t say the conditions were ideal. The headwind was stronger than I’d normally entertain on a 100+ miler.

Stopped at Buckminster again for more fuel and hydration. Back home by 1740, on 120.92 miles.

In hindsight it might seem like an odd choice to have set off at 0536 when I was back two hours before sunset. But the sun was uncomfortably hot in the afternoon, and conditions were very accommodating early on. I suppose I’d have had the same peak sun period either way. Anyway I’ve definitely topped up the tan on my arms and legs, but I don’t seem to have burned.

Something quite odd occurred in the morning. I was happily gliding along a flat stretch of road east of Six Hills, when a large dead rat, a really big bugger, descended from above and slapped onto the road about 12 feet in front of me. It bounced about half an inch. Its neck was bloody and ragged. I assume a bird of prey dropped it. If I’d set off half a second earlier, it might have hit me on the head.

I listened to a Sinatra album (Sinatra and Company – lovely), a couple more hours of Chickenhawk, 5 Live and LBC.

https://www.strava.com/activities/12342746272

Wasn’t able to leave the house until after 1330, but I was pedalling away from the garage at 1345. Decent weather, a bit cool but due to warm up later in the afternoon.

The wind was coming from the north-east, so I did the traditional eastbound fondo.

The fridge was a bit short of cycling food so I bought a sandwich and a tube of Smarties at Burton on the Wolds. Had a pleasant 10 minutes munching the sandwich on the bench at Eastwell, then came back. As usual I came through Wymeswold and Rempstone on the way back. There was a ROAD CLOSED sign at Narrow Lane but I ignored it. Didn’t see any roadworks along there at all. I did see some of those traffic counters stretched across the road in a few places. They weren’t there last time (Friday) so perhaps the road was closed to allow them to be installed.

I listened to 5 Live – interesting coverage of and discussion around the first round of the Tory leadership election. I haven’t even worn my I’m Picking Priti t-shirt yet and it’s already too late! Also a couple of hours of my audiobook, Chickenhawk.

Warm enough to remove a top layer and strip to bare legs after 17 miles, when the sun came out. Really nice out there. Back twenty minutes before sunset.

And that’s September off to a decent start. 62.73 miles.

https://www.strava.com/activities/12326757892

Conditions were forecast to be near-perfect yesterday – sunny, warm, a light wind coming from the east, increasing in intensity later in the day. And intermittent cloud cover in the early afternoon. The plan was to set off early and cycle over to the flat bit of Lincolnshire. Not as far as Sutton Bridge, my usual destination over there, but into the Fens for a couple of miles.

I woke up at about 0620. I contemplated getting up there and then, but I asked Alexa what the current temperature was first. Eight degrees. So I went back to sleep. Unfortunately I didn’t wake up again until 0830.

I set off at about 0925. Still not quite warm enough for minimal clothing, so I had a long sleeve second layer on. But the temperature was forecast to rise quite rapidly, and it did. I stashed my long sleeved top in my camo bag, along with a torch and spare batteries, in a hedge near Waltham after 32 miles. Actually I regretted doing that twenty minutes later when the sun disappeared into clouds. But not for long, fortunately.

Stopped at the village store at Buckminster for more fuel after 39 miles. About 9 miles later, I failed to take a left turn after Castle Bytham, which is exactly what I did last time. Rather than backtracking to the usual route, I consulted the map on my phone and decided to keep going. I was effectively on a detour that would only add about two miles. However when I did meet up with the intended route at a crossroads I failed to realise I’d done so, and kept going for about a mile until I reached a village called Toft. It was nearly 1500 now. I’d done 57 miles. It would take me another half hour at least to get to the part of the Fens that I was aiming for. So I decided to turn for home.

I came back via the originally intended route, mostly. Once back in Leicestershire I came back through Wymeswold and Rempstone rather than Stanford and Burton. Back half an hour after sunset on 111.41 miles.

That was probably my last chance this year to pedal around the Fens for a bit so that’s a bit of a shame, but I did enjoy the new stretch of road in Lincolnshire. And I especially enjoyed gliding along the long flat stretch from Eastwell to Six Hills in the afternoon sunshine with a bit of a tailwind. The traffic was a lot quieter than I expected for a Friday. Lovely.

I listened to 5 Live. And I was going to continue with my Alastair Reynolds audiobook but I had such a faff finding the point where I left it in the excessively long chapter that I was about 2/3 of the way through, that I decided to give up on it there and then and I started a new book, a brilliant Vietnam war memoir that I read in 1984 called Chickenhawk.

So that’s a wrap for August, 651 miles. I want to do 400 in each of the remaining four months, and if I do I’ll have done 5979 miles. So I’ll aim for 6000 in 2024.

https://www.strava.com/activities/12283871823

Not much time for cycling today, wasn’t able to leave the house until after 1330 and I had to be back by 1615 to give ‘er indoors a lift to pick up her car from an MOT.

Usually I might well just not have bothered, but Friday’s weather looks perfect for a long ride so I don’t want to be cycling tomorrow.

I decided, therefore, to try to squeeze 25 or 30 in. I did a Twycrosser. The idea was to keep an eye on the watch and adjust the route on the fly. Always an option for a quicker or longer way home from more or less anywhere on the ride.

Went a bit quicker than I’d normally bother to, and managed to get 30.49 miles in. Nice weather, warm enough for bare legs and sunny.

https://www.strava.com/activities/12264766377