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The plan for yesterday was to do Wales and back, if I got up early enough. But I got up at about 0630, a bit later than intended, so I decided to do the same route – but only as far as Cheshire. I set off at about 0720.

Cool in the morning, but I was comfortable enough in a long-sleeved top and tights.

I took a wrong turn after 47 miles. I’d uploaded the route to my eTrex but hadn’t bothered to switch it on at that point; I was pretty confident I was on the right track. Until I wasn’t. Rather than backtracking, I decided to keep going and join the usual route a few miles further along via a detour. This took me along some quiet little lanes through pretty, secluded villages called St James Green, Standon and Maer. Nice little diversion.

I entered Shropshire at about 1215 and arrived at the Cheshire border about 15 minutes later. I decided to keep going for a bit. Then 20 minutes later I decided I’d keep going right to the Welsh border. So I did. I arrived there at about 1350.

I went into Wales along Wrexham Road for a minute, then I turned for home. On the way back I decided to go through Whitchurch rather than using the bypass, and this was a much better solution. The bypass is a pretty horrible stretch of busy A road, although it was reasonably quiet yesterday (this being a Sunday). But the route through the town was quiet and quick enough.

Had a bit of a headwind on the way back and made good time. Called in at a petrol station on the outskirts of Stone to get supplies. Despite this, a few minutes later I went into Stone town centre for a coffee and a bakewell tart at Costa Coffee. Good times.

I noticed that my left cleat was loose, somewhere near Alrewas. For some reason my Shimano shoes have started to lose the ability to hold onto their cleats, or perhaps I’ve overgreased the bolts. Or something. But I had the requisite Allen key with me, so the cleat’s feeble attempt at rebellion was swiftly quashed. All good.

Made it back just before 2030, about 25 minutes before sunset. 142.65 miles. Interestingly, I registered the same moving time, to within a couple of minutes, that I did when I did (mostly) the same route in 2017.

That really was a breeze. I checked my watch at 1525 and couldn’t understand where all the time had gone. The quieter Sunday traffic and cooler, cloudy weather made all the difference. To be fair I was a little too warm in the afternoon even after I’d removed the tights, but I didn’t want to have to stuff too many extra layers into a backpack or faff around with hiding clothing in a hedge. The sun did come out after 1800 but by that time it was weak enough not to bother me.

I reverted to my original Wales route from 2017 for this ride (apart from minor modifications in Leicestershire). Last time I did Wales and back, I went westward through Eccleshall and Market Drayton after Stone. The route further to the north that I did yesterday (and originally) is much nicer.

Listened mostly to Olympics coverage. A bit of an Alan Partridge audiobook. And the Joe Henderson album Inner Urge.

https://www.strava.com/activities/12064003409

Another very warm day and I didn’t fancy doing more than 40 or so. I thought I’d have a go at doing a bit of my “Dad’s Army” route again. I’ve devised a variation of it that leaves the A5 at an earlier roundabout, avoiding the monster roundabout that connects to the M42.

So I did that. Much better. Not sure why I never tried this particular route in the first place. Perhaps because it looked bit climby on a route planner?  And it is, but at least it’s quiet, with nice smooth tarmac along the whole alternative stretch.

Anyway I went down past the oil terminal then turned back after about 24 miles. Came back up through Ratcliffe, Shenton, Bosworth, Odstone etc, making the whole ride a sort of Twycross Bypasser with an excursion at the south-west end.

Noticed that the pub at Ratcliffe (The Gate) has four Union flags flying.

Once again I picked up a few spots of improbable rain, despite the heat and bright sunshine, on the way back up.

Back on 48.46 miles. Enjoyable run out.

https://www.strava.com/activities/12045809443

I toyed with the idea of doing a fondo this afternoon and when I set off at 1410 I did think I just might do that – but after about an hour I’d decided not to. Still feeling a bit fatigued from a day out in London yesterday followed by an extended period in a hot car. And it was a hot day today, as well.

The wind was blowing from the east so I’d started the Eastbound Route, but I decided to cut north and west to Wymeswold along Narrow Lane, and to come back home along the Old Eastbound Route.

I felt a splash of water on my left hand along Melton Road. Very odd.. thought a bird must have weed on me or something (do they even do that?). Then another one on my right arm! It didn’t occur to me for a moment that it might be rain, in the baking heat and bright sunshine. But it was! Occasional spots of rain for a few minutes. Then it stopped.

I stopped to have a look at the stream that runs beside the road in Wymeswold (actually the “River Mantle”). Thought I might see some minnows. But actually the stream looks like a sort of murky green noodle stew at the moment.

I decided to take the detour through Long Whatton and Diseworth after crossing the border back into Leicestershire, just to avoid the peak hour traffic along Ashby Road. The left turn after Diseworth had a ROAD CLOSED sign and a barrier right across the road, but I ignored it. I hoisted the bike over the barrier then hoisted my leg over. Unfortunately a mile later I came to another barrier, and this time I wasn’t going to ignore it. Substantial works were taking place to the road a little further ahead and the folks in hi-vis vests and safety helmets probably wouldn’t be very accommodating. So, I did a U turn and came back a longer way past the airport, through Isley Walton and down Top Brand.

Stopped for a Magnum ice cream at the village shop at Long Whatton. Washed it down with warm water. Today was a rare opportunity to use my 1 litre bidon, I’d filled it up and I consumed nearly all of its contents.

Listened mostly to Olympics coverage on 5 Live.

Back on 47.65 miles, which gives me a total of 640 this month. Thought that would be the highest-scoring month this year but interestingly, I did more than that in May. 3728 done this year.

Didn’t want to knock myself out today as I may well do a long one on Tuesday, but since ‘er indoors turned down my offer to take her out this afternoon, I decided a Twycrosser was in order. So I did that, except that I took an excursion west to Polesworth at the bottom end.

Didn’t really know what I was doing in Polesworth. Only been through there a couple of times and it’s not very interesting. Not very flat either.

Anyway I had to consult Google Maps to escape, and I ended up coming along the A5 for a bit.

I was overtaken by a sports car along Grendon Rd a bit more closely than I’d have liked. He cut in very sharp to avoid a car coming the other way. I gave a theatrical shake of the head which clearly didn’t go unnoticed, as the driver extended his arm out of the driver’s side window to offer the universal sign language for “wanker”.

I also had an excursion along a right turn off Sibson Road called Ratcliffe House Lane. I’d passed it many times and thought “I wonder where that goes?”.

Nowhere, is the answer. It’s pleasant enough but leads to a cattle grid, then sort of peters out.

I adjusted the saddle height on the Cannondale yesterday and it’s spot on now. Applied some grippy paste to the seat post and have fastened a small plastic tie round it, 5mm above the clamp, to check for slippage. None so far. Very happy to have the Cannondale option again.

Listened to Olympics coverage on 5 Live and Caress of Steel by Rush.

38.38 miles and that’s 592 this month. I think I can get that up to 700.

https://www.strava.com/activities/12003263327

Another nice day if a little windier than I prefer. Things to do this morning and this evening, but plenty of time for a Bypasser. So, that’s what I did.

Pretty much the same route as last time, except that I had a bit of an excursion toward Dordon at the south-western end. I took a left turn from Grendon Road on a whim. Didn’t think I’d been that way before but I recognised the junction at the end of a road called Dunn’s Lane, so I have. Perhaps I’ll have a look at the segment explorer function on Strava and find out when.

Once again on the way back up I took a detour to Nailstone, but I took a shorter route from there to Ibstock this time. Saw a beautiful shiny blue steam engine parked outside the pub at Carlton. Would have taken a pic, but because I’d left my usual phone on a charger at home I only had my non-smartphone Nokia with me. No camera. However, I did find a pic of it online (I searched on its name, ‘Baltasha’).

Listened to 5 Live, mostly discussion about the almost-upon-us Olympic Games from Paris.

Back on 40.12.

https://www.strava.com/activities/11988389378

The forecast threatened rain in the late afternoon, but I thought I’d take the Cannonale out for 40 miles or so to check the gears are set up properly after yesterday’s adjustments. I was going to do a Bypasser, but the wind was a bit stiff so I decided to keep it short and do an old-fashioned Twycrosser.

The first hour or so passed pleasantly enough, then the rain came down a few hours earlier than advertised. It mostly rained for the rest of the ride, though the last 25 minutes or so was dry. At least the wind was warm so I dried off quickly.

I didn’t do Mythe Lane / Atterton this time, I went through Ratcliffe Culey and Sibson then down to Fenny Drayton and along Fenn Lanes. Very nice to get the respite from the wind when I turned into Fenn Lanes to come back up.

The gears are set up very nicely now, thankfully. Very happy to have got the Cannondale sorted out at last. The saddle feels a little bit low – unsure whether it’s slipped or I set it up like that when I installed the carbon seat post. But I’ll hoist it up a few mm and apply some of the grippy paste I bought for the Roubaix, which seems to work nicely.

Back on 35.98 miles, 514 this month now.

Surprisingly I’ve done more miles this year now (3601) than I had by this time last year (I’d done 3565). Last year is my record distance year. But I have no particular wish to break the record.

https://www.strava.com/activities/11970509187

Might well have done a fondo today, but I didn’t go to bed until about 0415 last night (this morning) folowing airport taxi duties, I didn’t get up again until about 1100 and I didn’t much feel like riding a bike. But with rain in the forecast for the next few days, I decided I should make an effort and I set off to do 30-odd at about 1520.

I did a Bypasser, with a couple of deviations from more usual versions. Firstly I did a very minor detour into Warton village, only because I’d caught sight of a rather athletic pedestrian in flared psychedelic gym pants, and I wanted a closer look after she took a right turn. Secondly, I did the right turn toward Nailstone again, same as last time. But this time I went right through Nailstone to Ellistown, so I sort of tacked on the last few miles of the southbound route onto the ride. Made a nice change.

Nice day, easily warm enough for short sleeve top and shorts. Quite a few barely-dressed female joggers were out for a run this afternoon, which is always good for morale. I got caught paying closer attention to one than might be considered necessary while pedalling through Ibstock. She glanced around and noticed that I was having a good look as I went past. She took it well, though. She grinned. I grinned back, quite involuntarily, out of embarrassment. Busted.

In my defence – she was a phenomenal specimen. I’m all for not objectifying women, but in my view they need to meet you half way and not wear tiny jogging shorts that look like they’ve been sprayed on.

Anyway back on 37.97 miles.

https://www.strava.com/activities/11953857038

A warm day, but overcast with rain threatened for the early evening. Since I put a new chain on the Cannondale and adjusted the front derailleur yesterday, I wanted to give it a run out to check everything’s working properly.

I hadn’t used it for eleven months, because I knew it needed some attention. And of course it’s taken me ages to get round to it. Well – to be fair I was waiting for some warm weather to give it a good clean at the same time. I only ever wash a bike on a warm day so it dries quickly.

I didn’t set off until noon but I only wanted to do 30 or 40 miles anyway so a Bypasser seemed the obvious choice. I found a ROAD CLOSED sign and a barricade blocking the entire road coming into Ashby, so I backtracked and went through Packington instead.

I was overtaken by a couple out for a ride near Snarestone. Posh bikes, swanky cycling gear. The male rider, a well-built man in his late 40s at a guess, gave me a smug wink as he passed. A few minutes later I found that, without particularly trying to, I was catching them up again. I came right up behind them coming through Norton. The poor lad was having a real struggle getting up the hill out of the village in the granny gear, so I breezed up past him. Naturally I gave him a wink on my way past. His face was roughly the colour of a beetroot.

His girlfriend had managed the hill without difficulty.

Down to Mythe Lane and rather than Fenn Lanes I came up and east through Upton. Glad I’m remembering to do that road a bit more often these days, it’s very nice along there. After Carlton I took a right to Nailstone and came along the main road up through Ibstock, which is something else I don’t do often.

The Cannondale is running nicely on the new chain, except that getting it onto the big ring at the front is more of an effort than it should be at the shifter. It requires a harder push than it should (or used to). I think I’ll probably end up fitting a new cable and setting the front gear up from scratch. I don’t think I’ll bother with a new cable housing but I’ll flush the old one through with GT85 to give it a good clean. Not going to bother with the rear cable. Ain’t broke – don’t fix it!

I listened to the rest of the Reacher novel. It unfolded quite nicely. Not one of the best but pretty good.

Back on 35.97 and that’s 440 this month now. I think 600 is very doable for July.

https://www.strava.com/activities/11936039392

A warm, almost hot day, mostly sunny with intermittent cloud and the wind coming from the south. I set off not long after 0900 with the intention of going down the Southbound Route. I didn’t think I’d go right down to Northampton, but I thought I’d go down to Welford, or the gliding club at Sibbertoft.

Warm enough for minimal clothing from the outfit. I wore a short-sleeved cycling top received as a birthday present from Stepdaughter II and her boyfriend, and it fits nicely. Nice secure pockets as well.

I got as far as Broughton Astley, only to find that the road south of there had been resurfaced by having sharp, dusty gravel thrown onto it. I just wasn’t going to propel my S Works over that, so I turned back. I went back as far as Stoney Stanton, and from there went down Fosse Way. My alternative southbound route. A thoroughly serviceable Plan B.

I got as far as Bretford, then just to do something a bit different I took a road signposted to Coventry. Wasn’t going to go much further anyway. But it wasn’t a very interesting road. It took me to a village called Brandon, which also wasn’t very interesting. And I turned for home. I had a sandwich and a Magnum ice cream at the village shop at Brinklow. It has a little bench outside, although I invariably have to make room by shifting a box of old paperbacks and some pot plants. Come to think of it, perhaps I’m not supposed to sit on it.

Took a pic at the High Cross monument as usual. As I’m sure I’ve mentioned a few times, it marks the centre of Roman Britain and the intersection of the two great Roman roads.

I came back the old-fashioned way through Earl Shilton. I didn’t take the bypass that would have avoided the hill, because I forgot to take a left turn instead of straight on at the crossroads at Stoney.

I listened to more of the Reacher novel, GB News, LBC and the 2019 Who album Who. 5 Live is a no go area for me when the Open Championship is on. I can’t imagine why people follow a golf competition on the radio.

Back on 74.00 miles. That was my fourth fondo this month, nice to have a bit more time for them.

https://www.strava.com/activities/11920137986

Not a bad day, warm enough and dry. On another Sunday I might have done a fondo, but I seem to have a lot more time on my hands now and I’ve done three already this month. With a light wind coming from the west, a Bypasser seemed a good idea.

I did a longish version, right down to Fenn Lanes. Fortunately Mythe Lane wasn’t flooded this time. I took the left from Fenn Lanes along Mill Lane to Shenton, which I haven’t done for a while. Nice to see that Mill Lane has been resurfaced, though I don’t remember it being particularly bad before.

Listened to the Reacher audiobook all the way round. Not one of the best, but good stuff. I could have done without the ten minute sex scene though. I completely forgot that the men’s final was on at Wimbledon or I’d have listened to that, but fortunately I got back in time to see the last few games on the telly.

Back on 40.30 miles.

https://www.strava.com/activities/11887787656