Bike Diary

Really, I wanted to spend  my Saturday lounging around the house, but a dry day was forecast so I got up (fairly) early to do a fondo. The wind was coming mostly from the south so I thought I’d do my underused Fosse Way route again. I set off at about 0915.

I’d decided to go down through Battram rather than Bagworth over the first few miles. Usually I only come back that way, and presumably that’s why I missed the left turn toward Newbold Verdon. But I carried on to Nailstone and went south via the main road, picking up the route again at Kirkby Mallory, where I realised that my unintentional detour had added about a mile.

I really enjoyed the long stretch of Fosse Way after High Cross. I don’t get why it’s so quiet; it’s a wide, well-surfaced road. I did have a scary moment along there, though. At one point I saw a guy standing next to a motorcycle at a lay-by in the distance. He was holding something in his right arm. He extended it, and slowly brought it up to eye level.

“‘kin hell”, I thought to myself. “He’s got a gun!” He seemed to be aiming it at something on the other side of the road. I reckoned he was about 180 metres ahead. His chances of hitting me with a pistol at that range weren’t good, but obviously they were improving with every pedal stroke. I was about to perform an emergency u-turn when I realised he was taking a selfie with a phone.

I did turn back eventually, having done the necessary half-fondo distance, just south of Bretford. Stopped at the Post Office at Brinklow on the way back for a cheese and tomato sandwich and a Magnum ice-cream. My other half won a massive bag of Cadburys mis-shapes from the chocolate tombola (sorry, the what?) at a charity event we attended last night, so I brought a few of those with me as well, to keep me fortified on the way back.

Listened to 5 Live, and the Stones’ A Bigger Bang from 2005. Another surprisingly good record (mostly).

I think I got the clothing strategy pretty much spot on today. I wasn’t too cold early on, and once I took a layer off later on, I wasn’t too warm.

I was back over four hours before sunset, which given that it’s a nice sunny day out there did make me think I should have done a longer one. Not many nice Saturdays left this year. It’s the autumn equinox today apparently.

Still – glad to have achieved my first ever quintuple fondo month. Qute an enjoyable run out. I wonder if I can sneak in another fondo this month?

https://www.strava.com/activities/9905406290

Wasn’t going to go cycling today. The forecast was for showers in the afternoon and early evening. But I had a look at the rainfall radar forecast, which suggested I’d get away with it. So I went at about 1530. I did a Bypasser; a medium length version I guess.

Some time I must work out how many possible versions of a “Bypasser” or “Twycrosser” there are but anyway, this one went up to Ashby and down through Packington at the top, and along Atterton Lane at the bottom.

I thought I was going to escape untouched by precipitation until I picked up a few sporadic spots of rain near Carlton. No great hardship I thought, but five minutes later it was properly coming down. Not heavy, but not light either. But it only lasted ten minutes. I was wearing contact lenses again. I guess one big advantage of them is that they don’t get pebbled by rainwater.

Shortly after I made the right turn for Heather off Odstone Lane, I was confronted by the most gobsmacking rainbow I’ve ever seen, in the last of the late afternoon sunshine. It was unbroken, perfect, vivid. And hypnotic; I couldn’t stop gawping at it as I cycled in to Heather. Like a fluorescent arch straddling a dozen miles of the NW Leicestershire landscape.

I did stop to take a pic but it had faded a little by then and I didn’t do it justice. Every colour was individually distinguishable.

Had to give the bike a clean and wipe down back at the garage but that was quite therapeutic.

Back on 35.74.

https://www.strava.com/activities/9894527870

Today’s weather forecast threatened rain from about 4-5pm, which gave me enough time for a fondo if I got up early enough – which I did.

With a stiff breeze coming from the east, the basic plan was to do the eastbound route. However I planned a diversion on the way back, to take in a road between Thrussington and Cotes that I discovered while exploring a month or two ago.

I set off at about 0915, did the usual route for a little over 28 miles, then turned back. I’d calculated that the detour would give me the necessary 100km if I turned back at that point and I didn’t want to do more than that – every unnecessary mile was a hostage to fortune with the weather. It wouldn’t be the first time the rain had turned up early.

I plunged south into the detour through Ragdale and Hoby about 6 or 7 miles later. The main route out east at that point is nice and flat, but it actually runs along a sort of ridge, or spine – if you go north or south from it, you end up going sharply downhill. As I approached Hoby I was overtaken by an old bloke in a powder blue 911 with the top down. Unfortunately he wanted to take the descent, and the curve into Hoby a bit more hesitantly than I did and I had to put the brakes on more than once, to avoid colliding with his rear bumper. Annoying because I never like to waste kinetic energy or brake pad material. If you can’t outpace a bike in a Porsche, maybe you shouldn’t have one. Either that or refrain from overtaking on a steep descent.

Well – the detour was a bit of a rollercoaster and while it was all quite pleasant, It’s only really the last few miles through Walton on the Wolds that I’d want to repeat. There are more economical ways of doing that than going all the way down to Thrussington.

I added a couple of miles by taking a wrong turn after Walton; only realised when I found myself entering Barrow on Soar. I just turned back rather than rerouting.

Listened to the Stones’ Bridges to Babylon – another thoroughly decent record. Then the Singapore Grand Prix.

I didn’t get rained on.

Back on 64.05 miles; fourth fondo this month. Not sure if I’ve ever done five in a month before but it looks like I will this month.

https://www.strava.com/activities/9867764398

I particularly wanted to take advantage of a warm, dry day with light winds to do a long ride. The weather forecast looks poor from Sunday and other plans have been made for me tomorrow.

So I booked the afternoon off, with the idea of sneaking out of work at about 1130 and doing 80 miles or so. Alas – my participation was required at a meeting on the afternoon, so I unbooked my half day. I thought I’d be able to get away by 1430 and maybe get in another fondo but nope, I wasn’t able to get out of it until 1500.

So I settled for a Twycrosser. It’s a nice Friday afternoon tradition, to mark the end of the working week. I took the S Works, because I’ve just changed the rear inner tube (again). I think it was a valve fault. Just wanted to check all’s well with the new tube on a relatively short ride.

I had to stop for a wee after only 11 miles because it’s Urology Day, apparently. 5 Live had a piece on this, and they played some running water sounds as examples of aural stimuli likely to make people want to wee. It worked. But what if I’d been stuck in a car in heavy traffic on the M1?

Anyway I came back along Fenn Lanes but took a short cut past the Judith Birch bench near Shenton. Back up through Bosworth and the villages, but I looped through Burgoland and Swepstone to extend the ride a bit.

Back on 36.21, not as much as I’d have liked. But every 30 miles at this stage is 10 miles I don’t have to do in each of the last three months.

357 this month, another 100 before October will do nicely.

https://www.strava.com/activities/9855291493

Nice day. Dry, much cooler. When I stepped out of the front door I was convinced I’d need tights and a fleece. However when I actually went to get the bike out, I realised I wouldn’t need the tights so I removed them there and then. I put them in my backpack, thinking I might need them later. But I left the fleece on.

The intention was to perform a fondo based on the Southbound route. I set off a bit before 3pm. But when I got to the crossroads at Stoney Stanton, I decided to go straight on instead of left, to do the Fosse Way version of the route. I confess that this was mainly because I could see a cutie with a colourful pair of jogging pants receding into the distance, and I wanted to get a better look.

Well – I wasn’t sure I’d remember the way. Superficially it’s a straight line on the map thanks to the Romans, but when you zoom in there are some tricky turns and manouevres through villages.

But I only needed to do another 14 miles or so, and I did. I thoroughly enjoyed doing that one again, actually. I think I’ve done it six or seven times at the most. I really should do it more often; even at teatime on a weekday the Fosse Way part of the route is strangely quiet, despite being a wide, very well surfaced straight road. I stopped at Brinklow to get a very nice sausage and chutney sandwich on the way back. The last time I went through there was about three Reacher novels ago; I recall that I’d just started The Enemy. Just checked and it was October last year, thought it was longer ago than that.

Took a pic of the bike at the High Cross monument, built to mark the centre of Roman Britain at the intersection of two great Roman roads.

Sorry to objectify women twice in the same post but my God there was a fit but well built young lady strolling along the pavement at Kirkby Mallory wearing tiny – I mean tiny – pink running shorts that looked like they’d been applied from an aerosol.

Oh yes, haven’t seen any discarded knickers recently but there was a discarded black stocking along Bumblebee Lane.

I listened to the Rolling Stones’ Voodoo Lounge (not too bad, surprisingly) and 5 Live. The comically bad radio presenter Nihal Arthanayake had Clive Myrie on his show. It’s hard not to like Clive, and I find him relatable as a well-spoken articulate Northerner of a similar age myself. Sadly, but perhaps predictably, Clive’s interview consisted of non-stop race-baiting and wallowing in victimhood.

Back on 62.78 miles. Third fondo this month, 24th this year.

https://www.strava.com/activities/9843608076

I really wanted to do at least a fondo today, maybe even 100+ miles – but then the weather forecast changed to threaten thunder and showers in the afternoon. I set off at 0850 hoping to do 30 or 40 before the rain came over.

Actually spots of rain were coming down as I wheeled the bike out, but they died off ten minutes later. Warm out there from the outset, even in minimal clothing. Conditions grew uncomfortably warmer and more humid ad the ride wore on.

I went eastbound as far as Narrow Lane, which I took to hook northward to Wymeswold, then came back via Hoton. After crossing the border back into Leicestershire I detoured via Diseworth. Came back down the longer way through Griffydam and Peggs Green.

Spots of rain again over the last couple of miles but it didn’t get any worse.

Listened to the Stones’ Steel Wheels, then Nai Palm’s Needle Paw. Then (unusually) a bit of classical. Georg Solti and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.

Back on 45.44. 258 this month. Looking good for 500.

https://www.strava.com/activities/9821554782

Well that was a bit different. I started work at 0600 so I left early, with the intention of maybe doing 20 miles of the Lower Westbound route, then coming back.

Unfortunately I somehow missed the turn for Lullington. Realised this when I found myself about to enter Coton in the Elms. Well, no matter – I’ve been that way dozens of times as well. But then I missed the turn for Walton. So I found myself entering a depressingly busy and urban Burton on Trent. I kept on keeping on though until I saw a sign for Abbotts Bromley, and I took that.

Went as far as Needwood, where I stopped for a very welcome cold can of Dr Pepper at a petrol station. Then I took a sign to Barton under Needwood, which is also familiar territory.

Quite enjoyed the new bits of road between Burton and Barton under Needwood though it would be tricky to get them into a regular route without negotiating Burton.

Later, trying to get back on the usual track on the way back I unnecessarily took a turn for Lullington that was no more than a pointless detour. Then bizarrely, later on again, I strangely missed the turn to Packington and continued right on to Ashby.

I can only think that the heat must have cooked my brain a bit. It was hot out there.

On the way into Ashby I overtook a lad on a BMX. Clearly he was affronted by this and he attempted to overtake back. He pulled alongside with a huge grin on his face, bless him. He was about 13. I’m sorry to confess that I did indulge him. He was never going to catch even an old man on a Roubaix with short legs and a BMX. I suppose I shouldn’t have done that, he wasn’t wearing a helmet and he gave it a good go. Then again, neither was I.

I think I probably missed an opportunity today .. should have taken the day off and done Wales and back or something. Probably not going to get another opportunity for a long day on the bike in weather like this in 2023.

Listened to Steely Dan’s Aja and Radio 5. Back on 49.12 miles.

https://www.strava.com/activities/9810382056

Another very warm day with light winds. I did a Bypasser. Unusually, I went right down to Atherstone – not done that for a couple of years – and I found a short cut to take me back northward without going right into the centre of town. I think I’ve done that once before. I suppose there must be a way to search the times you’ve done a particular segment on Strava.

On the way back up I decided to take a left to take me to San GIovanni at Sheepy, for a pit stop involving a margerita. However, embarrassingly, I somehow got lost and ended up looping back onto the main road, further down than when I’d taken the turn! I decided just to head for home at this point. I came back the quick way along Gibbet Lane.

That must have been the warmest ride since last summer and I wore my skimpiest cycling clothing. But the last 45 minutes or so was glorious with a cooler breeze and that beautiful pre-sunset light.

I listened to a highly entertaining feature about the Rolling Stones’ new album on 5 Live Drive, in which they had the guitar player from a tribute band accompany listener’s Rolling Stones anecdotes with classic Stones riffs played as background music. And they played a snippet from the new single – nothing special but remarkable energy.

Back on 37.89 miles.

https://www.strava.com/activities/9797837816

A properly warm, sunny day with a light wind coming from the south. I was only going to do about 35-40 today having put a decent shift in on Friday, but by the time I was 20 miles down the southbound route, I’d decided to make another fondo of it.

I didn’t go all the way down to Welford. I turned back after the half-fondo distance, at Welford Road. Bought some snacks and Lucozade at a petrol station on Gilmorton Road and stopped in Gilmorton to consume them. The village shop is closed on Sundays, but the bench on the opposite side of the road is always open.

As I sat there munching on a Ploughman’s sandwich, I heard the growl of a vintage piston engine. Looked up to see a P51-D Mustang circling overhead. Obviously I wondered why so I did the necessary Google research when I got back; there was a “Victory Show” featuring an air display at Cosby, a few miles to the north.

Listened mostly to footy on 5 Live but also to the Stones’ Dirty Work, which against my expectations is actually not bad at all.

I was on call but it’s been so quiet this last few weeks that I didn’t even think about it, let alone stress about it.

Back on 63.67 miles so already, it’s a Double Fondo September! That was this year’s 23rd fondo. I’m hoping to do 5776 miles this year to equal the 2016 distance tally, my second-highest.

https://www.strava.com/activities/9776872636

With the wind coming from the east for a change and a light wind at that, I left work early in the hope of getting the September fondo in early. I’d been looking forward to doing the traditional eastbound route for a while. So I did. Went as far as Eastwell crossroads, came back exactly the same way.

I listened to the last few hours of the Reacher novel, Nothing to Lose. I’m afraid that this one, the twelfth in the series, didn’t quite hit the mark. The plot is sillier than a Roger Moore Bond film, the ending is preposterous and the way that Reacher works out what the bad guys are up to is just not believable in the slightest. He’d have to be psychic. Having said that, it did maintain my interest and I enjoyed it. But it’s well daft.

Then I listened to the Stones’ Undercover, which as I expected is a weak record.

Nice out there, A bit too warm after the first twenty minutes but fortunately I’d thought to take a backpack so I stuffed a layer into it after 20 miles or so. I treated myself to a Magnum ice-cream lolly on the way back, from the petrol station at Burton on the Wolds.

Back about a minute after a beautiful sunset. I’d put my rear light on a few miles from home, coming through Thringstone. Yep, it’s that time of the year when you have to start thinking about lights on a ride after work.

62.27 miles.

https://www.strava.com/activities/9764056001