Wasn’t really planning on cycling after work today but I happened to
glance out of the window. I still can’t get used to the novelty of
sunny, dry weather! And it would have been a perfect late afternoon for
cycling if not for a fairly powerful wind from the east, again.
I
set off through Ellistown and Bagworth on the S Works, thinking to go
down to Kirkby Mallory then come back. But I took the road to Bosworth
from Newbold then came the long way home, looping up through Swepstone,
past Measham, and through Packington.
Nice, apart from a real struggle against the wind between Packington and Alton Hill.
Windy today but it seemed a shame to waste a sunny late afternoon, so
I thought I’d do 20 miles or so after leaving work early. Did a fairly
standard short Twycrosser, the version where I stop short of Twycross
and hang a left along Bilstone Road (pictured below) to, er, Bilstone.
Came back through Ibstock.
Quite a brutal headwind going east but it wasn’t cold and the sunshine made up for it a bit.
Thought I’d end up on at least 20 but nope, 18.65. I would have done more if the wind hadn’t been so annoying.
Saw
a guy out running with what I think was a stab vest on .. bit odd. Also
saw a chap leaning on a Range Rover looking through powerful-looking
binoculars. A twitcher I think, but it was certainly quiet enough around
there and he wasn’t doing any harm.
Nice weather yesterday, apart from a moderate breeze from the east. A
while ago while experimenting with the Strava route planner, I devised a
route designed to exploit a Corridor of Relative Flatness running
north-east, parallel to the River Trent. Completely new roads after East
Leake and leading ultimately to Newark.
Wasn’t sure I’d go all the way to Newark, but I took plenty of food and fluids in case I did. A rare opportunity to use my Magnum 1.5 litre bidon. I’m not actually sure why I bought it, since I’d normally just refuel with Lucozade Sport or whatever at a garage or shop on a long trip. But since circumstances dictated a strict no-shop strategy yesterday, it came in useful for a change.
I set off at about 07:45 on the
Cannondale. The new part of the route, ie the 33 miles or so between
East Leake and Newark turned out to be a joy – not extremely flat but
mostly pretty level. Nice scenery, interesting little villages. I used
the eTrex for navigation; I’d never have been able to remember all the
turns otherwise. I’ll definitely do that one again. Perhaps I’ll extend
it to Lincoln next time.
Really uncomfortably cold for the first hour or so despite wearing my camo hijab, a fleece layer and tights. But I had to take them off and stuff them in my backpack in the afternoon, by which time I was a bit too hot.
I
was good and wore a helmet rather than a cap this time, though I did
come to regret it a bit. The trouble with a long ride out east when it’s
sunny is that you get the sun in your eyes both ways.
I
was nearly taken out by a tractor after only 13 miles – he just came
straight out of a farm entrance while I was passing. Fortunately I
managed to swerve out of the way.
Stopped at a bridge over the A46 on the way back – eerily quiet. The B roads weren’t quite so quiet.
I must say, that was a breeze. Even after 80-odd miles I wasn’t really feeling tired. I assume the fun of exploring a new route combined with the sunshine combined to keep my spirits up and guard against fatigue.
I’ve long held the view that you can find pretty much anything you want
on Amazon and certainly, that was reinforced when a pack of two peaked
cap chinstraps came through the post today. No more worrying about the
wind blowing my cap off!
Basically a stretchy cord (actually a
closely coiled metal spring) with a plastic crocodile clip at each end,
to secure to the cap. Fits nicely, comfortable. A bit blowy today, so
quite a timely arrival.
The wind was coming from the east, so I
went over that way – the usual Lincolnshire route. Lovely weather –
sunny and warm. The headwind wasn’t too much of a bother.
More cars around than of late – I wonder if people are starting to disregard the restrictions.
The
original plan was to do about 50, but by the time I’d passed Six Hills
I’d decided 40-odd would be enough, and I’d turn round and put my feet
up a bit earlier. But I decided to take a right and explore a road
signposted to Ragdale for a bit first. I did that until I started to
approach Ragdale, down a steep-ish decline. I decided I didn’t want to
bother pushing back up so I stopped and came back the same way, after
about 23 miles.
Nice run out. The combination of a bit of a
tailwind on the way back and a zippy bike was a bit intoxicating so I
put my foot down a bit and got some PRs, something I wouldn’t normally
bother with. Once again I stopped at my favourite log near Cotes and
doped up on a flapjack for the last 12 miles or so. Definitely makes a
big difference, the 6-mile uphill climb back along Ashby road didn’t
really feel like a slog at all. Of course the aforementioned tailwind
and zippy bicycle were also a factor.
Everyone wants to smile or
wave at the moment; pedestrians in the villages, joggers, other
cyclists. I guess the present difficulties have reinforced a sense of
community.
46.47, 361 this month which is (as it happens) exactly my dynamically calculated target for April.
I
really fancy trying a long (150 mile +) ride again. But I wouldn’t want
to take all my food and drink with me and I can’t really justify going
in shops just to sustain a bike trip.
Another sunny day. Feels like we’re being spoiled at the moment. A lot
cooler though, and it was back on with the tights before I left work
early, at about 3:30. Didn’t have that much time so I did a pretty
standard Twycrosser. Fairly uneventful, but very pleasant. I wore a cap
again. It didn’t actually blow off but I kept thinking it was going to
.. I think I might go on Amazon and look for one with a chin strap. Or
sew one on myself.
Noticed that the phone box at Ratcliffe is
empty at the moment. I assume the dummy that usually lives in there is
being re-clothed, perhaps in some sort of topical virus-themed outfit.
Lovely day – warm but cooler than Friday, sunny, not much wind. I might
have considered doing a long one except that the weather forecast
threatened thunder showers at about 5pm (however I’m writing this after
7:30pm, and they haven’t arrived yet).
I planned a route that would take me up north through Castle Donington, past Melbourne and over Swarkestone Bridge, then west along the long, flat road that runs along the Trent, to Willington or perhaps a little further. Nothing new, nothing fancy.
Really a joy to be pedalling along dry roads in warm sunshine. I can’t get used to it!
I
passed through Willington and had done about 21 miles, then decided to
turn back at the next road junction. I generally look for some sort of
landmark as the end point in case I have to recreate the track due to a
GPS failure. But when I arrived at a right turn, I decided to take it
and explore for a bit. This took me to a village called Etwall where I
stopped at a bench for ten minutes, then came back. I had briefly
considered continuing on into Derby and fashioning an impromptu route
home from there for a bit of an adventure, but I decided against it.
Rather
than come back over Swarkestone Bridge I kept on through Weston, Aston
and Shardlow, before coming home the time-honoured usual way from the
office at Donington.
Really quiet out there again, though I suppose you’d expect that on any Easter Sunday. I stopped on the bridge over the A38 near Willington and didn’t see a single motor vehicle, looking south-east. I thought this was worthy of a photo. However by the time I’d removed and readied the phone, a couple of cars had loomed into view. Rather than wait for the view to clear again, I decided I’d just digitally remove them. And I have.
Decided
to wear a cap today rather than a helmet, to keep my eyes shaded. It
blew off as I was coming through Weston, but I backtracked and found it
again a minute later.
Went out and came back through Coleorton.
This involves a few hundred metres of a busy A511, usually following a
wait for a gap in the river of fast-moving traffic. But today it was
clear and I wasn’t overtaken by a single car or lorry either time.
Saw
a really pretty bird along the road to Willington – small, with
distinctive white, black and grey plumage. A bit of googling suggests a
pied wagtail, “best looked for near water” so that makes sense.
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.
