After a couple of difficult days at work I was in agony this morning and my mindset really wasn't where I want it to be. Decided a short ride would help. Ended up doing just over 20 miles which wasn't too bad considering a mile in I was struggling with the pain.
It was a reminder of why I'm still fighting and with only 5 weeks until judgement day I need to focus on this goal now even if it means making some sacrifices.
After a week of driving either a car on the motorway or my desk at home, I knocked off early this afternoon for a ride. It was 3pm but already the shadows were lengthening and temperature dropping. I went off to play a bit in the 'badlands' area I tend to favour for the MTB and realised that despite a thermal layer and a long-sleeved jersey, it was bloody nippy! Going faster just seemed to increase the wind chill, so decided to take it easy, explore a bit, and take a couple of pics.
Saw a large troop of roos but they were too far away and too determined to increase the distance so by the time I had the phone out, they were gone. There was a new track opened up by logging trucks, which added a bit of variety to the route, if not anything particularly picturesque.
While hacking about among the remaining trees, I noticed a game camera and solar panel rather ostentatiously positioned on one of them. Probably gets some pretty good shots of the local roos -- and the odd mountain biker.
By this time my toes were feeling pretty numb, so turned for home. On the road across the hill I saw a fox in the distance, seeming reluctant to skedaddle into the bushes like they usually do. As I got closer it did leap into the long grass, from which it watched me approach. It had been dragging a big hunk of flesh -- looked like the hindquarter of a wallaby or similar -- across the road, hence its reluctance to run. I do hope it goes back for its dinner now I'm out of the way.
And so home, chilly and muddy. 22km, 267m climbing. Garmin says the temp was 9C but I'm willing to bet it was closer to 2 or 3.
Wednesday evening away for work after work ride. I can't miss the opportunity to bang out some miles on the flat; a real luxury! I made it to Dawlish in record time for a disappointing chippy tea. The ride back was wind assisted so I was in the big gear for long stretches. By the end I was nicely crimsom and very sweaty; a turbo trainer session outside of the garage
The route was:
Nailsea,
Festival Way to Flax Bourton,
Barrow court lane (Bristol airport direction) this is where I was unsure the loop would work out as it goes through a field & in to the top of Bourton combe. The gatorskins just about did the job though & it's a nice bit of road / bridleway.
Then down through Backwell & back to Nailsea
The route was:
Nailsea,
Festival Way to Flax Bourton,
Barrow court lane (Bristol airport direction) this is where I was unsure the loop would work out as it goes through a field & in to the top of Bourton combe. The gatorskins just about did the job though & it's a nice bit of road / bridleway.
Then down through Backwell & back to Nailsea
Final day of so-called week off and thought I'd take the train to Edale for a trip out. Absolutely beautiful part of the country and a chance to test the Lightning;
I had a great day but taking a 90's hardtail down Jacob's Ladder on 1.95's is definitely taking a knife to a sword fight
Fairplay anyone who got out in todays heat! Risked it earlier, got 20 mins in and had already went through a 750ml bottle - 25c and humid headwinds are not a good combo. 4:45AM alarm for tomorrow, hopefully get some good miles in although it's meant to be 20c at 6am!