SatNavSaysStraightOn
Changed hemispheres!
- Location
- ɐᴉlɐɹʇsn∀ 'ɐɹɹǝquɐƆ
95km on operation veg lasagne. I have a 90 year old grandfather and a handed down recipe from my (late) grandmother, so today was over to my grandfather's to purchase the ingredients and make him one of her veg lasagnes.
It started well - and after yesterdays mtb ride along the Whitegate Way, I knew that it was hard enough and dry enough for me to use on the road bike today, but you don't half get odd looks from people going along a hardcore converted railway track on a road bike... then onto roads and a weaving and windy route through the country lanes in beautiful sunshine, but a nasty headwind had me sitting on a motorway bridge (those crash barriers are so very useful when you have panniers on your bike) in the middle of an unknown to me strava section -
a 10 minute stop earned me last place! then it was up and over Halmer End and Alsagers Bank. Still hate that climb even after 2 weeks in Scotland and my time today was slower than last time I went over to my grandfathers - I blame that bitterly cold easterly wind.... a quick descent off the climb and a stop at a certain shop for pick up some High Lane Oatcakes & eggs (lunch) before arriving at my Grandfathers. Lunch, operation veg lasagne and then around 4pm a return home. Same route back, but it didn't have confuse the garmin edge 200 me trying to follow the outward bound route backwards... (note to self to make 2 courses next time!) Alsagers Bank is much easier on the return direction - strava shows that with 2 QOM's in that direction 
... and a quiet wander back through the country lanes - single track mostly until the dreaded section of the A530... I have to do about 1/3rd of a mile on it, but hitting in the Friday evening rush hour was not a great move.... (2nd note to self - plan next operation veg lasagne on a different day of the week!)... anyhow - rounded the day off with a nice run back along the Whitegate Way confusing the h*** out of the mtber's who really can't get their heads around someone doing it on a road bike, but the truth is that right now, it is dry enough and smoother than at least half the roads I have cycled today... only the 6 strava cups on the way home... http://app.strava.com/activities/47357890, 7 on the way out. http://app.strava.com/activities/47357895 and a Grandfather that now has at least 10 portions of veg lasagne to freeze and see him through the next few weeks. Exhausted now.... Oh and why was it an easterly wind going out, and a westerly coming home - both times a head wind!
It started well - and after yesterdays mtb ride along the Whitegate Way, I knew that it was hard enough and dry enough for me to use on the road bike today, but you don't half get odd looks from people going along a hardcore converted railway track on a road bike... then onto roads and a weaving and windy route through the country lanes in beautiful sunshine, but a nasty headwind had me sitting on a motorway bridge (those crash barriers are so very useful when you have panniers on your bike) in the middle of an unknown to me strava section -
a 10 minute stop earned me last place! then it was up and over Halmer End and Alsagers Bank. Still hate that climb even after 2 weeks in Scotland and my time today was slower than last time I went over to my grandfathers - I blame that bitterly cold easterly wind.... a quick descent off the climb and a stop at a certain shop for pick up some High Lane Oatcakes & eggs (lunch) before arriving at my Grandfathers. Lunch, operation veg lasagne and then around 4pm a return home. Same route back, but it didn't have confuse the garmin edge 200 me trying to follow the outward bound route backwards... (note to self to make 2 courses next time!) Alsagers Bank is much easier on the return direction - strava shows that with 2 QOM's in that direction ... and a quiet wander back through the country lanes - single track mostly until the dreaded section of the A530... I have to do about 1/3rd of a mile on it, but hitting in the Friday evening rush hour was not a great move.... (2nd note to self - plan next operation veg lasagne on a different day of the week!)... anyhow - rounded the day off with a nice run back along the Whitegate Way confusing the h*** out of the mtber's who really can't get their heads around someone doing it on a road bike, but the truth is that right now, it is dry enough and smoother than at least half the roads I have cycled today... only the 6 strava cups on the way home... http://app.strava.com/activities/47357890, 7 on the way out. http://app.strava.com/activities/47357895 and a Grandfather that now has at least 10 portions of veg lasagne to freeze and see him through the next few weeks. Exhausted now.... Oh and why was it an easterly wind going out, and a westerly coming home - both times a head wind!
and the wind not howling.
Now sitting down to home made leek and potato soup
. Most eventful part of the ride took place as I rode at around 11 mph through Withington and a chap just stepped out directly in front of me, looking in the other direction to chat to a bloke in a van on the other side of the road 
. Luckily I had one of those sixth sense moments and something told me he was going to do it and so I braked and swerved to avoid him...........just!! The look of horror on his face as I just missed him was followed by a "ooo sorry mate". 
After a long long winter with the usual loss of fitness, finished work, saw plenty of cyclists as I drove home...so its a shame not to get out there 
