After the success of my first 100k just over a week ago I wanted to get out and do another big ride. Browsing my OS maps I realised that if I linked together a couple of regular routes and a bit of the route from the 62 mile ride it would be somewhere around 70 miles.
So, being free today I decided to give it a go.
Unfortunately the sun was hiding away today and the wind was surprisingly
for June (less than 12c when I started out) so a fleece was required.
The route started out heading to Cardington (via Condover, Ryton & Longnor). Just past Gretton a Red Kite took off from a tree at the side of the road and soared away across the fields. A magnificent sight but I wasn't quick enough to get a photo.
After Cardington I headed up to Cressage then Wroxeter and Upton Magna. I'd planned to have my lunch at Wroxeter, overlooking the Roman ruins but they had 2 coachloads of school kids going round the site which was a bit off putting, so I went a bit further up the road.
Upton Magna to Shawbury was a tough bit. Even though I'd only done about 35 miles my legs started to ache on this section and I started to struggle
. Stubbornness kicked in and I carried on anyway.
Shawbury to Great Ness was difficult too. As everyone knows, North Shropshire is flat..... except for the bit between Preston Brockhurst and Baschurch. There were some really long downhill sections though riding this way round which compensated a bit.
After Great Ness the going was easier. It's down hill or really flat between here and Crew Green which was a big help to my now flagging legs. Unfortunately after this though it got hilly again on the way to Westbury. I was overtaken by another cyclist, who then didn't pull away so I ended up following him for a good couple of miles. He must have known I was still there but didn't look round once. (Bet he didn't have 60+ miles under his belt
.)
Finally the home leg via Shorthill, Exfords Green and over Lyth Hill. At Shorthill I caught up with a lad doing a paper round who failed to make it up the titular short hill on his (decent) mountain bike with a rusty chain. I felt smug and sorry for him at the same time.
It was really nice to have a saddle comfortable enough to do this distance. The Brooks is bedding in nicely, except I feel I'm sat a teeny bit too far forwards. Comparing the seat post with the one on the knockabout bike, the clamp is further forward on this bike. I shall get another post and see if that solves the problem.
The final tally was 75.22 miles at 12.8 mph average. Happy with that.
A contented bullock at Folly Bank.
Drink stop at Cressage
Moreton Corbet Castle near Shawbury. Considering the place was abandoned about 200 years ago I don't think the condition is that bad.
Cae Howel on the way to Melverley. The farmer seems quite patriotic.
About to cross the border into Wales.
The 60 mile mark coincided almost exactly with crossing back into England. A good point for a cake stop I thought.
