Last weeks Imperial ton ride was postponed due to ice and the promise of better weather this week the forecast slowly changed to
.
@Supersuperleeds had plotted a route to enable 4 people starting in different locations with different targets to get them done . First
@Lilliburlero dropped out due to family commitments shall we replan . Took the easier option of sticking to plan A. Up this morning checked weather app 100% chance of rain at 0700 I will get wet then . The route was a few miles short for me so an extended route to the meeting point at Market Bosworth ,Anstey ,Groby ,Ratby ,Kirby Muxloe ,Newbold Vernon and a loop round the town and I have enough miles in .
@Supersuperleeds was waiting after a quick fettle of my front guard were on our way . The rain was light but persistent. Working our way to Tamworth we went through the strangely named Norta-juxta Twycross a good Scrabble score . On to Polesworth where
@Supersuperleeds Strava planned route had us heading down a canal towpath , not today so sticking to roads we navigated through Tamworth somehow . A long up and down rolling road got us to a furthest point from home . Turned for home hoping for a bit of tailwind . A call of nature break at 50 miles had me and
@Supersuperleeds changed into are perfect planned spare glooves absolute bliss
. The rain had stopped now heading back on to familiar roads . We very slowly reeled in a bunch of 4 club riders hoping to draft them up a long drag the rearmost rider waved us past and as we hit the climb they slowed so we dropped them
surprising easily . Another Strava navigation wobble sending down a bridle path
Luckily we knew where we were and plotted round it all adding extra miles. At 65 miles we had a climb into Ibstock and my legs sort of exploded as I dragged myself up .It's going to be a struggle now then . Stopped at the Ibstock sign for a photo for the ABC challenge to see a text from
@tallliman who was do to meet in a few miles but couldn't make hed been called into work . So now we could miss the tangent part of the ride to Nice Pie but that would leave both of us short . So after a few miles contemplating different routes . We decided to stick to the original plan . Everytime the road went up I struggled despite me supposedly being the climber of the group . The climb through Stanton under Barden was a slow grind . At bit of respite with the descent down Beacon hill. Into Barrow and the climb of Paudy lane a steep start the a gentle climb of 4 miles in total not what you want on empty legs
@Supersuperleeds doing his best to pace me up . Just about had enough miles in and thought about sacking of the cake stop . But stubborn me decide to carry on and we were soon there thankfully
. My normal order of beans on toast was off the menu
so cheese sandwiches it was. A very welcome break . Soon back out into what we knew would be a headwind .
@Supersuperleeds in full domestique mode sitting in the front . Into Seagrave, Sileby, Cossington and Rothley were we parted company leaving me 5 miles on my own having already past the ton all the diversions had added a few miles on. A slow drag up out of Rothley and one more climb just before home 107 miles in the bag and just the 5351ft of upness in just over 7 hours . I think we had 3 hours of rain and a troublesome wind for all 7 hours.
@Supersuperleeds putting in 112 miles despite me looking like I would do the most but thats
@Supersuperleeds for you . Thanks to him for today he did more than his fair share of work and getting me round if I been on my own I would have bailed apologies if me not being that chatty but as I put in the ride I was proper f*_"+£d .
I said yes but could I have 20 minutes to finish my lunch and get the bike out again, so 20 minutes later C and I were headed the short distance to where the work was to take place and racing the delivery lorry to get there. We won.
