Using up my final day of Annual Leave, for the financial year, today and so what better way to avoid Coronavirus, than get out in the fresh air on the bike, with
@Rickshaw Phil, to do my half century challenge ride.
We decided to do a similar route to the one we did together, before Christmas, but in a reverse direction and some new territory, for me, on the section we changed.
Phil cycled over to mine and we set out, getting all of about 2 feet until I realised I’d left my water bottle behind. Quick dart back to get it and then take 2!
We followed, mostly, cycle paths up to Sundorne and then took the tarmac section of the old canal path, out on the road to Uffington and Upton Magna. I almost turned the wrong way there, but Phil reminded me we were going left, down through Withington, to Walcot.
The Met office suggested fairly light winds, getting lighter through the day, but they seemed strong enough to us, as we turned into it for a good 15 miles or so! After Walcot we followed my new territory towards Uppington and Eaton Constantine. There was low flying helicopter, along this section, inspecting the power lines. That must be a cool job!
We descended to Cressage, pausing to look at the flooding, which is still quite impressive, despite the fact the river is a couple of metres lower now.
The road surface was pretty horrific around there and that was a pattern for most of the ride. Not just potholes but blooming great big craters!
There was short uphill section on the busy A458, with an impatient driver behind us who wanted to squeeze past us with an undertake, as we turned right. It was hard going on the lanes, past Raby estate and onwards to Hughley, due to the wind and so we stopped for lunch at Church Preen, where it duly poured with rain and a few hailstones, for a couple of minutes. It had been drizzling on and off for a fair bit of the ride and I’d donned the waterproof, which was perhaps a bit of overkill.
As we set off, the signpost said 4&1/2 miles to Cardington, which was our planned pub stop and that kept us going along the virtually all uphill section into the wind. The sun had come out though and so we were able to sit outside and enjoy it, and it was even warmish sheltered from the wind. A very enjoyable pint (and naughtily another half) of Clun Pale Ale was consumed.
Anyone spot the difference with
@Rickshaw Phil since our rides in Cumbria? I didn’t until he pointed it out!!
The legs were stiff, as we set out again, straight onto the long pull up to the top of the bank with about 5 names, I call it Bufton’s bank, but it leads to the fabulous descent down the “corkscrew” where I set my fastest section time on Strava, hitting 32.4mph.
The wind was behind us, finally, as we continued on to Longnor, Frodesley, Acton Burnell and Pitchford. The only downside being that the road was a constant stream of traffic, which was going too fast and overtaking on blind corners, avoiding roadworks on the nearby A49.
We arrived back at mine, with 42.6 miles on the clock, for me, having thoroughly enjoyed my day off
