- Location
- Shrewsbury, Shropshire
A bit of utility riding this morning where I covered 8.1 miles at 12.5 mph and found that I was overdressed by the time I was heading for home.
After lunch I got out again for something a bit longer. Getting the Raleigh out was tempting but the knockabout bike was handy, having already been used, so I went out on that just for convenience. The route was clockwise round my Harnage-Acton Burnell-Longnor loop.
The wind had picked up since the morning so I had a cracking start to the ride; out of the village at an easy 26 mph then cruising at around 20 on the way to Condover.
Changing direction onto Lyons Lane was quite the contrast though once I got out of the shelter of the wood by Condover Hall. I picked up the tailwind again on the way to Berrington and got scooted along a quiet A458 at over 20mph, and the speed stayed fairly high as far as Cound (the St. Andrew's Saltire was flag of the day). I still enjoyed the benefit of the wind on the climb to Harnage - not fast but easier on the legs than usual. Changing direction to head for Cound Moor it didn't seem too bad to ride against as I dropped down the gears and didn't try to push for speed. There was one climb that was a bit of a pig though.
It was more of a crosswind through Acton Burnell to Longnor then I had to turn into it for the run back to home. This stretch is slightly down hill most of the way which helped offset the effort needed. The flood on the way to Ryton is still there and on reaching it I could see another cyclist at the other end sizing it up, so he was pleased when I rode through first and he knew he could make it without getting too wet.
A rider had followed me through the water and went ahead of me - to start with I was keeping pace without too much effort, but when gradient and wind became unfavourable on the approach to Ryton the merits of his lighter, sportier bike shone through. After getting held up by a van I didn't see him again. Reaching Condover I thought I'd go over Lyth Hill rather than continuing to battle into the wind then took a meandering route in the last couple of miles which rounded the distance up nicely.
25.1 miles at 13.3 mph average. A few other riders out enjoying the sunshine including a couple on a tandem.
The view across Venus Pool near Cound Stank.
A bit of blackthorn flowering.
The Lawley and Caer Caradoc looking nice in the sunshine. Hopefully there will be plenty of that this spring and summer.
More of the daffs in bloom now at the turning for Longnor.
After lunch I got out again for something a bit longer. Getting the Raleigh out was tempting but the knockabout bike was handy, having already been used, so I went out on that just for convenience. The route was clockwise round my Harnage-Acton Burnell-Longnor loop.
The wind had picked up since the morning so I had a cracking start to the ride; out of the village at an easy 26 mph then cruising at around 20 on the way to Condover.
Changing direction onto Lyons Lane was quite the contrast though once I got out of the shelter of the wood by Condover Hall. I picked up the tailwind again on the way to Berrington and got scooted along a quiet A458 at over 20mph, and the speed stayed fairly high as far as Cound (the St. Andrew's Saltire was flag of the day). I still enjoyed the benefit of the wind on the climb to Harnage - not fast but easier on the legs than usual. Changing direction to head for Cound Moor it didn't seem too bad to ride against as I dropped down the gears and didn't try to push for speed. There was one climb that was a bit of a pig though.It was more of a crosswind through Acton Burnell to Longnor then I had to turn into it for the run back to home. This stretch is slightly down hill most of the way which helped offset the effort needed. The flood on the way to Ryton is still there and on reaching it I could see another cyclist at the other end sizing it up, so he was pleased when I rode through first and he knew he could make it without getting too wet.
A rider had followed me through the water and went ahead of me - to start with I was keeping pace without too much effort, but when gradient and wind became unfavourable on the approach to Ryton the merits of his lighter, sportier bike shone through. After getting held up by a van I didn't see him again. Reaching Condover I thought I'd go over Lyth Hill rather than continuing to battle into the wind then took a meandering route in the last couple of miles which rounded the distance up nicely.
25.1 miles at 13.3 mph average. A few other riders out enjoying the sunshine including a couple on a tandem.
The view across Venus Pool near Cound Stank.
A bit of blackthorn flowering.
The Lawley and Caer Caradoc looking nice in the sunshine. Hopefully there will be plenty of that this spring and summer.
More of the daffs in bloom now at the turning for Longnor.
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