2 rides to catch up on
Wednesday,
A very muggy and warm evening, but with a keen wind from the West, as I set out for my regular loop to Dad’s. It was a crosswind as I headed through Hook a Gate and Annscroft, traffic exceptionally well behaved on what is a busy road at that time of night.
The Union Jack flag, at Annscroft, confirmed I would have a lovely tailwind to Stapleton, via Exfords Green and so I decided to put a proper effort in on the Strava segment along there, to see if I could get a PR. Knocked 10 seconds off it and so I was happy with that.
Called in on Dad for half an hour and then had more tailwinds to Gonsal, didn’t even have to stop to cross the A49 this time, Condover and King St. On the Betton road I became aware of a chap on a bike behind, who’d caught me up slowly. I’d seen him in the distance as I’d pulled out onto that road. I expected him to come past, but he seemed content on sitting behind me into the wind again, as far as where I branched off for home.
Really enjoyed that, with 14.88 miles at 13.7mph avg.
Thursday,
Another sunny and blustery evening, but the wind direction had changed to the North and it was much fresher and cooler than last night.
I decided on a loop around Shrewsbury, starting off through Sutton Farm, Reabrook and along the cycle paths to Heathgates. I reeled in a lad on a bike, along there, but he spotted me and then decided to speed up, constantly looking behind to see if I was going to overtake. I wasn’t really up for racing along there, so I just kept a decent gap and let him have his fun 😆
I then went down through Castlefields, not particularly enjoying the smell of weed being smoked, which about sums up that estate. It was busy along Sydney Avenue, with people enjoying the sunshine, some in the River, some fishing in it and some groups just stood looking at it.
The towpath alongside the Severn wasn’t as busy as I feared it might be, plenty of cyclists about though, including what seemed like an organised group of tandems, which you don’t see often.
The Quarry was quite busy and there are lots of the marquees now in place, plus seats in the arena being set up, ready for the Flower Show that starts a week tomorrow. I walked the bike over Porthill Bridge and then climbed up and out onto Roman Rd. I decided to stay on it and then enjoy the wind behind me down through Gains Park and the new estate at Bowbrook, setting a couple more Strava segments PR’s.
I followed another rider along Mousecroft lane, but he was too fast for me to catch up and then branched off through Nobold, Meole Village and home.
13.95 miles at 12.9mph avg
