It's another new month (where is this year going?) so I went out to get my August Imperial Century in.
With the forecast showing a southerly wind strengthening through the day it made sense to head south first and have a bit of assistance when I turned north again so I had my usual earlyish start and headed out to do the reverse of the Ludlow route from last time.
It was a bit damp and overcast out but the light wind made it easy going to start with. I headed over Lyth Hill to Condover then through Pitchford to Acton Burnell as going this way adds about 4 miles compared to going more directly. Next was the climb up Folly Bank and over to Cardington before descending into Wall and taking the lanes to climb over Wenlock Edge.
Wenlock Edge is generally steeper to climb from the north so I took it easy in a low gear to try and keep the legs as fresh as possible then rewarded myself at the top with my second breakfast.
Seifton Batch followed then I was on my way to Ludlow which was as quiet as you'd expect for a sunday morning. There is a market on though which aready had a few people browsing.
Next up was my third serious climb of the day through the Mortimer Forest. From this side the climb is longer but less steep (with the exception of the first bit out of Ludlow) and I was able to catch and pass another rider. I decided not to take the direct route to Leintwardine but to explore the lanes through Elton and Leinthall Starkes (pretty little villages).
Turning north I could feel the wind helping me along, which was just as well as I went for another exploration to Clungunford and found it's quite a lumpy bit of road to get there (9mph up the hill and 30 mph down the other side
)
A gateway with a view did for an elevenses stop and then it was onwards to Purslow, Kempton, Lydbury North and Bishop's Castle. The road to Montgomery was fantastic going in this directiion and the bike seemed to just fly along. I may have been doing this route all wrong previously, although it's not that often we get a southerly wind here.
I had a lunch stop in Montgomery then enjoyed a fast (for me) ride up the valley to Westburyn Halfway House and Melverley. The wind assistance had to end eventually and it did when turning east after Melverley. I was feeling it in the legs as well by this point so was getting a bit slow on the climbs.
I could have just headed straight home after Great Ness but despite being tired wanted to get a good mileage in si I did a loop round the north of Shrewsbury viaYeaton, Walford Heath, Hadnall, Astley and Upton Magna. I was struggling a bit at this point, especially as I was riding into a strong headwind as I turned towards the south, but breaking open the jelly babies around the 95 mile mark helped and I'd perked up a bit by Upton Magna.
The final section was on very familiar roads as it's one of my regular commuting routes. I cut the corner to avoid going into Condover again and had the wind behind me for the last couple of miles which made this bit surprisingly swift.
A great ride with a little bit of wildlife en-route (a hare and a red kite). I may not be moving about much later on.
114.2 miles at 13.6 mph average. A new second longest ride and possibly my quickest century to date (I'll have to check what I managed previously).
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Crossing Lyth Hill at the start of the ride.
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Looking back towards Cardington and whats visible of the Stretton Hills, which look very moody this morning.
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One of the farms after Wall
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Ludlow
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"Clunton and Clunbury,
Clungunford and Clun,
Are the quiestest places,
Under the sun"
So says A.E. Housman. The photo is the well known Rocke Cottage tea rooms just outside Clungunford.
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Bishop's Castle
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No problem with my lunch stop at Montgomery this time.
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Much later in the ride: looking at the Wrekin from Haughmond Hill.