gavgav
Legendary Member
Well that was a bonus (I think?!) as I got out for a ride and out of sheer stubbornness I got my 50k ride for the month in, which i was beginning to think I may not do. Only 1 more month to do and I will have completed the challenge 
.
Fitted a new saddle this morning (Selle San Marco) which I had got from a well known retailer, due to it being £29.99 instead of £64.99. I have had a few trials of different saddles and none have been great, but the Specialized that I have been using recently has been bearable, just! This was my final attempt at a new one, and it gets good reviews regarding comfort........more on that later.
The weather wasn't as bad as forecast, well the rain wasn't at least, but it was very windy as I set out on a route that would be mainly flat and had a number of points where I could shorten the ride to whatever I wanted. Really mild out again at 15c as well.
Took the cycle paths up to Heathgates and then along Whitchurch Rd, through the estate, down the old Canal Path and out to Uffington and Upton Magna. From there I climbed up East Haughmond and then dropped down to Haughton and then climbed up Ebury Hill. The wind (MET office states 28mph sustained speed with 41mph gusts!!) had been behind me so far and I had literally flown along, for me, averaging almost 14mph. As I dropped down the other side of Ebury Hill it was coming from my left and boy did I have to fight it, especially as I went past gateways and it was a bit scary to be honest
.
I turned towards Bings Heath and Poynton, before arriving at Roden. Short stretch on the main road before a flooded section to Rodington, which washed some of the mud off from the lanes. At Rodington I turned into the wind for a short section and realised just how strong it was!! I passed a chap walking and he remarked that "it's a bit bracing out here" and that was putting it mildly.
I had the choice of taking the short route home, here, but was determined to get my 50k in and so continued on to Longdon on Tern, where it was good to see the Tayleur Arms trading again. The pub was burnt to the ground in a fire around 18 months ago, but has been rebuilt and I must give it a try soon. A quick section on the busier road before turning into the wind for the remaining 13 miles of the ride (seriously hard work), through Isombridge, Withington, Upton Magna again and re-tracing my steps, mostly, back home, with a couple of deviations such as following the whole of the muddy old canal path, instead of going through the estate.
Thoughts on the saddle..............absolutely HATED it!! I think if i'd sat on the metal seat post instead it wouldn't have been much more painful. It felt hard when I sat on it, but for 10 miles was ok, after then it got more and more painful, until I almost couldn't sit on it at all by the end
. It will be coming straight off the bike and I will be sticking to the Specialized from now onwards and selling this one!
33.1 miles of being blown all over the place!
.Fitted a new saddle this morning (Selle San Marco) which I had got from a well known retailer, due to it being £29.99 instead of £64.99. I have had a few trials of different saddles and none have been great, but the Specialized that I have been using recently has been bearable, just! This was my final attempt at a new one, and it gets good reviews regarding comfort........more on that later.
The weather wasn't as bad as forecast, well the rain wasn't at least, but it was very windy as I set out on a route that would be mainly flat and had a number of points where I could shorten the ride to whatever I wanted. Really mild out again at 15c as well.
Took the cycle paths up to Heathgates and then along Whitchurch Rd, through the estate, down the old Canal Path and out to Uffington and Upton Magna. From there I climbed up East Haughmond and then dropped down to Haughton and then climbed up Ebury Hill. The wind (MET office states 28mph sustained speed with 41mph gusts!!) had been behind me so far and I had literally flown along, for me, averaging almost 14mph. As I dropped down the other side of Ebury Hill it was coming from my left and boy did I have to fight it, especially as I went past gateways and it was a bit scary to be honest
.I turned towards Bings Heath and Poynton, before arriving at Roden. Short stretch on the main road before a flooded section to Rodington, which washed some of the mud off from the lanes. At Rodington I turned into the wind for a short section and realised just how strong it was!! I passed a chap walking and he remarked that "it's a bit bracing out here" and that was putting it mildly.
I had the choice of taking the short route home, here, but was determined to get my 50k in and so continued on to Longdon on Tern, where it was good to see the Tayleur Arms trading again. The pub was burnt to the ground in a fire around 18 months ago, but has been rebuilt and I must give it a try soon. A quick section on the busier road before turning into the wind for the remaining 13 miles of the ride (seriously hard work), through Isombridge, Withington, Upton Magna again and re-tracing my steps, mostly, back home, with a couple of deviations such as following the whole of the muddy old canal path, instead of going through the estate.
Thoughts on the saddle..............absolutely HATED it!! I think if i'd sat on the metal seat post instead it wouldn't have been much more painful. It felt hard when I sat on it, but for 10 miles was ok, after then it got more and more painful, until I almost couldn't sit on it at all by the end
. It will be coming straight off the bike and I will be sticking to the Specialized from now onwards and selling this one!33.1 miles of being blown all over the place!
