Today was the day for my metric century attempt, and for once I actually had a route planned, and loaded onto the Garmin. Now I've not had a lot of luck using my Edge 800 to navigate, but I must have pressed the right button today as it was giving me turn by turn directions and a readable map, all I need to do now is remember what button it was!
For some time now I'd been intending to ride out to Velolife, a café/cycle workshop out Maidenhead way, but been struggling to overcome the psychological barrier of being 30 miles or so from home on me tod. Today dawned bright and chilly, so with phone, money and Soreen in pocket I headed out at just before half past 8.
Not knowing what the traffic would be like, I headed straight to Windsor Great Park and did a lap to make sure I wasn't on the unknown roads until after 9, hoping to miss the traffic. Turned out to be really quiet, and I settled into a nice pace along Drift Road, crossing over the M4 and heading towards White Waltham. I knew I was close when I spotted a light aircraft overhead, and after crossing the A4 I found myself on cracking country lanes all the way to Velolife. Not normally one to stop for sustenance (tight arse basically), I gave in and grabbed a coffee and rather large chunk of chocolate cake. The cake made itself known as I left the café into a brief uphill, before heading towards Crazies Hill. Here it became apparent that I should have used streetview to check my route, as the downhill section on Highfield Road was 6" deep in mud, so stuck to the tyre tracks. A mountain bike would have been better here..
Tracked back along Drift Road, by now my speed/cadence had stopped working, a brief pause to fiddle gave no joy so probably a flat battery. Coming straight home would have given me the 100km, but I fancied extending to beat my previous best of 65.9 miles, so ended up adding a bit to Lightwater.
Home on 70.8 miles. Decided I need to change the saddle on the Roubaix, sore bum bones!!