Yesterday's ride was another of my jaunts to Lincoln to explore new roads with the company of
@Supersuperleeds and
@13 rider. In addition, the route that was planned was extended to try and take in my first 200km ride. I woke up not feeling 100% but decided to press on and see how I went.
Left home about 7ish and after popping back for some overshoes, met up with
@Supersuperleeds and
@13 rider in Stanford Upon Soar. A detour up Stanford Hill and the Butt Lane climb to get a couple of Veloviewer squares for
@Supersuperleeds through West Leake was followed by the road to Wysall, Widmerpool, over the A47 and down through Kinoulton. All of this for me was a standard "Nice Pies" route. After this, we headed north occasionally riding on the old A47/Fosse Way until we plunged down over the Trent at Gunthorpe. This was perhaps the worst bit of the ride on poor roads with lots of traffic.
We turned off the A-road and passed through Lowdham, Hungarton, Bleasby and Fiskerton before we reached Southwell. Another bit of A-road followed until we reached the Ice Cream Parlour at Manor Farm, 50miles completed. Bacon and sausages followed in differing quantities for what was a really nice coffee stop. I had to spend a good ten minutes cleaning my rear rims which were properly gunked up and rubbing a little on the breaks. Amazing how much builds up so quickly in the rain!
From the cafe stop, we headed to the Trent and followed it and the A1 north for a few miles making a couple of detours along questionable road surfaces with the intent of ticking off some difficult Veloviewer squares.
@13 rider left us to it for some of them, mainly the one for which road was too strong a word! We came to the crossing of the Trent at Dunham and the prospect of some new roads for me. Most of the roads before this were ones I've ridden a fair bit before so whilst they were nice, 70miles of familiar roads isn't the aim of these trips! We headed north and then across to Scampton, climbing up the steep side of the cliff and taking in a bit of Ermine Street. By this time, I was starting to feel fairly iffy, dehydrated regardless of what I drank and low in energy. This perhaps came to a point where I lost the wheel of those in front on the A15 and couldn't catch up at all in the strong headwind. We regrouped at the entrance to RAF Scampton to admire the Gate Guardian - possibly the only one I've seen fly! As an aside, checking my phone and seeing Australia had made 277/9 cheered me up!
From Scampton, we headed to the old RAF airfield at Wickenby for what would be the last cafe stop of the ride. The last 5-6 miles of this were horrendous for me as I was struggling to stay upright and crazily dehydrated. Both
@Supersuperleeds and
@13 rider said I looked drained when we stopped. A long cafe stop followed until I had some proper rest and lots of food/drink. We evaluated the end of the route as we all had at least 100miles on the board and it was only 10 miles to Lincoln. It was left to me and I made the decision to carry on at least as far as Bardney as I'd have the Water Rail Way if needed. My lack of energy/strength really showed at this point as I literally couldn't add energy to get over small bumps in the road and would be dropped every time. It was really frustrating so thought the plains west of Bardney wouldn't be a good idea and headed along the Water Rail Way to get back. Reached Lincoln at 123 miles so after a bit of riding up and down a road and round the station car park, raised 125 miles. Satisfied but exhausted. Possibly the most tired I've been on a bike (maybe save my first ton). I wouldn't have made it without those around me keeping me going so thanks to them.
