Aravis
Putrid Donut
- Location
- Gloucester
The Met Office website has today's temperature peaking at 28°C in nearby Hereford. Today was my last opportunity for a decent ride in the next couple of weeks. I promise this is going to end well.
I set off southwards just before 9am. I'd been expecting to reach the Severn Bridge without serious effort, but the wind was stronger than I'd expected and I ended up feeling I'd worked quite hard. The westbound carriageway on the M48 was closed for maintenance - had both lanes been closed it would have been spookily quiet out there. I have ridden across when it's been closed to all traffic because of high winds, but that's another story.
The B-road from Chepstow to Usk is an absolute classic. I'm sure many know it. As a bonus, there's recently been some tree felling below the bend near the top on the Usk side, which has enhanced the views enormously, especially for those coming up. After passing through Usk I joined the old A40 for the run back to Monmouth, another fine cycling road and a generous bequest to the cycling community following the building of the dual carriageway. Its a pity there's a gap of a few miles east of Monmouth. There was a time when I used to ride along the dual carriageway without a moment's thought.
From Monmouth I headed up through Rockfield and over the hills to Skenfrith. This was a familiar route when I used to head out from Bristol, but I'd almost completely forgotten it. With over 70 miles behind me and in extreme heat my resolve threatened to drain through my bottom bracket, but the thought that turning back would be so obvious on my GPS track was enough to keep me going.
By the castle in Skenfrith there is a natural pool in the river Monnow, which today was very popular. More sensible than cycling, I cannot deny. That image, more than any other, encapsulated the day, but should I photograph an anonymous collection of people bathing and post them on the internet? I hesitated, and the moment was past.
There's another long hill after Skenfrith, at the top there is a garage at which I was able to re-water, dealing with that particular anxiety. The hills continued for another 15 miles or so before the final gentle run back to Gloucester.
It felt like a really tough day, more than the total of 109 miles would suggest. That was previously a virgin number amongst my GPS-recorded rides, and yes, I did consciously plan it that way.
The last time I looked, tomorrow was supposed to be warmer and stiller, so be careful everyone. I'll be putting my feet up.
I set off southwards just before 9am. I'd been expecting to reach the Severn Bridge without serious effort, but the wind was stronger than I'd expected and I ended up feeling I'd worked quite hard. The westbound carriageway on the M48 was closed for maintenance - had both lanes been closed it would have been spookily quiet out there. I have ridden across when it's been closed to all traffic because of high winds, but that's another story.
The B-road from Chepstow to Usk is an absolute classic. I'm sure many know it. As a bonus, there's recently been some tree felling below the bend near the top on the Usk side, which has enhanced the views enormously, especially for those coming up. After passing through Usk I joined the old A40 for the run back to Monmouth, another fine cycling road and a generous bequest to the cycling community following the building of the dual carriageway. Its a pity there's a gap of a few miles east of Monmouth. There was a time when I used to ride along the dual carriageway without a moment's thought.
From Monmouth I headed up through Rockfield and over the hills to Skenfrith. This was a familiar route when I used to head out from Bristol, but I'd almost completely forgotten it. With over 70 miles behind me and in extreme heat my resolve threatened to drain through my bottom bracket, but the thought that turning back would be so obvious on my GPS track was enough to keep me going.
By the castle in Skenfrith there is a natural pool in the river Monnow, which today was very popular. More sensible than cycling, I cannot deny. That image, more than any other, encapsulated the day, but should I photograph an anonymous collection of people bathing and post them on the internet? I hesitated, and the moment was past.
There's another long hill after Skenfrith, at the top there is a garage at which I was able to re-water, dealing with that particular anxiety. The hills continued for another 15 miles or so before the final gentle run back to Gloucester.
It felt like a really tough day, more than the total of 109 miles would suggest. That was previously a virgin number amongst my GPS-recorded rides, and yes, I did consciously plan it that way.
The last time I looked, tomorrow was supposed to be warmer and stiller, so be careful everyone. I'll be putting my feet up.
No way I was going out late today, can't manage the heat. Out the door at 0640hrs, and headed out towards Hampton Court, knowing traffic would be light and not too many club runs out this early, though I saw a fair few cyclists after 0730 so I guess a few out there with the same idea. A balmy 18 degrees when I left home and after checking my Eddington score I noted the need for one more ride of 36 miles to make it 36, so that was target se, t for this morning.
Fantastic !
into the village and up the little rise onto Main Street, with no-one about apart from a couple of other cyclists and a lone jogger. Don't people realise that they're missing the best part of the day? 
and then into glorious rolling green countryside. All too soon I was dropping down to the junction with Bramham Lane, where I took the left fork and powered up the hill and onto Thorner Lane, where I turned right heading back towards Milner Lane.
