Spartak
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Nice ride yesterday inc the local Boxing Day 20km time trial from Iron Acton - Charfield & back.
It's my Spa Elan - the version with full 105 and hydraulic disc brakes and with added Ti seat post and their hand built wheels. Relatively heavy compared to my other 'road' bikes, but oh so comfortable
So far this year I've managed to do at least one ride of 100km or more each month but I'd not had a chance to do this month's so far. So, once the mist had lifted and visibility had improved, I was out of the house at midday with a rough route in my head.
It started well with a regular run out to Great Bealings via Falkenham, Kirton, Newbourne, Waldringfield and Little Bealings, but it was as I was approaching Grundisburgh that the plan almost fell apart.
Most of the roads I'd used were damp, but with that awful surface dressing whereas the right hander on the B1079 was damp/greasy with smooth asphalt/tarmac which gave less grip and my front wheel slid out from under me at just under 20mph and I went down on my right knee, hip & elbow while my left thumb got wrenched as the bars twisted. Thankfully no damage to the bike apart from scuffing to the derailleur and both silver plastic trim pieces on the brifters (the screw securing the trim was pulled from the left one operating the front brake and needs replacing). I was more annoyed that the DHB Windblock tights I was wearing had been holed on the knee & hip and would need to be thrown out!
Once I'd picked myself & the bike up, checked everything was working and assured the rather surprised driver who was following me that I was OK, I carried on with the planned ride to Ashbocking and then up to Debenham via Helmingham, across to Stowmarket via Mickfield and then the back road to Needham Market and home via Claydon, Bramford, Ipswich & Bucklesham where the mist was starting to form again as the sun went down...
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The total in the end was just under 64 miles - 20 before the off and another 44 afterwards!!
The ride stats:
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Once home I had a long soak in a hot bath to help with the injuries