With the wind howling outside and the windowpanes rattling I got up at 5am and after the usual faffing and a bowl of porridge was on the road at 6.10am. It was pitch black but as I know these roads that was not too much of a problem. Lighting was the usual Cateye which seems to work well and so far has given me about 15 hours of light without problems.
From home I went up to Yeovil, starting with a fair hill to get warmed up. Ahead, the sky was lightening and it was about 7am whe I realised I could see the road without the lights. Not a single car in the first hour, thena few early morning dog walkers started appearing. Riding along the ridge of Ham Hill, the usual spectacular views to the north were obscured by mist.
Felt a lot stronger than last weekend. After High Ham, dropped down onto the Levels and made good time, with a couple of hills, before arriving at Cheddar and taking the long road up to Shipham. Not too steep a medium length, but a test nonetheless. After this it was plain sailing to Clevedon, for my lift up to Worcester.
A good ride. Felt as if I could have carried on for a fair bit longer. Average speed 5kph faster than last weekend.
Sunday 16 January 2011
Wednesday 12 January 2011
First Foray of 2011
After battling home into a headwind on Friday night, and being trodden on by a horse on Saturday, I got to Winchester in perfect time for the Watership Down 100km Brevet Populaire on Sunday morning. It was fairly cold, but the rain stayed away and at times there were clear blue skies.
The good field of about 100 at the start revealed the usual suspects: the fast boys on their carbon frames vs. the randonneurs with their Carradice saddlebags.
It was a good route taking in some lovely countryside. High points (literally and scenery wise) was the Chute Causeway, with fantastic views to the south, and Walbury Hill, which had the descent on the north side and was icy. The views from the top were worth the climb. At the Kintbury control people were talking about skidding off, or being overtaken by their rear wheels on the descent! Luckily this was the only really icy section.
The climb up Watership Down was not as severe and had a great descent, then it was mainly flat home, but with a few little pulls just to keep me awake and remind me I hadn't been out enough due to the snow and ice in December.
All-in-all, a good season opener and a little reminder of what it's all about. Avreage speed was about the same as my commute which I was pleased about as I tend to push that a bit more than I did today. Riding in company certainly helps, as although I was not in a group there is always someone ahead to keep the legs turning in an attempt not to lose them completely.
The good field of about 100 at the start revealed the usual suspects: the fast boys on their carbon frames vs. the randonneurs with their Carradice saddlebags.
It was a good route taking in some lovely countryside. High points (literally and scenery wise) was the Chute Causeway, with fantastic views to the south, and Walbury Hill, which had the descent on the north side and was icy. The views from the top were worth the climb. At the Kintbury control people were talking about skidding off, or being overtaken by their rear wheels on the descent! Luckily this was the only really icy section.
The climb up Watership Down was not as severe and had a great descent, then it was mainly flat home, but with a few little pulls just to keep me awake and remind me I hadn't been out enough due to the snow and ice in December.
All-in-all, a good season opener and a little reminder of what it's all about. Avreage speed was about the same as my commute which I was pleased about as I tend to push that a bit more than I did today. Riding in company certainly helps, as although I was not in a group there is always someone ahead to keep the legs turning in an attempt not to lose them completely.
Friday 7 January 2011
New Year's Resolution
What a crap end to the year with snow and ice everywhere, making it impossible to get out and about. That and the excesses of Christmas mean there are a few extra pounds to shed that should not have been there.
Spent Christmas in France with the in-laws and returned on the Roscoff - Portsmouth ferry, which meant driving through western Brittany. Stopped off at Carhaix to have a look and was pleased to note it seems to be at the top of a hill, then drove north west, again up hill, to a wonderful viewpoint. From the map it seems that this is the Roc'h Trevezel which will need to be climbed on PBP. On a clear winter's day it was lovely with a glorious panorama and the sea beyond. I think there's a nice 40km freewheel down to Brest (and then a climb back up again on the return!).
Started the New Year well with an 8 mile run, followed by three days' commute by bike into the office this week. It was very dark on Tuesday due to the partial solar eclipse and it is amazing how much slower progress is in the dark. It's a pretty quiet route in the morning, but at night it's a battle with people who just want to get home and I find their headlights dazzling so have narrowly avoided the hedge a few times.
This morning it was raining the proverbial cats and dogs and was pretty cold. Took another 10 minutes to get the wet weather gear on in the morning so was late leaving but was glad of it when half way in the heavens opened. Consoled myself with the thought that an hour of this discomfort was nothing compared to 89.9 hours of PBP.
Spent Christmas in France with the in-laws and returned on the Roscoff - Portsmouth ferry, which meant driving through western Brittany. Stopped off at Carhaix to have a look and was pleased to note it seems to be at the top of a hill, then drove north west, again up hill, to a wonderful viewpoint. From the map it seems that this is the Roc'h Trevezel which will need to be climbed on PBP. On a clear winter's day it was lovely with a glorious panorama and the sea beyond. I think there's a nice 40km freewheel down to Brest (and then a climb back up again on the return!).
Started the New Year well with an 8 mile run, followed by three days' commute by bike into the office this week. It was very dark on Tuesday due to the partial solar eclipse and it is amazing how much slower progress is in the dark. It's a pretty quiet route in the morning, but at night it's a battle with people who just want to get home and I find their headlights dazzling so have narrowly avoided the hedge a few times.
This morning it was raining the proverbial cats and dogs and was pretty cold. Took another 10 minutes to get the wet weather gear on in the morning so was late leaving but was glad of it when half way in the heavens opened. Consoled myself with the thought that an hour of this discomfort was nothing compared to 89.9 hours of PBP.
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