Usual cycle challenge breakfast - half a dozen Weetabix. Worked for End-2-End so why not for this one?
Time to get ready, procrastinate and generally put off starting the ride. Why? The Long Mynd !!!! The guest house was situated at the bottom of it so it was climbing from the very first turn of the pedal. And this was way beyond any 'Cheeky little number' of a hill; 1 in 5 at its worst but also straight into a fierce, gusting wind. The only way to keep cycling was to zig zag up it in the hope it flattened it out just a bit.
As I was going up it yes my legs hurt, arms got tired from pulling on the bars but above all I was concentrating on trying to keep breakfast in. I definitely don't recommend it as a way to start a ride.
Now I reckon to cycle between 15 and 17 mph over 70 or 80 miles - that's on the bike average speed not including breaks. After the first three quarters of an hour I was around the 5 mph mark !! The one thing that kept me going - swearing until I ran out of different words to use. Then the Colin Bycroft approach took over (read his book if you don't know what I'm on about).
Coming down was nearly as bad with the strong, gusting side wind as it was now. Almost needed clean shorts a few times after being blasted sideways onto the grass verge! After a couple of hours though I was in Wales and guess what? It's even lumpier! I know they sell those mugs with 'If Wales was flattened out it would be bigger than England' - but for the first time I'm beginning to believe them. All I've done for a second day running it seems is strain to go up hills. Not sure how much exactly today as forgot to start the Garmin timer until part way through ride (what a muppet !) but certainly over 7000ft in total. Good job it's a quieter one tomorrow or I'd start throwing toys out of prams.
One question for anyone whose Welsh and reading this (yes, that's you Christine) - what is it about wildlife and livestock that makes them want to hurl themselves at you. Yet more 'clean shorts needed' moments today were all thanks to animals darting at me, under me or launching themselves from hedgerows just over my head! It's taken years off my life today, almost as bad as a farmer's bird scarer going off right beside me one day on a training ride.
That's your lot folks for today. I need sleep and more food, time to raid the van again ! The first of the hills tomorrow, really looking forward to it although weather may be a bit damp. TTFN.
No comments:
Post a Comment