The Cycling Mayor

Another Sunday, another ACG ride.  Only 5 of us this time – the usual suspects – and we headed out at 9:30am to go to the seaside.  We kinda made the route up as we went along – being organised like that.  First off it was out of town and up (and then down) Winscombe Hill.  I don’t like that down at all – it’s very wiggly, there’s a high likelihood of cars coming in the opposite direction, there’s frequently gravel/leaves/wet on the road…  So, that didn’t go so well (she says gripping the handlebars and braking too much) but luckily that turned out to be the worst of the downs today.  After that it was a wiggle round the back roads and then up the steep bit to come out at by Banwell Castle – a little stinker that – where a peacock was waiting for us…giving a handy opportunity for me to catch my breath whilst pretending to admire it. 

From Banwell we were on to the levels across towards Puxton, then round Sand Bay before another steep up past the Commodore Hotel to reach the toll road.  Along the swoopy toll road, which is always good fun, and we arrived at our coffee stop in Kewstoke.  I never can remember the name of the place, but it’s probably The Cliffs Tea Rooms, on the RHS just before and above the old pier.  I’ve always meant to stop there but never managed to.  Well, today we did, parking in the bike stands provided, and I can proper recommend the carrot cake *grin*.

Off again, and down into Weston to admire the grockles, and all the “street” cars that were attending some meet or other on the lawns.  By this time folk were getting a little spread out, and then further separated by traffic lights, so following a well-established tradition, by the time we reached the main road we were a man down.   One intrepid soul headed off in search and rescue fashion (I think he just wanted an excuse to hare off and add some miles *grin*) and we were, albeit briefly, back together again.  Rather than come back via that Bleadon Hill, we turned right off the main road instead and came back through Lympsham…by which time we were two groups.  A three – including me – and a two.  We wiggled our way back separately, past the Rookery and Webbington Hotels and back to the Square.  Ah well, it wouldn’t be right if it all went to plan! 

Cycling time: 2:05:14
Distance: 31.79 miles
Avs: 15.1 mph
ODO: 1723 miles

Apart from some drizzle around Sand Bay, we were lucky with the weather.   I’ve decided to work at corners, and then I can work at downhill corners.  One step at a time…  The best thing of all is that, post cleat tweaking, my knee didn’t twinge at all!  It felt a bit weird to start with, with the slightly different position, but no pain is definitely a gain! *grin*.  I know I keep saying it, but I’m really enjoying riding at the mo.  Bet it’s a different kettle of fish soon when the temperature plummets, the layers come on and the summer, such as it was, really has gone.

PS: my new Stelvio Raceguards + 2 new tubes arrived earlier this week from Schwalbe in black/silver.  Very cool .  Looking forward to getting my Ultremo Rs as well – they should be brill for next season.

Yesterday, being Tuesday, Dad came over and the two of us headed out for a ride, between showers.  We headed out fairly directly to Brean Down where, as it turns out, Dad has been before even if he didn’t think he had!  I’ve been avoiding hills to try and get my knee sorted, but we did throw in the hilly bit past the Webbington and also the “Bleadon” Hill.  I’m still much better going up hills…where I leave Dad…than down…which is where he catches me easily.  I can see I’m going to have to do some practice…can’t be having that! *grin*. 

Everywhere we went we could see weather ooming, clouds gathering, rain falling.  As we got to Brean, without having inconvenienced too many intolerant tourist drivers on the wiggly route, it was clear that quite recently the skies had dumped their contents all over the roads and the tourists.  But not us.  In fact having the sand that is all over the roads there be wet was a good thing – much less treacherous.

We had a coffee stop at the café there – tea and very lovely sultana scone in my case – whilst watching the less fortunate wring out their clothes and get changed.  We came back a slightly different way – via Brent Knoll – to keep things interesting, and had a good run along the flat back roads.  Again, the omnipresent threatening rain missed us!  2 minutes after we got home, it p*ssed it down.  Deeply satisfying.

Cycling time: 2:01:51
Distance: 30.88 miles
Avs: 15.1 mph
ODO: 1691 miles

It was a really enjoyable ride – I’m still loving being out on the bike.  The knee was twinging a bit but nothing drastic.  The left shoulder blade said “hi” towards the end.  The right shoulder is completely unnoticeable on the bike – which is fab!  Any ride where I a) stay on the bike and b) don’t get rained, on is a good one as far as I’m concerned *grin*.

In other news:

• earlier this week I finally got my act in gear and contacted Schwalbe about my defective tyre.  They got in touch yesterday and will be sending me out interim Stelvios, and then the new Ultremo R1s when they come in September.  How fantastic is that?! 
• I saw the Doctor yesterday re: the wreck (me!).  I’ve been referred to the physio for help to get the shoulder back to 100% and to work on the left knee.  I was advised to look at my cleat position which, following advice from Cycling Plus, I have done, so it’ll be interesting to see if that helps.  And I also have new pink pills for when it doesn’t and I’ve got a big ride and it hurts! *grin*.
• I’ve signed up for the Cheddar Cyclosportive.  Only the 100km, which I’ve convinced Dad to sign up too.  Several of the ACG are doing it too, so it should be good.

There.  That should do you!

A larger than usual contingent of the ACG gathered in the Square on Saturday morning – eight of us in fact.  After a brief conflab we decided to head out to Glastonbury, which is about the right distance and fairly flat.  We stuck to the usual kind of route from Cheddar to Wedmore and then across the levels out to Glastonbury where the roads are quieter.   We got a bit spread out from time to time on the main roads but, oddly for us, actually managed not to lose anyone permanently!  Well, not until after the coffee stop when two of us had other places to see, leaving 6 of us to make the return journey in fairly similar fashion.

It was a really good ride.  Everyone was at the same speed, flying along happily.  The weather was mostly ok…until the end when it started raining, something the gathering clouds had been warning us about for some time.  I got to enjoy my favourite bit of road again and put my head down and zoomed back to home, undeterred by the rain.

Cycling time: 2:09:56
Distance: 34.45 miles
Avs: 15.9 mph
ODO: 1661 miles

The bike was feeling good, my left knee only twinged a bit, and I had a really good enjoyable ride.  I think we all did.  Well, possibly apart from the two that were unlucky enough to be stung by wasps…yuck.  I’m feeling quite positive about my riding, but am still disastrous down hills and am going to have to work at that…I think I’ll start by putting grippier tyres on the bike for the winter, that should help!

For the first time since the L2P, post re-medial service which turned out to be barely necessary, me and my best bike were reunited today.  After a morning of rain and wind, the clouds lifted, and I was able to get out around lunchtime.  I only did an hour and half, around the usual pootling bits, but it was lovely to be back out there.  Using the old bike on holiday did nothing to restore my confidence, being too dissimilar from this one.  I won’t say I’m all better – I’m still disastrously slow going downhill – but the rest of the ride went pretty well from that respect.  Oh – and I stayed on.  That’s gotta be good *grin*.

Cycling time: 1:35
Distance: 24.65 miles
Avs: 15.4 mph
ODO: 1626 miles

However, as my gym sessions this week had already suggested, my left knee is still gebuggert.  Just as well I’m off to the doctor next week with that, the shoulder, the wreck that is me…  Fitness wise I can see that, post holiday and 3 weeks of smoking (which I’ve stopped), I’m going to need to build up the stamina a bit, but again, pretty good really.  The best thing of all?  The head space.  Being out in the world, with the wind and the weather, and away from it all.  I love my bike