I was supposed to ride yesterday but, with a peculiar cold, and wind and rain, I opted for the warmth of the gym instead.  I was supposed to get up and ride this morning, and did indeed at least sit up when hubby presented me with poached egg on toast for breakfast.  But I was so tired that once the mob had gone off to school I rolled over and went back to sleep again!

So, that brings me to 9:30, when the alarm summoned me once more from the depths.  Being as how I was supposed to go for a ride, it wasn’t actually raining, or freezing, and going to the gym every day is less than exciting I decided I would indeed go for a ride.

I had good intentions vis-a-vis visiting High Ham hill, but both of the loops I created to do so were nigh on 50 miles and I really wasn’t feeling quite up to that.  So I dug out another route from my website repertoire and did that instead, setting off at around 10:40am.

As you can see for yourselves, it started with Shipham Hill.  16:37 to the top, in case you were wondering.  Faster than the first time I did it the other week, but slower than when I was trying to save GB from having to wait too long from the top.  So, not bad.  By the top I was thinking I maybe had too many clothes on but actually that was the only time that was really an issue.  I’d opted not to have a Buff around my neck – so when too warm I could drop a zip or too to ventilate, and also wore my “summer” helmet to help keep my head cool if necessary.  All of which just about worked.  Put it one way, my feet and I remained friends for the whole ride.  Hello feet! 🙂

I felt the joy of discovering a previously hideous road (from nr Puxton to the restaurant on the main road) had been unexpectedly and beautifully resurfaced.  I visited the seaside in the drizzle, where the mud flats stretched to the horizon under rain filled clouds and if you’d turned the camera upside down, I’m not sure anyone would have been able to tell.   I marvelled at how WSM was managing to look simultaneously more run down at the North end, where the massive hotel is gone, and others are boarded up, but much better in the middle where the new landscaping is going on near the WSM Wheel.  I suffered the un-remitting southerly wind on the exposed and boring roads around Berrow.  I played leapfrog with the re-cycling lorry from Loxton to Cross, as my legs sensed the finish line.  And then I was home.

Cycling time: 2:48:59
Distance: 40.95 miles
Avs: 14.5 mph
ODO: 6934 miles

Then I had lunch and went back to sleep.  No really, I did.  Even though I opted, as a sop to my cold, to ride “fuelled” – i.e. I ate a bar and drank properly – I was still knackered when I got back.  I’m guessing I’m not “well” yet… :/

It was a longer ride than usual as I’m trying to start to build the miles up.  It was also grey and miserable, on filthy wet roads, and I had no choice but to wash the bike when I got back.  I worked on my corners, better when you’re expecting the flat patch, and I worked on my hills, where there may be a slight discernible improvement.  And I’m glad I went.  But it wasn’t precisely fun…