With the weather being as it is, and the mob being at home for the summer holidays, chances to get out and ride are few and far between. Even though I was out yesterday, this morning’s sunshine was pretty motivational so I texted GB and persuaded him to add a coffee stop in layline central to his hilly agenda.
As I cycled up to the Square to meet him I realised I’d forgotten to raise my seat post – I’d discovered I had gone down in the world towards the end of yesterday’s ride – so he arrived to find me with allen key in hand. I don’t know why I bothered since by the time I got home I was even further down than when I set out. Maybe a carbon seat post wasn’t such a good idea. Something to chat to Andrew about tomorrow methinks.
Anyway, that had yet to happen, so we set off and headed down the A38 to Weare and up the easier of the two hill options there. Well, there had to be some up. Apparently. As is ever the way, I was dropped instantly, but he was nice enough to wait for me at the top. Pretty much the same pattern as was to be seen on every other hill today. Consistency is important I feel *grin*.
From there we wiggled our way down to the Levels near Mark and proper pushed it all the way down the main road to Glastonbury. Definitely no hanging around – by the time we reached our destination, we’d done around an hour at 17.1mph. I could tell – I was dripping! Odd how you don’t notice that until you stop and then suddenly it just pours off you. Nice.
We sat outside Heaphy’s cafe as usual – they really do do exceptionally good espresso, and the freshly squeezed orange juice went down a treat too. Somewhat disappointingly all the clientele seemed boringly normal, and not one of them was talking to themselves. GB tried to suggest some form of hilly route home, fairly firmly tongue in cheek I feel, and received pretty much the response he must have expected – ie I laughed at him.
Instead we came back via Godney and Panborough, up Dave’s hill once again, and down into Wedmore. Up the hill past the golf course (my idea – I was trying to keep the mountain goat happy) and then down Rug Hill back to Cocklake. I didn’t push as hard for home as yesterday – he’d only have kicked my ar*e and besides which, I was little tireder today, with a little residual knee pain lurking. Nothing like as bad as usual and just, I think, a leftover. However we still managed a fair lick down there, and it was nearly as enjoyable.
We parted company in Cheddar, as he went to show off his new bike to all the grockles in the Gorge, while I headed for home in the same fashion as usual – a sprint finish down the bypass. Lovely though his bike is (and it is – Lance should know), I’d only really be jealous if it was purple. Which it’s not, so that’s ok then 😉
Cycling time: 1:59:05
Distance: 33.22 miles
Avs: 16.8 mph
ODO: 5503
I got home and, once I’d stopped being pleased about the speed and gotten around to checking, realised the saddle had sunk down again. Darn. Ah well. I really meant to clean the bike too but, best intentions and all that. Maybe tomorrow… Definitely this week sometime… Well, before Sunday… 😉
There – another good day at the office *grin*.