I needed to get out of the house today. Having worked all week, then done my usual Saturday morning stint for myself, come dinner time I was itching to get out and burn off a bit of pent up stress.
However, with mercury tipping 25c, I decided to wait until some cloud cover came over, and the chances of overheating and failing (like last time) diminished to more realistic levels. As such I only got out around 4pm, but even then I needed a healthy dose of sun cream. Never my favourite thing, riding with cream on, as it gets in my eyes and drips all over my bike and into my futuristic cycling sun gigs.
Anyway, I didn’t fancy much of a crazy route today – nor did I have time for it, either.
As such I picked a route I’ve created before – the imaginatively titled “Inglewhite Loop” – and got my cycle on, knowing I’d be about an hour or so for the 30km.
By and large this was a very visually pleasant, but fairly standard ride.
Once again I went out without much of a plan. I’m thinking I need some recovery, but this ride is really pretty much 50/50, in that the first 17km is “uphill”, and then the second 16km or so back home is down hill. Can’t really recover like that.
I found myself riding hard for the first 10km.
Then decided I’d keep pushing (though not quite the same intensity) to the 17km turn around.
After that I figured I’d chill out and coast back.
One thing I’d forgotten about this route is that it takes me down a local ford in the road. Literally a stream running through the road. The road itself is called Ford Road.
Quite the peculiarity.
Here’s a Google Street View – looks like a bit of a winter’s day. I’ve been down there when it’s cold. The splash is 🧊🧊🐧 chilly 🐧🧊🧊.
Anyway, today I decided to nail it through the stream.
Well, kinda.
My glasses were a bit foggy with sweaty sun cream drips, and I kinda bottled it a bit as I ripped down the hill, applying the brakes as I approached the water. Silly me.
But even so, I managed to get – what I believe is – my first ever Strava top 10 on a segment. Pretty chuffed with that.
Even if I hadn’t bottled it, I wouldn’t have troubled the top spot, but I reckon I could get a top 3 with another attempt.
And so that was that.
I’ve now hit my weekly riding goals, so whatever I do tomorrow is just for funsies.
I’m thinking I might save the recovery for a Tuesday night turbo session – though likely I won’t have an hour to spare, so who knows.
I’m not sure how much time I’ll get for a ride tomorrow. Planning to take the kids out early doors, maybe go to the Trough of Bowland with a pic-a-nik basket. Proper Yogi style.
That will take care of the whole morning, and then when I get back it might be getting a bit too hot again. The UK is on a bit of a mini-heatwave at the moment. But maybe a late afternoon ride could be an option. Who knows?
