Eugh.
This one was a struggle.
On the plus side I managed to get in an outdoor ride, and at 30km / >1 hour, I was happy to only encounter the smallest threat of light drizzle.
I plotted the route ahead of setting off, and seeing it was ~30km I figured I might get out and back in around about an hour. You know, riding at 30kph average? I’ve managed it in the past. And with only 100m or so of total ascent, I figured it should be fairly flat, so I was in with a good chance of keeping up a steady average.
Yeah, nah.
Out of the door I set off at a decent enough pace. Once I’d made my way onto the country lanes I was averaging above 30kph and was feeling good, if not on the warm side.
With the mercury down around 12c when I set off, I had layered up. Bib tights, long sleeve base layer, long sleeve jersey, and riding jacket. Keeping up the pace, I was sweating a lot, and the wicked whipping wind wasn’t exactly cooling me down either. Slowing me down, yes, but not helping with the heat.
Along this route, just before the turn back home, is the church where my grandparents are buried. I figured I’d stop in there, check out their grave, and grab a couple of minutes rest before continuing on. Just before this, the drizzle started and I wondered if that was a good idea… but it eased off almost as quickly as it came, and so in I went.
After I got back on the bike though, I just couldn’t get motoring. Maybe I’d had the benefit of a tailwind I hadn’t realised all the way to Elswick. I don’t know. What I do know is the wind was heavy going on those open country roads on the way back. Jeepers.
With the pace down to about 23kph, the wind smashing me in the face, my lack of proper eating all day, and last nights hang over punching me in the gut, getting those ~15km covered was a slog.
What I should also mention is unlike most Saturdays, I didn’t work this morning. No. I took the kids out to the Uni for a festival thing, and so did a bunch of walking. Not sure how much as I only remembered my forgetting to Strava much too late. But we were out for 3h 15m, so quite a lot. And I’d only had two slices of toast prior.
Then when I got back there was no butter, so I ended up having a bowl of cereal for dinner.
And as I say, the hang over from last night…
Yeah, not surprised I struggled in hindsight. Foolishly blown the hard work with a big fish and chips for tea… Ahh well. Knackered now. Bath and bed.
