This week hasn’t gone quite to plan. All being well, it would have been the perfect opportunity, weather and time wise, to hit the Trough of Bowland. That’s a ~75km with a decent bit of climbing, and once you’re out there you’re committed. I reckon it would take me about 2.5 hours, give or take.
Anyway, I knew today was expected to be hot. That much was obvious from the forecast earlier in the week. Yesterday was hot. Today I woke up hot… that’s always an interesting sign. I don’t really know how to describe the UK heat. It’s not like Tenerife. It’s somehow more humid. I find that bizarre. Anyway, I didn’t want to risk heading out that far and getting baked.
Instead I decided to go on a fairly large circular route, heading down through Preston town centre, then across to Samlesbury and take a trip down to Balderstone, which I have never visited before. Turns out there’s not much there. But it was nice to confirm what I suspected.
So what we’re looking at above is the first two shots are in Balderstone looking across to Jeffrey Hill… I think. Not quite sure. I’m sure someone will correct me if I am wrong. Second is the same pic but with me doing a sweaty selfie.
Third picture is for Phil’s benefit. Take the comment from the other day in throw in the fact that as my wife has covid, she hasn’t washed my kit (errr.. I know, I could probably do it myself, but I have no idea how to work the washing machine), and so I’m in my really tired old ‘indoor’ shorts to add in some flavour. Saucy. I think you can even make out where a bird has poo’d all over my handle bars. Lovely.
And then the last shot is from much later in the ride, when I was on the opposite side of the shot looking back.
Whilst I enjoyed today’s ride, particularly the climb up Gallows Lane where I got to chat with another cyclist up the ascent, I found I was knackered for large parts of it. I reckon I’m still not 100%, and throw in a couple of rides over the last two days and the baking sun and I was struggling to find much pace.
Still, it was lovely to get out. I think I’m quite badly sunburned at this point. I did cream up, but whilst it’s factor 50, I was out for a good while and with sweating I think there was an inevitable loss of effectiveness. I’m glad I wasn’t out too much later nor longer as it only got hotter for a while after I was back.
Tomorrow I may take as a rest day. Still got plenty of time off yet so am hoping for a continued bout of lovely summer weather and to then be able to get that Trough ride in at some point next week. The sooner the better really.
