Well, it turns out the weather is good this weekend. Amazing, rain rain rain all week, then today and, apparently, tomorrow are sunny and (comparatively) warm (13c), and then rain starts again Monday. I will take it!
Thinking I’d be inside this weekend, I wasn’t prepared for an outdoor ride. Without a route in mind, I set off thinking to myself that I wouldn’t do anything particular, just enjoy a bike ride without trying to hit targets, set PRs, or be in a set zone for X minutes… or whatever.
What I had in mind was just to cycle around and enjoy being outdoors. I was layered up, so that also put paid to anything too taxing. Overheating is a real thing in multiple layers, as I’ve found out.
The one bad thing today was when I got to Longridge, I had in mind doing the two little climbs there just for a bit of fun. The first one went well, probably better than I expected. That was almost certainly because I’d cruised along at a fairly relaxed pace, so had plenty in the legs to give it a smash up the ~17m or so. I didn’t give it everything I had, but I gave it a strong seated effort.
Feeling good after that, I turned back to head to the top of Longridge village, only for first a car to cut off my approach completely, and then to hit a temporary traffic light bang on the hill. Doing a hill start there in a car would be fun. On a bike… no chance. I had to wait for all the cars to go, then push off, roll down the hill, clip in and turn again to make a proper go of it. So much for the segment time though.
But like I say, I wasn’t out to set times today. It’s just when I’m not actively trying, it’s somehow easier…
Heading back I might have stayed out longer had I left earlier. As it was, I had grandparents to visit so home I went.
All being well I shall get out again tomorrow morning. Not entirely sure where I’ll go if I do, but then that’s half the fun, right?
