If the weather forecast is to be believed, it’s raining now solidly until this time next week. In fact, Saturday is predicted to be something of a flood.
So, rather than miss out on an outdoor ride this week, I picked the last day with the sun still shining to take my riding outdoors.
But that doesn’t mean I took it easy on myself.
Far from it. The indoor ride would have been a race today – 5 laps of the Mech Isle Loop. Which means five climbs up the Mech Isle Climb. Not the most appealing prospect, but equally one that will still have to happen… just on Saturday instead.
Heading out, it was windy but I’d opted for a long sleeve jersey. That proved to be a bit of a mistake. It was warm out there.
Not really sure where to go, I found myself heading into the countryside, taking on a segment I like but don’t do very often – Button Street:
It’s not my favourite type of climb truthfully, I like the ones that get the climbing out of the way up front and then level out towards the top.
However, it’s so lovely and quiet and generally green and glorious out that way, I will let it off.
The Garmin, I find, is hard to read with regards to PB’s and personal achievements. On the climb it said I was +0.04 against my personal best. To me that says I’m 4 seconds slower. However, when I got home that seems to have translated into 4 seconds faster. I’ll take it, and maybe next time I’ll even remember that it’s not intuitive but plus means good.
Even with a bit of climbing in, I was on for a fast one today.
I wanted to do 30km, and I was motoring along – helped by heading down hill on the way home – when I hit something on the road, which pinged up and whacked my leg. I thought my light had fallen off, so ended up doubling back and slowly circling, looking at the debris and trying to figure out what had happened.
All equipment seemed correct, and a largish stick looked to be the likely culprit. It did put me off my stride a bit.
When I got back towards home I wasn’t ready to call it a day. At about 26km I wanted to see out the 30, so went for a slightly longer loop back.
It was good to almost make the 30km / 30kph target, which I hadn’t originally set but was definitely trying to hit by the end. If I hadn’t stopped for that stick I probably would have done it. Not bad with the climbing involved.
Anyway, that’s me for the weekdays. Next up, Saturday’s race.
Hopefully the knees don’t hate me tomorrow morning.
