There are plenty of rides where I set out with a plan, and shortly thereafter it goes right out of the window.
Today sort of felt like that, as the plan was tempo, which for me is riding at 3w/kg. I wanted to do an hour of that, and ideally 30+ kilometres.
Within 10 minutes I was feeling fully cooked.
The weather today was pretty nice, which helped me through. The past two outdoor rides have been like cycling in a wind tunnel. Today was far, far calmer. I’d layered up though, and was thinking I might have overdone it a touch, but I stuck with it anyway.
I also didn’t have a route in mind – but ended up near the fells, which I also think helps as I absolutely love it round there. God if I could only afford to live that way, that would be amazing.
The problem really is the road surfaces. It doesn’t matter that it’s the countryside or not, as all roads round here are woeful. But out there I was getting absolutely battered at times, and several times I hit stony patches so bad that I thought I might come off. Worse was at one point a stone flicked off the front wheel and whacked my shin which hurt so bad I had to stop. Nuts. Well, not my nuts, my shin, as indicated, but yikes.
Overall though a really nice day, and a nice enough ride. The janky roads have flared up my problematic shoulder, which I think is my body telling me: go indoors! Which I shall for my Tuesday ride for sure. Well, unless the temperature is sky high.
I was surprised not to see more riders out and about. I suspect I’ll see an abundance on tomorrow’s walk.
