Now we are approaching the end of the year, I was thinking back about my favourite rides of the year. I think they've majored on more solo achievements as a result of illness taking time out of my year. Top 3 as follows:
1) Home to Skegness: its meant to be a right of passage for anyone in the East Midlands but I'd not done until September when I wanted one more big ride for the year. My normal riding buddies didn't fancy it so it was done on my own. 30 miles in an absolutely shaking with cold (September!!), I pulled into a favourite cafe and warmed up. Headed due east for much of the rest of the ride down fen lanes and wide, flat vistas. A brief stop at RAF Conningsby chatting to the Typhoon display pilot was fortunate. The last 2 hours to Skeggy were beautiful and fast despite tiring legs. Best Subway ever on the train home.
2) Tissington and High Peak trails. A long and lumpy solo ride on the May Bank holiday with 30 odd miles on the disused railways of the above trails. Beautiful scenery and a reminder of the wonder of Victorian engineering causing numerous stops to take it all in. The Kendal mint cake at 100 miles near home was sublime!
3) Derby to Home the very long way. A ride to get a friend to her first ton. Started off as an easy ride to Lincoln marred by a headwind. Ended up as a freestyled route to 100miles to get some tailwind. 3 cafe stops and melting tarmac on a beautiful day on the bike. Got my friend to her ton with 5 mins to spare before the train. A wonderful day out.
What were your best few rides of the year?
1) Home to Skegness: its meant to be a right of passage for anyone in the East Midlands but I'd not done until September when I wanted one more big ride for the year. My normal riding buddies didn't fancy it so it was done on my own. 30 miles in an absolutely shaking with cold (September!!), I pulled into a favourite cafe and warmed up. Headed due east for much of the rest of the ride down fen lanes and wide, flat vistas. A brief stop at RAF Conningsby chatting to the Typhoon display pilot was fortunate. The last 2 hours to Skeggy were beautiful and fast despite tiring legs. Best Subway ever on the train home.
2) Tissington and High Peak trails. A long and lumpy solo ride on the May Bank holiday with 30 odd miles on the disused railways of the above trails. Beautiful scenery and a reminder of the wonder of Victorian engineering causing numerous stops to take it all in. The Kendal mint cake at 100 miles near home was sublime!
3) Derby to Home the very long way. A ride to get a friend to her first ton. Started off as an easy ride to Lincoln marred by a headwind. Ended up as a freestyled route to 100miles to get some tailwind. 3 cafe stops and melting tarmac on a beautiful day on the bike. Got my friend to her ton with 5 mins to spare before the train. A wonderful day out.
What were your best few rides of the year?