Before last Friday’s ride is forgotten, just a quick thanks for the brilliant event. Coming to London is pretty scary at the best of times when you live in Wales, and riding your bike there at night is strange, to say the least. Although I’m unfathomably rubbish with sleep deprivation, that remains not my main memory. During the first part of the ride I felt a bit like a duckling, frantically trying not to loose my siblings. The best part was dawn and slowly seeing where I was riding. Those lugworm diggers out on the mudflats close to Whitstable in the white morning light were just a beautiful sight.
For some reason I had thought: arriving at 8, breakfast, train, in bed by 11.30h. How wrong was I !! Although I was wilting during those hours with only marginal sleep in the glistering sun –thanks for the photo…- it was a great post-ride session and certainly memorable.
I can’t see that I’ll be able to do the rides regularly, not least because of the rather onerous journey from Wales. But I was told that there is usually a gentle one to Brighton in summer, which sounds tempting…
Cheers, Ruth
P.S. The one thing I did not get is the animosity against cycle racks and panniers. What is the problem? I have been in the firm grips of the Ortlieb gods for decades and would never go anywhere without them. How wonderful is it to have that extra layer, the dry clothes at the end of the trip or after the rain, the novel for the train ride home (not that I needed it on Saturday). And are the panniers really the Achilles heel in my cycling performance? Well. I can think of umpteen other things that would improve my pace. So: Up the Ortliebs! They look great, are indestructible, provide extra visibility and are just goodness all-round.
For some reason I had thought: arriving at 8, breakfast, train, in bed by 11.30h. How wrong was I !! Although I was wilting during those hours with only marginal sleep in the glistering sun –thanks for the photo…- it was a great post-ride session and certainly memorable.
I can’t see that I’ll be able to do the rides regularly, not least because of the rather onerous journey from Wales. But I was told that there is usually a gentle one to Brighton in summer, which sounds tempting…
Cheers, Ruth
P.S. The one thing I did not get is the animosity against cycle racks and panniers. What is the problem? I have been in the firm grips of the Ortlieb gods for decades and would never go anywhere without them. How wonderful is it to have that extra layer, the dry clothes at the end of the trip or after the rain, the novel for the train ride home (not that I needed it on Saturday). And are the panniers really the Achilles heel in my cycling performance? Well. I can think of umpteen other things that would improve my pace. So: Up the Ortliebs! They look great, are indestructible, provide extra visibility and are just goodness all-round.
A nightime smile...
