I am of course watching some bike race on telly (for the last time, sniff...), so I thought about time I did a somewhat more verbose ride report....
Back to Friday. As usual, this was a post-work ride. It just went (very) unusual.....Allegedly, leave was available this week, but I don't want to use those precious odd days if possible, not for something I'm going to do after working hours from somewhere I can get to after working hours, and the leave computer would probably say 'no' anyway, on recent form. And as ever since 2009, I'd rather lug more gear around all night and do the ride than not make it at all. So, bought some gear in Thursday, bike & train commute in Friday afternoon, all ready to go for later on. I did check how the trains were running. National Rail app mid-evening seems to be suggesting that although track inspections are ongoing, services are going to be back to normal…er, no, it turned out.
2115: Shift ends. I efficiently get myself changed, out the door and back at the bike ready to go in ten minutes. Can't find a mitt, retrace my steps, no dice (it was in the pannier, not lost, found it as I waited at the station). Still off round to the northbound platform at Parkway at 2132, in plenty of time for the 2138....had it been running. With the benefits of hindsight, I could have ridden to Eastleigh, met the last service from Pompey-London on that route (depature 2145) and been fine, if rather later into Waterloo than usual. But (apart from not checking the app again, because trying to catch train), even a delayed 2138 service would overtake that one. Problem was, the screens were saying one thing (well, 'delayed'), the app another (ETAs that slid and slid further), and the automated announcements yet another. No staff on site outside their normal hours. So I wait, and wait...there's no sign of a northbound train to anywhere. I could of course have trained home…from Eastleigh, one an hour, already missed the 2133- other options were caught in the same foul-up.
2225: Still at the station. I'd nipped back to the office and filled the bottles, come back…still nothing. Fed up with waiting, no information, I know it's too late to get to the smoke or anywhere suitable for joining the peloton mid-ride. Redehall Road and the scout hut is 70-odd hilly miles away, so no sensible chance of making that at the same time as the ride, even if I left right now, and even if I had a route (which I didn't). [EDIT: I could have got a train from Eastleigh to Woking, ridden thirty (still lumpy) miles from there- same routing issues though, so I think I did the right thing]. And why would I, when Brighton is a rather easier 70-odd miles away, along roads I most definitely know? Plan B, a rather better option than Just Going Home And Being Fed Up I Missed it All, has formed in my mind. I have everything I need to ride, weather's great…I have been thrown lemons, so lemonade it is…
Phone the parent, explain I'm still at station, say I'm riding home, inform her of Plan B (the latter detail goes in one ear and out the other). I've already let ride leader Adrian know. And then, down to the A27 and along it all the way home. Weather is perfect for it, road quiet. I don't go for the lumpier, slightly longer but usually faster (fewer traffic lights) route option- best time on that 1:20 back in 2017 (15 mph average), but still motor along nicely, back in 1:32 (1:25 moving), 13.7 mph average, just before midnight.
So, I pop the bike back in the garage, brush teeth, decant a few bits and pieces from the pannier, set phone alarm for 0300, sleep in the kit just about 0015. Beat alarm by a minute or two, have the (intended on-train) sandwich and apple, bike out again, rolling eastwards again at 0345 or so. I have of course ridden to, from or both Brighton many times, but this time I got to take advantage of the lack of traffic and cut a few bits of mileage here and there (unlike for centuries, didn't need to add it!) by using roads that are normally Not Sensible For Cycling, or just not very pleasant. Early part is stock; up the road, Norway Road, the Farlington Marshes bike path (the only stretch where I used the Alpkit Ariel for extra light), round to Havant. Cut through the precinct, onto the A259. East of Emsworth, bike makes assorted clunking and rubbing noises. Ah, the pannier's come loose. Oops. Reattach it, normal silent operation resumes. Third-fastest time on the Havant-Chichester stretch (7.7 miles, 32:18, 14.2 mph). Rather than entering the city via the (lovely, modern, but steep ramps and tight turns) Fishbourne cycle/pedestrian bridge, I stick with the main roads, even the roundabout that connects with the A27 was quiet. At 5:01 I cross the A27 again and I'm back on to my stock Brighton route, on roads that are usually quiet even in daytime.
The usual half/quarter way stop at Barnham (23.5 miles in) was reached at 5.30. Five minutes and a banana later, on my way again. Temperatures were pleasant, crisp but still definitely short sleeve weather, the jacket stayed in the bag. Only physical issue was a slight tingle in the left hand (should have been moving hand positions more than I did). Did need the glasses once the sun rose. Entering Littlehampton, I opted to stick with the A259 rather than the Ferry Road ped bridge (slightly longer but definitely faster, I think fast enough to make up the difference), then on through Rustington (quick stop to check for any updates from Adrian), and Angmering. Back on the A259 again- this time the carriageway rather than the bike path, it's a bit dicey normally- then the turn south through Goring & Worthing, onto the front and along all the way east. More Strava PRs, 2nd, 3rds.
Working my way back to when the Plan was brewing, I thought I'd aim for 7.30-8am at the Marina, we've never been much earlier than that, often (much) later, with a large group at least- I do remember one small group getting to the Madeira at 7, but that was about it. I wasn't expecting to keep the same pace all the way. I could have pushed a bit harder, admittedly, but for what? Nevertheless, those pedals kept turning easily. On the home stretch, five straight PRs on Madeira Drive. I was round to the Marina and on the ramp up to the Wetherspoons bang on 7.30. Phone parent, surprised I'm not still in bed. 7.51, as I posted up thread, still waiting for peeps to arrive. About four minutes after that,
@Shadow and
@bobcolover appear, and explain what happened earlier on to
@lazybloke, Adrian (cramps, so handed over to Jim), that the ride had gone over Devil's Dyke, a few people had taken an alternative route down…Eventually, the peloton (minus those already headed for trains etc) appear…and go past. Jim was under the impression that there was an alternative route up. It seems there wasn't, because a short while later they were back and heading up the ramp.
Following that, the usual stock Wetherspoons breakfast (I did the usual one tea and then multiple coffees) and much chinwagging. Adrian joined us. Not long after ten, I decided it was time to head west again. Given the time and the weather, I was definitely more likely to go for the train than try and make it 120 miles since 2225. Unsurprisingly, strong gusty westerly wind was now very much unfavourable to rapid progress. Also, bit wet. So, that lovely, lovely slog along the front through umpteen lights and up to the station it was. Managed to accidentally time it perfectly for the next Southampton service, so took that along to Cosham and was back home (despite ongoing work on two cycle/ped bridges I might have taken) just after noon. Those two-and-a-half hours sleep did the trick, I managed to stay sentient all the way to (normal) bedtime.
Thanks everyone. Back for Maldon. May the railway network behave itself…
