G-Zero
Über Member
- Location
- Durham City, UK
I had a 4 hour training course this morning at my head office in Ponteland and I decided to cycle it, doing the route for the first time.
I had to be there and showered for a 9am start and as the usual drive includes Motorway and extremely busy dual carriageway (A1 Gateshead), I devised a cross country route on Memorymap, which was mainly rural roads and came in at 27.5 miles.
As this is not my normal place of work, I had to carry my course notes, food, clothing (inc jacket & shoes), towel and shower stuff in a rucsac, which weighed in just short of a stone.
Planned in time for one of those pesky p******e thingies and set off at 6am, not realising just how hilly the back roads were and with the ice this morning, I couldn't even take advantage of the downhill sections as the roads were treacherous and I didn't dare allow too much speed to build up. Even uphill sections had the back wheel spinning in places.
Anyway, I made it in with 40 mins to spare, quickly got showered and completed the course.
It was as I started to get changed for the ride home, I experienced a very basic error in last night's planning - All my base layer kit had not had time to dry out and was still soaking wet and freezing cold
As uncomfortable as it was, it soon warmed up and the home run in daylight, without the ice only took 2 hours, so well pleased with the ancient Scott MTB.
I can see now why regular long distance commuters prefer panniers to rucsacs, as my butt is a tad tender after 55 miles of that extra weight.
Still, a very enjoyable
overall.
I had to be there and showered for a 9am start and as the usual drive includes Motorway and extremely busy dual carriageway (A1 Gateshead), I devised a cross country route on Memorymap, which was mainly rural roads and came in at 27.5 miles.
As this is not my normal place of work, I had to carry my course notes, food, clothing (inc jacket & shoes), towel and shower stuff in a rucsac, which weighed in just short of a stone.
Planned in time for one of those pesky p******e thingies and set off at 6am, not realising just how hilly the back roads were and with the ice this morning, I couldn't even take advantage of the downhill sections as the roads were treacherous and I didn't dare allow too much speed to build up. Even uphill sections had the back wheel spinning in places.
Anyway, I made it in with 40 mins to spare, quickly got showered and completed the course.
It was as I started to get changed for the ride home, I experienced a very basic error in last night's planning - All my base layer kit had not had time to dry out and was still soaking wet and freezing cold
As uncomfortable as it was, it soon warmed up and the home run in daylight, without the ice only took 2 hours, so well pleased with the ancient Scott MTB.
I can see now why regular long distance commuters prefer panniers to rucsacs, as my butt is a tad tender after 55 miles of that extra weight.
Still, a very enjoyable
overall.
