Paying the price :'(

[Sam Kennedy]

I planned a 35 mile cycle, but because of my rough calculations and going the wrong way a few times ended up going 38 miles.

It was great and I was enjoying myself then as I was about 2 miles from the house I started having a migraine

I still feel like crap now

I'm sure I achieved a higher average speed, but my bike computer got water in it and turned itself off

My Guess would be about 10-15 mph, which I'm happy with compared to my last average of 6mph

I'm so glad I got the migraine just before I got home and not 17 miles from my house, I would have ended up sleeping next to the road on some grass

I've just got one question: On single track roads, should I cycle in the middle of the road or to the left?

When I was cycling on normal country roads I kept in primary position (I only saw maybe 8 cars the whole time), but when I was on the single track I kept just left of the centre.

 

[wafflycat]

As a fellow migraine sufferer I sympathise. What helps me to avoid a migraine when cycling is being ultra paranoid about hydration & blood sugar levels. Even on a short ride I will take isotonic drink with me and sip it as I go. On a bit of putting in a bit more effort, I drink more. I drink *before* I'm thirsty, as leaving it until I'm thirsty is too late. The other thing is *bright* sunlight and in particular bright flashing sunlight when cyling near trees/hedgerows. Bright flashing sunlight is an instant trigger for me. Being a speccy-four-eyes, my normal specs are photochromatic and when wearing contacts, I also wear sunglasses - year round. I've also found useful is that when out cycling, my nearest & dearest know my route, so that if the monster strikes, I can at least phone home on the mobile (most of the time) and be collected from wherever.

Single track raods? Lots of them near me. My default position is to left of centre but with enough space on my left that if someone comes up behind me I can move more to the left to allow an overtake, if safe to do so. I will *always* thank a courteous driver with a verbal thank you, a nod or a wave.

 

[gbb]

I planned a 35 mile cycle, but because of my rough calculations and going the wrong way a few times ended up going 38 miles.

It was great and I was enjoying myself then as I was about 2 miles from the house I started having a migraine

I still feel like crap now

I'm sure I achieved a higher average speed, but my bike computer got water in it and turned itself off

My Guess would be about 10-15 mph, which I'm happy with compared to my last average of 6mph

I'm so glad I got the migraine just before I got home and not 17 miles from my house, I would have ended up sleeping next to the road on some grass

I've just got one question: On single track roads, should I cycle in the middle of the road or to the left?

When I was cycling on normal country roads I kept in primary position (I only saw maybe 8 cars the whole time), but when I was on the single track I kept just left of the centre.

Single track road...keep to the left of centre. Why ? Because you're then in the clean (ish) wheeltracks of cars. In the middle...there's as much debris as there is at the edges. You're more likely to puncture in the middle.

Personally, if there's a car coming and space is limited, i'll either use a passing place if ones very close or dismount and let the car get on his way.

Normal country roads with little or no traffic....ride anywhere you like

 

[wyno70]

If I don't hydrate enough I get a pain in my head that feels like migraine, so make a concerted effort to drink more and it goes away.

Were you drinking regularly and often??

 

[Sam Kennedy]

Were you drinking regularly and often??

I don't think I drank as regularly as normal, I don't think I ate as much either, I'll make sure I will eat and drink more for my next ride. (It probably wont be 38 miles this time though)

 

[garrilla]

My Guess would be about 10-15 mph

quite a difference

10mph = 3.8 hrs = 3hr 48m

15mph = 2.5 hrs = 2hrs 30m

 

[Sam Kennedy]

It was probably around 10mph then, since the trip took about 4 hours.

 

[PatrickPending]

re cycle computer - take out the battery and leave somewhere warm to dry out (such as a sunny windowsill). much sympathy re migraines

 

[Sam Kennedy]

I was 1 mile from Stamfordham, I was going to go there but decided not to, I'm glad I did now, because if I did I would have got the migraine approximately 3 miles from home, and I could have been stopped at a railway crossing too which would have sucked even more.

Next time I'm gonna drink every 15 minutes and eat every 30 minutes.

I finally have an excuse to get my parents to buy me mars bars xD

 

[accountantpete]

Single track roads are usually badly maintained - I usually end up in the middle as being the lesser of two evils.

 

[Shaun]

Sam,

Excuse my off-topic enquiry, but are those numbers in your sig line your mileage targets?

Cheers,
Shaun

 

[Sam Kennedy]

They are how many miles my furthest trip has been, so far 38

 

[luplowe]

On a single track or anywhere the road thins down i.e bridges, ride far enough out so the cars behind cant overtake, otherwise you always get some Berk who thinks he can squeeze through.

 

[Sam Kennedy]

I was thinking more along the lines of some idiot doing 50mph around a blind corner... Hopefully it wont happen though

 

[luplowe]

move over for blind corners , the cars behind cant go past you then anyway.