Not much planned for today, so took the opportunity for another ride.
It was supposed to be fresh early in the morning, so out on the road at 6:30. There was a lot of gloom about, but a nice sunrise nonetheless.
You can just see on the left the new pedestrian/cycle bridge over the Worcester southern link road. Once it is open I won't have to deal with rat runners in a hurry in Norton Road on my commute.
Through town, catching every single light in red, and then towards Droitwich by the lanes along the canal. I don't know why, but was struggling to get into a consistent rhythm. I guess the steep up and downs don't help, but it felt harder than usual.
Past Droitwich and on to Hanbury, I finally got onto a good pace, and the progress was faster. Stopped for a drink by the locks at Hanbury Wharf, looking nice, but still a bit gloomy.
Past Hanbury was a right for Bradley Green, then Inkberrow, over the A442 towards Bishampton via the Lenches, and then head for Throckmorton.
Stopped for a snack half way between Bishampton and Throckmorton, partly prompted by a strange noise, which turned out to be sticky tar on the road surface.
Once I satisfied myself there was nothing wrong with the bike, had a drink and a nut bar, and then back on the road for the final stretch. Past the airfield, then across the A44 past Pinvin, right over the ford for Drakes Broughton and then towards Wadborough. I struggled a bit up the short ramp to Wadborough, but then recovered and was a quick ride through Littleworth and down past Norton church for home.
38.3 miles, at 14.5mph. fun ride with not much climbing, fun, but harder than expected.
. Anstey ,Rothley ,Mountsorrel into Barrow and onto the drag up Paudy lane took it easier this week until 1\3 of the way up a female ride past me and competitive me came out to play closed the gap and drafted for a while then being the gentleman 
took a turn on the front . We swapped places a few times as the hammer went down . For the 2nd week running my average speed went up on a 4 Mile uphill section . Thankfully at the top I went left and my compatriot went right . I genuinely think she could have dropped me at anytime 
but it was good fun putting in an effort . Wymeswold ,Wysall and Keyworth found the garden centre and a very relaxed stop ,mini breakfast consumed 
. It's was noticely warmer when getting back on the bike . East Leake ,Sutton Bonnington and finally the end of the alphabet for the ABC thread
. Through Newtown Linford which was mega busy as Bradgate park is always busy on a sunny day . Home 53 miles done and another challenge ticked off
;
Then across to the normal route down to Pannal, cutting across to Burn Bridge and up Brackenthwaite Lane, onto Bricscoe Rigg and pass the flying club to Almscliffe Crag.
East to Dunkeswick; the original plan had been to try yet another way up the hillside instead of going through Kirkby Overblow but with the gear issue I decided on the latter – it was interesting spinning up the hill north out of the village in “granny gear”. Not fancying anymore granny gearing if it could be avoided I stayed on the bypass as the gradients were comfortably manageable on the higher gears and a nice fast downhill section to the rear of Rudding Park.
Sticking to a regimented swig of a water at least every 20 minutes and a snack every hour; the 2 hours approached as I passed alongside the Stray so bench acquired. Think I may have broke some bye-law by cycling to and from it
Absolute torture.
