Supersuperleeds
Legendary Member
- Location
- Leicester
After abandoning our attempt last week to complete the imperial century challenge @13 rider and myself had another go today.
Route was planned from Leicester to Lincoln to take advantage of the strong winds forecast. Would be 104 miles for him and 108 for me if we followed the route.
Out of the door at 06:20 for a leisurely pootle to the meeting point in Cossington for 07:20. It's only 11 miles or so, so no need to rush, but a nice tailwind and I'm flying along and get there nice and early. Decide to grab some roads for the ride every road website, shoulder check to turn right and see a bike coming up behind me, turn around and it is @13 rider so we head straight off.
He told me he had done an extra 4 miles to the meet so we decided we might change the route towards the end.
Up Humble Lane for the first easy climb of the day and along very familiar roads with the wind on our backs and before long we have the first proper climb of the day, Saxelbye hill and then the long but steady drag up to Wartnaby.
Head towards Belvoir and we are flying along with the wind. Through Denton, across the A607 and a right mean old climb.
Get to the A1 and use the bridge to get over and head to Ropsley, a six mile loop to grab a couple of veloviewer squares that included 3 or 4 miles into the headwind and it was hard work and we are back in Rospley.
We then head pretty much due north and take a slight detour to grab another veloviewer square at RAF Barkston Heath, Was a steady climb again into the headwind and again it was hard work, then a few miles of more steady climbing and we get to Byards Leap for the cafe stop.
Coffee and sausage sandwiches consumed and I tried to give @13 rider away as toddler on the table next to us took a shine to him, unfortunately his parents weren't interested. At this point we'd agreed that we would skip a loop that was on the route at Bardney as we thought we might be only a mile short of the ton by going direct to Lincoln from there. This might mean we could get the 14:17 (or something like that) train.
Through Cranwell (another RAF village) along a glorious bridleway which meant we didn't have to ride the A15. The wind is well and truly blowing now and we are doing 24-25 mph on the flat with no effort. Get to Walcott and turn into the wind for another 4 or 5 miles of really hard work. At one point we are working as hard as we can and doing 14 mph.
Eventually get to Metheringham and once again start to get the benefit of the wind and again have another mid 20's effortless ride to Bardney.
Distance marker along the water rail way indicated we would finish on 101 miles so no need to find anything extra if it was correct. 9 miles of even harder work as we once again head into the wind and we get to the station at about 12:55, the 13:01 train is in the station and we grab our tickets and get on the train. 101 miles each done.
Well done to @13 rider who completed his 3rd year of the challenge.
https://www.strava.com/activities/2920034897
Route was planned from Leicester to Lincoln to take advantage of the strong winds forecast. Would be 104 miles for him and 108 for me if we followed the route.
Out of the door at 06:20 for a leisurely pootle to the meeting point in Cossington for 07:20. It's only 11 miles or so, so no need to rush, but a nice tailwind and I'm flying along and get there nice and early. Decide to grab some roads for the ride every road website, shoulder check to turn right and see a bike coming up behind me, turn around and it is @13 rider so we head straight off.
He told me he had done an extra 4 miles to the meet so we decided we might change the route towards the end.
Up Humble Lane for the first easy climb of the day and along very familiar roads with the wind on our backs and before long we have the first proper climb of the day, Saxelbye hill and then the long but steady drag up to Wartnaby.
Head towards Belvoir and we are flying along with the wind. Through Denton, across the A607 and a right mean old climb.
Get to the A1 and use the bridge to get over and head to Ropsley, a six mile loop to grab a couple of veloviewer squares that included 3 or 4 miles into the headwind and it was hard work and we are back in Rospley.
We then head pretty much due north and take a slight detour to grab another veloviewer square at RAF Barkston Heath, Was a steady climb again into the headwind and again it was hard work, then a few miles of more steady climbing and we get to Byards Leap for the cafe stop.
Coffee and sausage sandwiches consumed and I tried to give @13 rider away as toddler on the table next to us took a shine to him, unfortunately his parents weren't interested. At this point we'd agreed that we would skip a loop that was on the route at Bardney as we thought we might be only a mile short of the ton by going direct to Lincoln from there. This might mean we could get the 14:17 (or something like that) train.
Through Cranwell (another RAF village) along a glorious bridleway which meant we didn't have to ride the A15. The wind is well and truly blowing now and we are doing 24-25 mph on the flat with no effort. Get to Walcott and turn into the wind for another 4 or 5 miles of really hard work. At one point we are working as hard as we can and doing 14 mph.
Eventually get to Metheringham and once again start to get the benefit of the wind and again have another mid 20's effortless ride to Bardney.
Distance marker along the water rail way indicated we would finish on 101 miles so no need to find anything extra if it was correct. 9 miles of even harder work as we once again head into the wind and we get to the station at about 12:55, the 13:01 train is in the station and we grab our tickets and get on the train. 101 miles each done.
Well done to @13 rider who completed his 3rd year of the challenge.
https://www.strava.com/activities/2920034897
🍻
