A longer ride this afternoon on a variation of a route I did earlier in the week: Condover, Cantlop, Acton Burnell, Cound Moor, Harnage, Cound, Cross Houses, Berrington, King Street. Condover and back.
Plenty of vehicles at the shops when I passed by, but there seemed not to be quite as many people walking and the roads seemed quieter than the last few times I've been out. I had a bit of help from the wind on the way through Condover to Cantlop then an obstacle from some mobile works that were going on at the side of the road. I got waved through but with a JCB blocking the carriageway I doubt that I was 6 feet from the workmen.
After joining the Acton Burnell road I could see another cyclist ahead and slowly reeled them in over the next mile or so. My chance to overtake came at the sharp dip just before Pitchford where I sprinted past at the bottom of the valley and breezed up the climb the other side at a rate which surprised me, cresting the bank at 14 mph, which would be pretty good going on any of my bikes let alone the Hawk. I don't know if it was the timing of the sprint or if I just picked up a helping tailwind at the right moment.
The gentle climb through Pitchford and on to Acton Burnell brough reality back as I settled down to my more usual 11 mph. I didn't see the other cyclist again though.
Heading through Acton Burnell and Cound Moor was pretty quiet. I cut the corner heading to Harnage, had the road completely to myself as far as Cound and noticed that the house with the flag pole was flying a Yorkshire county flag today.
Few cars on the A458 so I stayed on it to Cross Houses again, then I had to start working against the wind as I turned back towards Condover.
I'd only seen about five cyclists on the trip so far (plus a bike leaned against a hedge near Harnage with no sign of a rider) but after getting back to Condover I passed a few riders heading the other way and was catching one ahead, meaning that the final tally ended up at about 14.
20.5 miles this time at 13.9 mph average.
Edit: I forgot to mention having to avoid the youngster walking a labrador who got dragged out into the road in front of me on the way out through Condover. Good job I wasn't in a car.
Near Acton Burnell, the swans are still quite at home in the steadily shrinking pool left over from the wet winter.