It was a bit cooler this morning, but still lovely for the 1st November really and so i opted for trousers and my wind proof jacket, which was just about right. I had some new territory planned and some pretty big hills to contend with that I hadn't tried before.
Slight annoyance getting the bike out of the shed, as I poked a hole in my trousers with the mudguard
I felt quite lethargic to begin with, on the way to Bayston Hill, legs a bit flat, etc and so I was a bit worried that I was going to struggle on the hills, but a stop at the top of Lyth Hill for a chocolate bar seemed to do the trick.
I continued up Long Lane (which must be the most overused country lane I know, always loads of cars, 13 today!! It doesn't go anywhere in particular) and then began the climbing into the stengthening headwind, up to Oaks.
Next destination was Wrentnall, where I passed a nice lady on a horse, who apologised for blocking my path. She really didn't need to! Her dogs were not far ahead, 1 very friendly and 1 scared stiff of me
!
I then hit the new territory and the proper climbing. There were a few gradient arrows to contend with as I aimed for Habberley, somewhere I've never been, even in a car. It's a lovely pretty village and has a nice looking pub called the Mytton Arms.
I then turned in the direction of Eastridge Woods, which I am told by my Mountain Biking colleagues is one of the top trails in the country.
I didn't go all the way up to the woods because it looked a steep climb and I had some serious hills to get up yet. I stopped for a bag of crisps and had these 2 join me in the hope of some food
Back on the road I was heading for Westcott and the infamous Cothercott Hill!! The lane was very busy and I must have pulled in to let about 8 cars through. I think people use it as a cut through to Pontesbury. The lane got steeper and steeper until I reached Cothercott Hill from its Western Side. It reminded me of Lake District climbs and I had to drop to bottom gears and just grind my way up, only stopping once to get my breath though. I had a chap stop to let me through and he wound his window down to give me some encouragement up the hill
Once I reached the main road there was a bit more climbing to the peak of the hill, where I stopped to take a couple of pics of the fabulous view at about 1200 ft above sea level
Eastridge Woods in the distance, where I had been earlier
It was then the downhill section, which was just the most fantastic bit of cycling I think I've ever done. I broke the 40mph barrier for the 1st time on a bike, 41.3 mph
!! Worth all of the climbing for that.
It was a general downhill trend for the rest of the ride, thankfully, and with the wind behind me i cruised along to Dorrington, Condover, Atcham, and through Attingham Park.
Out on the horrid rat run I had the usual 1 complete w%#ker, in a Silver truck thing with Thunder emblazoned on the back (not the same 1 as you had trouble with was it @Rickshaw Phil ?) who sped past me doing about 60mph, with a car coming the other way, giving me absolutely no room. I seriously think he missed me by about 6 inches, as it blew me off course towards the hedge. However, learning from Phil's incident, I didn't react and continued to Uffington and home. I probably shouldn't waste my words on these idiots, but it was just downright bloody dangerous and they are the sort of close passes that frustrate me.
35.5 miles
11 mph avg (it was down below 9 after Cothercott!)
1997 ft of climbing
Great fun!
Slight annoyance getting the bike out of the shed, as I poked a hole in my trousers with the mudguard
I felt quite lethargic to begin with, on the way to Bayston Hill, legs a bit flat, etc and so I was a bit worried that I was going to struggle on the hills, but a stop at the top of Lyth Hill for a chocolate bar seemed to do the trick.
I continued up Long Lane (which must be the most overused country lane I know, always loads of cars, 13 today!! It doesn't go anywhere in particular
) and then began the climbing into the stengthening headwind, up to Oaks.Next destination was Wrentnall, where I passed a nice lady on a horse, who apologised for blocking my path. She really didn't need to! Her dogs were not far ahead, 1 very friendly and 1 scared stiff of me
!I then hit the new territory and the proper climbing. There were a few gradient arrows to contend with as I aimed for Habberley, somewhere I've never been, even in a car. It's a lovely pretty village and has a nice looking pub called the Mytton Arms.
I then turned in the direction of Eastridge Woods, which I am told by my Mountain Biking colleagues is one of the top trails in the country.
I didn't go all the way up to the woods because it looked a steep climb and I had some serious hills to get up yet. I stopped for a bag of crisps and had these 2 join me in the hope of some food
Back on the road I was heading for Westcott and the infamous Cothercott Hill!! The lane was very busy and I must have pulled in to let about 8 cars through. I think people use it as a cut through to Pontesbury. The lane got steeper and steeper until I reached Cothercott Hill from its Western Side. It reminded me of Lake District climbs and I had to drop to bottom gears and just grind my way up, only stopping once to get my breath though. I had a chap stop to let me through and he wound his window down to give me some encouragement up the hill
Once I reached the main road there was a bit more climbing to the peak of the hill, where I stopped to take a couple of pics of the fabulous view at about 1200 ft above sea level
Eastridge Woods in the distance, where I had been earlier
It was then the downhill section, which was just the most fantastic bit of cycling I think I've ever done. I broke the 40mph barrier for the 1st time on a bike, 41.3 mph
!! Worth all of the climbing for that.It was a general downhill trend for the rest of the ride, thankfully, and with the wind behind me i cruised along to Dorrington, Condover, Atcham, and through Attingham Park.
Out on the horrid rat run I had the usual 1 complete w%#ker, in a Silver truck thing with Thunder emblazoned on the back (not the same 1 as you had trouble with was it @Rickshaw Phil ?) who sped past me doing about 60mph, with a car coming the other way, giving me absolutely no room. I seriously think he missed me by about 6 inches, as it blew me off course towards the hedge. However, learning from Phil's incident, I didn't react and continued to Uffington and home. I probably shouldn't waste my words on these idiots, but it was just downright bloody dangerous and they are the sort of close passes that frustrate me.
35.5 miles
11 mph avg (it was down below 9 after Cothercott!)
1997 ft of climbing
Great fun!
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Once again I wasn't ready with the waterproofs as it wasn't forecast to rain here today.
Luckily the showers were short lived. Wish I could say the same about the wind. I was riding into it now and it was quite gusty so progress through Cockshutt was quite slow. It rained again on the way to Baschurch - a heavy shower at first that stopped the moment I put my rain cape on, then lighter but longer lasting rain. I finished off my first bottle of water around here and discovered that the second was half empty due to having leaked and soaked the interior of my panniers plus the contents.
