Last weekend really was fantastic - one of the best for a very long time where I felt myself again.
On Friday morning I went out for a short 25 mile bike ride with Kevin - through Hurn and into the New Forest in preparation for Sundays 66 miler for the British Heart Foundation. That night it was Busts for a curry, sadly he was called to New York, as always it was good to mix with friends new and old again. So glad all my kids are older too.
Saturday was spent just pootling around, doing shopping and other bits and pieces. Early in the evening Phil & Marissa arrived from London to do the ride as well. We cycled down the prom and had a quick and very pleasant beer at Boscombe Pier before heading back for a quick BBQ and too much Vodka whilst the sun set. Wolfed down and not at all ruined by the potato salad I had let burn dry earlier - it just had that rustic smokey taste.
Sunday morning, we were up at 7.00 loaded the cars and headed to Kev's to make our way to Wimborne and the start of the ride. With an only slightly sore bum, Camelback in place, tool box stuffed with bananas and Mars Bars on the pannier rack we headed off. Phil a seasoned pro soon sped off and Marissa followed as our pace was too slow - at an average of 13mph. A beautiful sunny day the Dorset countryside was stunning with yellow fields of rape contracting the lush spring green as it passed slowly by. At 20 miles - with my bum only slightly hurting, the route split and it was time to decide to do the 50 or 69 mile course. The hills just before this point absolutely killed me - I was down to 1st / 2nd gear and my thighs burning like hell so I decided to do the 50. Kevin, Lisa, Dean & Nick all being fitter than me went right to do the 66. Well they did do the 50 last year and wanted to improve.
Meandering along past streams and picturesque villages and houses punctuated with a couple of breaks for bananas, mars bars and more water it was only spoilt by a couple of killer hills and then more glorious countryside. When my camera is fixed I'll be back to take some photo's and walk the dog.
Just as I was starting to lag with 10 miles to go, the route joined the 25 mile ride, which gave me a new impetus to pass more people than had been passing me! They were mainly families but it did keep me going at a good rate despite my bum being serious bruised, my hands on fire and my kidneys being pierced with needles by some unseen sadist. Even the 7, 5 & 2 mile to go signs were wrong - a mile too early. Battling to the finish line meant riding up a hill to the school where we started - why do they do this - make you pay for it all even more over the last mile? Just not fair anyways 50 miles in 2 hours 50 mins riding time with a little extra time for stops. Not bad at all given I only started training on the Wednesday.
As I rode back into the car park Phil was waiting sunning himself lazily in his camp chair - back for while after going half way round the 66 mile route then heading back. Marissa arrived ten minutes later having done the full 66 miles in just over three hours. That is going some.
Getting out of hot sticky clothes I settled down to watch the end of the Turkish GP, listen to the football while gently snoozing and watching out for the others. They came in at around 4 1/2 hours. Lisa was the 9th woman to finish the 66 mile route. Sore hot sweaty but very happy and rightly so. Next year I'll be able to finish with them.
The day ended with another BBQ and a reasonably early tumble into bed, shattered but content.
On Friday morning I went out for a short 25 mile bike ride with Kevin - through Hurn and into the New Forest in preparation for Sundays 66 miler for the British Heart Foundation. That night it was Busts for a curry, sadly he was called to New York, as always it was good to mix with friends new and old again. So glad all my kids are older too.
Saturday was spent just pootling around, doing shopping and other bits and pieces. Early in the evening Phil & Marissa arrived from London to do the ride as well. We cycled down the prom and had a quick and very pleasant beer at Boscombe Pier before heading back for a quick BBQ and too much Vodka whilst the sun set. Wolfed down and not at all ruined by the potato salad I had let burn dry earlier - it just had that rustic smokey taste.
Sunday morning, we were up at 7.00 loaded the cars and headed to Kev's to make our way to Wimborne and the start of the ride. With an only slightly sore bum, Camelback in place, tool box stuffed with bananas and Mars Bars on the pannier rack we headed off. Phil a seasoned pro soon sped off and Marissa followed as our pace was too slow - at an average of 13mph. A beautiful sunny day the Dorset countryside was stunning with yellow fields of rape contracting the lush spring green as it passed slowly by. At 20 miles - with my bum only slightly hurting, the route split and it was time to decide to do the 50 or 69 mile course. The hills just before this point absolutely killed me - I was down to 1st / 2nd gear and my thighs burning like hell so I decided to do the 50. Kevin, Lisa, Dean & Nick all being fitter than me went right to do the 66. Well they did do the 50 last year and wanted to improve.
Meandering along past streams and picturesque villages and houses punctuated with a couple of breaks for bananas, mars bars and more water it was only spoilt by a couple of killer hills and then more glorious countryside. When my camera is fixed I'll be back to take some photo's and walk the dog.
Just as I was starting to lag with 10 miles to go, the route joined the 25 mile ride, which gave me a new impetus to pass more people than had been passing me! They were mainly families but it did keep me going at a good rate despite my bum being serious bruised, my hands on fire and my kidneys being pierced with needles by some unseen sadist. Even the 7, 5 & 2 mile to go signs were wrong - a mile too early. Battling to the finish line meant riding up a hill to the school where we started - why do they do this - make you pay for it all even more over the last mile? Just not fair anyways 50 miles in 2 hours 50 mins riding time with a little extra time for stops. Not bad at all given I only started training on the Wednesday.
As I rode back into the car park Phil was waiting sunning himself lazily in his camp chair - back for while after going half way round the 66 mile route then heading back. Marissa arrived ten minutes later having done the full 66 miles in just over three hours. That is going some.
Getting out of hot sticky clothes I settled down to watch the end of the Turkish GP, listen to the football while gently snoozing and watching out for the others. They came in at around 4 1/2 hours. Lisa was the 9th woman to finish the 66 mile route. Sore hot sweaty but very happy and rightly so. Next year I'll be able to finish with them.
The day ended with another BBQ and a reasonably early tumble into bed, shattered but content.
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