First bike ride along the towpath

We took Elisenda onto the towpath for the first time on her bike. We had Sofia in the trailer behind me and cycled half way to Hertford before turning around. Eli did really well, and next time we should make it all the way to Hertford and back.

Club runs

Went out on Wednesday on an evening club run. I wan't enjoying it, it rained a bit, and I just wasn't in the best frame of mind. Then at the top of the hill near whitehill golf clubwhile riding at the back of the group, I skidded a bit in the wet, and managed to get into the hedge at the side of the road, rather than fall off. So after a moment to regain composure, I went slowly down the hill to find that the group had gone on. I guessed which way (out of 3 possible options) and chose the wrong one, so ended up cycling to Puckeridge and down the old A10 back to Ware. Brian did phone later to see that I was ok which was nice.

On Thursday however, with a group of mainly new club cyclists and Brian, we rode to Brickendon and were shown round the 9.3 mile time trial circuit before having a go. It was windy and the course is hilly. I set off first and as I got going I aimed to complete in less than 30 mins and try not to be overtaken. I finished in 30.52 which was ok, and was taken 200m from the end of the circuit by Nick, the fastest rider who set off last and rode it in 25 mins, which again I was happy with. All was well in my cycling world again

On Sunday (today), I joined the regular club run - Ware to Clavering lakes this time (52 miles). Good weather, feeling ok, and a good ride. There was someone from work who used to do the wed night cycle rides and had never ridden this distance before so was suffering a bit on the way home. In the last bit I tried to chase a breakaway, which was fun, and then with Josh and another (Steve I think) we rode fast to get home to Ware as I had to get back to take the girls to the Plastic Duck Race on the river as part of the Ware Carnival. That too was fun.

Wednesday Club Run

Brian Hill led us on a good 25 mile club run this evening on roads that I haven't been on before - out to St Margarets to Wideford, over to Perry Green and on to Standon, before heading back to Ware. Got back home to see the last 20 mins of the Spain-Germany semi-final. Didn't feel too many after effects from sunday's 150k audax, though I noted that on the Tour de France they took 3hrs 45 mins to do 153k whereas I took 8 hrs 30 mins (including rest stops)...

4 Counties 150k Audax

I went on the Herts Wheelers 150k audax yesterday which took in 4 counties - Herts, Beds, Cambridgeshire and Essex. It was a warm, sunny but windy day so I set off with the factor 30 on. I rode as part of a group of 5 club members (Peter, Jason, Brian, Alex and me), and was doing ok for the first bit, although I was feeling it after not having ridden for two weeks since Paris. As usual, come the half way point, no one really wanted to eat much, but we did stop a little while later to buy sandwiches from a shell garage. So by 70 miles I was in trouble finding it hard to keep up with the fast pace of the group. I was nursed into the 80 mile control, where I got a drink and had a snack. The others raced off, and I rode in the last 15 miles at my own pace, coming in at 5:30 pm and then having a celebratory lager in the Greyhound pub afterwards.

news article

turns out that it is a busy news week in Ware - what with the festival coming up etc., so my debut in the local newspaper was either postponed or dropped. C'est la vie. Looking forward to the Herts Wheeler's audax on sunday and am aiming to do 150k which should be ok given I have had 2 week's rest effectively owing to other committments preventing me from biking since I got back.