Rather humbly, I was a complete failure on this ride. I would post my gpx track, but it extended from the front of the community centre to before the main road as you leave the hall. It has been deleted as an aberation in any case. I reckon I covered 20 metres, at a stretch. The first ride I could perhaps write a report on pedal stroke by pedal stroke and still not have enough to fill a paragraph.
A ride in Wales in mid-September (and a laziness on my part that meant I didn't strip the bike down after the ride, but instead rode another few events) completely disintegrated my front chainring, but had buggered the chain at the same time. These cancelled each other out until I changed the chain the night before Paul's ride. Cue absolutely no catch in the drivetrain. Reading about some of the proper mechanicals experienced and overcome on the ride, I should be ashamed. But actually I'm rather pleased I didn't flog myself round the course on the big ring (which was a possibility, as it was just about holding). It made me realise that, in fact, I was over the 2013 season and all the faux competitive shite that goes with chasing chunky AAA and distance point targets.
It also helped me identify (on sorting out the mechanical) that my lowest gear wasn't 34/28 as I had thought all through the 2013 season. It was 34/26. So I've wimped up the ratio to what I thought it was, with a new cassette, in the hope that I won't get so cream crackered on climbs. Silver linings and all that.
