Went out yesterday afternoon. Yeay! Stopped at Tortworth but the strange days got stranger as they were out.of.caek. This never happens! Except yesterday, obviously, hence yesterday was never and I must be Jodie Whittaker (you can't ride a bike with Tom Baker's scarf). Then a bit of poking around the Damery and Huntingford area, before taking Station Road in Charfield, past the remains of sidings, the road became a track became a trail. Lifted my bike over two stiles; gates are easy, just over and down then climb after, but stiles you don't have the room to do that. You have to climb up then lift the bike after you – if you lift the bike up first, the projection stops you getting up the stile. But enough "cyclesplaining". Came to a house where man was tinkering in a shed, he said go through the gate and along the road then take the first left through Devil's Hollow if I don't mind a steep hill and a rough road. I was expecting an unrideable stony track but no, it was a proper road albeit in bad repair and steep but nothing to challenge the magic of the granny ring.
Headed back through Iron Acton, a bit hungry but yeay again! There's a chip shop in Frampton Cotterell. The chips were not, objectively, good, but they got me home. While I was sat on the grass outside the village, a red car came past. Window goes down, woman calls out "Are you alright?" "Yes, just eating my chips." "Oh, I was worried you'd fallen off." Interesting ways people's minds work.
All this in new
minimalist marginally lighter mode.
Slammed stem removed a 5mm spacer, still 30mm, and instead of the mega saddlebag, a small pack under the saddle for tube and tools, with a small bar bag.
So sporty! still an slow, unfit rider on a heavy steel bike.
