Signed up for the 100km Canter. Longest ride in a couple of years for me. Definitely a ride of two halves. The first half: Flat, headwind, dark, grey, cold. Got dropped by one of my ride buddies. Cried a bit. Nearly bailed.
That mcshroom did his 'talking commonsense' thing and talked me into riding on, and I'm so glad he did. We hit Ripon (last) and the sun came out, and it was like a different day from that point on. We got chatting to a couple of other people on the ride, and admired their nice bikes (a Flying Gate and a Bianchi), said hi to Nigel. We considered riding back the way we'd come, as it was slightly shorter and flatter. I'm not sure why we followed the route proper, but it rewarded us with sunshine and beautiful views, and it certainly felt harder but we got some of that evening sunshine stuff, and just like last week we chased the daylight and made it back in time.
The hedgerows were just beginning to show green on the twig-tips, and the winter wheat was looking fresh - amazing what a difference a couple of days' sunshine makes. It felt like the start of spring, riding a bike was a good way to see it.
I didn't walk any lumpy bits, and I'm pleased about that, because the return route was Audax-flat, but not flat-flat. This is my patch now, but thanks to last year's When I'm 64 and LEL mcshroom could navigate the roads better than I can, and found a slightly less steep route through Middleton Tyas. It still felt challenging on tired unfit legs.
It was good to say hi to a few familiar faces too. Only a flat slow 100km ride, which to most here is chickenfeed, but for me something of an achievement. Wouldn't have got round without mcshroom though.
