POTHOLE-PUNCTURE AND LOST IN PORTISHEAD
I write a note after most of my RRtY rides. Here is the last of AUK season 2023:
15 Oct 2023: AUK Glos, Wilts & Mendips 200 Perm: Trek. Super weather forecast but one supporting that Autumn has been restored. A 2nd Oct 200 to maintain my RRtY long-term ambitions? I had arranged to visit school friend Jill (we go back to 1958), so my route starts in Stroud to enjoy a Mendips traverse. Late start from Stroud through Nailsworth, Tetbury and Malmesbury, then Chippenham, Lacock and Melksham. A clever bus/bike route after Melksham avoids main roads to cross the Canal. Then, with sun in my eyes I did not spot potholes before traffic-calming bollards. Many stopped to confirm I needed no help. The P* stop cost 40 mins and resulted in very oily hands to release a jammed chain; job for dry leaves and grass. On, over the canal, to Trowbridge and the Mendips traverse to Radstock and the Greenway (ex-rail line) to Midsomer Norton. I called at Tesco to clean/wash off the hard grease, phoned Jill with timing update and continued past Paulton and Farrington Gurney to join the A37. At Jill’s I borrowed track pump to restore high pressure and enjoyed tea and cakes, together with a chat. With the P* and break, I had taken over 7hrs for 100km, on the max time limit with ave now at 13.3kph. Need to minimise stops, with still more lumpy Mendips through Blagdon! It was lights from Clevedon and through Portishead I took a wrong L turn and ended near the marina; lots of water on my Garmin screen! A resident advised a route to return to find Sheepway; that 20min off-route wander could prove costly, as I was on minimise stops. Sheepway found and now on familiar ground for the M5 bridge cycle path for Avonmouth, A430 to Pilning and lanes to Thornbury. I sensed time was critical, so made for the A38, for a faster (?) ride to the Dursley turn and crawl up Taits Hill. From Dursley, and knowing I would struggle (with exercise induced asthma, I have to keep HR low) up Crawley Hill, I opted for a Stroud route via Frocester round the base of the Cotswolds, a few Km longer but safe. I sensed (confirmed by gps) a tight finale after Dursley. It was - my Tesco ATM recorded 00:17 after a start ATM at 10:18 – phew! And, as the air chilled to zero deg, I could not afford the time to put on my Goretex and thicker gloves. Just managed to stay warm. Back at the car a quick bite to eat and drive home to arrive at 01:00. After a light meal (HM carrot soup, scrambled egg), I wrote my ride notes, and to bed at 05:00! Slept till noon.
Think I will end my 2023 Audax season at that and enjoy a couple weeks of Club riding; and let my whiplash (accident on 23 Sep where I wrote off another helmet as I landed after a driver drove out of his drive and blocked my path!) neck heal!
Distance: 209.97 km (Off distance 202km)
Timing: 13:57:50; Time 10:54:24 Moving Time 13:57:50 Elapsed Time (ATM time 13h 59m)
Elevation: 1,760.0 m Total Ascent
Pace Speed: 15.0 kph Avg Speed: 19.3 kph; Avg Mov Speed; 54.9 kph Max Speed
Temperature: 6.4 °C Avg Temp; 0.0 °C Min Temp; 24.0 °C Max Temp