Day 17 - Random Route

I woke, itching to get out on my bike this morning. Having run through in my mind a few new circuits as I dressed, I headed up the hill, out of town with still only a vague idea of which one I was going to take.

The long climb started well but as I turned into Marlpit Lane, the down hill route won over another climb, it was cold and damp and my muscles were now crying out for a breather. That route is banked for another day. The road down to the sea is now a well ridden one, but it looks as though I'm going to have to try something different to get safety above 22 mph, as I've plateaued at 21.9 and the challenge with continuing with Marlpit Lane are the obstacles: Luna sized potholes and speed bumps, so to avoid damaging the bike and myself in this challenge, I think I'm going to have to seek an alternative stretch of road.

The return route from the sea was in the direction of the hospital, but just as yesterday, I took a detour into Scalwell Lane and then rather than joining Harepath Lane for the homeward sprint, I turned off into Drovers Way for a looping up hill climb to the auction house. It should then have been a leisurely drop down the hill to join Seaton Down Road, but no, like a man possessed and with not a soul on the road, I banked through a 90 degree right into Homer Lane, I was beginning to feel I could stay out all day. Another climb and a new discovery, a cycle path and a short cut exiting onto Seaton Down Road. I'm beginning to really appreciate these cycle paths, but I wish they were more than just a token and intermittent offering. The final 1/5 of a mile was an exhilarating freewheel down hill, I just wonder if I bother to peddle, whether this could even be my new stretch of road for the speed test. Watch this space!

Stats: 3.85 mi, 24m 34s, Avg 9.4 mph, max 21.8 mph, 277 kcal