Post Op Pootle

With a need to get some miles in ahead of the Dartmoor Classic, in just four weeks, I was not going to let a sore kidney get in the way. Andy had been both out on a 50 mile ride with the 'Quiff speedsters' yesterday and was on taxi duty today, while I'd left it a bit late in the day to link up with Jason, so I had planned a solo 20 mile circuit out to Sidmouth.

On Sidmouth Seafront

Having suffered the steep climb up Roncombe Hill last month and following a discussion with Bobble of a less severe route out of Sidmouth - over a Branoc at the end of last week's AVP ride -  my route today was to take me up Sidbury Hill to the Hare and Hounds pub. I'm not sure now, however, whether I prefer a short sharp shock of a steep hill climb or a long 3 mile steady incline rising 200m that is Sidbury Hill! 

Talking of hill climbs, for what was going to be a gentle 'pootle', I made my best ever time up Seaton Down Hill, finally achieving a sub 5 minute time of 4m 57s, something I've been striving for since September last year when I set my last best time of 5m:20s. I'm obviously benefitting from having lost a few stones since then!

As I completed my long climb up Sidbury Hill and turned towards home at the Hare and Hounds, I was feeling so good that I decided to add a few more miles by including Southleigh and Colyton in my route, thus ending my circuit having completed 28 miles! This may not have been my longest weekend ride by far, but by exceeding my post op expectations by some way I'm now feeling good for the Dartmoor Classic and my Prudential RideLondon event which is closing fast at only 75 days away.