The Last Week of June

The last week of June has brought a sun filled sky and temperatures soaring into double figures. Although central and eastern England may be melting under a early summer heatwave, here in the South West we are enjoying a pleasant warm spell just perfect for a post work spin on the bike. Which  is just what I've been doing these past 4 days.

My week of cycling actually began on Sunday when I grabbed a quick hour to clock up the 20 or so km I was missing from my targeted weekly 100km. With no cycling buddies around and with a packed afternoon agenda, such that I had no time to hang around, I thought I'd ride my own time trial by doing 4 loops of the Axe Estuary. Averaging over 30 km/h this was a perfect one hour ride. I had thought I would surely be the only one to be daft enough to take on such a ride, alas no! Back in 2011 another chap registered the same 4 loops on Strava and frustratingly in a time of 4 minutes quicker! A re-run will definitely be required as I know I was definitely slowed up on some sectors by a couple of 4 wheeled carbon junkies and I'm sure I could take some of the rises quicker. Perhaps when I get my Tarmac back on the road.




On to Monday and the start of the new working week. After another scorching day, I'm in the lycra and pedalling up Seaton Down Hill before the town clock has had time to strike its five bells. The Mont Ventoux experience has done me well as I'm climbing quicker than before. It's all relative, however, as I'm out on my own with none of my normal whippet riding companions to compare myself against. I do, however, set a new PB of 4m:16s on this first 1km climb. I very much remember when I was striving to get below 5m, so a sub 4m must surely now be possible.

The circuit I have chosen is my favourite 20 miler, up to Honiton golf club, where I shout "haven't you heard, cycling is the new golf!" and then down the beautiful Northleigh descent past the dairy farms and through the clouds of kamikaze bullet flies, on into Colyton. The most frustrating part of this ride today, is the number of carbon junkies fugging up the roads. This is beginning to be a theme; oh I'm missing French roads!




Tuesday, and I'm surprisingly keen to hit the saddle again for a post work spin. Today the wind has picked up but the heat is still there. Lycra'd up and for the second day wearing my Mont Ventoux off the shoulder number, which I had thought, while back in Provence, would only ever be worn again as a light weight gilet, I head out in a reverse direction of yesterday's circuit.

I decide on the Offwell climb up to the golf club. On paper it is higher but being a little longer than Northleigh, I'm hoping it should be easier as my legs are now feeling the effects of cumulative rides. May be it will rain tomorrow!




Wednesday, it's my wife's birthday tomorrow, so my thought is, if I can get a cycle in today and complete my 100km, I can afford to duck out of the Thursday AVP club ride and may even take the weekend off as well.

I have in mind a slightly longer circuit, as I need around 25 miles if I'm not going to do the AVP ride. As soon as work is done, I'm out through the door and spinning along the estuary towards Lyme Regis. The route I have planned is similar to last week's Climbs and Punishment club ride. I was obviously not thinking straight when deciding this, as the title I gave that ride should have hinted as to whether it was suitable for a hot, post work circuit .. In truth and hardly surprising, it was a little hilly for my tired legs, but no pain no gain as they say.

While climbing Mont Ventoux, I experienced for the first time, heat and exertion displayed in the form of sweat dripping from the peak of my cap. Climbing out of Charmouth, I was able to repeat this feat as I hit an ascent sheltered from the wind but in plain view of that fiery orb in the sky!

With the climbs finally behind me, I realised that an ascending road takes the longest to traverse. I was now well behind plan and my tummy was rumbling! I had proposed to take a wider circular route out to Whitford but with my Garmin doing that favoured SatNav trick of getting lost and time slipping quickly away, I took the direct route back to base and that exhilarating 40km+ Bosshill descent into Colyford. Fortunately, having added a few km to the route by stopping off at Charmouth beach, I did not actually need the wider circuit to complete my 100km .. I can now rest up until Monday, the start of my sabbatical and a new adventure.