6/11/11
Clear cool sunny morning. Met with 'old' Tom and a few of the lads. Roger seems to be a regular...other riders have come & gone. Today there was a girl from Australia with us. We headed eastwards into the wind and through Thrapston looping around skirting Oundle and home through Brigstock. A lovely ride and my legs keeping their fitness - I'm determined to keep riding through this winter...once it arrives!
40.35 2h41m @15mph 1688ft climb
20/11/11
More grey & overcast but generally mild - Tom led us southwards skirting Wollaston before heading home. One of the chaps had a puncture within 400yds of the start! And my rear gear cable snapped! Tom adjusted the chain up a couple of cogs and I made it home using the 3 front gears...bit like my old Raleigh 3-speed I rode for so many years
33m 2h12m @15mph 1147ft climb
27/11/11
Took Belle in for a full service & new cable in the week. As I was getting ready the heavens opened. I met up with young Hamish from over the road. His dad Richard was at Medical School with me 30 years ago. We rowed in the St Marys 1st VIII (Drug industry sponsored it was called FLAGYL-VIII!!! Flagyl being an antibiotic mostly used in gynaecological infections!), and it's a strange co-incidence that we should live in the same street. With clear blue skies and a brisk westerly wind Tom took us north to Geddington, then we battled in the wing across to Sibbertoft. The ride home from there was a wind assisted fast rollercoaster ride as we reaped the 'up wind investement!' I hit 42mph on a hill that I plan to return to...especially with a westerly wind! Roger's chain snapped coming out of Kelmarsh. Fortunately I had the de-linker and Tom had the Knowledge so we were soon on our way home. Hamish kept up well and despite the fatigue of a rugby game the day before finished strongly. At the end my legs felt like they had more miles in them and my new DHB super-rubeaux bib tights were very comfy & warm....thanks for the advice Michiel.
34.9 2h30m @13.9mph 1559ft climb
TOTAL FOR 2011 - 2696m 184.5 hours (moving!) can I get to 3000?? I think I'll go for it!
