No Excuses!

Recently Stuart went to the bike exhibition in London.  A high risk venture, as there are significant spending opportunities there.  Fortunately, however he just purchased the one gadget.  This thing in the picture below.

I don't know what it is called, but it is used to show us that our bikes are still firmly attached to the roof of the car.  Personally, I believe that if the bikes were to fall off the roof of the car, the sound of screeching metal might be a clue.  Also, you can look out of the window and check they are still safe!  (Actually, that picture is just to demonstrate that it is sunny today!)

Anyway, we are off to Huntingdon racecourse for the start of the Wiggle "No excuses" sportive.  We'll be doing the 41 mile standard ride.  The epic route is 80 miles and I don't think I'm ready for that yet.

The great thing about this ride is the flatness of the route, only 1,000 ft of climbing so it should be easy.

I thought this would be a great sportive to start with, due to the lack of hills, however, I hadn't factored in the wind.  No, I haven't been feeding Stuart lentils, the area is so flat we started off in a terrible headwind.  A really strong soul sapping headwind, and the temperature is only 2 deg C.

I really struggled for the first 10 miles or so, I know that +2 deg C is not cold by Montreal standards, but it pulls down the enjoyment factor of the ride quite significantly.

At 18 miles there is a feed station and a hot cup of coffee hits the spot.

Feeling revived, I am much happier on the second half of the route.  The temperature has doubled to +4. Woohoo.

I even decide to stop and take a few photos.  Stuart who has been monitoring the average speed of the ride on the Garmin is a little perplexed that I have disappeared and he has to wait.  I explain that I have been taking pictures of sheep.  "Sheep?"  He is incredulous, but I happen to think they are quintessentially English and worthy of a photo!

I also stop to take a picture of some thatched cottages and a happy cyclist.  I hadn't realised just how many thatched cottages there are in the Cambridgeshire area.  Obviously a well planned route by the Wiggle team to take us through such lovely countryside.

The journey back to the start is fabulous.  Downhill most of the way, plus a tailwind.  Marvellous!

At the end of the ride we are awarded medals, and I am very chuffed with mine, I think I have earned it!  

Unfortunately, our average speed was 11.1mph and I need to ride at 11.8 mph for the London Ride 100.  Work to be done!