Day 1
Bike ride to Berkhamstead, a gentle 20 mile ride to start things off. Sadly on the route out we find that Gaddesdon Row is strewn with litter from someone's Christmas. About a mile of litter. Sickening.
But it's good to see that other Breeze ladies are out and about on their bikes. The weather is looking promising for this week. We have lunch at my friend Katie's (wonderful roast pork), but we can't hang around as the days are short and we don't want to run out of light.
There is just time to pop into Waitrose to check for bargains. And there is! Whole Salmon, cheap as chips. Stuart would like the record to show that on the return journey his panniers weighed 25lb! Oops!
Day 2
On Tuesday the plan is to do a slighter longer ride, so we choose the Hub 45 route (45km, so only about 30 miles). Stuart has modified the route slightly, so we miss out the horrendous Dunstable Downs hill climb. We obviously still climb the same height, but the gradient is gentler, the road is virtually traffic free and the same great view at the top!
The weather was fab today, and we were loving the winter sun until the route looped around and suddenly we find the low winter sun is blinding. I never even considered wearing my sunnies today.
There is a lot of climbing on this route, which all gets spent in two serious downhills. The first one is fine, although pretty busy with cars, but the second one is absolutely fabulous. You turn a corner, all houses, side streets and parked cars disappear, so there are just rolling fields either side. It feels completely safe, so that even I can completely let go of the brakes. As you fly down the hill, you eventually whizz past the village sign for Tottenhoe, and at this point the gradient gently flattens out into a nice long flat. I have always called this section "Tits away to Tottenhoe". And today I decided that Strava needed to have a segment created to record this fabulous downhill.
Day 3
Note to self, if the weather forecast contains the words over 40mph - don't get on a bike!
Just a very short 15 mile ride today, lucky not to get blown off bike!
Note to self, if the weather forecast contains the words over 40mph - don't get on a bike!
Just a very short 15 mile ride today, lucky not to get blown off bike!
Day 4
What a glorious day for a ride, blue skies and sunshine!! Who would believe it is December?
This photo was taken just before we accidentally cycled up Pipers hill. Won't be doing that again!
We had a lovely cup of tea and cake at Potten End with some VCC members (where I forgot to take a picture, we do cycle with others - honest!) and then we went to The Hub for a coffee, where Stuart decided to buy a cycling cap because of the low winter sunshine. Sigh, now we're not going to see sun again until Spring!
Day 5
It's New Year's Day and several months ago Stuart and I thought it would be fun to ride up the biggest, toughest hill in the area and claim King and Queen of the Mountain 2016 for Bison Hill. This didn't seem like such a good idea first thing this morning, when the car was all iced up and the roads looked frozen. Nevertheless, we set off and were surprised to find that Bison Hill looked reasonable.
We parked in the zoo car park at the top of the hill and quickly rode to the bottom so we could do the climb back up! Stuart headed up easily, but I struggled my way up (the gradient is 14% at times), I even paused briefly half way up as I thought I was about to vomit! I was very pleased to see an actual Bison next to the fence, but he had headed off into the distance by the time I came back down to take a photo.
I'm delighted to say that I am Queen of the Mountain for today. No other woman was crazy enough to ride the hill on a cold and frosty New Year's Day.
Unfortunately, Stuart was beaten up the hill by 1 second, by another crazy fool. He has mentioned this several times already today, I'm hoping this doesn't last until 2017!
As soon as we had done the climb, we headed off to do another ride, meeting Helen and Mike at Cafe Nero, so that we could ride to Emily's in Whitwell for a coffee.
There were one or two puddles on the way over!
At the cafe, we also met up with Veronique and Susan, so it was lovely to catch up and have a natter and talk about cycling plans for 2016!
Day 6
Blimey, I've nearly made it! Stuart and I cycle to Harpers Farm shop to sample the coffee (but not the cakes! I think that Christmas has taken its toll)
Today is only a very short easy 12 miles. I'm saving my energy for the VCC ride tomorrow. However, the weather forecast is atrocious. I'm really not sure that it is a good idea to attempt a club ride tomorrow.
Day 7
I am very trepidatious today. We have done a club ride to Chipperfield before, and the weather was horrendous. The forecast today is no better than last time we did the ride! However, this year, I have a waterproof that doesn't leak and a change of socks and gloves.
The journey out is not too bad, a few major puddles to navigate and the rain was quite light. Nevertheless, I change my socks at the tea stop, and that feels so good!
We had a very relaxed, convivial break, probably all the more enjoyable because we weren't that wet!
The return journey was a different story, the rain was now lashing down. At times I couldn't even see the road my glasses were so wet. Somehow, I managed to keep the group in sight the whole time, which is quite amazing for me. Plus last time we did this ride, Stuart had to push me up the hills as we rode side by side, that was not required this year! Strava showed that my average speed on the ride increased from 9.5mph to 10.2 mph. I am mighty chuffed with this progress.
I have thoroughly enjoyed my UK staycation, it has been an absolute delight to fit in so many bike rides (whatever the weather) and then be able to come home and sit in front of a roaring log fire, where I sit right now, trying very hard not to think about work tomorrow!
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