Despite the wonderful train system, I finally made it to Cornwall.
Staying with friends in Penzance so when they drove to St Ives
yesterday, I opted to cycle.
It's hilly. Not mountainous. No sudden cliff faces (Well... maybe a
couple). Just very long, persistent ascents. These are matched by some
long persistent descents which makes for some insanely fun car
pursuits on the recumbent as the driver in front realises that the
only reason you're travelling at that speed is that he's in the way!
Leaving St Ives I managed to fall off for the first time. Not so much
a traditional pratfall as a
this-is-a-bloody-steep-hill-and-I've-just-run-out-of-gears-and-I'm-swerving-across-the-road-I-wonder-if-I-can-turn-round-oh-[censored]-I'm-on-the-floor!
I picked myself up and readjusted my front brake (Which had rather
disturbingly pulled through - I must have really hauled on the lever)
and put the chain onto the small ring.
I then rode the cost line around to Land's End (Kind of compulsory
really!) then rode back to Penzance along the main road.
Very pretty countryside and a great area to ride, but you really do
have to accept that low gears are going to be a necessity, not an
option. Thankfully the freewheelin' down hills more than made up for
the slow ascents.
Now looking out at the gales and planning a trip to Falmouth
(Apparently there's these geezers who build trikes there! ;-) ) for
tomorrow if the weather holds.
Jon (Who apologises for any peculiar formatting that may appear as a
consequence of Google Grouping!)