True to form, despite getting up early, I faffed about getting ready but
there was no scheduled start as I was doing a permanent. This ride was
going to be different from all of the others as I had decided to take my
road bike - a bargain priced Raleigh R100. I'd previously ridden it only
once this year when I fitted a Brooks B17 saddle. The seat was comfortable
but the riding position wasn't. I measured up my Galaxy yesterday and
adjusted the bars and seat position on the R100 to match the Galaxy.
I packed the bike into my car and set off for Wetherby. I got to the end of
our street to find I'd forgotton about the Leeds marathon - an enforced one
hour delay until the road cleared. The weather was cool, damp and benign
when I eventually set off from Wetherby. I found myself barrelling along at
an average of 18mph through Boston Spa, Tadcaster and on to Selby. I caught
up with some stragglers from an organised bike ride - The Great Selby BIke
Ride I think. I also came across some foolhardy actions by participants.
The first incident was a mother and child riding two abreast - the child was
riding none too stably in the middle of the road. The second incident was
seing group of cyclists with their bikes laid well into the road on the
left hand side while they were having a conflab - it would have been much
safer for them to cross the road and use the pavement to park they bikes and
have their debate.
Selby was reached in about an hour and a quarter. A quick balance statement
and off to York. I chose the A19 because I wanted to reclaim some of the
time that i'd wasted earlier in the day. An uneventful ride - quick proof
of passage evidence obtained and a return to Selby via the York Selby cycle
route. Things were going well until I came across the peculiar loose packed
surface at the Selby end of the trail. The raceblade that I'd fitted to the
rear of the bike did a great job at keeping the crud off me. I didn't fit
the front one as I've been unable to persuade it to fit. I recieved a
liberal coating of the surface of the surface - loosened by the day's rain.
Getting back to Selby only a few minutes slower than the outward leg created
the possibility of a five hour ride inc. breaks.
Cawood and Ulleskelf reached without problems. The few climbs - if you can
call them that between Ulleskelf and Boston Spa made themselves felt but I
pressed on. Wetherby was reached with me still feeling quite fresh. Final
proof of passage obtained - five hours and three minutes....aaargh.....
But...I'd done 112km, 12km over the stated mesh distance so I feel justified
in claiming a five hour ride :-)
MSeries' ride report keeps things in perspective for me though. I'd still
have had 200km to go riding at the pace that I had ridden to match
him...phew!!!
I'll have to do a few more rides on the Raleigh. I carry fewer things -
enforced by the lack of a pannier rack and I've lost a stone over the past
month which makes progress a tad brisker. One more ride - the Wiggington
100 next week and that's 10 Audaxes under my belt since the mini NorthWest
120 and the Brevet 1000.