Another Early Start!

Sunday 24 Feb 2008

For once getting up at 5:45am didn't feel silly! It wasn't cold, frosty, wet or windy. It was calm and relatively warm! Set off just after 6am to meet Tim somewhere near Newport. As I cycled through Newport I began to wonder if Tim was up! A single light glowed in the distance!

I turn round and cycle back through Newport with Tim and we take a turning heading out towards Debden. It's lovely at that time in the morning, quiet, calm, no traffic! We took the back roads around the south of Saffron Walden and then headed out past Finchingfield towards Weathersfield, past Richard and Sandy's house and the village hall where Richard is directing Fiddler on the Roof in a couple of weeks time! On towards Braintree, up and down more hills than either Tim or I expected to find in Essex! Round Braintree on a bit of dual carriageway, and then back onto B-roads out to Witham - a good road, long, mostly flat, and got up some good speed (well Tim did and I hung on in there!).

Stopped briefly for a call of nature and some malt loaf, and on to Malden (53 miles) - the furthest East on our ride today, but we were too early for a cup of tea from the pub on the quayside! Just before we reached the quayside, we stopped to consult the map, on setting off again I cycled straight into the back of Tim's bike and promptly fell off sideways - feet still firmly in cleats. It must has looked hilarious to anyone passing! Anyway, the seat twisted and trying to get it aligned and the right height didn't quite work.

Another uncomfortable 30 miles to go to get back home for me, and 14 on top of that for Tim. The rise out of Malden is a long slow climb, against the wind. I struggled to match Tim for speed and my legs felt empty! Though it was quite an amazing view looking over Chelmsford from the top of the hill at Danbury. And the down hill into Chelmsford was a very welcome free mile or so!

Just the other side of Chelmsford we stop for more water (and a Mars bar), and the last 20 miles were a lot better after that! I left Tim at Hockerill lights in Bishop's Stortford and headed home (completing 83.5 miles) for a lovely Sunday lunch with the family after a game of footy in the back garden with Joe and Amy!

Got a text from Tim, he made it to Quendon and needed a lift from Tracey to get home. I'm not surprised, cycling on your own is hard especially after 87.5 miles carrying me most of the way! Thanks Tim! We'll have to organise something for a couple of weeks time...

Total Miles for the week: 153.5 miles