stapfam
05-13-07, 07:06 AM
I did say that rain was expected and it came. I was thinking about taking a gentle 5 mile ride up to a cafe that serves a good breakfast but I did say pie and the only pie they serve is steak and kidney or beef and onion. So it is down to the coast by road, in the rain. Saving grace was that I have the I Pod set up with the music I want and that is mainly blues, some queen and a lot of Status Quo. Kept my mind of off thinking how wet I was going to be shortly.
So Down to Fusciardis for the best coffee around and the only pie they had which was apple. Sorry no pic of the pie but if I had taken it outside- it would have got soggy and I do not like soggy pie. Pic of the Cafe and the bike and thesun came out for about 2 minutes- just to give me false hope that it would dry up. Couple more pictures along the seafront and the band playing is the British Legion one playing at the Sunday Morning service. Funny how people are not religious in the rain. Only 4 people at the service. Then it was up the Gigzags- A deceptively easy climb that I take novices up as it looks a lot worse than it is. Then where to go- I wanted a couple of hills so out to the Basket one- The hill is an average of 16% but it is on a very narrow twisty main road and Buses get a bit close when passing you. Down the other side to My MTB cafe but just turned round and back up the average 12% hill for 1 1/2 miles. That got the legs working and Either I was going faster than I thought I was, or a headwind was springing up from the East. Then out to Birling gap for a 5% for 2 miles. One long drag and it was hard. There was an easterly headwingd at around 25 mph and gusting a lot more on occasions. Got to the top and the road was awash. It was now raining hard. Good run down into Eastbourne on another steep hill and at the bottom I got sirened by a police car. They had followed me down and the passenger wound the window down and jokingly told me that 42 mph was not acceptable in a 30 mph zone. I apoligised and gave DG's address for the ticket- Well it is his ride.
Then a long boring ride up the MUP to home. It was still raining so another couple of pics to prove it and the Pond is the Common Pond in the Town where I live.
Did I say it was a wet ride? Think I did but this was a ride that I should not have enjoyed at all. Feet are still dry due to the Sealskinz socks and the body is dry due to the goretex. I had leggings on so they are not too bad but the bike is filthy. So is my outer clothing but most of the road dirt was washed away in the last 2 miles when the heavens did open up. This was a fantastic ride for me. Got the miles in- got the hills in and did a ride in not the most pleasant of conditions- Reminds me of when I was younger and took every ride in my stride. I feel fantastic right now and just can't wait to get in the bath. Got to clean that bike first though, and I had better mop up the kitchen where I took the goretex and shoes off.
So DG and SKT and all you others out there with new bikes- If you did not ride today or yesterday- then double is required next week. Hold on- My NEW bike still comes under that banner as it is only 11 months old. By the way- It was a full I Pod ride as the music just started the second playing as I got home. 4 hours of Music I like. What could be better except a ride in the Sun with no wind or rain.
So Down to Fusciardis for the best coffee around and the only pie they had which was apple. Sorry no pic of the pie but if I had taken it outside- it would have got soggy and I do not like soggy pie. Pic of the Cafe and the bike and thesun came out for about 2 minutes- just to give me false hope that it would dry up. Couple more pictures along the seafront and the band playing is the British Legion one playing at the Sunday Morning service. Funny how people are not religious in the rain. Only 4 people at the service. Then it was up the Gigzags- A deceptively easy climb that I take novices up as it looks a lot worse than it is. Then where to go- I wanted a couple of hills so out to the Basket one- The hill is an average of 16% but it is on a very narrow twisty main road and Buses get a bit close when passing you. Down the other side to My MTB cafe but just turned round and back up the average 12% hill for 1 1/2 miles. That got the legs working and Either I was going faster than I thought I was, or a headwind was springing up from the East. Then out to Birling gap for a 5% for 2 miles. One long drag and it was hard. There was an easterly headwingd at around 25 mph and gusting a lot more on occasions. Got to the top and the road was awash. It was now raining hard. Good run down into Eastbourne on another steep hill and at the bottom I got sirened by a police car. They had followed me down and the passenger wound the window down and jokingly told me that 42 mph was not acceptable in a 30 mph zone. I apoligised and gave DG's address for the ticket- Well it is his ride.
Then a long boring ride up the MUP to home. It was still raining so another couple of pics to prove it and the Pond is the Common Pond in the Town where I live.
Did I say it was a wet ride? Think I did but this was a ride that I should not have enjoyed at all. Feet are still dry due to the Sealskinz socks and the body is dry due to the goretex. I had leggings on so they are not too bad but the bike is filthy. So is my outer clothing but most of the road dirt was washed away in the last 2 miles when the heavens did open up. This was a fantastic ride for me. Got the miles in- got the hills in and did a ride in not the most pleasant of conditions- Reminds me of when I was younger and took every ride in my stride. I feel fantastic right now and just can't wait to get in the bath. Got to clean that bike first though, and I had better mop up the kitchen where I took the goretex and shoes off.
So DG and SKT and all you others out there with new bikes- If you did not ride today or yesterday- then double is required next week. Hold on- My NEW bike still comes under that banner as it is only 11 months old. By the way- It was a full I Pod ride as the music just started the second playing as I got home. 4 hours of Music I like. What could be better except a ride in the Sun with no wind or rain.