fivemack: (Default)
Tom Womack ([personal profile] fivemack) wrote2012-02-26 10:42 pm

Tired now

First CTC ride of the year: out on the Coton footpath, Madingley Road, old-A428, Knapwell, Conington, Hemingford Grey, St Ives, tea and cake. Wiggle cross-country through Huntingdon and Brampton, over the A1 and down to the top of Grafham Water. Track around Grafham Water to the visitor's centre at the south (amused by universally ignored 'cyclists dismount' signs at the top of all the interesting descents), pie and orange juice.



South to Little Staughton (I think), into St Neots at Eaton Socon, riverside paths then out of St Neots on the B1046. Abbotleys, Waresley, hot chocolate and more cake. Gamlingay, past Little Gransden airfield, back onto the B1046, Longstowe, Bourne, Toft, Hardwick, back onto the old-A428 and back home.

110km in total; I could have given two decimal places had my bike computer not totally reset itself at about the turning off to Hardwick (99.some km) and then not admitted the existence of the sensors. I made it, but I was really struggling up some of the hills between St Neots and Waresley (dropping 250 metres behind the back-marker and unable to summon up the strength to close the distance). Apparently frequently cycling distances you can just about manage is a good way to get better ...

There's an official write-up of this ride on the CTC Cambridge blog; I am visible in two of the photos, with this one placing me in an unrepresentative position in the pack.

(Anonymous) 2012-02-27 02:24 pm (UTC)(link)
That's an impressive distance, and looks like a lovely sunny ride. How about swapping one of the cake stops for an apple?

[identity profile] fivemack.livejournal.com 2012-02-27 02:55 pm (UTC)(link)
I think that should wait until I can make the distance with more ease powered by chocolate-coated caramel shortbread, which, notwithstanding its obvious deficiencies, is undeniably more energy-dense than apples. Or I could take a great multitude of apples.

I did try a banana-powered ride one Sunday; I didn't get to eat any of them and it took me quite a long time to get all the squished banana out of my rucksack.
Edited 2012-02-27 16:10 (UTC)

[identity profile] ceb.livejournal.com 2012-02-27 07:24 pm (UTC)(link)
I run mostly on egg sandwiches on long bike rides; I find the sugar of sugary things wears off too quickly.