I Want to Ride My Bicycle!

Discipline: Bike

Distance: 30 miles

Time: 1:57

Av speed: 15.1 mph

Well, I set out to do about 22-25 miles, but got lost again (I have a habit of doign that, have you noticed?) and ended up doing 30. The problem with any route I can come up with that starts from home is that I spend the first few miles heading through traffic. I either head down towards Reigate (lots of dual carriageway) or out through Epsom (a bugger to get through, particularly with Crimbo shoppers around!). Today I opted to go out through Epsom, and although the first few miles were quite stop/start, I was soon on the road out towards Oxshott, which is pretty much a straight run through. I reached Oxshott in about 30 minutes, and that's about nine miles.

I turned right and headed up towards Esher, and went through the ten mile point in a few minutes more. Technically it was about 36 minutes, but if you factor out the slowing down for lights, it's probably closer to 34, and I wasn't wellying it as I knew I had to do another 15 miles after that (which turned out to be another 20!).

I turned left at Esher, down the A307. Somewhere down here I got lost, and instead of turning back towards Oxshott, I headed straight through into Leatherhead. That was okay, but it did add to my journey time. It also bought a long, steep hill into play! Plus of course Leatherhead one way system, and more nasties in the traffic. Then back through Ashtead and into Epsom, and more weaving hell. It wouldn' tbe too bad, but with clip in pedals it's dangerous! I turned left towards Ewell as there was a massive tail back, and came back along Longmead Avenue and past Ewell West station. Then one final climb up Howell's Hill, and then back home. It was about four hundredths short of 30 miles, so I went 35 yards down the road and then came back, just to make sure!!

Let's just see how my legs feel tomorrow (and indeed the next day). I'd like to do the pirate 56 miler on the 29th, but it may be a crazy build up!