Thursday Catch Up
Tuesday
Was going to do a bike ride, but the weather report promised more rain after waking up to it. It brightened up, the roads dried, and I consoled myself with the fact that I could go the next day. Went to the gym to do some upper body weights, abs, and a bit of a swim, spoilt by the chav family making a right racket - grrrr!
Wednesday
Went to Body Pump, did slightly lower weight on my legs than usual in preparation for my bike ride. Felt good - shoulders knew they'd done weights the day before!
Then off on the bike just before eleven. It was gloomy and overcast, with tons of black clouds. Thirty seconds after I set off, I felt a few spots of rain, but then they stopped. I headed out through the side roads towards Banstead Road SOuth, and then up to the club 22 mile route up through Banstead. As I got to Banstead, I decided to head out towards Chipstead down Holly Lane, and then turn right towards the A217 and add a few miles onto the loop, hopefully making it up to 25. Not long after this the rain hit - gentle at first, but then getting heavier. Then I saw lightning, and a flash of thunder! As I climbed towards the dual carriageway, th heavens opened, and I was soaked within seconds. The drains packed up - full to the brim, and torrents of water streamed back down the hill in the opposite direction. I figured I'd head home, but then again - I was drenched already!
The A217 was really not pleasant - crossing it meant getting splashed by cars (and I mean seriously splashed - big puddles had formed and I got tsunamis of rainwater over my top half as cars ploughed through. I made it, and then headed up towards home, but decided to turn off at the first possible opportunity. I headed down the long slope into the bakc of Epsom, hands on the brakes all the way down (I'd done 43mph down here). At this point the rain backed off, so I decided to continue, and I headed up Fir Tree Lane towards the downs. Again - there was a waterfall coming in the other direction! Then down the left side of the race track, and out towards Walton on the Hill.
This bit went fine, although my socks were soggy to say the least, as was the whole of me! I did seem to dry out a fair bit though - well, at least I wasn't drippign wet. I turned right to head towards Box Hill, with plans of cake and coffee. All was going well, but just after I turned up the road to the cafe, there as a ginormous puddle blockign the road. I'd been through several already, completely side-to-side acoross the road, and tried to ift my feet out of the pedals so they didn't get another soaking (doesn't work well with clips), but this one was too deep for my liking. I turned back, and resolved to go to the Coffee van at Headley Heath Common.
I was disappointed - it was shut. I toyed with the idea of heading down towards the foot of Box Hill and up the Zig Zag, but the descent is bad enough at the best of times, so I decided to head home, get a change of clothes, and then head out again. I made a decision to not head down Hurst Lane (my usual route) but to try Tilley Lane, which on the map looks like a good alternative, and probably wider. As it turns out I wish I hadn't - I punctured (front wheel this time) and got distinctly cold standing around fixing it. I just couldn't be bothered to race! The water on the tyre made it easy to find the site of the puncture, and I changed the tube quickly. The CO2 cannister worked a treat, although I was worried when there seemed to be bubbles on the wheel rim - think it must have been the sudden temperature drop or something.
Anyway, I headed home, fully intending to pick up another inner tube, gas cannister, and some dry kit and head out again, as the day was brightening up - but I was cold by now and changed my plans. Traffic near the road into Ewell was chaotic, and I spent ages going very slowly here and all through Epsom. Then up Howell Hill - but it was clocked by an even deeper puddle. I got off and walked round this, and finally (after finding a convenient side road so I could clip in on a non-uphill) did the final couple of miles. 28 miles, quarter IM distance, a shame though as the legs felt pretty fresh and I think the 50 wouldn't have been an issue.
Was going to do a bike ride, but the weather report promised more rain after waking up to it. It brightened up, the roads dried, and I consoled myself with the fact that I could go the next day. Went to the gym to do some upper body weights, abs, and a bit of a swim, spoilt by the chav family making a right racket - grrrr!
Wednesday
Went to Body Pump, did slightly lower weight on my legs than usual in preparation for my bike ride. Felt good - shoulders knew they'd done weights the day before!
Then off on the bike just before eleven. It was gloomy and overcast, with tons of black clouds. Thirty seconds after I set off, I felt a few spots of rain, but then they stopped. I headed out through the side roads towards Banstead Road SOuth, and then up to the club 22 mile route up through Banstead. As I got to Banstead, I decided to head out towards Chipstead down Holly Lane, and then turn right towards the A217 and add a few miles onto the loop, hopefully making it up to 25. Not long after this the rain hit - gentle at first, but then getting heavier. Then I saw lightning, and a flash of thunder! As I climbed towards the dual carriageway, th heavens opened, and I was soaked within seconds. The drains packed up - full to the brim, and torrents of water streamed back down the hill in the opposite direction. I figured I'd head home, but then again - I was drenched already!
The A217 was really not pleasant - crossing it meant getting splashed by cars (and I mean seriously splashed - big puddles had formed and I got tsunamis of rainwater over my top half as cars ploughed through. I made it, and then headed up towards home, but decided to turn off at the first possible opportunity. I headed down the long slope into the bakc of Epsom, hands on the brakes all the way down (I'd done 43mph down here). At this point the rain backed off, so I decided to continue, and I headed up Fir Tree Lane towards the downs. Again - there was a waterfall coming in the other direction! Then down the left side of the race track, and out towards Walton on the Hill.
This bit went fine, although my socks were soggy to say the least, as was the whole of me! I did seem to dry out a fair bit though - well, at least I wasn't drippign wet. I turned right to head towards Box Hill, with plans of cake and coffee. All was going well, but just after I turned up the road to the cafe, there as a ginormous puddle blockign the road. I'd been through several already, completely side-to-side acoross the road, and tried to ift my feet out of the pedals so they didn't get another soaking (doesn't work well with clips), but this one was too deep for my liking. I turned back, and resolved to go to the Coffee van at Headley Heath Common.
I was disappointed - it was shut. I toyed with the idea of heading down towards the foot of Box Hill and up the Zig Zag, but the descent is bad enough at the best of times, so I decided to head home, get a change of clothes, and then head out again. I made a decision to not head down Hurst Lane (my usual route) but to try Tilley Lane, which on the map looks like a good alternative, and probably wider. As it turns out I wish I hadn't - I punctured (front wheel this time) and got distinctly cold standing around fixing it. I just couldn't be bothered to race! The water on the tyre made it easy to find the site of the puncture, and I changed the tube quickly. The CO2 cannister worked a treat, although I was worried when there seemed to be bubbles on the wheel rim - think it must have been the sudden temperature drop or something.
Anyway, I headed home, fully intending to pick up another inner tube, gas cannister, and some dry kit and head out again, as the day was brightening up - but I was cold by now and changed my plans. Traffic near the road into Ewell was chaotic, and I spent ages going very slowly here and all through Epsom. Then up Howell Hill - but it was clocked by an even deeper puddle. I got off and walked round this, and finally (after finding a convenient side road so I could clip in on a non-uphill) did the final couple of miles. 28 miles, quarter IM distance, a shame though as the legs felt pretty fresh and I think the 50 wouldn't have been an issue.
posted by XFR Bear @ 9:28 am
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