Have not been on the bike after completing the JOGLE. Not really had the inclination after spending 11 solid days on the thing. Instead my mind turned to some bike maintaince. The bike took a bit of a battering over the 1000 miles. (as did I ) Some torn muscles in the left ankle which was proving pretty painful, and a bit of a knee issue due to twisting my leg (not bike related). The bike also has a stretched chain, worn brake blocks, some indexing and brake cable adjustments are required.

The bits all arrived last week so I spent the morning stripping the steed down and doing a complete service. Things always seem to go wrong after you have messed about with everything, so I took it out for a gentle spin.

All seems good and it should be in great shape for Ridelondon – not sure I will be in “great shape”, but we shall see….

Well that was a ride, glorious sunshine with clear blue skies. Bikes ready we got out of the starting gate some 30 mins after the front runners. It’s a pan flat course out through the fens but the scenery was beautiful. The brother decided to get his race head on amd got on up the road ahead of us. Craig and I took it a bit easier… and we could not stop smiling when we came across this sad figure by the side of the road.

His pump was a bit knackered, so in true top gear style we decided to leave him and carry on.

Eventually he obviously found some gas from somewhere (I suspect last night’s curry) and he caught us up.

We picked up a few cycle road trains on the way round and the average speed started to climb. The end of this event never seems to come and I was paying the price for trying to be a hero on the front earlier so getting back was a painful last 10k.

Rest day tomorrow and then the brown stuff really hits the spokes.

So today is the warmup .. 70 mile Gran Fondo around the flat fens. We are on our way in the car to the start hoping it gonna warm up a bit. It’s supposed to be 20 something but it feels more 10 something at the moment. It should be a simple ride, except the large quantity of beer and curry we scoffed last night may present various problems on route.

Will post a live track link here … once am underway as a test for future rides.

Watch my live activity “Live Activity 05/06” now!
https://t.co/vlLWfa4Q2T
(https://twitter.com/Scottworld/status/739417789836886017?s=02)

Updated

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Yep its the May bank holiday weekend, and it’s that time of the year for an outing to the Isle of Wight. I got on the early ferry across to Cowes with hundreds of other cyclists and had a very nice “Full English” on the boat. The weather was an interesting one to call, the forecast was good but chilly. I was in two minds on should I get the legs out or not, I decided to risk it and shorts it was. I made the right decision, with not a cloud in the sky the temperature climbed and there were a lot of people over dressed. The ride round was perfect in the sunshine and starting in Cowes meant all the big climbs came about halfway through (rather than at the end – if you start in Yarmouth)

Cycling into East Cowes

A fantastic 100km on some of the best tarmac in the south of England (they do look after their roads on the island) If you ever get a chance I really recommend this ride.