Shotley - Snape - Shotley

Bike: Condor
Distance: 61.83 miles
Time: 3 hours 23 minutes 25 seconds
Average speed: 18.2mph
Maximum speed: 34mph
Odometer (at end): 3936.5 miles
Weather: grey, a bit damp, and mostly still

Lovely day for cycling - cool, but not too cold; very little wind; and fantastic autumnal colours all along the country roads. Lots of cyclists of various species about, and the Sunday drivers weren't too awful... I think I managed to cycle off most of the calories I'd consumed this weekend as a result of Lidia's now-traditional birthday pub eat-a-thon.
 
Pleased with this bike ride - when I last did this route, on 12 September, I averaged 17.1mph, so - a month and a half (and 600 miles) later - this was a definite improvement. And much better than my 'comeback' ride.
 
So, I'll keep plugging away with cycling to and from work with a big bag on my back, as this seems to be helping me build up some decent fitness. Feeling very happy with work, life and cycling!

cervelo P2

Shotley - Freston Xroads - Holbrook - Flatford - same route back

Bike: Condor
Distance: 29.81 miles
Time: 1 hour 38 minutes 18 seconds
Average speed: 18.1 mph
Maximum speed: 31.5 mph
Odometer (at end): 3835.6 miles

This is 1mph on average faster than when I last did this route on 4 September - it's nice to finally get a bike ride without being encumbered by a rucksack. The mental traffic stays the same, though (overtaking me on a tight bend? check, overtaking me travelling at 30mph in a 30mph zone? check, somebody coming from the opposite direction overtaking somebody without caring I'm actually in the lane they are moving out into? check, etc. etc.)

I also experienced the heady thrill of my front tyre blowing out at 24mph, lucky I was on a flat piece of road. In fact, it was very near the piece of road where my chain jammed in 1999 (on an old MTB I used to hack around on), causing me to jolt down onto the brazings on the top tube, nearly castrating myself. Happy times.

I also now have the new TT bike in my grubby paws - pictures to follow when I get a minute.

nearly done

Meanwhile, given the present government's apparent desire to destroy the humanities, any suggestions with what I could do with three degrees in history? Give up? I guess many people are going to be affected tomorrow, and people need to think collectively rather than individually if they're going to come up with an alternative, but it's tremendously frustrating. Universities are one of the few things this country does well...

...on a better note, I have not been out on any proper training rides recently, but I am getting between 80-100 commuting miles in per week.