Fifty fifty

In between the torrential rain of the weekend I managed to squeeze a hundred miles on the bike spit 50/50 for Saturday and Sunday.  Saturdays ride was staggered as having ridden 7 miles to Stacey’s I got there a few seconds before the heavens decided to drop what seemed like a month of rain in half an hour.  We therefore stayed in his garage and fettled with the bikes for an hour before making a break for it once the sky looked promising. 

We rode 35 undulating miles and I remembered to glance at my cycle computer on the way up the killer of a mile long hill at Holybourne, it started off at 11%, increased up to 18% then 20%, down to 15% and then up to a bonkers 21%!!!!!  I was up to 42 miles when we got back to my brothers and I headed straight home from there planning to go out on the bikes with my wife for another ten or so to take me up to 60 or so miles but I got home to collect Joy just as it was starting to rain again, needless to say we didn’t bother. 

 

Got up late (7.30) on Sunday and Joy and I got ready to head over to Stacey’s but we got a call from him telling us it was raining cats and dogs in Fleet and seemed to be heading our way, sure enough 5 minutes later it was chucking it down so we decided to wait till the afternoon.  It seemed to be clearing up at lunch time so we chanced it and headed out.  Joy wanted to see something other than the Elstead / Sands / Puttenham area I have taking her over previously so I figured the Fleet / Church Crookham / Dippenhall loop would make for a nice change.  Stacey joined us at 7 mile point and we headed from his place towards Ewshot hill.  I warned Joy about the climb as we approached the hill and she did a fantastic job of pacing herself up it.  Going down the other side Stacy went flying past me as always and Joy was telling me to speed up out of her way too!!!!!

Joy had made a lovely coffee and walnut cake the day before so Stacey and I had some with a cup of tea before heading back to Stacey’s.  We ventured off and tried a variation on the way back to Fleet which turned out to be a nice alternative, especially for the downhill section approaching Farnham.

The afternoon turned out to be glorious and after doing 50 miles the day before I took it easy and really enjoyed taking in the scenery as well as chatting with Joy & Stacey.

Both Stacey and Joy did great as they rode a very hilly 34 miles and 23 miles respectively with me so big thanks to them both.

I made sure the ride back ended with me covering just over 50 miles for the day and was really pleased to have covered the distance after doing the same the day before.