Tyres
inflated, water bottles filled, feet clipped in ... and away we go. Or rather
seeing as I’m writing this now post-ride, maybe that should be “away we went”? No
matter!! Sunday greeted us with watery sunshine and a nip in the air, which to
be honest got nippier as we progressed; but after all, we’re barely out of
February.
Plan of
action – a seventy kilometre (40 odd miles in old money) ride, taking us out
through the country lanes of Connington and Fenstanton, before finally reaching
the market town of St Ives, where we left all the cars behind and joined the Guided
Busway. For those who don’t know the
area, the Guided Busway is a veritable Cambridgeshire County Council financial
white elephant (long story for another day) but it does make for a safe place
to cycle while clocking up the miles.
For some,
forty miles is no big deal, and to be honest I’d agree. On this occasion it’s a
fairly flat ride too. But you have to begin your season somewhere and this was
as gentle an introduction as we could get away with. In the coming weeks and
months rides will become longer and more regular, as we introduce our muscles
to consecutive days in the saddle; for now though it’s a question of reminding
the brain what stiff muscles feel like and how numb (in my case) my fingers
become when they’re fixed in one position for too long.Our ride was relatively trouble free. There was some evidence of the flotsam and jetsam washed up after the recent floods, but with a little care we got through it unscathed; before we knew it we’d headed out through Long Stanton and Oakington before reaching Worlds End, better known as Histon village, the place where the Busway runs out shortly after and our marker point for a quick banana break before we turn around and head back from whence we came. Highlight of the day, aside of the warm drink when we reached base, was a little boy on a bike, who remarked “Daddy, it’s Bradley Wiggins”! It was probably the yellow shirt that did it; it certainly wasn’t the speed I was riding or the haircut!!
