Ride 1 – Watershed moment
I set out with no real plan in mind, except to ride some local roads I hadn’t tackled in a while. So Hamsterley to Wolsingham, I rode Shull Bank, rather than my usual Howlea Lane route. I reached Frosterley and cycled Hill End up to Bollihope Moor and surprised myself by turning left towards Teesdale taking the harder and higher route. Over the watershed into Teesdale I was enjoying the long descent and deciding where I’d go when I reached the river at Egglestone, when I spied the road over the top to Middleton. I hadn’t cycled the first two-thirds of the road before, so i took it on. There’s a 150-200ft kick up when you first turn off, after that it’s a largely quick downhill to Middleton. I stopped for coffee and perhaps the 3,000ft of climbing already achieved meant my 20 miles felt like much more.
Fortified by cyclist staples of coffee and flapjack, I was soon cruising through Mickleton, Romaldkirk, Cotherstone and Lartington to Barnard Castle. Alas those extra ten miles didn’t warrant a second cafe stop, so I ploughed on. I wanted to try Dent Gate Lane, a climb I had tried only once three years ago just weeks after I’d bought my road bike. The experience scarred me and it was a demon that needed to be slain. Passing the GlaxoSmithKline works at, just before the turn I needed to reach Dent Gate Lane, I realised that I was at the start line for the Etape Pennines and I hadn’t climbed to Folly Top from this direction for two years. I headed on, knowing I could turn to Dent Gate from Folly Top. No PBs on the charge up, showing just how much sportive adrenaline can enhance performance, but I gave it a good go.
A rest on a sun-blessed grassy verge at Folly Top did less than coffee and cake would to replenish my energy store and I descended to Dent Gate Lane feeling less than prepared. I needn’t have worried – even in that state I took more than a minute off the climbing time.
From Copley i decided to call it a day and head home. I’d climbed more in 45 miles than I did in 81 at the Etape Caledonia last week and that event was still taking its toll. Getting home added another, slow eight miles. Slowest average speed on a ride for a while, but climbing, virus and post event recovery taken into account, still a ride to be proud of.
Ride stats: 53.1 miles; 4,594 ft climbed; 04h 01m 53s
Ride 2 – much needed leg stretch
This ride was to make sure I didn’t miss the weekly target for the first time, so I dragged the bike out kidding myself it was a recovery ride. I chose a little circular route and as soon as I knew I’d make the target, I headed home.
Ride stats: 7.4 miles; 543 ft climbed; 00h 32m 13s
Week’s total: 60.5 miles; 5,037 ft climbed; 04h 34m 06s