Here comes the rain

Friday evening, Beth and I completed the Beausale loop, her first experience of clipped in road riding. And she did remarkably well. I paced her on the fixie and she was understandably nervous of the traffic, it does take some getting used to, but she made the 20km without issue and it looks like many rides will follow.
On Saturday I rose early and stepped out of the house for a quick blast at 07:30. We were due to spend the day at an FSID (http://www.fsid.org.uk) family day at Stratford Butterfly Farm and then I wanted to get back to watch the football, so it was an early start or nothing at all. The sky was clear, but there were dark clouds on the horizon. Keen to get going I resisted going back for any wet weather gear. Five minutes in, through Warwick, the first rain drops landed cold and hard on my top lip and within another 5 minutes I was pretty well soaked. It didn’t seem worth turning round, although the thought of all that wet weather specific gear, overshoes, waterproofs, tights sitting at home in the wardrobe did grate.
I’d planned a 40km loop out through Stratford upon Avon which of course took me through the storm and then returned me back in to it, only clearing as I pulled into the car park at home. I returned thoroughly drenched, but happy, to a house framed by clear blue sky. Which is the way it stayed for the rest of the day. Don’t you just love English weather?

Duration 01:30:47
Calories 1079 kcal
Distance42 km
Average HR 139 bpm
Maximum HR166 bpm

Sunday I hadn’t planned a long ride, but I left the house under a cloud (metaphorical this time) and hoped the space would help to clear my head. I headed out over Burton Dassett and across to Canon’s Ashby (see pic) where I re-filled my water bottles in the café. I then headed on across Helidon, Flecknoe, Grandborough and home. 4 hours and 110km later. The ride did indeed cheer me up with the exception of one other dark cloud. At one point, just past Cropredy, I had to traverse a busy road, my route took me along it for 100m or so, before I turned right onto a lane. As the traffic was heavy I waited at the kerbside for a break before crossing (as I was taught at school). Whilst waiting out of the way of the traffic at the roadside the occupants of a passing car took the opportunity to slow down and call me a “cycling c*nt”. What kind of society makes people think they can be so abusive to innocent strangers?
Two minutes later whilst still mulling this over, a white van (what else?) pulled out of a side road in front of me. Not particularly dangerous but he should have given way. As should the bloke in the Subaru who followed, causing me to brake hard to avoid ploughing into the side of his car. I was too shocked and despondent to react.
In contrast however the weather was perfect for cycling, cool, sunny, a gentle breeze and generally great to be out.

Duration 04:04:04
Calories 2752 kcal
Distance108.6 km
Average HR 134 bpm
Maximum HR 167 bpm

Monday spin class, with Beth, and now a couple of days rest (if only because our washing machine broke so I can’t wash any lycra).
7 weeks to go and I feel fitter (and more experienced) than when I started LEJoG so I’m confident at the moment that I’m well on target. In the next couple of weeks I should clock up my 10 000th km on my trusty Scott S20 which will be something to celebrate.