In order to build up some sort of tolerance to multiple day bike packing tours, I have started a training regime of weekend consecutive long rides.
The first attempt was to be 2x 33km rides over Saturday & Sunday. I planned each ride on Komoot, with Ride #1 taking me North West of Bristol in a big loop and Day #2 in the other direction, a South Easterly loop.
Day #1
The weather was fine and warm, but not too warm as I set off after a coffee and porridge. I took a familiar route southwards out of the city, through Bedminster then met up with the riverlet called “The Malago” and followed it through “Manor Woods Valley”.
Then I hooked up with the horrible main trunk road out towards Bristol Airport. Busy and uncomfortable, and far too close to fast cars. Good experience, though. You also have to build up a tolerance to humans in their wheely cages!
Luckily it was only a few kilometers down this road that I was directed towards the lovely quiet little village of Barrow Gurney. It was here I met up with the pleasant single track country lanes that are now the source of my familiar cycling serenity.
I was now heading north towards Long Ashton, on a road I started down on my very first few long rides back in May.
The road was steep here and the single track country lane turned into a gravel path. I swept past a horse rider with a friendly “mornin’” and up into the forest.
This was a really tough, steep, gravelly climb that took me up towards the perhaps aptly name “Failand”.
Thereafter I rode through Failand, did a loop back on to the main road to make up the distance I was aiming for, then headed toward an unfamiliar area called “Prior’s Wood”.
This was a private road that took me to a school that resembled Hogwarts then more single track gravel through woodland. My bike is not cutout for this. I had to stop to lift my bike over a gate. The path narrowed and became extremely rocky and uncomfortable. Not the most pleasant km’s I’ve ridden.
Eventually after approximately 23kms I was at the small town of “Portbury” which would signal the beginning of the home stretch back to Bristol. Another busy trunk road back into the city, which I wasn’t particularly looking forward too.
Luckily the road offers up cycle paths as I ride past “Pill” and I’m quickly bombing down the hill towards home. A lovely little tour which I completed in 1hr 45min and was a good start to my two day attempt.
Day #2
Unfortunately I went out on Saturday night, not too late, but three ciders appeared to knock me out and I was feeling quite run down come Sunday. I failed to get out on the bike, so my first attempt at multiple day long rides was a failure.
Disappointing, but another weekend approaches and I have Friday off from work. The plan is to do a 33km ride on Friday, I have an all day Bike Maintenance Workshop at The Bristol Bike Project on Saturday, then do a second 33km ride on Sunday. I will avoid alcohols and night’s out!
B'Cycle Rob Blog 