Today I finally completed a Saturday morning bash. Yay!! After a crash the first week, a puncture the next and two weeks of bad weather, I finally got round today. It wasn’t easy either
After what felt like easier ascents of Rock Hill and Hanbury Woods, I felt good today and gingerly worked my way to the front for the first time along The Saltway to do a turn. I kept the speed up as best I could circa 23-24mph with a cross headwind. Nice. Turn done, I sat in now and waited for the fireworks later on.
Things kicked off a bit early with a rider caning it up the hill from Priest Bridge which prematurely burnt a couple of matches to hang on and left my legs in bits. I just don’t have any high end fitness at the moment which nearly broke the elastic.
Back upto speed it kicked off again around the back of Feckenham. The group split on the first drag and I managed to get onto the coat tails of the front group on the 2nd hill. The summit of this one was my mental finish line and I did slip off the back in the final metres.
However, the group did ease up a bit over the top and I managed to rejoin briefly but on the short, sharp kicker to Webheath they kicked again and I had no reply. I managed my effort and time trialled all the way back along the dual carriageway keeping them in sight most of the way which, for me, was an achievement in itself.
I was a minute or two behind I think. Definitely faster, a bit fitter and I lasted a bit longer which was a nice bit of progress to see but work to do to get over that last hill.
Great fun. I will be back.
Well done x