Hello blog lovers.
Why do I do it? Why don't I just sit in doors, with the fan on eating ice cream an drinking beer!? Why? I tell you why, cos I love exercise! Even going up Cudham North lane in the furnace type temperatures. I need to get back my cycling legs, and I need to work on getting my Specialized bike set up properly for me. Well, that particular thing is going to happen on Thursday, I had a word with the shop that I bought the bike from and they are going to 'look at me on the bike' Put me on the turbo trainer and see what can be done! But in the mean time, my cycle legs need work on.
So today, as it I just so hot, we are going on a shorter ride, but one with a bit of hard work thrown in. Cudham North Lane! I can't remember the last time I got up this hill, or even thought about getting up this hill. Normally we just fly past it heading for Halstead. But today, the most very hottest evening so far, I think, we decided to tackle it!
But I also decided that on this particular evening I will stop for a pint as well! After all, I am cycling in a furnace! I took my white Giant today, as I wanted to save my hands getting too numb and pins and needles. But I think the damage has been done, as even on my giant today I felt some pins and needles in my hands! The sooner I get my bikes sorted the better, I'm thinking!
The hill was soon there. No stopping for a rest, just straight up it. There was mention of the pub on this road, the Blacksmiths Arms, but unfortunately that was all it was!! Our route was going to go straight up to Grays Road, then down the hill through Biggin Hill and on for a stop at Keston, the Greyhound. But then he said something about going through to Knockholt, back down to the A21 and then going on to Orpington to attempt my nemesis, Knoll Rise! But I talked him out of that. I like to have a route in my mind, and I am prepared for it, but chucking in last minute changes, while cycling up Cudham North Lane, well....that had no chance of even get thought about!
I did stop at the pub though, but not for a pint, just to take a drink from my bottle of orange squash that I bought along! My mouth was just so dry! It was a very warm evening. In fact it was so warm, that the ice cubes had long since melted, and my squash was already warming up! But at least that was the only stop I took until we got to the Shampan.
On the way to the Shampan the Old Boy asked me if I fancied a pint at the Queens Head, in Downe, instead of at Keston. Well, by this time, I was just about over the ordeal of Cudham, so I said "Yes, ok, so how do we get there?" After I had said yes, I started to remember the 'how' and started to think that maybe it wasn't such a good idea. Anyway, we got to the top, by the curry house, and there sat on the road side were a few cyclists. We were going to take the road that went passed the restaurant instead of the one that goes to Biggin Hill. We said good evening to these cyclists, well, cyclists are very nice people, and we started riding along the road.
There were a good few other cyclists heading towards the group of cyclist, I can only guess they were going to meeting their buddies by the Shampan. Each one that we passed said good evening! I told you they are a great bunch! It was all down hill from there, but I knew there was a very cheeky hill coming up, the one that takes us to Jail Lane. It's quite a steep hill but it doesn't go on for very long. I kept in my mind the end of it, the top of the hill, Jail Lane. I stayed focused and the concentrated on getting to the top! I did it, without getting off and walking!
There was another cyclist coming our way, but I just didn't have the breath to say hi to him! Downe village was just at the end of this road! We stopped off for a pint, I went in to buy it and I came out to see another chap chatting to the Old Boy about his bike! You wait till my pink bike gets sorted out, see everyone coo over her!!!
Anyway, geeky stats from the Old Boys Garmin. I have decided that I am not going to take my Garmin anyone, because I keep forgetting to switch it on and off again.!
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