Neil's 13 Rides
/Since I last reported, I’ve managed an average of 3 rides a week, finished renovating the garden furniture, that’s 2 benches, 6 chairs and 1 large table. I’ve also decorated the bathroom upstairs and the second bedroom. This Tsuname of DIY projects is a direct replacement for regular cafe visits, which when counted with the lack of cycling cafe visits, you’d think a large reduction of calorie consumption would have resulted. So, having dramatically reduced my calorie consumption, I am now down to 11 stone, my 20 years old ‘fighting weight’. This, of course, is just completely untrue, my imagination running wild. I have, in fact, still not managed to shed the weight I put on in December when I was rained off so many rides. Well, I couldn’t possibly have done more, or longer, rides since the last report. I still aim to complete my rides in the morning, and a ride every other day. I have tried to follow the weather forecasts in order to avoid wet rides, and this has almost been successful, but not totally. I have also avoided some of the holiday weekends and when a proposed ride coincides with a bank holiday, it has probably not gone ahead. The problem with a morning ride, of course, is what happens in the afternoon? My answer to this is sit in the lounge, nod off, watch the tele, drink copious cups of tea, and what is a cup of tea without a bun or a biscuit? Perhaps this is where I am going wrong and I should extend my ride to cover all daylight hours. This will keep me out of the biscuit tin! Riding every day would also help, but then I would keep wearing my bikes out, not to mention myself. That would result in around 700-1000 miles a week, but maybe I would lose a few pounds weight as a consequence. I think, so far as self preservation is concerned though, I may just carry on as I am, and not try to tighten the trouser belt as much as before. So, the first of my 13 rides since last reporting took me to Kirkby Lonsdale, Burton and Warton, not the longest of rides, but nevertheless enjoyable and good exercise. The next ride was one of the previously mentioned ‘wet’ rides. That’ll teach me to go South! I reached Winmarleigh without getting wet, but spent my coffee stop sheltering under a tree when the shower arrived. As the rain stopped, I set off and decided, as it still looked very uninviting, I would make my way to Pilling and then home. I got to Pilling without getting any wetter, but arriving in Pilling, the rain came again and stayed with me all the rest of the ride home. Undaunted, shoes having finally dried out, I planned my next ride. Kirkby Lonsdale, Biggins, Hutton Roof, Burton and onto my favourite destination, Arnside. A different route this time felt like a different ride along still very quiet roads, wonderful, and the sunshine returned! 40 miles, 3000ft, home for lunch, as usual. Next ride, Arnside again, but this time via Sizergh, 40 miles, but less ascent. The pattern continued, more or less a ride every other day, only one more wet ride, and in fact, that was only the last few miles and it was a North ride. Nevertheless, I was soaked, and had to ring my socks out and leave my shoes on the radiator for 2 days. The most memorable ride was last Wednesday when I went to Milnthorpe and across to Kirkby Lonsdale over the tops via Gatebeck, Old Hutton and Old Town. Fantastic scenery over the tops and the last ride before the strong winds arrived to put rides on hold for a few days. This week was the height of ambition and Monday’s ride took me to Grange-over-Sands, 58 miles and 3000ft, but still home for lunch, just! Today was, more or less, a repeat of the Sizergh Arnside ride, which is becoming a firm favourite, now having done it 3 times! I have taken a few lonely bike photos, and attach those taken at Grange on Monday and Arnside today.
Neil Westwell 27 May 2020
