To Town and Back

Date: 27th February 2011
I'm all set.  I've checked bike over, sorted out lunch, sorted out route and have map laid out in case on right page.  I'm OK for the first 7 miles, after that I will need to review it.  The plan is 20 miles into Birmingham city centre, out on Stratford road and loop back along canal.
I've checked the weather forecast and it's going to be dry though tracks will be muddy.

I wake up, it's dry, I get going from home, and after 1st mile it starts to rain.  It's not much and I do need to keep up the training. The Hopwood Ladies http://www.hopwoodladiescyclingclub.co.uk/ are in Kent this weekend so I am on my own.  I looked at the Cycle Solihull http://www.cyclesolihull.org.uk/sunday.htm sunday rides but they start at 1.30 and I wanted to be back for 2 as going to cinema this afternoon.

It's so difficult to push self pace wise on my own.  I tend to pootle rather than push my speed along.
The rain isn't helping my motivation.  I was getting drenched although it wasn't raining hard.  My legs were the problem as my top half was waterproof ish.  I decided once I got to town, that I'd turn around and just head back home rather than waste time trying to find my way around a new route when I'm now fed up.
It's a good job I turned back as weather just got more and more worse.  Then 2 miles from home I got a puncture.  At first I just pumped it back up and it lasted another mile.  I decided as now was rather cold, that I'd freeze fingers off trying to change tube in pouring rain, so decided to walk bike home the last mile.  I was so glad to get into a dry house.  I must remember to leave dressing gown in kitchen though, as I stripped off to put muddy clothes (absolutely caked in the mud) into washing machine, then had to streak through lounge (window onto main road) to get to bathroom for nice hot shower. 
The weather dried up so I was able to wash down bike and let it dry outside, just in time for me to set off to cinema with Glen to watch Paul. 

Kidderminster to Bewdley

Date: 20th February 2011
Distance: 22 miles
Terrain:  Very hilly.  Long drawn out hills.
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/69237458
Met the ladies at The Penny Black in Kidderminster.
Fell off once - crunched gears and chain fell off
Had to walk up 3 hills
Pleased with attempt
Legs really ache though.  Bruises are coming up nicely on hips and knee.

Knowle to Kenilworth circular

Team: Hopwood Ladies
Date: 13th Feb 2011
Weather: Raining and windy
Distance: 20 Miles Time taken: 3 hours (40 mins stop in costa)
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/68082728
Note to self - put on waterproofs at first sign of rain.
biscuits throughout ride definately helped.
Had a push, but didn't get off to walk once.  Managed to keep up about 60% of the time.
Cold when stopped.  Must remember to wear extra pair of socks if a bit nippy.