Tell us about your weekend ride

Plans for the day fell through so decided to have a late start and go for a ride.

These days I just tend to let the Garmin choose a loop for me and off I go. Told it to find me a 55 mile loop starting near Thames Ditton as it saves me from the one way hell hole of Kingston. Have had bronchitis for the past couple of weeks but it felt like I could breathe again today, though I had a few moments when I was bubbling snot out of my nose like a sick infant.

First forty miles felt fine, and then I hit an utter wall. Turning pedals felt like my legs were in treacle and I couldn't summon any energy.

Am a completely useless navigator so best to let the machine decide things for me. Can never remember what road follows what junction, and was lacking any motivation so was hoping for a nice gentle 25 miles home. But fuck no, I get sent up Raikes Lane which was interesting as someone coming down it in their car had managed to flip their vehicle onto its roof. People were helping out and had called 999 so there was no need for me to stop. My sense of direction being piss poor, and brain feeling pretty depleted I forgot that Whitedown comes after Raikes and then discovered that the little black box of torture on my handlebars wanted me to ride up it. The desire to get off and walk was pretty high but the stubborn cunt in me decided to just remain seated and struggle up, which was made a little more challenging with emergency services going the other way to help at the scene of the accident.

It's the first time in a while that riding has felt like a struggle, but the idiot in me is already hoping I have a clear day with clear weather to do it again next week.

https://www.strava.com/activities/399255156