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Thrasher
@Ptown
Took the Ron Cooper out for it's first century yesterday. I initially bought it with the intention of making a budget TT machine for midweek 10s but after eagerly throwing on some drops to muck about on it, the stiffness and ride quality meant I just wanted to ride it all the time.
The plan was to head off through the Fens, keeping off A roads where possible. There'd be a moderate headwind all the way out and tailwind all the way back, perfect conditions! I even mocked up a route-list, felt very pro.
I love the Fens, but you can so easily start to experience deja vu and lose all sense of time. Miles and miles of pan flatness with farmsteads every mile or so. No real landmarks except the towns and cities themselves and villages can stretch on for miles of single houses scattered along a single road. It reminds me of communities up in the Hebrides, wind and local "characters" by the roadside included. Fenfolk are a unique breed.
Met a friendly family at pee stop #1.
And found a glamorous ditch for pee stop #2
After 3 hr 40mins and 58 miles, I'd arrived. The wind had picked up nearer the coast and I was having to put in effort on the rolling downhills just to keep above crawling pace. Knowing it'd be pushing me all the way home kept spirits high.
I popped down to the beach for a quick pic, had a terrible espresso, refilled my water bottles and set back.
Can't believe I left the saddlepack on for the pics. I'm not made for the 'gram.
This time the pace was much higher. Even through the jammed, bank-holiday-traffic centre of Kings Lynn and Wisbech I was on top of 53x13. As a bonus impetus for speed, I was aware I'd my other-half sitting at home unimpressed that I'd taken most of the day (I'd originally planned to arrive home by 1pm, which was about when I arrived by the sea) and decided to start smashing it a bit. Eating flapjacks and rice-cakes religiously every 15 mins had kept energy high, it made such a difference. Even managed to get a top10 Strava KOM.
The final pic I managed was at Castle Rising, it really captured my attention riding past, a huge manmade knoll in a sea of flat. Next time I'll set aside a minute to explore it properly.
114 miles in 6:16. Beautiful sunshine. Massive success 9/10.
