Parked car by prior arrangement at a B&B near start. Headed to start. Puncture #1.
Start is in Salcey forest, quick stretch, start the route (new maps courtesy of here and route from web - fingers crossed won't need paper back up). Leaving forest into the sun and hit the first of many tracks wredked by horses. Badly chewed then set solid. Glad I have FS and a granny ring. Most of the tracks follow hedgerows - bad news for punctures.
Stunning scenary - it's hot real hot, glad I put some suncream on. Miles go slow as I take it slow in order not to blow up.
Milton Keynes - real test for the garmin. The route is close to the actual trails so some interpretation required. Amazing that such a large city is so bike friendly. I barely have to cross a road let alone go on one. The contrast of the route is hard to read with sunglasses on. Puncture #2 - 2 holes.
A long hard section with some steep hills at Quainton. A million really crap gates to open - made up for by the lambs and their mums.
Lunch stop in Swanbourne, village shop has puncture repair kits and inner tubes!
Get to Bledlow - home turf. Up the pace on the ridgeway. Puncture #3. Getting slick at this. Want to get to the end not just home (10miles from end) so speed up. Puncture #4. Light fading - really going for it. Last 5 miles pretty fast going. End of route. 68.8 miles 7.5 hours. Total for day 82miles in just under 10 hours.
Now to cycle back and get the car............. road I think.
Well I did Swan's way y'day.
Parked car by prior arrangement at a B&B near start. Headed to start. Puncture #1.
Start is in Salcey forest, quick stretch, start the route (new maps courtesy of here and route from web - fingers crossed won't need paper back up). Leaving forest into the sun and hit the first of many tracks wredked by horses. Badly chewed then set solid. Glad I have FS and a granny ring. Most of the tracks follow hedgerows - bad news for punctures.
Stunning scenary - it's hot real hot, glad I put some suncream on. Miles go slow as I take it slow in order not to blow up.
Milton Keynes - real test for the garmin. The route is close to the actual trails so some interpretation required. Amazing that such a large city is so bike friendly. I barely have to cross a road let alone go on one. The contrast of the route is hard to read with sunglasses on. Puncture #2 - 2 holes.
A long hard section with some steep hills at Quainton. A million really crap gates to open - made up for by the lambs and their mums.
Lunch stop in Swanbourne, village shop has puncture repair kits and inner tubes!
Get to Bledlow - home turf. Up the pace on the ridgeway. Puncture #3. Getting slick at this. Want to get to the end not just home (10miles from end) so speed up. Puncture #4. Light fading - really going for it. Last 5 miles pretty fast going. End of route. 68.8 miles 7.5 hours. Total for day 82miles in just under 10 hours.
Now to cycle back and get the car............. road I think.