Sunday bike ride
I hadn't seriously been on my bicycle since I broke my collar-bone, which is over 15 months ago now. Curiously the accident didn't put me off driving, but it made me a bit diffident about cycling, as I could only too easly imagine falling off and breaking something again.
However, on Sunday morning I was feeling a bit stir crazy, and that I needed something more than walks to the Rec or to Cherry Hinton Hall. I had a look at some suggested on-line routes, but as these had alarming statistics such as "02:05 hours, 33.0 miles, 15.8 mph" I was a bit daunted. (I'm pretty sure I can't do 15.8 mph downhill with the wind behind me). I plotted a much shorter circular route through some of the nearest villages.
I set off for Fulbourn, then headed towards Teversham, and then back via Cherry Hinton and Sainsbury's (not a village, well spotted). I thought it would be good for a trial run and as I had a street plan of the area I was unlikely to get very lost.
It was a bright, breezy day, and I had a lovely ride. I did spend a lot of time stopping and looking at the map (maps and directions not really being my thing), but didn't get very lost, and got unlost pretty soon afterwards. There was very little traffic on the roads, and what there was kept a good distance when overtaking.
It took me about 1 hour and twenty minutes, and I'm guessing that the actual cycling was the hour and the rest of the time was stopping to check my way. The distance was probably about 10-11 miles. I'm glad I wasn't too ambitious as my bottom and legs were aching quite a bit afterwards.
I actually can't remember whether I've still got my cycling shorts, but if I do I have no idea where they are, so as soon as I got home I ordered some padded leggings. Next time I'll try to go further afield, maybe to Shelford or Grantchester.
However, on Sunday morning I was feeling a bit stir crazy, and that I needed something more than walks to the Rec or to Cherry Hinton Hall. I had a look at some suggested on-line routes, but as these had alarming statistics such as "02:05 hours, 33.0 miles, 15.8 mph" I was a bit daunted. (I'm pretty sure I can't do 15.8 mph downhill with the wind behind me). I plotted a much shorter circular route through some of the nearest villages.
I set off for Fulbourn, then headed towards Teversham, and then back via Cherry Hinton and Sainsbury's (not a village, well spotted). I thought it would be good for a trial run and as I had a street plan of the area I was unlikely to get very lost.
It was a bright, breezy day, and I had a lovely ride. I did spend a lot of time stopping and looking at the map (maps and directions not really being my thing), but didn't get very lost, and got unlost pretty soon afterwards. There was very little traffic on the roads, and what there was kept a good distance when overtaking.
It took me about 1 hour and twenty minutes, and I'm guessing that the actual cycling was the hour and the rest of the time was stopping to check my way. The distance was probably about 10-11 miles. I'm glad I wasn't too ambitious as my bottom and legs were aching quite a bit afterwards.
I actually can't remember whether I've still got my cycling shorts, but if I do I have no idea where they are, so as soon as I got home I ordered some padded leggings. Next time I'll try to go further afield, maybe to Shelford or Grantchester.