Last four rides of 2016.

Thursday 22nd December 2016.

This was another HCMF meet, but as it was near home I had to find a longer route to get there. Last chance to exchange Christmas greetings and presents. (Where are mine?). There was a nice chatty group there and the time seemed to slip past very quickly. After a snack and a pint I rode the last half mile home to finish wrapping my presents for my family.

Boxing Day 26th December 

& Tuesday 27th December.

Had a most enjoyable day yesterday. Joined a friend to explore the Air Force Memorial and Magna Carta sites at Runnymede. Both well worth a visit. We had a good meal at a nearby Harvester pub before I drove home. Spent the  evening watching "Les Miserables", the musical. As a result I was late waking this morning and did not get out on my bike until well after ten. Probably a good thing as there were still a few icy patches on the roads though most were absolutely fine. I passed a group of Alton CC riders including my friend Frank they all gave me a friendly greeting. However I struggled a bit at first, all those Christmas extra pounds slowing me up? As I climbed the hill through woods near Ellisfield it was about 5 degrees colder than it had been in the sunshine. Brrr! 

Near the top of the hill just before Herriard I found this car "parked" in the hedge:

Neat Parking!

Entrance to the car park!
Note the gash on the tree.

At first I was concerned that there might still be someone in the car, so I checked.  There was no sign of anyone but the air bag had been deployed. I hope the driver and any passengers survived. They were lucky not to have hit the tree full on.

I continued to The Golden Glider where I paused for a delicious piece of chocolate cake and a latte. This perked me up no end so I continued past the Golden Pot and the Golf Club down into Alton.

The town was quieter than I had ever seen it before. There actually seemed to be more folk about in Chawton.

As traffic was quite light I carried on along the A32 passing the Alton CC group once again in Farringdon. It looked smaller than before so I guess some riders had already peeled off along the way home. Checking Strava Flybys I discovered that Frank and co had been climbing the hill to Abbotstone Common as I left home.

I found a new route to West Tisted  and down to Woodlands. I heard an engine in the field between me and the A32 and was surprised to see an aircraft taxing. It turned round and then took off.

Taxiing.

Starting the take off run.

The rest of my ride was relatively quick which no doubt helped me to raise my average moving speed to 12.2 mph. I was home about ten to three and by quarter past I had showered and changed into some warm clothing. Had my lunch about 4.30 p.m.

Thursday 29th December 2016.

Very cold and frosty view greeted me when I looked out. The road in front of my home was as white as snow. The path was very slippery too so decided not to join the HCMF meet at North Waltham. However, by mid day the sun had melted the ice and the air had warmed enough to melt a lot of the shady areas so i decided to have an early lunch and got Posh out just after one to clock up a few miles and use up some more of those surplus calories.

As you can see I headed south through Cheriton and climbed the hill past Rookswood farm to the top of Beacon Hill. Lots of walkers cars parked here and I passed a couple of cyclists, also a lady running, later I was to see her route on Strava Flybys and I sent her a message.  I found the roads to be perfectly clear on the south facing slopes so made good time to Swanmore. I resisted the temptation to stop for a coffee and rode through B.W. without stopping as I knew it would be getting colder later in the afternoon with the possibility of some more frost. (Many years ago during similar weather I came off my motorbike, depositing my pillion passenger, my Mum, in the road. There was a patch of ice in the shade of a building where the temperature had dropped suddenly. The rest of the road was perfectly clear. Fortunately neither Mum or I were hurt badly. We were right outside Northleach Hospital, so I took Mum in for a check and we phoned home to get my brother to fetch us in his car).

My caution was justified as a puddle near Cheriton Mill had frozen on the road and there was still frost in the lane to Tichborne. Some kids were having fun jumping in the puddles to break the ice.

A good ride and I was home well before the sun had set.

Saturday 31st December 2016 

Winchester CTC Intermediate Ride.

For my last ride of the year I decided to join Steve's ride to the Crown, Kings Somborne for lunch via a coffee stop at the Army Flying Museum. The weather was very misty to start, but suitably equipped with lights I set off to meet the others in Winchester. Steve's plan to cover the largest part of the journey before lunch worked well and I was home just about lighting time having clocked up 54 miles. Sadly, although it was a great ride, I managed to pick up a flint which meant a tube change was needed. I was lucky that Steven was with me and quickly took over the job and replaced the tube, being a little handicapped by the wet tyre which made getting the tyre back on more difficult. We were only five minutes behind the others when we arrived at the coffee stop at around noon.

The sun had come out by now and it was a very pleasant run down the valley through Nether Wallop and Broughton. Four  of the group decided not to stop for lunch and made their own way back to Winchester while the rest of us had a very nice lunch with good craic too. 

Afterwards we split up with two of the group heading over Farley Mount, three going from Little Somborne over the ridge to Chilbolton Down whilst I rode alone home via Crawley. I was very lucky just near Up Somborne to meet and have a chat with my good friend Jo. She was enjoying a solo ride in the afternoon sun.

Here is my map and data for the day:

I was home just about lighting time having made good time despite a gradually softening tyre. Seems like I shall have to get that tyre off and investigate further. Another puncture or maybe the first one was not what we thought?

It has been a fantastic year for me, covering more miles than I have ever done in recent times before. (I suspect I did more in my teens but sadly no longer have those records which I kept meticulously at the time, I think mum chucked them out after I left home to join the Royal Navy, (The mysterious world of a fanatical cycling teenager!).

For those who are interested in my mad record keeping I am adding a Data Page which you can find on a tab at the top of this blog.

A very big thanks to all of you who have been a great part of my life over the past few years especially to those I have ridden with in the year. Of course the absolute highlight of my year was that great M2M ride in June. 

I hope you all have a great 2017 riding your bikes or just enjoying life.

Gridironman.