Quite a week. On Tuesday I rode with the Pedallers. Unfortunately, not everything went according to plan. Luckily the plans for Thursday riding to the HCMF meet and on Saturday riding with Paddy were fulfilled very happily without any problems.
Tuesday 13th November 2018.
I rode alone to Crawley Pond where I met with the 10 other Pedallers. There was a lot of interest in Txiki and questions about range weight cost etc.
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| Crawley Pond Reflections. |
We soon set off down the gentle slope to Kings Somborne with my E-power turned off but as soon as we got to Bossington and the climb up the Old Roman Road I needed it. I was by no means the first up the hill with the younger and stronger riders easily leading the way, I was however comfortably keeping up with only the lowest level of assistance and some of the time with none.
Karen had planned an interesting way to the Apache Cafe at The Army Flying Museum, Nether Wallop. However, just after crossing the A30 and 3 miles short of our planned stop I had a flat front tyre. Bill stopped to help me. He couldn't get the tyre off the rim so we phoned Graham and he came back to help. Eventually, with his help and after a phone call to the E-Bikeshop where I had bought Txiki, we managed to complete the job. It was lucky I was not on my own or I'd have had to phone my rescue service.
To add to my woes I managed to tumble off Txiki at the next crossroads when I could not get my foot down quickly enough when I did an emergency stop to avoid a collision with a car. Apart from a small scuff on the handlebar end and a sore elbow, there was no damage.
After our refreshment stop we headed back to CP via Stockbridge and Kings Somborne. The group split in two soon after KS with four returning to their homes via Farley Mount while the rest continued to CP. Here I refused a lift home with Graham and carried on on my own. It was a good day despite my misfortunes, thanks to Bill and Graham.
Thursday 15th November 2018.
With none of the Groupetta available I rode to join the HCMF meet on my own. It was another mild day and it was an enjoyable ride to the pub with still plenty of colour in the hedgerows. I went via Owslebury, Bishops Waltham and Swanmore.
Saturday 17th November 2018.
A gentle E-bike ride on a glorious winter's day.
As usual, the descent of Stoner Hill was great fun. Txiki's disc brakes work well.
When recording my rides on Strava I distinguish my E-Bike rides from my others which means I still have PBs to aim for when riding Paris and Posh. The PBs for E-bikes are really not very useful except for comparing one's own progress. There are only a few segments set up for E-Bikes so far.
I was pleased to have reached my (twice revised) annual target with a few weeks to spare. I am now closing on the total miles since becoming a borne again cyclist towards the 45,000 mile mark (at present 44,173).
Gridironman.
