Rail Strike - 2x100 km Focus on Two Villages
Thursday 20 July was a rail strike day. Although I’ve completed many 200 km rides without problems, I always like to know that I could get rescued to a rail station. I decided to ride a figure of eight from West London, first west then roughly north-west, never too far from home. My focus for the day was to take photos of two villages and to sample two cafes I’d noticed on previous rides. This 200 km ride would make two enjoyable 100 km rides, easily accessible from the Elizabeth Line.
Out to Boxford, Showers, Torrential Rain, Hail
With the very cold weather forecast for the latter part of January, I decided to ride the second of my three 200 km DIYs on Sunday 8 January. With the Audax RRtY guidance “Miss a month and you have to start again” in my head I felt that Sunday had a “now or never” feel about it.
The weather forecast was for no rain in the morning and only a 24% chance of rain in the afternoon. How wrong the forecast was! It was to be a day of showers, torrential rain, flooding and hail.
First 200 of 2023 - Cake and Climbs
With a dry day forecast for Monday 2 January I registered a 200 km DIY to take me to some of my favourite places in the Chilterns. Recalling advice that it is preferable to start, rather than finish, in the dark, I set off shortly after 7 am to take one of my many routes to the west.
The route took me to a hot drink and homemade cake at the Ewelme Village Store before turning north through Cuxham to the A40 old Oxford to London road for a long but easy climb to Stokenchurch. It was then downhill through the picturesque village of Hambleden to the weir at Mill End. The route then took me on familiar roads passing the Velolife cafe at Warren Row before passing through Maidenhead for the return to West London.
Three Chiltern Villages - Shortest Day, Long Ride
It’s the evening of Tuesday 20 December and the exceptionally cold weather with icy condtions has ended. I have two more 200 km rides to complete this month if I am to achieve my goal of 3 RRtYs in one year. Reasonably good weather is helpful, preparation and confidence are key.
Account of a ride from Ealing through Twyford to Ewelme for the ascent of Britwell Hill to return to London via the picturesque village of Hambleden and the lock at Mill End outside Henley.
Not feeling too confident as I had not ridden outside because of the exceptionally cold weather and icy conditions but training indoors with the Pillar app helped me build the strength and determination to keep pedalling when I encountered Britwell Hill.