April 14 rides

[Duck on Wheels]

Wheeee! First ride of the season for me. UK Elephant, on the other hand, has been riding all Winter. She and her BFs colleague Rich who rode with us graciously allowed me the illusion that I could almost keep up. As I got warmed up I found I could comfortably do about 13mph on the flat stretches, or even one of those deceptive slight inclines. But I went all wheezy on hills, had to walk the biggest of them. 3mph walking up those hills, and 7 down the last gravel road back into Wivenhoe brought my average down to 10.3. Last time UK did that route alone, her average was 15. When we got back today she had to get her inline skates out and run around the block a few times to use up some of her ride-energized "batteries". I, on the other hand, stretched, showered, and collapsed. Still, it was a better start than last season, when my first training ride for the Cindy was 27 miles at an average of 7mph that took me all day.

Essex is "flat" the way the Cindy route is "flat" ... pancake, maybe, but a lumpy one, and with a couple of largish wrinkles here and there. But as opposed to last year's Cindy, the weather was gorgeous! Sunny, 22C (72F), and just a touch of a breeze. We rode to the very quaint and scenic village of Dedham, had tea (of course!) and cakes at a village cafe, then rode home again. 23 miles in all, I think it was.

Now let's see if I can upload some pictures ... Must document Team Amici Veloci's presence in Dedham, Suffolk, UK.