It's been a funny old month, mowing the lawn at the beginning of the month and building snowmen on it at the end of the month. Most of the rest of the month was either wet or cold and didn't tempt me out on my bike too much.
Highlight of my month was seeing my cycling accident from last summer resolved, finally having my day in court. It was quite a surreal and bizarre day, starting off being very stressed waiting around to give evidence and then becoming more relaxed and in due course comical. The car driver, let's refer to him as "Low IQ" turns up (a) in t-shirt and jeans and (b) representing himself, without a lawyer, neither of which is likely to go down terribly well with the magistrate. So myself and the two other witnesses in turn give our evidence and in turn Low IQ then cross examines us, the best question being "So, Dr Kirk, do you agree that it was a main road on which you were cycling". Dr Kirk "yes, it was a road on which we were cycling". Low IQ "thankyou, no further questions". It then comes to Low IQ's turn to give a statement in his defense. Low IQ "I do not wish to make a statement in my defense, I accept everything that the prosecution says. This whole thing has just been such a complete waste of time, really stupid. Just give me my sentence". Magistrate at this time looking somewhat bemused. Low IQ's brother (let's refer to him as Really Low IQ) then stands up at back of court and claps and cheers Low IQ's statement of defiance and is promptly removed from the court by security guards.
Magistrates then give Low IQ 9 points on his license, to which Low IQ goes apoplectic, pleading for mercy as he'll lose his license and no longer be able to afford insurance. Low IQ ushered from court, his parting shot to me being "you, you're just a fucking idiot" before being bundled away by the security guards, which was quite a fitting ending to an amusing morning.
Did the Stevenage Start of Summertime Special ride at the end of the month - the miserable weather we had for the rest of the month finally clearing up to give us a really lovely day - this was a very interesting ride for me particularly from a physical and psychological perspective - the event has three rides available - 50k, 100k and 210k, basically loops of increasing diameter so all the rides generally share the same start and end of the course. I did (tried to do...) the 100k ride several years ago and failed miserably, turning for home after about 80k so it was interesting to see how I would get on with attempting the increased distance, 210k (130 miles) being a lot more than I've ever ridden before (105 miles being my max to date). The first 100k was fine, starting in Stevenage and ending in Lavenham but the return leg was tough, into a headwind all the way. I started to really struggle at 150k up to around 180k, getting both really hungry and really thirsty - also for all of this stretch we were just doing a lazy loop around Bishops Stortford so for at least an hour it was "turn left, 10 miles to my home" or "straight on, 40 miles to the end". Felt better after a food and drink stop outside of Thaxted and then in Manuden where all those years ago I conceded defeat and turned left for home I turned right for Stevenage and with 50k to go started to feel really good, knowing I could make it. Made it back to Stevanage fine, albeit with very tight legs and butt, jumped in a cold bath when I got home, that always does the trick for me.
Total ride: 210k / 130 miles
Cycling time: 8 hrs 45 mins, average speed 14.8mph
Elapsed time: 10 hours
Off on holiday next week and then another 200k ride at the weekend, another flat one, this time from Chelmsford.
Bye for now.
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