Saturday morning was the final group ride for the Blazing Saddles RCC team who are soon to be taking on the Amstel Gold challenge in Maastricht. A surprisingly mild 6am start was the beginning of the epic hilly route designed by hill-loving Andrew Gough.
With insufficient time in bed, I found myself rolling out from between the sheets and into the cycling attire I once cherished. However, still sore from the crash last week, I was reluctant to be back on the saddle so soon. But with the promise of a sunrise over the Chew Valley I was out the door and off to meet some of the others at the start of the Bath-Bristol cycle path.
Arriving in Chew a little behind schedule, but caught up on news and pleasantly warmed through, we met Goughy who was to be acting Sat Nav. Blindly we followed up every hill we could find, including one of the most extraordinary routes up Box Hill on route to Corsham. I learned my lesson (again) never to unclip on a really steep hill unless you want to head back down to the bottom.
I left the group after 3 hours with some excuses about hurting still from the crash (I wasn’t actually fibbing), and headed back toward Bath. Basked in sunshine the whole way it was a welcome confirmation that Spring is Sprung.
Check out the Blazing Saddles Team: www.blazingsaddlesrcc.co.uk
