rain miles count double

Thanks to some unseasonably (it’s summer here in Northern Ireland) dry weather and competitive urging from the June 100 Challenge, I’ve racked up quite a few miles in the last week and a bit. One hundred and eighty, as you may have already guessed.

Starting with a 45 miler, followed by a couple of 25 mile loops out to scenic Kilroot (one a long-way commute), a regular 10 mile commute, another 45 miler last Sunday and one final 35 mile commute this morning, it’s the most intensive period of cycling that I’ve undertaken for quite some time. Possibly ever. I’m both surprised and pleased I was even able to do this.

It's scenic, but it's not Kilroot

It hurt though. On the evening after the  second 25 mile loop my legs were actually hot to the touch. Fever hot.

So with the burning legs and all I thought I’d better back off a bit. I took a couple of rest days (and one easy commute to the Halfords Belfast Grand Prix) and had planned a fairly relaxed Sunday ride to follow, but a routing error turned the intended 25 miles into a painful 45. That Lisburn Towpath was a lot longer than I remembered, and having to stop for a puncture at 40 miles, just before the final long climb up home, was less than ideal.

I need to get better at remembering my routes generally. I wanted to experiment with an extension to my usual long way loop this morning, but missed the planned turning and ended up on the A6 to Templepatrick. No problem, I know the way from there, but it added miles and hills that I didn’t need. A vicious headwind along the Shore Road, forgetting my wallet and having to return home, then getting in to work at 10:30am, were other things I didn’t need on this ride.

Welcome to Templepatrick! Wait. What?!

All right,  it’s not exactly 180 miles, but it’s close enough. Begone, addition pedants, my post title is better without you.

I’m feeling every one of those approximately-180 miles right now, but I’m going away on a short break with herself so I’ll be able to rest and relax properly and maybe even get in a decent sports massage. I’ll back on the bike on Sunday again, I expect, as I’ve promised my buddy JT we’d go for a spin along that bloody towpath again. Looking at his RunKeeper tracks I expect I’ll be able to keep up with his 12mph average without too much effort.