What was I thinking?

Bank Holiday. Two words that should strike terror into all road cyclists. It's worse than Sundays, by a long, long shot. All the signs were smacking me in the proverbial. For starters it was sunny, very sunny. After weeks of rain and damp and drizzle. The schools all go back this week (ahem, most of them anyway). So what is every self-respecting couch potato going to do today? Go to Cheddar gorge that's what. Homo cheddarisbankholidaystupidicus, a new species of mankind, and I found them, millions of them, in their cars, on the pavements, in the roads (mostly), and probably in the pubs and shops too. Is this incredibly judgemental of me? If so, I'm castigating myself for choosing to end a ride with a descent of the world famous gorge and around 2PM on August Bank Holiday, 2010.

It had all started so well. I had planned (I know what you are thinking, plans and me are not best mates) to do about an hour or so, up to the top of the Mendips via the gorge, then down the Coombe and home. But it was a shame to waste the sunshine, and both Skip and Bunny had done various century rides over the weekend, so I felt maybe I'll push it a bit, one last time before France. I promise on the life of the Madonna del Ghisallo, that any rides I do between now and the 7th of September will be easyish ones.

Unfortunately I had forgotten to charge Charlie, so no stats from him today, but it actually made for a more free-spirited ride in that I was no longer a slave to the cadence sensor or at the whim of the gradient. I started to really enjoy myself. All the more because I have swapped K-1's saddle over to the Red Madonne, and a furtive fettle underneath as I rode along revealed a bulge of chamois pad that was now goiing down and not up. So, hopefully no flow problems in later life now, if you get drift. Knight of the Realm and I had discussed how we had politely refused THAT test at our recent company medicals. May have to reconsider next time if the experience of that hard Bonty saddle is anything to go by. The cutaway is definitely coming, so to speak, up the Tourmalet with me.

So I headed over to Wrington via Congresbury, and up Wrington Hill. Yes the steep one which catches you out because you need granny gear for the steep ramp at the bottom. Then down into Cleeve, through Claverham and across to Nailsea. If this seems convoluted it is because I had a plan again. And I didn't want to go over the same ground if I could avoid it.

Which I just about did. By going up Belmont Hill to Failand, down the steep way into Long Ashton, and along the Festival Way cycle path to Backwell. There were loads of walkers, families and even a tandem or two, out enjoying a pootle. All well-behaved, walking/riding in straight lines on the correct side of the road.

Next up was Brockley Coombe before buzzing down to Winford, back up to the Manor and down Long Lane past the Walled Garden to Wrington. From there it's short hop to the base of Burrington, which was a joy in the sunshine, a quick detour to the highest navigable point (Henceforth known as HNP) then down the gorge.

I think I now hold the record for the slowest descent of Cheddar gorge on a road bike without a puncture or any type of mechanical breakdown. All the usuals were on display, inappropriate overtaking followed by sudden braking. Stopping to look at the scenery. Using hand-held phones. As I came down the steep bit with the hairpin, there was a traffic jam,caused by some drivers who had stopped to look at some climbers or the goats, or something. It caught me unawares despite only doing about 15mph, and the new tyres got a chance to shine. And smoke a bit as the back brake locked the wheel. But don't worry Bunny I kept the bike upright, but without being overly dramatic, it was a close-run thing.

Still no harm done, until down in the shopping area, where I encountered people ignoring the pavement, well the roads are so much smoother and less crowded aren't they. Crossing without looking? Of course, why should they look? I need to get over myself I think. The rest of the world was enjoying itself in it's own way and I should really have known better.

My average speed was 14.9 mph, caused in large part by the slow descents of all of the hills today, my ascending speed is a lot better than it was a few months ago. So that was pretty good. And I didn't swear, so my swearbox didn't get any benefit from all the crowds in Cheddar. But my self-contol impressed even me. Skip would be so proud, I think she thinks (mind-reading again) that I'm a bit bonkers.

Anyway I really enjoyed myself actually, despite the gorge. It's a lesson learned after all. I did manage to plot the route on Bikely, so 58 miles and just over 3500 feet of climbing. So now I am as ready as I'm going to be. Honestly.

http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/Bank-Holiday-Madness