It's knowing that your door is always open and your path is free to walk

The Cotswold Spring Classic 2011, 170km version (about 107 miles in English).



Skip and I were discussing blogs, how hard it is to find something interesting about our riding or new or innovative.

Here are the facts: It was hard work, the hills were of the steep up and steep down variety (largely), with the odd gradual descent to make up for it. I rode every inch, unlike a lot of people who, perhaps wisely, walked up the 20% wall at the end of the ride, and then had the energy to finish OK. It was my first century ride of the year, so given I used the same nutrition strategy as last week (90 miles) it was no surprise that I was a gibbering idiot at , um, yes 91 miles.

Skip brought me home on her wheel, much as an indulgent parent collects their drunk teenage child from their first party, and calmly and lovingly puts them to bed with a paracetamol and a large glass of water. Once I'd had the cycling equivalent, a free pasta meal and a recovery shake, I felt much better. But I have learned my lesson (again).

Our mood was pretty relaxed for most of the ride, we had agreed to pootle, and that's pretty much how it panned out, it was a lovely day, gentle on my mind as these things go. Some of last week's White Horse route was involved as well as a section of a Cotswolds ride I did last summer, so familiar territory. And of course K1 was born and raised in Stroud, although I was on the Red Madone, but I knew from collecting K1 from the bike maternity ward, that Stroud is like Cornwall- no flat bits.

We even got given an Easter Egg by the organisers, one each, which just goes to show how healthy living is prompted by these events. I'm going to eat the lot in a minute. The most bizarre incident of the day was two (and it has to be said, Northern) tourists, out walking down the afore-mentioned 20% wall, deciding to take my photo as I cycled up it. No idea why, perhaps Skip can tell you:

http://www.thecyclingmayor.com/?m=201104

(a great review by a great blogger). Skip and I are both happily married to other people, but she has developed this worrying trait of saying "yes dear" to me as I blather on about bad driving, potholes, or Taylor Swift (don't ask). I know I can give the appearance of a grumpy old man, but inside this whinging exterior, is a youthful, optimistic person struggling to get out.  So I am going to give you some unsolicited advice, that if followed, will gladden your heart.

Next weekend, or this week if you are off work, give that wedding business a miss, and go for a lovely walk in the wood. See some bluebells, have a picnic, and enjoy the fresh air, be gentle on your mind too, you might enjoy it. I know I'm going to.

http://ridewithgps.com/trips/228738