Evans RideIT London 2019
Seems like a long time since my last challenge, the Triathlon X in September 2018. This is fairly tame in comparison, but I was secretly hoping for poor weather (like snow maybe, which we had only a week or two previously) so I did no proper preparation for this 73 mile bike ride.
Olivia bought it for me for my birthday, and she and Luke joined me at the start which was a fairly short drive away at Osterley Park.
The weather was 6 degrees, but was forecast to go up to 13 degrees - so we dressed quite warmly, and as expected, overheated a little later in the day. My brand new Castelli Perfetto jacket (also a birthday present) did a great job in its maiden outing.
The route headed out of London west, then north into the Chilterns, then looped around some hills and came back through Eton and Datchet. It was supposed to be flattish, but had a couple of fairly nasty steep hills.
We kept it steady and stayed together. I got to see some familiar roads and a few interesting new ones too - I may try to build some of them into my usual long rides.
We had a stop after 20 miles, and I stuffed my face with cake. I hardly drank any water, maybe 700 ml the whole day. The road surfaces were damp mostly everywhere, so descents and corners had to be taken very slowly. After another 30 miles or so we stopped at Evans on the A4 for more cake and a very welcome comfort break at Costa next door.
After a quick stop in Eton to say 'hi' to Anna and Lyra who came out to support*, we headed back east to Osterley Park and the finish, in just over 6 hours.
I wasn't too tired really, but was aching a little in my arms (triceps), and right knee and ankle - nothing serious.
Strava
Evans Website Results
Photo Neil Taylor Kasia
* I was running the Glympse app on my phone, so Anna could track our position - it worked well enough for her to meet us.
Seems like a long time since my last challenge, the Triathlon X in September 2018. This is fairly tame in comparison, but I was secretly hoping for poor weather (like snow maybe, which we had only a week or two previously) so I did no proper preparation for this 73 mile bike ride.
Olivia bought it for me for my birthday, and she and Luke joined me at the start which was a fairly short drive away at Osterley Park.
 |
| Me, Olivia and Luke at the start - Osterley Park |
The weather was 6 degrees, but was forecast to go up to 13 degrees - so we dressed quite warmly, and as expected, overheated a little later in the day. My brand new Castelli Perfetto jacket (also a birthday present) did a great job in its maiden outing.
The route headed out of London west, then north into the Chilterns, then looped around some hills and came back through Eton and Datchet. It was supposed to be flattish, but had a couple of fairly nasty steep hills.
We kept it steady and stayed together. I got to see some familiar roads and a few interesting new ones too - I may try to build some of them into my usual long rides.
 |
| Near Slough |
We had a stop after 20 miles, and I stuffed my face with cake. I hardly drank any water, maybe 700 ml the whole day. The road surfaces were damp mostly everywhere, so descents and corners had to be taken very slowly. After another 30 miles or so we stopped at Evans on the A4 for more cake and a very welcome comfort break at Costa next door.
After a quick stop in Eton to say 'hi' to Anna and Lyra who came out to support*, we headed back east to Osterley Park and the finish, in just over 6 hours.
 |
| Me back at the finish |
I wasn't too tired really, but was aching a little in my arms (triceps), and right knee and ankle - nothing serious.
Strava
Evans Website Results
Photo Neil Taylor Kasia
* I was running the Glympse app on my phone, so Anna could track our position - it worked well enough for her to meet us.
