A Cotswolds Classic Round Up... Next Up, Yorkshire Shores!

May has been a scorcher! It's been a long time since I rode with the fear of sunburn and the smell of suncream all around...

Most of my riding focus for May (and April, to be honest) is on club's second training ride in the Cotswolds. I've never been to the Cotswolds (especially as a non-car driver, it's difficult to get to) so I jumped at the chance of a free trip - the weather was definitely a bonus! The route, starting outside of the Cotswolds in Burton Dassett, took us to the popular town of Broadway, before coming back up through Bourton-On-The-Water. 

What a day. Beautiful views, challenging hills, good company, great coffee - cyclist's live for these days. It was not quite the rolling country I was expecting from pictures (our local Leicestershire rides are far more undulating) or one similar to the Yorkshire Dales ride we did last year, which, despite the high elevations, felt much more relaxed. It was a scorching day, adding to the difficulty, one of my longest days on the bike, definitely my steepest, and to top that off, we ticked off two of the UK's Top 100 climbs. 

What was also great about the route put together was that it left a lot of the South and West of the Cotswolds to explore for another day, so I'll definitely be back, and hopefully with even better fitness and maybe a tent, a book and a gravel bike...

High up in the Cotswolds, with lovely greens and yellows everywhere

A good group of us, some sporting our new club jerseys!

Since the Cotswolds ride I've been giving more love to my Standert and doing some mixed-terrain rides at a slower pace. The next challenge ride (#3 of the year) is the Yorkshire Shores ride up in Scarborough, again with Glorious Gravel. I've opted for the medium route, 84k at just over 1000m of climbing - it'll be similar to the Sherwood Ride, but I aim to relax and enjoy it more - it'll most likely be a hot day! I'm still considering doing the long-version and relaxing more, but will make the call on the day.

Outside of the Scarborough ride, i've also planned a couple of multi-day bikepacking trips, but all dependent on work, money and how much freedom i've got. Happier days.

Summer Is Upon Us...

April is done.

The weather change has been dramatic, to say the least. Saturday and Sunday - wet, gale-force winds, all cyclists sweating away on indoor trainers and in gyms cursing their luck. Come Monday, there's an extra 6c in the air, the gravel bikes are out, and we're on (oddly) dry trails, bibshorts on and arms out. 

In a day it feels like Summer is upon is - insects are out, farm animals are out grazing in force and everything is looking green and lush.

The main excitement for this month has been new kit day - our new club kit has finally arrived! It's such great quality, everything fitting exactly as it should, feels light and the finishing on the bib shorts and arms of the jersey is top notch. It has a great ride feel - one to test out on a long training ride this weekend. There are definitely some improvements in the graphics, but for a first attempt, it's pretty great.

Vibrant and visible - a bee attractor!

Looking forward to a warm May - first weekend, the Cotswolds!