Today I do the Cycle 4 Life Bike Ride from Nottingham
University, this is in aid of Children's Brain Tumour Research. There’s a
reasonable entry and we are released in blocks of twenty from 9.30 onwards. The
roads are very busy by then, clearly the garden centres are already open and
it’s a bit of a trawl before we break out of the city boundaries.
The first excitement arrives when they take us through
Shipley Park because either their signage is poor or someone has nicked all the
signs. Everyone gets lost and there are huge groups of cyclists riding round in
circles looking for the way out of the park.
Eventually we follow a group of people carrying their bikes
up a bank and see a bit of yellow sign just visible through some bushes.
Sorted.
After the feed station at Belper, where there are some nice
snack biscuits, we’re onto quieter country roads and some fairly serious hills.
After missing one right turn and back tracking, the signage
really isn’t great, I miss another one after the second feed station at Stanley
where they have done us sandwiches for lunch. I’m in Kirk Hallam before I realise I’ve
missed it and by now I’m on autopilot, on one of my regular routes home. So I keep
going and rejoin the route further down in Wollaton Vale. That hacked about two
miles off the route I reckon.
I complete the 50 miles in 3:13. L meets me with the dogs
after doing a brick session. We both have a Brakspear beer from the Arts
Centre. Nice and local, not.
Back home, Daughter does her bucket challenge having been
nominated by L. Daughter as expected nominates me. Good luck with that one.
(Sunday 31st August)