Day 5
Sleeping location: YHA Cholderton, near Stonehenge
Distance (km today/total): 150 / 492
Estimated climb (m today/total): 1100 / 5900
Average gradient of the last 500m of the climb to Alfred’s Tower: 14%
Day in three words: Levels and ramps
A long day done mostly solo after I left the LEJoG crew near Bridgwater and headed east. The route was mostly very pleasant but unmemorable, with lots of rolling hills and leafy lanes as I slowly moved from the West Country into whatever this bit of England is called. The first half was on the Somerset Levels and was very...level...and the second half was through Wiltshire and a bit more punchy. The two bits of the journey that stand out were both extremely unpleasant:
First, a ludicrous climb up to “Alfred’s Tower” which I accidentally included in the route when I replanned after lunch. The whole thing was 2.3km at 6.6%, which is bad enough, but the last 500m averaged 14% and at times was a lot steeper. This was worse than anything so far, and is definitely the first hill to require tacking the bike and making my weird effort noises (most people who have cycled with me will know what I mean). Second, getting to the hostel meant a couple of terrifying miles on the A303 - busy dual carriageway, no shoulder. In both cases, these are probably good practice for the inevitably crazier things to come.
Generally I think the difficult first few days have really sorted out my fitness, a lot of hills today were breezed up and I did manage to get up the horrible one in one go, even if noises were required. 150km was also achieved with minimal fuss thanks to frequent refuelling stops. The worst thing is probably my bum, and even that isn’t too bad.
Tomorrow is another long-ish day, but I have a date with Rebecca at the end of it which should spur me on.
Distance (km today/total): 150 / 492
Estimated climb (m today/total): 1100 / 5900
Average gradient of the last 500m of the climb to Alfred’s Tower: 14%
Day in three words: Levels and ramps
A long day done mostly solo after I left the LEJoG crew near Bridgwater and headed east. The route was mostly very pleasant but unmemorable, with lots of rolling hills and leafy lanes as I slowly moved from the West Country into whatever this bit of England is called. The first half was on the Somerset Levels and was very...level...and the second half was through Wiltshire and a bit more punchy. The two bits of the journey that stand out were both extremely unpleasant:
First, a ludicrous climb up to “Alfred’s Tower” which I accidentally included in the route when I replanned after lunch. The whole thing was 2.3km at 6.6%, which is bad enough, but the last 500m averaged 14% and at times was a lot steeper. This was worse than anything so far, and is definitely the first hill to require tacking the bike and making my weird effort noises (most people who have cycled with me will know what I mean). Second, getting to the hostel meant a couple of terrifying miles on the A303 - busy dual carriageway, no shoulder. In both cases, these are probably good practice for the inevitably crazier things to come.
Generally I think the difficult first few days have really sorted out my fitness, a lot of hills today were breezed up and I did manage to get up the horrible one in one go, even if noises were required. 150km was also achieved with minimal fuss thanks to frequent refuelling stops. The worst thing is probably my bum, and even that isn’t too bad.
Tomorrow is another long-ish day, but I have a date with Rebecca at the end of it which should spur me on.
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