Weekend miles in cottage country

There's nothing quite like getting out into the middle of nowhere when you're a cyclist and putting your miles in away from serious traffic. The pleasure taken in seeing maybe two or three traffic lights, max, in your couple of hours of riding is highly overlooked by those that don't do the majority of their cycling in the city, or indeed the cities suburbs.

My dad has been over with my mum from Northern Ireland this past ten days or so visiting the new baby and while over my dad had borrowed my road bike and followed a couple of courses I mapped on Garmin Connect. He said he liked the routes for the most part but was put off by the traffic in some sections and the number of red lights he had to stop at that would break his momentum. Welcome to my world was about the only response I could fashion.

Then on the weekend, with him renting a road bike and my on mine, and while up at the cottage, we got out two days running away from the city life. Fresh air, proper head-winds, and the kind of consistent rhythmic riding only the country-side serves up.

The first day we put in 32-miles on an average speed of 17.9 mph. Which you'd be reasonably impressed with if you felt the headwind we rode into for the final 15 miles. Granted the first half of the ride was with a tail-wind that meant average speeds to the degree that when you see them on your bikes computer you know aren't natural and must be the work of mother nature because you just aren't that good.

Day two was a slightly different route, more time on even quieter roads and 37 miles all in. The intentions had been to get 60 mile rides in, but the weather just wasn't generous enough. It was only a handful of degrees over freezing and the wind certainly didn't help. Dad handn't packed tights and we both had to borrow gloves. Still the distances were enjoyable and with a slightly lighter head-wind (though still prevalent) we upped the pace to an average of 18.7 mph.

Below are the maps of both rides. Click on each to view the stats, profile and other information in greater detail.