Back to the obsessing thing. I was working from home today and lunchtime had been and gone and I started to think about the brownies... I could just go a nice cup of coffee and one of those brownies. It's not that far to go for a brownies and hey, I'll have earnt it too! I threw some cycling gear on and filled my waterbottle, grabbed a banana from the kitchen counter and flew out of the house.
Into Didsbury and up through Heaton Mersey I started to feel it. I hadn't eaten properly this morning. I'd had a bowl of porridge and a couple of crumpets but no lunch. My legs were feeling heavy and I felt a little lethargic. I pushed on anyway, thinking about the brownies. Stockport came and went and then the first little climb of the day up to Bredbury. I'd forgotten that it was a gradual uphill now until the drop into Compstall. Balls! I stopped and inhaled the banana that was in my jersey pocket. I felt a little better, still heavy legged but better. The descent into Compstall was sketchy as the road was pretty greasy. My phone rang as I reached the bottom. I stopped to answer more as an excuse to stop than anything. I got a good 10 minute rest out of that phonecall. I now had a short climb upto Marple Bridge, followed by a quick descent then a steep climb up Brabyns Brow. Again legs were feeling heavy. Actually I was struggling to turn the cranks. I stopped and span the rear wheel. Or rather didn't. The rear quick release had come loose and the wheel was barely able to move. I tightened the wheel and set off again. That was much better. I was still making hard work of it but at least the wheels were spinning freely. Things were going a lot better all the way through to New Mills. Just a few more miles now until the cafe.
 | |
| No need for the warning. I wasn't going anywhere fast |
Hayfield. I could almost smell the cakes. I was knackered when I got there. I ordered quickly and took a seat.
It was every bit as good as I'd hoped. The brownie was quaffed and the coffee drunk. I sat for another 15 minutes before setting back off out into the cold.
Back now towards New Mills. My legs were still not working as they should but I picked up a wheel as I hit New Mills. Sheltering behind a fellow cyclist I climbed back out of New Mills and towards Disley. As I passed the Swizzells Matlow factory the heady aroma of Refreshers was intoxicating, reminding me how hungry I still was. The other cyclist turned into his drive just before Disley town. I had recovered enough to get past Lyme Park and it was pretty much all downhill from here into Stockport. My speedo didn't dip below 22mph all the way into Stockport. I was only 8 miles from home now but the light was fading fast. I had a rear light but no front. The sun was dipping below the horizon as I reached Didsbury. A short cut was in order so I took a left down Ford Lane and past Pobs' house. 15 minutes later I pulled up outside home. I don't think I'll go riding in the Peaks without eating properly next time.
42.74 miles done.
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