A quick message via Facebook to an old school buddy who is now into cycling and before you know it a nice little route is planned and a date set - GULP. Around rolls the aforementioned date so I set off to the rendez-vous point of Slyne Lodge, now for those of you in the know the Slyne Road via Bottomdales from Caton isn't too far in fact it's about 5miles, however I severely underestimated the elevations. Due to meet at 9.30 I set off at 9:15 leaving it a tad late I hear you cry - I manage to rock up at Slyne Lodge just after 9.30 not too bad I think and I'm first here! Doug rocks up shortly after and we discuss where to head ad set off down the A6 with Arnside in sight.
The A6 was nice and vaguely flat until we turned off through Carnforth and embarked on the rural section through Millhead and and old favourite haunt of Warton past the site of the infamous Warton Grange (D.O.A for those in the know!!). Off out on some climbs, and some more climbs and then another climb through
Stage 1 - Home to Arnside
Refuelled and ready for the off down the road we head through Sandside and toward Milnthorpe. As we head toward the crossroads in Milnthorpe a quick discussion is taken as to where else we could head on the way home but we decide to just suck it and see - and thank god we did! You know how you have in your memory what you THINK a road is like - well the A6 back from Milnthorpe to Carnforth isn't just as flat as I recall - man was that hard work. With my legs now failing fast and my ass not to far behind the decision is taken to plough on back to the Millennium Bridge where we can part and go our separate ways. This A6 just keeps going and going and going until we eventually get back to Lancaster and our next stop for a well earned breather.
Having stopped for a quick chat and plans of our next ride and should we go further, hillier, flatter etc we soon decide to head home to get on with the rest of our day off. The prospect of heading down the all to familiar cycle path and its smooth flat surface to home is one I was looking forward too until, that is, I set off. I have absolutely nothing left in my legs and the seemingly easy task of getting home has turned into an epic battle of me against my body. Through nothing other than sheer willpower I soon return home aching and sweaty but proper chuffed with the mornings achievements. Considering I'm not a cyclist I have just done a 30 odd mile round trip to Arnside which when sat on the sofa contemplating seems like a ridiculous thing to do! Lets hope I can stick with this and get some miles in now the days are turning and the weather is on it's way!
In other news the running is progressing slowly and steadily and I have made a return to the wet stuff and am already back at my previous 400m race pace despite only 2 sessions - lets hope the knee continues to behave and I can start bricking again - 50days and counting until Ribby Hall!