First Training Ride

Yesterday was our first opportunity (both not working, weather kindish) to get out on the tandem together to see how we are progressing with the training.

WOW!

Within the first ten minutes Joules was cursing as Richard had selected the route... Having climbed the hill out of the village we went on to the next hill - Nancegollan to Black Rock. A long steep narrow lane - Richard thought he might have bitten off more than he could chew as they passed the turn off for Bodilly...

Having read much advice from cyclists who habitually spend all day in the saddle, regular stops for water and a shared banana (five star super fule to the cyclist) were taken, the first at the top of this rise after about 6 miles.

The ride then took in Porkellis - scene of a slight accident a couple of years ago when we last came this way (the gears jammed & we fell off going up a hill!), with the idea of heading towards Helston & then maybe out towards Porthleven. However a change of route was selected and we headed to Redruth - more uphill.

The second break was taken just before Redruth, both of us feeling remarkably fresh. Another choice of routes on offer - back via Camborne and Praze, or on to the coast?

The coast won it and we headed through Redruth and out to Portreath, a nice shallow downhill for a couple of miles, spoilt by a headwind that had suddenly become very icy, and spots of rain. As anyone who has visited Cornwall will know, every downhill is followed by a climb. The climb out of Portreath is a KILLER. Bottom gear all the way. Richard was ready to stop two thirds of the way up, but Joules encouraged him on (lying through her teeth (it's down hill all the way to Hayle after the next corner)). Joules wasn't entirely wrong, there were some down hill sections riding along the cliff road.

Our third break was at North Cliffs where the Natinal Trust have a small carpark with a fantastic view. Carrying on towards Hayle (up the hill out of Hells Mouth) speculation began about the distance travelled. Richard had the advantage here as he has the bike computer that gives all sorts of information - current speed, average speed for the ride, maximum speed for the ride, ride distance, ride time, total miles ridden and the time. Joules guessed, but did not want to know the total.

After the CLIMB out of Godrevy, we rode down into Hayle, deciding to go through the town and home via Tolroy Hill. Our final banana stop was in Hayle, outside Mr Bees Ice Cream shop (closed unfortunately). Then up hill for another two miles or so as we climbed from Hayle, up through St Erth Praze to Fraddam, then on through Leedstown, the drop into Binnerton & up the other side before rolling down the hill to home.

Joules guessed 30 miles... The actual distance ridden - 35.25 miles!

Even better, Joules did not get cold!

We are both really pleased with this ride - the TT has done it's job (and will continue). On New Years Day we cycled 12 miles on the flat and had had enough (largely due to the cold), what a change! Obviously we have a lot further to go. This is about half the daily distance we will need to cover doing JoGLE, however we covered this in a little over three hours even with the hills. So 70 miles in a whole day? It looks and is starting to feel more possible.

The next big hurdle is doing this sort of ride two days running. When we will get two days together is another question entirely, but watch this space!