My New Personal Best (total 159km)

 Woohoo. Well yoohoo for me. I know I aint no Lael Wilcox,  but its my longest single ride  so fast. The main reasons I'm so happy is this number is in the ballpark for daily bikepacking and I feel like I could back it up tomorrow. Not another 50 odd km's, but something.  

According to what I read on FB about training for cycling long distances,  I need to do one longish ride followed by a recovery ride say 5-10km, a moderate ride and another recovery,  each week.  This week's total was ambitiously set at 100km, and I've got it in the bag.  The totals will be extended slightly each week for the month of my challenge to make up 500. 

So,  obviously today was always going to be the longest ride ever.  I just didn't have any confidence that I could crack the 50 mark. Another issue is finding a route of about the sought distance. 

Initially I only had two roads in mind to start with and I  had a figure of eight,  but with three lips,  in mind.  The 'x' of the 8 being my start point so I could bail out of required. Typically for me,  I ended up just going for it and doing a massive loop over new ground.  I did know the roads,  but only as a motorist and as any cyclist will confirm,  it's a lot different when you're behind bars.  

The biggest shock being the number of  hills and their steepness. Up, down rolling riding with a pushy westerly which was side on and the first mid to high 20's day of the spring. There was gravel,  lots of it and some bouncy bitumen so there was no risk of settling into an easy rhythm.  

At about half way I hit the town of Gresford.  Unfortunately Id forgotten to pack a mask so I couldn't lash out for lunch. Just a couple of pieces of fruit,  some Gatorade and chocolate in the park.  Watching a mum and toddler playing on the swings took me back to a time with my daughter.  She's now at a nearby property handling thoroughbreds and runs her own horse training and breaking business. 

Unfortunately,  the scenery was well known and while it can be green,  at the moment a lot of the pastures are frost burned,  soon everything is brown.  That's still better than suburbia though. Back onto a B road,  the traffic was light,  everyone being under lockdown,  butI took the first chance to get off on a parallel gravel road.  My fatbike ate this up.  More rolly polly, but the bumpy downhill were fast and furious.  Top fun and it was along here that I hit my top speed of the day of 51 kph. 

About 8km out it all turned a bit average.  Although I don't get a knee niggle like I do on my tourer, my hand numbness was chronic.  My butt was tender so I just sat very still in the saddle,  very still to avoid pain.  Overall though I washed up really well.  A feed and loosen up and I'd be ready to roll again.   

Total = 159km