in training

A holiday you have to train for??!! As the average days cycling is about 30 miles in the first week and 40 in the second we thought it might be a good idea to allow sometime for our backsides and the saddles to get reacquainted.  Over the 2 bank holiday weekends we planned 4 training rides using the getamap function on the OS website.  We completed these with relatively few aches and pains, which cheered us but as of yet we haven't been out again.  Next weekend maybe.


Getamap is kind of fun if a little laborious.  It does allow you to terrify yourself with an elevation plot of your route, but as with all maps it doesn't give you any idea of the quality of the paths labelled.  One day I will remember that just because it is legal to cycle on a bridle path, doesn't mean it is physically possible to do so.


The one I had picked on the circular route via Whitstable, Boughton under Blean and Chartham started off across someones back garden.  Quite rightly they were sat outside enjoying the evening sunshine and while they may be used to the occasional horse and rider they did seem somewhat perplexed as Ed and I edged around the hedge and asked if this was the bridle path.  Good naturedly they waved us across their lawn, no doubt sniggering to themselves as to what was about to befall us. Having traversed their garden the bridle path headed into a wood and followed a little track, so far so good.  The track soon disappeared and instead of a nice woodland path we met with a rutted, tree root ridden path dug up by the horses hooves last time it had rained. Well it was a bridle path.  Even this would have been fine, if the route continued on the level or only slightly up hill, but no we were already at the highest point of the ride so from here on in it was down.


For those that don't know, on the back of the tandem there isn't much visibility especially when you are shorter than the person on the front. Nor are there any controls, all you can do is hold on tight and scream, which is what I did as we hurtled down what felt like a vertical washboard with the back wheel jumping and skittering its own way.  Still we reached the level without falling off and as I had a short break so I could regain my nerve Ed was commenting on how that was the best bit of the ride.


mmhh.