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Weather: appalling
Stats: 63.5 miles; Ave speed moving: 12.2 mph
Counties: Devon, Somerset
GPS track map: Link here
You can't win them all. Last night's forecast for rain proved all too accurate. So it was on with the wet weather gear. Riding in rain has no redeming features in my view. I tend towards the minimalist approach in summer: ordinary gear, plus a simple rain jacket, plus sandals with no socks. No point putting on several layers which will just steam you up. (Actually, my normal approach is not to cycle in the rain, but we have a schedule to keep. )
Probably my recollections of the ride are conditioned by the relentless rain. We went up the Exe valley on an A road, then across to Taunton on B roads. The traffic got heavier as we neared Taunton, and negotiating our way around the town was nasty. The afternoon's ride was on much quieter roads, via Langport and the Somerset levels. We stopped at the cafe of the 'Wicker and Wetlands Centre' which was OK-ish, at least it was warm and dry even if the service was a little slow. After lunch there was a brief dry spell, which lulled me into 'delayering', only for the rain to resume with a vengance.
The novel sensation of riding on the flat levels was puncutated only by the need to cross, at Pedwell, the hill ridge running across the levels. This was rewarded by views to Glastonbury Tor, looming out of the mist.
Dinner that evening was at the Sun Tavern, which despite its English sounding name is now a Greek restaurant: the food was excellent. By this time, the rain had relented so after dinner, Peter gave us a late night tour of the town sights.
Next day
Weather: appalling
Stats: 63.5 miles; Ave speed moving: 12.2 mph
Counties: Devon, Somerset
GPS track map: Link here
You can't win them all. Last night's forecast for rain proved all too accurate. So it was on with the wet weather gear. Riding in rain has no redeming features in my view. I tend towards the minimalist approach in summer: ordinary gear, plus a simple rain jacket, plus sandals with no socks. No point putting on several layers which will just steam you up. (Actually, my normal approach is not to cycle in the rain, but we have a schedule to keep. )
Probably my recollections of the ride are conditioned by the relentless rain. We went up the Exe valley on an A road, then across to Taunton on B roads. The traffic got heavier as we neared Taunton, and negotiating our way around the town was nasty. The afternoon's ride was on much quieter roads, via Langport and the Somerset levels. We stopped at the cafe of the 'Wicker and Wetlands Centre' which was OK-ish, at least it was warm and dry even if the service was a little slow. After lunch there was a brief dry spell, which lulled me into 'delayering', only for the rain to resume with a vengance.
The novel sensation of riding on the flat levels was puncutated only by the need to cross, at Pedwell, the hill ridge running across the levels. This was rewarded by views to Glastonbury Tor, looming out of the mist.
Dinner that evening was at the Sun Tavern, which despite its English sounding name is now a Greek restaurant: the food was excellent. By this time, the rain had relented so after dinner, Peter gave us a late night tour of the town sights.
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| Togging up |
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| This jaunty cap has been leant to me by Les to stop the sweat running into my eyes |
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| Peter tells Malc to buy his own cake |
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| The Somerset levels are level and wet |
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