Yesterday was the first time I was back on the bike in (iirc) about eight months (I could check the bike computer to be precise, but who cares, really). The first part of my usual Gravelfoyle loop was exhilarating, I was thinking how much I missed it. The mid section was OK. And the final third? That was a proper ‘are we back yet’ sort of a fun.

It is a pleasant 5C, though very overcast and even with my cheery orange lenses it feels dark and gloomy. But there is no one at all on the Loch Ard coast path, which is why I always ride my loop in the anti-clockwise direction, and come early: this is the most scenic part of the outing, and is best enjoyed when not having to worry about dogs and people.

The clay and active forestry tracks that make up the rest of my ride suffer from that condition that is typical of around here of this time of the year, the ground not being muddy as such, but having turned springy and plastic, producing rolling resistance higher than a casual look might suggest.

By the time I hit the Comer turn, I am well aware of my lack of fitness. A group of runners heading the same way — I have never seen any runners here, and always wondered why, because this is a lovely route. At the bottom of the hill I make my second pit stop of the day for a banana and to take on some water, the small stream just before the pylons one of the best (and reliable) water sources around here.

By now the gloop has got worse, and passing the runners for a second time I am beginning to wish I was on foot, trying to work out in my head where the current forestry felling is likely to be, i.e., what are the chances I might hit a better track soon.

Turns out not much before the big climb below Ben Lomond. By now it’s slowly turning into type-2 fun, and I am contemplating cutting the ride short here, but there is a very good chance the lower track is well flooded and I don’t have a change of socks in the car. So I get off and push.

I have never been adverse to doing a bit of pushing and carrying, if I you are prepared to do that for a couple of kilometres at a time it opens a whole new world of opportunities. But it’s been years since I had to do that here, and that was before I adjusted the gearing on this road bike. It’s what it is; but this is another lovely section of the route, and a long descent beckons the other side of the burn.

Another short pitstop near the top for some cheese; I am thinking the runners will not be far behind me, and indeed once I start the fun descent I see them coming up — kudos to them, they are making very good pace, I am slow today, but not that slow, I doubt I could have kept up with them running.

On the short climb that follows I meet the second, and last, cyclist of the day coming down the opposite way, both his person and the fancy gravel bike totally covered in a homogeneous layer of thin pink mud.

I really don’t get this nonsense of no mudguards. I run full lengths ones the whole year around (in the summer well worth the dog shit alone), and neither my bike nor my clothes will need washing when I get back today. Indeed, since I switched to chain waxing, the bike requires almost no washing at all. I ponder this freewheeling down the next steady descent.

I cut out the final 5km and another steady climb by taking the shortcut over the Duchry, and still by the time I am back at the car I am property done for. But nothing a coffee and sandwich could not fix — I need to do this more often. 🙂