The Reading Sportive was hugely entertaining, well staffed, and attended by some thoroughly nice cyclists. I had plenty of company for the first stage of about 19 miles, rather less company for the second stage of 19 miles – and rode the whole of the last stage (25 miles) alone bar the final 2 miles. I had a very nice conversation with a chap called David (from Kingston), reassurance on the route from two nice ladies who had rather more confidence in the pink Evans signs than I did (there was some serious divergence from the published sat-nav route) and a tissue on which to blow my nose from a pretty girl at the first rest stop. See? Thoroughly nice all round.<\/p>\n
The highlights, for me, were the sunlight dappling through the beech and oak woods of the Chilterns and the steam from the traction engine that I overtook (which was being driven by two ladies – not something you see everyday, but something which pleased me greatly). I daydreamed a little when riding past glades of mossy stumps, bluebells, primroses and wild garlic – it was all quite beautiful. I also cursed the vile slobs who’d seen fit to lob their sweet wrappers and fast food detritus from their cars.<\/p>\n
My top tip for anyone training for a long bike ride has to be ‘Don’t drink before a bike ride’. It wasn’t that I had a hangover, but the four pints that I enjoyed the evening before definitely affected my sleep – so I started the ride feeling rather tired and rather fuzzy. I know. It’s obvious. It should be obvious, anyway. Apparently it wasn’t obvious enough for me.<\/p>\n