Layering up

Sunday was a typical autumnal day - cold wind, leaden skies and wet, wet rain.  Gone were the warm days of last week's indian summer.

It was so tempting to stay in bed listening to the wind shredding the trees and covering our lawn with a carpet of leaves, but instead Chris and I agreed to head out together for 3 laps of our 'training loop' which equates to about 20 miles.

After sticking my head out of the bedroom window to asses the temperature, I decided to pull out the full length cycling leggings for the first time in a long while, along with 2 pairs of socks, base layer, t shirt, head band and shower jacket.  Cosy.

We had an undulating route to get to the lapping point, so we were nicely warmed up.  Then we hit a fantastic section of smooth tarmac road which winds slightly downhill through farm fields for a couple of miles before offering a couple of long straight stretches.  I call this the power section because you can hit a high gear, get up a bit of speed, and feel the burn in your glutes!

Then you hit the hill section - a gentle climb of a couple of miles up the A6 (usually into the wind!).  No chance to feel the cold - just the burn as we try to increase our speed up the hill each time.

At the top we turn into Windlehurst Lane which presents a series of descents and ascents of varying  gradients with a cheeky last climb to take you over the canal and up to Marple Ridge, where you are rewarded with a stunning view across the Goyt Valley whatever the weather.

It is then an exhilarating descent back home for a hot shower and a bowl of soup.