Monday 17th May *Road*

A hilly 67 miles into Ashbourne and back proved a tougher challenge than I anticipated, superb ride even though it left me a little drained towards the end.

The route is based on one featured in Cycling Plus last month and it was a cracking route, lovely quiet Derbyshire lanes all the way from Kedleston Park to Ashbourne and vice versa. One part of the route between Osmaston and Shirley was marked as bridleway so this was approached with caution, dropping down into Osmaston Park was OK up to the water mill (pic below) but the rise up from that was not passable on a road machine, and I very much doubt a crosser would make it either, so a short walk it was, this didn't spoil the ride though although next time a diversion will be in place.

At 79.8 ft/mile this is by far the hilliest distance ride I have done and is good preparation for the c2c, as said it began to hurt a little towards the end of the ride but that didn't stop me grinding my way up Drum Hill :)

Kedleston Park

Kedleston Hall

Osmaston

Stats

Distance = 66.4 miles
Time = 4 hrs 37 mins
Ave Speed = 14.3 mph
Top Speed = 37.7 mph
Hillometer = 79.8 ft/mile

Weather = Sunny Spells, 12c

2010
MTB = 89.2
Road Bike = 1210.0
Total Mileage = 1299.2