Monday 2 May Early blast to Belvoir

Belvoir Castle

Had a 6am start for a 70 mile ride out to Belvoir Castle via Terrace Hill which is included in Simon Warren's 100 Greatest Cycling Climbs  Martin, a Beeston CC member joined me on the ride.  A stiff easterly breeze made hard work of the ride out to Terrace Hill, which in its self wasn't a tough challenge, certainly easier than the likes of Holly Lane.  But given the fact that there are no real climbs in the Vale of Belvior region its worthy of a mention in Simon's book, it is also the home of Beeston CC's hill climbing champs.

On to Belvoir (with a slight detour due to mapping a private road on the gps) things were begining to warm up after a bright but chilly start.  Stopped near the castle for a brief photo shoot and snack before heading for home with that stiff wind now behind us.   The route home is a little snakey through built up areas, but there is no 'scenic' route back to Beeston from east of Nottingham but this didn't detract from a fantastic ride.

The legs felt good today, definately my best ride of the year so far, got home after 71.6 miles and the legs still wanted to go, really impressed with how it went.  Martin made good company too.  Today by 0.2 miles was my longest of the year to date, this ride also took my weekly mileage to 170, a big week by my standards.  Today courtesy of the tailwind and my TT mode ride home through Beeston I was Fabian Cancellara!

View over the Vale of Belvoir

Distance = 71.6 miles
Time = 4 hrs 36 mins
Ave Speed = 15.5 mph
Top Speed = 34.6 mph
Hillometer =29.9 ft/mile
Max H/R =185
Ave H/R =138

Weather = Sunny, 14c

2011
Road Bike =773.3
Single Speed =31.9
Indoor = 44.4
Total Mileage = 849.6

*edited to include s/s trip to pub!