My First Gran Fondo.. 101km bike ride from Lincoln to Castle Donington via Newark on Trent and Nottingham
So, I’m off way train station. I got a train to L today at the beginning. It’s only for an hour though. So, hopefully we’ll stop by Lincoln out on the train. Let’s see how we go. [Music] Just long train station now. [Music] [Music] He has a ticket to drink. You can’t do 5 anyway. some cushion from our bad hand on the first train not Find our way to platform one. Now that we go to the next train ride, [Music] [Music] Heat. Heat. Hey, money. Platform level doors opening. Going up. [Music] station and the sun’s out which is good. Uh quite a few people here. Looks a bit busy. Can’t see any other bikes. So, uh so hopefully there’s um hopefully there’s not really any bikes on the train. I don’t know where it’s come from. watching it. This one. Yeah. Yeah. [Music] Heat. Heat. Yeah. Heat. [Music] Yeah, it’s okay. That’s the little Lincoln train station. Time to ride home. I think the track’s about um uh 60 mi. Yeah, it’s about 60 60 miles. Uh [Music] but I’ve since realized that um [Music] obviously 100k is uh 60 62.1 miles. So that’s what we’re going to aim for. Going to aim for the 100 100 km. might have to add uh add a few more miles on somehow. Probably have a ride around um the National Water Sports Center in Nottingham when we get there. Yeah, I add a few easy easy miles on a ride to Lincoln Cathedral now. Got a photograph ride uh there before we set off. Let’s go. Nice canal here in the middle of Lincoln. Let’s find a way to Lincoln Cathedral for a photo. That was a good climb up to the cathedral. Looks like the fluctuations happening. See if I can get a picture of a bike. Oh, they’re not going to [Music] [Music] Am I supposed to get [Music] Should we get Got [Music] [Music] a picture of a bike in front of the cathedral. Get out of the way and find my way back to the track. Uh start my journey home. [Music] Get a photo of the cathedral. I should have added a little bit on food. Long way anyway. Hey [Music] [Music] again. [Music] canal or river whatever it is come before it too much so I do not know my way around here on the G here that boat nice day. Not too warm yet [Music] weather. [Music] This is a national cycle trail. Uh 64 at the minute. We’re following it on a busy road and through the zone. Heat. Heat. Good. Yes. So, I’ve had to order some pions for me bike so we can pack some luggage. Uh, see how these long distance ride goes. Uh, then I might do some multi-day rides. I’ve already planned a few two and three day routes. They’re quite long. I need to carry uh luggage with me. One of them is a camping route. Uh two nights camping. The other route will be a hotel. So obviously stopping in a hotel I won’t need uh as much gear. supposed to have a camping stuff. Um, we hoping to get some more some long distance multi-day bike packing routes in before the summer’s up. I mean, the weather’s cooled down a bit of late. We’re getting a bit of rain now. Uh, the morning’s getting darker. Uh so yeah, hopefully get a few roots in before winter sets in a bit narrow here. I’ll get off and push back some pass. [Applause] Yes, it looks quite far this route. I hope so for the distance. I think there’s a there’s a couple of little hills in there. I think um not as bad as when I came back from Birmingham last week. I didn’t record that. I didn’t have the bike mount at the time my 360 camera. I just going to uh try and vlog this a little bit. Uh see how see how that video does. See how easy it is uh to lock while riding Right away now to the left. Very nice. Yeah, I reach the road at the minute. Road cycle pass now right away. Come on here for a while before turning off. Not sure what way is in the distance. Let’s find out. So, this section says strictly no cycling, no horse riding, so I’m pushing my bike anyway, but I dare say I’ll be able to ride on it anyway. It’s a plow field. And I think we’ll get past this storm here and get back onto a better better road surface. Now, when I planned this route, I did bring up the National Cycle Network um on the map and this isn’t cycle network. there. Yes, telling me to go down that way. Um, but it’s not it’s a bit going to be a bit hard on the mountain bike on the bike. So, uh, I’m going to take a slight detour on the road. Um, not much further and it be it’s easy going. It is a busy road. Uh, so try to be careful. It’s just a bit intimidating on these fast roads. Uh 7:00 used to reroot. I got It is nothing wrong. Oh no, I’m going the right way. Yeah, follow this road. I mean tech right although tell me rude to me telling me to take a left for some reason. Um, he’s doing that. Another look, right? I know you are. [Music] I’ve got a feeling the bike pass might be underneath this road. I’m I need to go on this path underneath the road. [Music] Well, I’m going to go for this. [Music] I want to plann the route. is when I plan the route. I must have made a mistake somewhere. Back on the back on the side now. I was looking on there. That’s probably why he was sending me along the be back on track. Bit of a map planning error. Nice. Nice. Nice cycle bus. Drag. Yeah, nice and flat at the minute. Get some hills in a bit. is definitely the one you cling to towards the end. Not making hills, but uh probably one or two around new somewhere. I’m not sure. One minute. It’s really flat. Going at a steady pace. No rush. Don’t wear myself out too quick. Steady progress. Going back onto the roads now. This quiet road. [Music] Just come here to Harvey Green. Yeah, some very quiet roads I’m on now. I don’t think I’ve seen another car since coming out of the villages. Very quiet. I think it should be like this most of the way to New York. Oh, speaking of that, now that send that now the course coming to be a few another Couple [Music] of bikers just passed me. Little bit quicker than me. The other side to the new national cycle network 64. Some of the cycles train that work just go on the road. Yeah, we’re about 10 miles in. Just over 11. Long ways to go yet. Yes. This village is called Eagle Bird. Nice place. I saw this thing almost Sorry. Thanks. Yeah, I’m still a novice. Still wasn’t really sure what to do then. Didn’t want to whis whiz by them. I’m going fast anyway. But suppose you’re not scared of uh cars really. So startled by me out there say 13 in to Newark wasn’t dirty hour and hour and a That’s going to be over 25 miles in total by the time we get there. I think a little rest there going to come early and some biscuits. This will probably have some of them there. Maybe see if we can buy some lubed and get to try for the second half of the the journey. Oh, [Music] [Music] so I stopped just before the downhill section. Uh I am feeling a bit peckish. I only had some brown some brown flakes for my breakfast, a banana, and the yogurt. And I’m feeling a bit actually at the I was going to wait till New, but I thought I’d eat my uh banana before it’s before it goes squishy, which it already is. Oh god, that was revolting. Don’t taste too bad though. That’s an energy in me. [Music] Yes. So, I’m just coming into Callingham now. I check the map. It doesn’t look like we’re that far away from Newark to be honest. Um they have got some question questionable uh back routing. That’s our main takeation going style. See how make it 5 and 3/4 miles to I like being nature as I mentioned earlier. This is actually a cycle path. Uh hopefully there’s no sting. There’s a rule 64 still want to be following. As you can see, we’re off the road now for a bit. Heat. Heat. Yes, I’m 2 miles away from Newark. I’m glad to get there. Have a little rest when I get there. Get a photo by the castle. See how much water I’ve got. If I need any more lucasade. I’m sorry. I’m feeling a bit tired actually. I mean, I think I’ll be about 25 mile in by the time we get to Noop. Still got a long way to go. I can feel a little bit tired. All Saints Church wind Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. [Music] [Music] Thank you. [Music] I made it in Newark. I lost route slightly. Uh just a straight line for some reason. Not going by the road. So had to come off route. Uh I’m waiting for any work. station castle top. Many market stores early. Well, looking for the castle. Heat. Heat. I have to check them out. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. some building work going off of the castle. Stop here. Get a picture. [Music] Thank you. [Music] Yes. So, I’m going to have a little rest here for 10 minutes. I have some food before carrying on. I’ve done 26 miles. So, I’ve got about what another 34 36 miles to go yet to get home. It’s going to be a grer, but it’s quite flat. I think there’s only the one hill at the end. uh going into Clifton to be honest. Um but we’ll see. I think I’ve killed on a break to be honest. Get back on the road. Make some progress. Probably another 25 miles. Nottingham. At least you still got HSBC open. Don’t know how to do it now. Heading back onto cycle route 64 again. Cotton. I think it’s an issue railway track this morning. them being out of the 13. We’re off to be 13 miles to Bingham. Let’s go. Yes. I’m 33.8 8 miles in. I don’t know what this uh little village town’s called. There’s a nice church here, a bench. I’m going to stop for 5 minutes. I’m feeling quite fatigued. Um I think it’s caught up with me. I think the last ride I did, the big ride last week from Birmingham. I’m going to work. I don’t think I fully recovered to be honest. I don’t The muscle didn’t take, but there I feel like I’m tiring uh quite quickly. Um, so yeah, I’m going to have a break here for 5 minutes. I’m I’m in no rush. Got all day. Uh, just steady. Uh, one turn of the pedal at a time. I’m sure we’ll get there. But yeah, I’m just feeling a little bit fatigued at the minute. So, I’m just going to have a rest. Yes. So, I’ve had a little rest now. There’s a dead pigeon there by the chair. the chair member of Roy. Uh so yeah, I’ve got a So I’m about halfway between Newark and Bingham and I’m about the same distance from Bingham to Nottingham. Uh not too bad. I’ve uh broken the bike then when I get to Nottingham have another rest there at the uh National Water Support Center boats paddling before heading home. Yeah, it’s took longer than I thought already. I thought it was going to be easier than Birmingham, but uh yeah, definitely feeling the burn today. Yes. So, I’ve left um cycle route 64 now. I’ve been on that most of the way from Lincoln and now I’m on cycle route 15. heading for Bingham. I think we must be about four or five miles away from Bingham. Probably going to get there. Yes. So, I’m just over 40 miles in today. Arrived at Bingham. Have about 20 miles left. Uh 60 miles total. But I need to if I’m going that far, I may as well make it 100k at 62.1 miles um spent anyway. So, it’s just going to be a slow burn the rest of the way home. Uh to try and find two more miles somewhere. Need a lap of the regata lake at home touch. [Music] I’m not stuck in this one. Temporary traffic lights there. Come on power. Heat. Heat. I’m just rolling through trend. Next stop, home gear pond, which I’m looking forward to to split this ride up into uh three sections. Uh 3/3. Um first third was Lincoln to Newark. Second third to get through there was uh New Lingham which I’m going to count to National Water Sport Center. It’s complete in the second third and the final third is a ride home from Nottingham via Clifton past Tren University down Green Lane and past the power station and Logington Donington. Uh I think it’s still going to be on that section. Uh but it is also the shortest in distance. Have a break at uh have a break at the National Water Sport Center. Hopefully the cap is open. Get us rolling some coffee up a bit. the final push. Yeah, I mean it’s been pretty flat. There’s been some ups and downs, but um nothing major on develations. Um yeah, it’s been more tiring uh than I expected. Yeah, I felt felt more tired than than I imagined to be honest on this one. This might have to have a long period of rest. I don’t think I don’t think riding work. It’s only a short distance 7 miles a day. I don’t think I’ve had adequate rest on my last long ride to Birmingham plus all my commutes to work. Uh the weather does look nice for me next days at work. So I think I’ll still carry on going on me uh going on me bike to work. I might do a shorter shorter ride next week on the days off uh 25 mile or something. Not not such a big one. We’ll see. Couple of petlers. Getting there to home peer pond now. Some big houses along here. Bit of an itch [Music] up on the gat lake. See if there’s a cafe open. Not sure. Not sure if there was one over a midweek or not. Do the coffee though. Sit down. Yes. So, I managed to find a cafe. Got cappuccino and a margarita panini. £9. So then I could charge I’ve done 47.5 miles so far. So, I’m guessing I’ve got about 13 to 15 miles left. It’s 5 3 now, so it has took longer than I imagined today, but it is what it is. We’re We’re in for a penny, in for a pound now, and we got to get it finished. So, I’m going to finish finish me coffee and panini, have a little rest, hit the pavement again. had me a panini coffee sit down for probably 20 minutes. I’m not bothering going on the boat. Just want to get a move on. Still probably got about 15 miles to go. So to a good pace, an hour and a half. I’m a bit tired though. There’s a big hill in there. It could be up to 2 hours. Have any more breaks. Uh time is half 3. So I’m looking at getting back for 5 or 5 hopefully. Um, I make it a full day shift. Oh, me alarm went up at 5 this morning. I was out the arch at 6:00. I was trained for seven. I’ve made a full day of it. There’s a gas lake. I’m hoping I make the 100k and do a little exercise starting these as it wasn’t positing the route. Uh so obviously I might have to go around the block when I get home to make it up. We’ll see. picked up a bit of a trend now. The wind has picked up as well. I’ve been riding into the wind for a good while actually coming in through Bingham into the wind. the wind now actually was taking me along the road and then I was on this path cycle wasn’t sure I’ve been longing for walking like [Music] turn bridge [Music] on the river was closed back there. So had to do a detour through West Bridge and why it was closed west back on track now along the bank on the West Bridge side. Next stop Wilford Clifton Rcliff on saw power station. There it is near [Music] along here. [Music] for me it’s Clifton Hill bigger than I imagine from here to be honest going to be enough that I am spent and there’s a few ups and downs on Green Lane I think as Well, far out of Hington up onto the maroon to deal with. I can smell home from yesterday. I’m looking forward to that. There we made it. I thought we have to stop through it. So go steady. busy 4:00 game show Okay. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. See on the other side Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Yeah. Heat. Heat up here. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. [Music] Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. [Music] That’s it to Rachel Power Station. I’ve done 58.45 miles uh so far. Now it’s 3 miles back from uh the cement works. Uh it’s 59. I might just make this grand pond without uh going around. I’m hoping I don’t have to go around the block of my bike. But uh squash push uh yeah really hoping to get this K in the bag. Big achievement over to a right of passage for nearly about 4 miles to go home turf now. Yeah, I’ve covered some distance. I was flagging in the middle. I felt strong this last uh since um So National Water Sport Center had a coffee and panini. I may have not had enough. Uh today’s training just probably gave me a boost. Plus I know I’m getting closer to home. Uh so that’s going to be a bit of a push probably. But yeah, I was really struggling in the middle. Uh 144 what got myself into as usual Thank you. Good stretch now. Yeah, plenty of traffic crossing the A50 here next stop and Hington 3 miles from Yeah, I do 16.45 miles. It’s going to be about 63 and 12 miles by the time we get home. That’s by far my longest ride ever 100 kilometers Grand Fondo ride. I think call it Grand Fondo on J. I don’t know if that’s a exciting term. Maybe refers to a 100 km bike ride today. Quite impressed with my performance team even though he’s a bit bit tired struggling in the middle. A great achievement myself. Really happy. Glad I came out this morning. It came out in the rain. It did say it was only raining for an hour, but when I was so grateful could have been setting all day to the risk, the gamble came out of the rain and it’s been a lovely day actually onwards. Yeah, I’ll put the map of Marge on the video at the end. We are really happy. Yep. So that’s me home. 63 miles. Uh 6 hours 40 minutes I think. That’s kilome bike ride in the bag. Condo Lincoln Twist actually power station Jeez, [Music] you Come [Music] [Music] on. [Music] Oh [Music] yeah. Oh yeah. Oh yeah. Oh yeah.