Bedford and the Gran Fondo 2

My ride on Sunday was the polar opposite of Saturday as the weather forecasted sunshine in Blue cloudless skies and with no shackles I only had me holding myself back. Sunday was also challenge day too. Strava’s February mission was the Gran Fondo 2 and pushed you to go on a 130km adventure. If I had to partake in a big challenge I wanted to go to a new destination with Rex. After spinning the wheel of fortune the arrow landed firmly on Bedford meaning my turn around point was decided. Preparation included attaching a second bottle holder to my bike for more hydration on long trips, filling the Cambelbak to capacity and for the first time making a packed lunch along with stocking up on all the usual energy ingestibles.

Cleats locked in and I was off. The weather was absolutely scintillating and a much needed break from the never ending torrential storms. Sunshine = Happy. My mood was high and I was ready for the challenge with my iPod fully loaded with some new albums for company.

I had a smooth ride up to Dunstable and swung a right in the town centre and headed towards Luton. Sweeping down Hatters Way I cycled past the Luton Town FC stadium and headed on towards the airport. I had always had a fairly negative view of Luton as a town but spinning around it actually opened my eyes to some very nice areas. As I cycled past Wardown Park there were lots of people enjoying the weather playing games, feeding ducks, exercising and generally enjoying life. The park was very pretty and a definitely a place I would consider going in the future.

Around 20 miles in and I hit the A6 for the first time on a road bike. This long road would take me all the way to Bedford and beyond if I wanted. Head down and spinning the pedals for another hour or so got me in to Bedford for my first ever visit. Bedford seemed liked a nice little place from small amount of time I had to analyse it. With the sun beaming down on me I crossed the bridge to enter Bedford town and whilst on the bridge I looked out over the river to see the rowing club out in full force. A spin around the town took me past museums, galleries, churches, parks, open air markets and the stretch of road that is “Paula Radcliffe Way” Bedford’s favourite daughter!

After I felt satisfied with my sightseeing I decided to park up and have a mini lunch break for 10 minutes and get some carbs on board. I sat in a lovely little square just outside St Pauls Church on an old bench and watched the world go by whilst basking in the sun. There was a bustling market happening on one side of me, a group of noisy motor bikers gathered on another and also an appealing looking café with people enjoying the weather directly ahead of me. I wolfed down half a jam sandwich, a banana, energy gels and some liquid before setting off for the return leg.

The journey back was fairly tiresome actually and there were some long and hard inclines that I didn’t really notice when I was coming the other way and the light wind was slightly against me too, which didn’t help. Away with my thoughts having spent at least 4 hours on my bike I was still really appreciating the weather and this still kept my spirits high. Lots of hard work got me back to Luton where after about 60 miles in I had my first fall with my new pedals. It was such a petty fall as well and probably one of the most embarrassing kinds. Feeling tired on the approach to set of traffic lights I pulled up before the big bright circular Red light and just left it too late to release my feet from the pedal cleat and “hey timber” from a standstill position I fell pathetically to the side on the grass verge and laid there for a few seconds before ungracefully bouncing up and back in to the saddle. On a side note I was cycling through Leagrave when I noticed another enormous poster near the railway station for “the Big Mac” and this made me think that on this ride I had seen at least 10 of these sized posters around the county. Big advertising campaign for the golden arches at the moment in the middle of England or the shires.

At 65 miles I was starting to feel weaker than usual and was thinking about the second half of that jam sandwich in the backpack to pick me up but I rode on for a bit. It is amazing what music can do to a mood, even for a temporary amount of time as at the time of feeling that weak a song dropped from my Ministry 2014 Annual which took me back to a time when I was 17 and lets say really enjoying life to the full. So the song that came on was Friend Within by The Renegade but it samples the Renegade Master from 1997. From being a weak soul I was now cycling along at top speed, visualising the past, screaming the repetitive lyrics loud and proud to anyone in vicinity whilst feeling invincible and if I was a part of team sky. I am not sure how this looked or sounded to the outside world but I was certainly enjoying myself to the beat of those infamous lyrics……….. Back once again for the renegade master, D4 damager, power to the people. Back once again for the renegade master, D4 damager, with the ill behaviour………and repeat and repeat and……

About 70 miles in I past the London Gliding Club www.londonglidingclub.co.uk and I must say the skies painted a lovely picture with lots of gliders and hand gliders filling my entire panoramic sight with constant activity and movement.

One last stop off 10 miles before home to finish the other half of that sarnie gave me the energy that got me home. Another huge ride complete and on uploading my efforts to Strava i was elated to see that my February challenge was completed and I was awarded another digital badge for my efforts.