Cycling World Magazine January 2017 | Page 48

48 | Cycling World
was behaving , actually it was unseasonably balmy .
We arrived in Burton-on-Trent , slightly later than the itinerary expected , after a toilet stop in Coalville . My legs were surprisingly fresh , the urge to continue onwards was at times overwhelming as we whizzed towards our accommodation , however I reluctantly accepted my day in the saddle was coming to an end .
The day had been inspiring , the weather most welcoming and we had starting to gel as a group ( roll on tomorrow ) however not before some overdue electrolytes and a good ( early ) night ' s sleep , oh , not forgetting some more sausage rolls !
Ride Two – Burton-on Trent to Sheffield ( 50 miles )
We were all up early , Dean ( the team mechanic ) had opened up shop before breakfast to deal with any issues , of which there were a few , mainly involving tyres but his skill allowed us to set off in good time .
The weather was grim , the temperature chilly and the sky dominated by a greyness which stubbornly looked set in for the day . However , considering the weather , the gang exuded a vibrant positivity , like the attire and a kaleidoscope of bright cyclists dominated . A brief mention needs to be made to a pair of knee high red socks , more at home on Nora Batty ’ s infamous ageing legs , yet , they would conveniently act as a makeshift beacon , if anybody got lost !
We departed in good spirits , our immediate focus was Derby . First problem was trying to negotiate the network of one way streets before we followed the local cycle paths through a collection of parks and hugged the contours of the canal , emerging in the charms of Little Eaton .
As we climbed slowly , I took the opportunity to answer my phone , unfortunately as we descended at speed I decided to stop , confident I would not lose the riders up ahead . I was wrong . In front the road was blocked so I followed the diversion ( I later established the peloton didn ’ t ). I was now on my own and I was torn – wait , or continue towards Chesterfield ? There was no response via anyone ' s mobiles , so I jumped into the saddle , glimpsed the sign for Chesterfield and started pedalling . My speed was quick , my legs reminiscent of pistons working overtime when I was buoyed by my first glimpse of the famous crooked spire . Chesterfield is a lovely market town , I found myself in the heart of the shops and after some local interactions I finally pedalled into the grounds of Hope Springs . The building is a stunning architectural delight , previously a hospital , and is now home to an innovative drug and alcohol recovery centre . Once again we were treated to an amazing welcome and a colourful spread ( including another glut of sausage rolls ) and plenty of hot beverages , before we reluctantly departed , Sheffield was only a mere thirteen miles along the A61 .
Only a short distance from our lunch stop we encountered our first problem in the guise of a puncture , and while we waited for Dean to apply his mechanical magic I was visually violated by an elderly local who took a shine to my lycra clad buttocks , uncomfortable for me , humorous for my fellow riders !
Impromptu breather over , we continued onwards with renewed vigour . Endeavour and resilience were bubbling in all of us , if one of us was struggling , others encouraged . Words are magnificent tools , simple inner positivity is immensely effective . A great recovery ethos .
After a rather disjointed ride , we finally found ourselves in the hustle and bustle of Sheffield , it had been a hard mixed bag of a day , bumps and bruises were uncomfortably prevalent and the day was memorable for our proficiency at getting lost . It was in fact something that we excelled at , standing by the side of the road with quizzical looks had become a regular occurrence . I enjoy getting lost , life is all about experiences , good , bad and / or indifferent so that ’ s why I try to avoid a GPS , in favour of the wonderful tactile world of a map .
Once again the welcome and hospitality were amazing , even though we were late , we were plied with drinks and a dental cavity creating assortment of sweets .
Unfortunately , although my ride was prematurely over , my new friends had many miles left to reach their goal of Durham . As I prepared for my train journey home , I experienced a mix of emotions , I wanted to stay and complete the whole ride , I was going to miss my new pals , the humour , the positivity and the simple camaraderie .