2012 Week 21

Week 21 (w/e 27 May 2012)
Miles: 162.3

I should try much harder to keep this blog up to date. Writing about events from three weeks ago is like looking back to another era at the moment, especially with the distinct change in the weather. I'm writing this now on a dreary, wet Saturday afternoon coming after what has been a dreary, wet week. It was only a few weeks back at the end of May that we had a burst of summer. It all happened in week 21. And I cashed in.

The previous week had seen me tot up a score of 147 during a mostly fine week. The following week was warm - sometimes very close to hot! - and sunny. Excellent weather for cycling then. I got underway on the Monday with the usual hour's ride in the afternoon and topped that up in the evening with the usual 8 mile loop that saw me to 24 miles on the day. Tuesday's weather was similarly glorious, so I repeated the routes I'd taken the day before, gliding to 48 miles in the process. Wednesday was the odd man out with the weather. While the rest of the country basked in glorious sunshine, this part of the north west remained stubbornly overcast and cool. Never mind, I took myself out for an hour in the afternoon to advance to 64 miles, then pushed on in the evening to finish the day with 73 miles. Great work for a Wednesday.

Thursday saw the return of hot and sunny conditions. An hour's ride in the afternoon took me to 89 miles. In the evening I had to visit a mate's house on an errand - I cycled there, naturally. So that round trip meant I closed the day with 92 miles. Friday was also pleasantly sunny; in fact, it felt HOT in sheltered spots. Marvellous. Unfortunately for me, a fair breeze had whipped up on that day and was gusting in from an easterly direction. Distracted by the start of the second test against the West Indies, I didn't get out on the bike until 6. I rolled home 30 minutes later with 100 miles in the bag once again. There was time in the evening to push this on to 108 miles.

It was hot and sunny again on both Saturday and Sunday, but that stiff easterly breeze hung around to take the air temperature down a peg or two. I cycled to town as per usual on Saturday afternoon, then dashed out for a quick supplementary ride when I got back to edge to 127 miles. After a couple of hours rest I nipped out again to finish the day with 135. I was on target for a comfortable 150+ week then. And so it proved. Sunday was again hot and sunny. An hour in the afternoon took me to 151 miles. The fine conditions tempted me to get out again mid-evening and push on a bit more than usual. Thus done, I rolled home with 162 miles in total, only 5 miles behind my best score of the year so far. Splendid work. I could do with a few more weeks like that this summer.

The stats:
Time taken to get 100: 6 hrs 20 m.
Total for 2012: 2534
2012 average weekly mileage: 120.66
Consecutive 100s: 20
Miles needed for 6000: 3466
Percentage of target reached: 42.23%
With 31 weeks to go, average weekly miles needed for 6000: 111.8

The fastest 100 of the year so far, despite the blustery end to the week. Of course, wind blowing in from one direction both punishes and rewards depending on whether you're facing it. So it all evens out I suppose. This week pushed my weekly average to a year high of 120.6