Hannington Hill

Out for an 18 mile ride this afternoon on a route that took in a rather long hill leading up to Hannington. I was a bit worried about how difficult I'd find it, but am pleased to report that it wasn't as bad as I was expecting and, although I stopped once for a drink and a quick rest, I made it up without being too exhausted at the top. 

However, we had a few hairy moments riding in and out of Basingstoke when car drivers were just too impatient to wait for a suitable place to overtake us - in one case, the offending driver actually caused a car coming the other way to swerve onto a grass verge. I can't believe we all made it out unscathed - both the car drivers and us. The ride leaders said they'd never seen anything like it in all the time they'd been cycling. We had to put up with quite a lot of honking horns as well - some car drivers just don't have any patience or sense when it comes to cyclists on the road. 

However, in spite of that, it was a really enjoyable ride and I seem to have found a good energy and hydration regime that means I no longer feel like death warmed up afterwards. I'm not too old or unfit for this yet!