Ribble Valley Ride

Not the actual Lancastrian Ribble Valley from where my bike came and hence its name (Preston) but the Stour Valley between the counties of Essex and Suffolk. After all the rain we've recently enjoyed, many of the surrounding meadows are once again in flood, but thanks to the wind, the roads are mostly dry save for the most determined puddles.

Any sane cyclist might tell you that riding in high winds is best avoided, but today I and numerous others decided it was manageable enough. I'm sure that the bright sun and blue skies had universal appeal sufficient to tip the balance towards heading out. In fact I haven't seen so many cyclists out and about since Autumn. There are a good number of fair weather "I'd rather be working out at home on the turbo trainer than out in freezing temperatures and wet" amongst us. The next slightly less optimum level of cycling sanity comes with a rule that says if you're going out in stiff winds and your route is going to be generally circular, travel into the wind from the start so that the return will be a breeze, and so that is what I did!