Parting is Such Sweet Sorrow

As the days get shorter and all it takes is a bit of gloom to mean a ride home on lights and there are more and more days where long sleeves and thicker tops are the way forward, it's starting to feel like the end of a good summer of riding. I'm not saying the riding's over, but it isn't going to be a case of virtually guaranteed warm dusty days out.

This summer hasn't been bad for riding for me.

I've ridden in three countries, if you include Wales, and tried to ride every week, whether that was a quick blast to Hertfordshire or a big ride in the mountains.

In total since May this is:

967 Off-road Kilometres

Just under 37,500 Calories.

2 2/3 full days in the saddle.

And a lot of climbing that Sports Tracker doesn't easily show.

There were some great rides in the Brecons, in the Welsh trail centres, and in the Peak District, as well as some of my classics in the Mendips and the Chilterns, set alongside new favourites discovered in Hertfordshire, and exploring for a first ride on foreign soil with some German mountain biking.

All in all a pretty decent summer of biking, even with no big trip to ride. I'll miss it.

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