What I found out on the trails was a beautiful day of open blue skies and green fields,and a hint of the Summer I hope is on the way. A first day out in short sleeves and that summer smell of sweat and sunblock followed me round a ride I'm always drawn to when the weather improves. There's something about the wide open space of the Ridgeway with the Red Kites wheeling just above you that works so much better than in the rain.
The tracks have been extensively remodelled by the wet winter, with some traditionally muddy sections scoured down to rock and others hub deep in mud. The drained chalk and beach woods felt like they flew under my wheels even as I got bogged down in the mire a few miles later. Climbs were dealt with solidly, apart from where erosion has made them, to my mind, unridable and it was a day to roll back to the car muddy, dusty, sweaty, tired and grinning. More days like this and the Summer will be amazing.
I'll even forgive the double whammy of a puncture and brake pad replacement in one go, and suspected second puncture that I finished with as an offering to the good weather-riding gods if it means more sunny flowing days out.
Elsewhere this started like this:
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