Audax Ride – The Horsepower 100km, Saturday 14th March 2020

An enjoyable ride – 100km is a distance I now like, though it’s not really a challenge. Starting from Great Dunmow, a charming town, I caught up with James (he’d paused for something) and then rode with him to Newmarket where he bought me lunch – but I was riding a little out of my league and paid the price when the long hill coming out of Newmarket was a bit too much for me and I dropped behind (he is somewhat younger than I). I carried on on my own and met up with him again at the finish.

But it was a memorable ride – it was the last event I rode before Coronavirus restrictions kicked in and put an end to all events and even riding along together. So all the chats and social interaction are now a treasure to look back on (and forward to..).

On the day, handwashing was the dominant theme, the pub where we stopped for lunch was packed and the 2m social distancing, queues to get into supermarkets (and shops still allowed to trade) as yet unknown.

Plans for two day (2 x 100 mile) events (and, indeed, all other events) now shelved but I try to get out for 2-3 hours riding every other day or so to try to maintain physical and mental fitness, staying local mostly on known roads.