38 Mile Cotswold Loop (MTB)

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Having been slightly lazy over the weekend and filling my face with all sorts of crap at work and at the cycle show in London I decided it may be a good thing to go hell for leather and try and beat my PB for distance on the MTB my previous being about 27 miles.

The weather was great all day so most of my winter gear was redundant for the day thankfully, I was nice and warm all the way which is pretty rare for me as I can freeze in the middle of summer.

Off out toward Burford and into the unknown onto tracks not used before, good old motionx app for iphone is invaluable in circumstances like this it’s a proper off road GPS that works really well given it’s only £1.79, just a quick check now and again keeps me on track and takes a lot of the stress out of the usual navigation problems around these parts, very limited signage in places so it becomes difficult to stay on legal routes.

Headed North toward Bourton on the Water then bearing right picked up the Wychwood way at Milton under wychwood and headed East toward Charlbury and Stonesfield picking up the Salt Way North of Charlbury.

Started to feel the need for some carbs so tucked in to my energy bars that I sourced from the cycle show, bought a bag of bars, gels and energy sweets for a £10 from the Zipvit stand.

Have to admit being the first time I had tried this stuff out it did give me an energy boost, at that point I was struggling a bit, even though my pace was slow I was not used to the distance so I would recommend carrying something like this all the time on longer rides.

From Stonesfield it was a short blast back to Witney and a PB of 38 miles in the bag, very tired and a few aches and pains but on the whole felt pretty good.

Polar stats:

Average heart: 146 bpm

Calories: 4142

Distance 37.8 miles

Average speed: 10 mph

Ride time: 04:17:42

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London Cycle show 2010

Great trip to the cycle show 2010 at Earls court London, plenty of stands and bikes to see but I was a bit disappointed in the lack of MTB stuff on offer, I was hoping to browse all sorts of winter gadgets and clothing as I had a few thing that I needed, very limited amount of MTB gear if I’m honest.

The BMX show was awesome, those guys are absolutely the nuts, marred at the end buy a horrendous crash by Niki croft who appears to have broken his neck, taken away by the helicopter air ambulance so best wishes to him as I thought he was the most exciting rider there.

Some great trials bike riding during the show as well incredible balance and skills leaping from pillar to post literally and on to the top of the BMX guys tour bus, brilliant stuff.

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