The forecast said it would be mainly dry this morning. They lied!!
The start was slightly delayed as Simon was slower down from the Glen due to his dodgy car brakes. Anyway of we set off in the dry through the ghettos of Perth and out to The Brig of Earn where Simon took the first 30 of the day. Into the village 20 zone and Simon switched off. He didn’t spot the return to 30 mid village so I just had to take it.
Up through the Glen towards Glenfarg and the rain gets much heavier such that by the time we get to the Mawcarse Junction it’s raining hard. We debate a loop straight home but decide to press on to Kinross and around Loch Leven. We shall gloss over the next few 30’s for now until the final two as Simon claimed everything. The block paving in Kinross was gleaming like ice and slippy and therefore was taken with caution.
The rain kept coming and coming down hard. Loads of big puddles but we managed not to get drowned by the passing cars. Or for that matter it was the choice between cycling close to the other guy for the tow or if you did you they drowned from his wheel spray.
By now we both realised that our gloves were not waterproof and our overshoes weren’t much better. The free fall back down the Glen didn’t help our core temperatures. Si was aching a bit from his tumble yesterday and the lure of coffee and fresh scones were what was keeping us going. But not before we had a nice cavalcade of vehicles stuck behind us unable to pass 😁. Back into The Brig and Si was wary of any attempts of mine to sneak a 30. New tactics were required.
As we got closer to the 30 Simon was out front and kept looking over his shoulder to make sure I wasn’t trying for the 30. But each time he turned back to the front I put the power down then as soon as he turned back to check on me I eased off and looked to be coasting then when Si turned again I put the power down until the final time I managed to put the power down enough and sneak ahead of Si and claim the 30. 😷 The best spot of despicable behaviour I’ve ever managed.
Simon was demonstrating how soaked his gloves were by clenching his fist and showing the water coming out. My inner gloves were able to be wrung out when we stopped at the coffee shop. My actual gloves were sodden. The Earn coffee shop was thankfully open and let two soggy cyclists in. The coffee and scones were nearly as welcome as the hot air dryer in the toilets that warmed Simon’s hands and dried his gloves.
We left a large puddle in the coffee shop and ventured back out into the rain. It was a bit chilly and we were both close to teeth chattering. It didn’t stop the sprint at the Edinburgh Rd 30. I did try to do the Wilson Street burst but was in totally the wrong gear and stalled to a halt while Simon zipped past.
Despite the rain it was a great dose of fresh soggy air and 45 miles. However, the two of us are now on the look out for better gloves and overshoes and I’m after a long sleeved warmer jersey.
It was good to be out of the garage.
As much “fun” as the two of us had today it would have been more fun with others along for the ride. But the facts of life these days means we couldn’t have stopped for a coffee. Due to spacing the number of seats in the coffee shop were reduced and we got 2 in tow corner so not even options for socially distant pairs at different tables!
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