The morning started brightly. The sun was shining, it was warm and the Posse was heading out for a 65 miler around Stirling, Dollar, Milnathort and back over Cleish.
I was meeting the posse on the bike path. As soon as I got moving I felt a pain in my lower back. It was a shooting pain that lasted for a few moments and then disappeared. I assumed that I had pinched a muscle and that it would release itself in due course....
The guys were not at the junction so I pedalled up towards Dunfermline - chewing up many of the passing flies. No additional protein needed for the rest of the day. In the distance the posse rode with the sun pushing them along the path. Bigman, Santiago and an unnamed member of the posse appeared. Skyrider was off doing a 111 mile race and the Fit One wasn't feeling so fit having been laid low with a bout of the boak...
Having eaten a hearty fly breakfast I didn't feel the need to enjoy any more so suggested that we head down to the coast. A second spasm as we went down to Cairneyhill worried me. I don't get injured so I was concerned that I'd done some damage during the week. The pain went and I thought I'd see how it worked out.
We blasted down to Culross, eyeing up the cakes in the Biscuit Cafe we quickly moved on. We were all catching up and sharing the stories of the week. It was also good to ride along with the 'unnamed one' and find out what he has been up to since our last cycle together as part of the LEJOG non stop team.
After passing Longannet Power Station we bumped into one of the guys from Dunfermline Bike Club. He was an awesome cyclist having a Time Trial best of 1:58 for 50 miles - very impressive.
Bigman sneaked up on me to win the sprint to the top of the bridge that crosses the new Kincardine Bridge Road and with our Dunfermline CC friend powering up the hill into Clackmannan to claim bragging rights on that hill I felt my day was going to be a bit up and down. As we waved goodbye to the Dunfermline CC group that we'd caught my back went again. Man it was sore.
We headed across to Stirling with Santiago taking the wind and leading us through Alloa. We were going at about 38kmp when the lights changed. The unnamed one didn't notice this change whilst focussed on keeping up with the pace and was forced to take late evasive action to avoid the immovable object that we call Bigman!
We pushed on to the big roundabout outside Stirling and then took the road back to Dollar. The pain in my back had gone but as we pedalled back my leg seemed to go uncomfortably numb. Not sure what caused this but it sufficient for me to decide that I was straight home after coffee.
So after a fine cup of coffee and scone at Dollar Bigman set off to finish the loop while Santiago, the unnamed one and myself went off towards Saline and home. There is a big climb out of Dollar and the unnamed one took off like a rocket and climbed the hill at pace - I figured I'd found his handle - The Rocket! (unless anyone else has a better nickname) Having been cycling to and from Edinburgh to work he has built strength and fitness.
I was glad to reach home for a stretch out. My back and leg are both fine today and I hope it was just a trapped muscle or nerve.
I had completed another 69 km and have adjusted the blog to add the rocket and Santiago's milage - we await to hear of another epic Bigman trip! So it's with some sadness that I must announce that I am no longer available for call up the Brazillian or any other international football squad for the forthcoming world cup.....
Ironman
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment