(Slight) Change of Plan

In under 2 weeks I will be setting off and I have had to take a hard decision.

I had intended to carry all my luggage including tools, spares for the bike… Everything. But I have just had to rethink it.

“Have you actually been to Cornwall?” asked my friend Paul. It seems that it is the hilliest part of Britain and more of a challenge than even the Lake District!

We have some very steep hills in the Clent area, near my my home town of Birmingham. For a test, I flung a variety of heavy objects into my panniers; tools, dictionaries and any other heavy clutter that came to hand to make up the required weight. And so I set off, full of confidence, to try out my strength.

I managed to keep pedalling until about midday, but then came the steeper climbs and I just had to get off and walk. I found myself pushing the bike more and more.

Even worse were the descents. Sometimes I had to walk down the hills because the brakes simply could not hold my overloaded bicycle, and prevent me from plunging down what seemed like a precipice.

Paul had come with me on this test ride, and he watched my struggle with concern (and with a certain air of having foreseen all this). Then he generously offered to come with me most of the way in his car and carry the heavy luggage. He and his wife will be camping while I will be in my pre booked accommodation.

When he is not able to support me I’ll just have to be a little slower. Or maybe a lot slower.

In any event, I have to withdraw my proud boast of ‘NO Support vehicle’, but I can can still boast ‘Hey I’m an old Granny!’