4.07.2024 Mark Cavendish makes T de F history!

 ~o~

  Thursday 4th 54F/12C. Very dark overcast, wet and windy. It is unbelievably dark this morning. The trees are thrashing about. Thundery showers are possible over the next two days.

 Up at 5.45. I almost filled the fire bucket early on. Where did it all come from? Then slept through.

 Mark Cavendish has finally done it! More stage wins in the T de F than any other rider in history. Nobody knows how he has suffered in the mountains. He is just not built for climbing. So to remain near the front and still competitive. At the end of a long stage. Is all the more remarkable. 

 The new DDK saddle. Its interesting shape lifts it above the bulbous competition. The shiny areas on top appear to have memory foam padding. Firm to the seat but soft to pressure applied by the thumb.

 I shall be visiting my English friend this morning. Any foolish plans to ride there have been scuppered by the weather. So the Morris will get another outing.

 I was looking at the route I took yesterday on my 86km ride. To realise that the image in my head did not remotely match reality. When I thought I was heading true north I was actually traveling NW at 45º to the map. And, 45º to the wind. 

 Returning with the wind [supposedly] behind me I was really traveling ESE. The only section where my direction matched expectations was the final, southerly stage. When again I was fighting a crosswind. Made all the worse by my own forward velocity. No wonder the westerly wind affected me so much all day.   

 13.00 Returned from visiting my friend. It absolutely tipped down on the way. With the roads covered in sheets of rainwater.  I kept my speed well down and continued. A couple of unfortunate cyclists were standing on the cycle path looking rather overwhelmed. 

 The sun came out for the return journey on dry roads. Only for it to rain again as I neared home. The forecast is for more rain this afternoon, overnight and tomorrow.

 Dinner was fried chicken. mushrooms and eggs. Followed with a bread roll.

 

  ~o~