Biking Bagatelle

With The Ironman on athletic duty in Inverness this weekend the posse was reduced to the Fit One and Bigman. The original plan had been to do the two bridges route across the Forth Bridge, along to the Kincardine Bridge and back along through Culross.

The weather had a different idea. With storm force winds overnight, and forecast to continue into the morning, the Forth Bridge was closed to high sided vehilces (Bigman) cyclists and pedestrians.

Instead the pair headed east, along the coastal route to Kirkaldy. With storm force winds behind them it was no time before they arrived at Kirkaldy. The views of a turbulent River Forth were magnificent against a blue sky. Any precipitation was past in a flash.

The coffee stop was to take in a bit of culture in the art museum in the centre of Kircaldy with some very fine carrot cake. The taking on of water was also welcomed by Bigman who had enjoyed a fantastic evening with the Wingman at the Dunfermline Beer Festival which was accompanied by two superb local rock bands playing cover tunes. The plan had been to use the evening for re-hydration, however, the range of beers sampled apppeared not to carry the right level of hydration. At least the carb content would be useful.

It was predictable that the return head in to the Westerly wind over the rising and undulating road to Auchtertool was going to be a challenge of mind over matter. Every turn of the pedal was a turn nearer the crest of the climb.

Leaves rushed towards the guys at phenominal speed hopping, skipping, and jumping along the roadside almost laughing at two cyclists competing against the elements. It felt like being a ball in a game of bagatelle as the swirling winds bounced them around at will. Several broken branches brough extra challenge along the roadside.

Another motorist had clearly had a bad experience the previous night as their Vauxhall Corsa adorned a field of barley.

It was a great relief to crest the final climb with a bit of a downhill. The smoke from Mossmoran had barely cleared the stack before it accelarated horizontally and out into the North Sea. So far we had escaped the rain. And then it came. Short sharp, pin like iced droplets driving into the cheeks. This is going to be along winter.

The Fit One and Bigman are definitely not envious of the Ironman and his marathon run tomorrow.

Another 60km closer to teh Cape Epic all of 23 weeks away. A great run with great scenery but not in a time to write home about. The Fit One, always the optimist, reckoned today would build character for teh dark moments in South Africa. Only time will tell.