# Properly Knackered
2020-05-22
---
With British Summer Time upon us and the weather here in the
UK getting its act together just in time for a country wide
lockdown. I've been thinking about what my cycling is going
to look like in 2020.
---
One of my favourite things about cycling is kicking back
after a long, hot day in the saddle; muscles aching, eyelids
heavy, too tired to concentrate on anything outside your
warm fuzzy endorphin bubble. Preferably with beer and maybe
pizza.
---
With 'rona punting my _(and everyone else's)_ summer cycling
plans all the way into next year, putting the British Audax
calendar on hold for the foreseeable future and taking the
Saturday social ride / pub lunch off the table.
I've been riding in my local area since the start of
lockdown in the UK taking advantage of the nearly empty
roads and the cracking weather. Keeping the distances down
to under 100K _(for which carrying sufficient water and fuel
for the whole ride is trivial)_.
Even with the currently relaxed lockdown restrictions in
England. If I want to experience that _properly knackered_
feeling at the end of some of those long summer days this
year, rides are going to have to be solo, self-supported
_(sounds like an Audax so far)_, well planned and start and
finish from home.
Carrying sufficient fuel for rides under 300K is
straightforward. Water is more of a problem, especially in
warmer weather, though. With pubs, cafes, and public toilets
closed until further notice, top up opportunities will be
limited and, if I get myself into a situation where I have
to enter some pokey little local shop 50 miles from home to
buy bottled water, at the minute, I've fucked up.
---
I've got three weeks booked off work over the next month or
so _("Use it or loose it" they said. "See you in July" I
replied.)_ so I'm not short on free time.
I'm going to hit the maps and see what I can come up with.
---
Note: Knackered is a Britishism meaning tired, exhausted or
broken.
-- CC BY-SA 4.0 -
[email protected]
