So after an enforced 10 days off the bike giving me plenty of time to recover from a long period of illness it was great to finally get back into the Surrey Hills. I left home early and for the first half of the ride I almost had the whole place to myself.
My route took me up three main climbs; Staple Lane, Crittern/Beech Lane and finally up Box Hill for a quick coffee stop. I like to get to Box Hill early to avoid the ever-present Sunday crowds. Saying it’s a popular place for road cyclists is a serious understatement! The National Trust Cafe does a quality double espresso plus a vast range of homemade cakes! I had a brief stop here to refuel before heading home via flatter, more rolling roads.
Sunday solo spin: A shade over 64 miles with 4180 feet of climbing.
I’ve lost a lot of fitness over the past two months and that was very evident towards the latter part of the ride. Up the Box Hill Zig Zag I was 45 watts down on my previous effort in February (although today’s route had more climbing beforehand).
It’s a bit disheartening knowing I should be much stronger right now after putting in a solid winter of training, but I guess it can’t be helped. There’s no doubt that it’s going to take some time and training to get back to where I was pre-illness! #keepcycling
Tempo Cyclist - Tasmania 
If that was your first ride in ten days, it’s no wonder at all that you were a little off. It always takes a day to spin the legs back up, even after just a couple of days off.
You’ll be back in no time.
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Cheers. Wouldn’t normally leave it that long but it was a well timed holiday to Germany. Did loads of walking to keep active and plenty of good German “recovery food” was had! :-)
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Great ride! 64 miles with 4200′ of ascent is no Sunday stroll I’ll tell you that. Great effort. That’s the thing right, we ride over the winter, thinking we’re getting a leg up, but one setback and poof! It’s nearly all gone. I have some similar issues myself. It’s SO frustrating. But, we just have to keep pedaling….what else to do? Give up the bike!? Never! A hex on my name for even suggesting such contemptuous words! :D
Geo
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Looking back at the ride data, it wasn’t as easy a ride as I had in my head and probably was a bit too much too soon. It’s going to be slow road back, but it sure beats not riding at all. Cheers!
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Nice area to ride I often cycle that way too! See you on the road #KeepRiding
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