Training for my first Sportive of the year – a faster ride out to Dearnford Lake

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I’ve got my first Sportive of the season this Sunday – the Team Torelli Cheshire Mini Sportive. It’s a 60 mile route starting and finishing in Poynton and getting as far out as Lach Dennis near Northwich.

The plan today was a good leg loosening ride at a hopefully faster pace to Dearnford Lake and back via Newport, on my summer bike (as I’m using that for the Sportive).

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I had a very fast ride out to the cafe, averaging over 18mph by the time I got to Stoke on Tern, which is usually a good indicator of how the rest of the ride will go. By the cafe I was still averaging 17.5 mph and there was very little wind, so I knew the rest of the ride should be fast too.

At the cafe stop I was eating my cake when two other Raiders walked in. They opted to sit outside (the first time this year as it’s quite a warm day) so I moved out to join them. A nice chat later and I set off on my way.

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The ride back to Newport was everything I hoped for and I was absolutely thrashing it. I ended up back in Newport at 17.6 mph average and my legs were feeling good still.

The ride home was uneventful and I ended up the ride with a very respectable 17.7 mph average for the whole 55.2 mile ride which I was delighted by.

Route: click here