I rode up to the BSO out on Thursday to conduct some experiments on the population's threshold of boredom ... anyway, I was feeling lazy and simply typed my start / end points into the cycle travel website and loaded the resulting gpx file onto my gps without paying too much (any) attention to it.
After an initial rolling start, I entered the flatter borders and then the flat-lands of Cheshire. I take my hat off to those who live and ride in flat areas because it's really hard work. There's no restbite, no freewheely bits and nothing to distract your mind from the long straight road ahead. I was so glad to reach Macc' and the prospect of some reasonable climbing / descending
Live in Cheshire, yes, it can be a bit flat. Not much else to report.
More interestingly though, when people say they think 'out of the box', do they use that phrase and not a more original one? Ironic maybe?
FWIW - I say 'thinking outside the 4 corners of the bed...'
I cycled home from a course in Edinburgh last week, decided to use the canal as it would be traffic free, I'll risk the roads next time! It was proper mind numbing stuff sitting at the same speed, in the same gear into a head wind for 30 odd miles!
Although we live in a valley between 2 mountain ranges, not far away the River Ebro drains into the Med forming a large delta criss crossed with gravel roads and lagoons.
A few months ago we did a 50km ride where the elevation gain was a princely 57ft. This was the difference between the start point and a flight of steps where we finished.
Nice ride though.
Said the same about riding the Liverpool / Leeds canal and my local Oxford canal. After a while, the inability to get out of the saddle up hill, or freewheel downhill gets to you!
Ride the length of Cornwall in a heavy cargo bike, you will long for flat. Pointlessly hilly is Cornwall, short hard climbs followed by decents which don’t allow any recovery. Give me a long Scottish Hill everyday.
I do see your point though, it’s hard to find any sense of achievement trudging mile after mile through uninteresting terrain. I once cycled through Romney Marsh and survived,just.
Just for balance, I rode 70k round the SW leg of Lake Como last Tuesday. Flat but very interesting. Not least because of the terrifying driving going on all around me.
I get sick from flat. Flatfever or something.
No matter how I travel.
Just travelled through some of Scandinavia and Germany where the flat is seriously... flat.
But there is a good challenge in very big and empty flat places, like sand or ice deserts.
That on the other hand I like.
I did a four day trip loosely following the Veneto Gravel Trail route back in April and climbed a mere 400m total over 400km.
I absolutely LOVED it!
But..... I think it's because I get more than my fair share of ridiculous ups and downs on my doorstep.
For me it was comparable to enjoying the simplicity of a single speed bike compared to gears. The hills (or lack of) were one less thing to think about (and to have to grimace up) and so I could just turn the pedals and enjoy the ride.
Think it'd soon wear thin though if it was permanent.
Flat but very interesting. Not least because of the terrifying driving going on all around me.
