Unfortunately, today’s ride didn’t quite go to plan. The goal was to ride 65 miles as a bit of a trial run ahead of tackling an audax ride at the weekend.
Everything started well. I settled into a good rhythm and stopped for a coffee around the halfway point, roughly 30 miles in. Up to that point, I felt strong and comfortable.
But about five miles after getting back on the bike, I felt totally exhausted, not the usual fatigue you expect on a longer ride, which I was expecting as I hadn’t done any long rides this year. But this was something else entirely, a feeling of overwhelming tiredness. The kind where you genuinely feel like you could lie down at the side of the road and fall asleep. Maybe I should have! However, I decided to scratch the ride and catch the train home.
Interestingly, the rest from the train journey did the trick. By the time I got off the train and rode the 5-6 miles back home, I felt absolutely fine again. It does make me wonder whether a longer break would have been enough to turn things around, but in the moment, it was the most sensible decision. Sometimes it’s better to listen to your body and play it safe.