Took part in the Go wild gravel sportive today starting from RSPB Minsmere and through paths on the nature reserve. This has been recommended as an excellent gravel sportive, and I can definitely see why, very well organised event on a fantastic route. Down to Snape, back through Aldringham and Leiston. HOWEVER, we started in the rain, ☔️ ☔️☔️ poured with rain all day, days of previous rain, meant trails which were either quagmires, slippy slidey, and lots and lots of flooding - after the first major puddle we just gave up and just rode through flood after flood. The route also included a MTB red trail 🥺🥺 through a beautiful section of forest (Tunstall Forest) definitely very pretty and lots of fun, but I did not have the right bike today today - was an MTB bike day! 😂🚴♀️ I reckon I was carrying at least an extra kilo of weight just from water alone with everything saturated, but my fox waterproof trousers and my waterproof gloves and waterproof did actually work but the overshoes did fail though. Having said that I really enjoyed it - it was hard work but lots of fun and lots of diversity of trails, gravel paths and quiet country roads. And great to do it with Lizzy, Ruth and Sandy. Great to ride with friends who are as nuts as me about cycling in all conditions! Over 50 miles of wet, muddy, sandy, flooded trails this weekend, definitely equivalent to at least 100 miles on the road i guess. We finished with a wonderful cup of tomato soup and bread roll, we and our bikes were very dirty and wet but it was all smiles. 😄😄
