Story for Ride with Rich: Garmin died 50 miles in.

The day started with me waking up up the black of night thinking that it was still the early hours. As I had set no alarm (because it was the weekend) I quickly glanced at my phone, 06:50 Plenty of time! Although..... I still had to get ready and sort out bits and pieces for the ride ahead, start time 9am thats when we decided.

The ride the previous day was fun as the pedal body from the left SPD came off as I was riding from the in-laws. As I didn't want to limp the whole way around today's 60 mile journey I decided to go to my "box of goodies" located in the bike shed. A big box of bike parts that have accumulated over decades of cycling hoping that somewhere in there I would find a spare left SPD pedal. BINGO! Got one. I quickly get changed sort out the nutrition/money/phone run through my head once more if i've forgotten anything and then wait until 9am when Rich arrives at my driveway.

We head out East via Batley/Lofthouse/Rothwell/Swillington/Garforth/Lotherton/Ulleskelf/Ryther/Cawood it is at this point where I had planned the cafe stop. I checked the previous day that good ol' Mrs B's cafe kitchen at cawood park would be open on a Sunday, and Google had said it was. 9:30am it said, However we were sat on our bikes outside at 10:50am and it was like a f**king ghosttown, F**k you Mrs B all I wanted was a coffee!!!!!

We decide to crack on, When Rich had the idea to use his magic technology, that made him look a bit like Lobot from star wars, to find a local cafe. "Show me directions to a local cafe" He said. That soon failed when the estimated time of arrival was stated at being past 15:00. If there is something I am starting to learn from this ride, it's never trust Google.

We divert through Sherburn in Elmet but the cafes we past were closed because of it being a Sunday ride, and I felt myself getting a bit more pissed off as the ride I had planned was somewhat crumbling around us. We double back on ourselves to take us back on route and head toward ferrybridge on the A63 and low and behold CAFE!!!!! as I look to my left I see lights and a sign that says open 7 Days and I immediately think "BREAKFAST" and it was one, because I had the full helpings.

After stuffing our faces full of eggs/toast/coffee basically anything we can get our hands on we were 42 miles in, and at this point it was the furthest Mr Adams had ridden in one ride and he was starting to get a bit tired, But we had made good time. 42 miles with an average of 16mph and for a beginner roadie thats a pretty good achievement. Although after the cafe stop the speed died down a little due to the up and downy gradient as we headed back towards swillington and Garforth. Although Rich never gave in (even though he probably secretly wanted to) He was adamant that he wanted to a full 100km.

50 miles in and my Garmin died, and All I could think about was those missing miles not showing on my Strava, my challenges will be 15 miles short :( but we still pushed on. And without Garmin showing us the route anymore that I had planned, I winged it. We were soon at territory known to us and I estimated we were 10 mile away, It had been a good ride and the tired legs were close to having a rest. The last 5 miles followed with a well earned descent down scotchman lane and one final tiny gradient climb up Carlinghow back home.

We got back checked Strava and with 66 miles under his belt and his first 100km, Richard was chuffed to bits. He had initially planned to cycle from Sowerby Bridge for the ride and ride home but was probably glad to see his car in the end.

All in all a good ride with good company and many more to come in this new year.