R&R & Preparation for Lap 3

First priority back home was to go to Andrew Grant’s DG2 shop in order for him to replace my 44-tooth chainring by the new 40-tooth version and renew the chain at the same time. There was also a new (much more comfortable) helmet to collect. Cycling back from the shop, the bike felt very good but I would wait to have a couple more days of recovery before testing it on a steep hill. It was not difficult to remain seated up this hill where normally standing on the pedals would have been the norm. Testing up steep hills with a full pack is left for the imminent Lap 3.

For the rest and recuperation period, there is a balance to be struck between (1) letting and saddle soreness heal and allowing the body to recover (the Garmin watch suggesting complete rest for a couple of days) and (2) being ready to start touring again with some cycling miles in the legs and not too much sitting. This time there was a 12 mile test of the new chainring on R&R Day 4, and 17, 23 and 16 miles before breakfast on Days 5, 7 and 9, respectively.

Walks of a few km are usual before breakfast and stretching exercises particularly for back, feet and muscles affecting the knees are resumed.

Much time has been spent this period writing up travels for the website and checking the dates of photos, emails and Garmin activity logging to keep the whole thing a true record. A new tablet should enable logging as events occur. This is the first sentence added using the brand new tablet. Provided I use the domain name followed by /wp-admin and enter my email address as username and existing 16 character strong password then I have access but there are other ways of entry that should work yet do not.

If this method continues to work tomorrow and all the functions available on the laptop can be reproduced on this device, then Lap 3 will start on Sunday. Wet and windy weather is forecast, so that will make a big change.