In my ice-cold feet, soaked socks and mud-filled cleats there is an answer. The question I’d set out to answer is how badly can it go when an unfit middle-aged, bikepacking novice and gravel virgin sets out to ride 234km around Kent on his own? The answer my very soggy feet are telling me, is pretty badly.
I waddle out of what I suspect is the only deep muddy puddle in the whole of the ‘Garden of England’ after a week of dry weather and curse my lack of bike-handling skills. Then I pause and realise that with aching legs, one sunburned arm, no idea where I am and with around 100km left to ride that I didn’t even need to be here.
I’m stood in Orlestone Forest (I think) because when I planned this route in my usual gung-ho style I decided to insert a couple of extra off-road sections to spice up the experience – something Cycling UK, who developed the Cantii Way route I’m tracing, actively encourage. But in a blind panic as my front wheel bogged down in a deceptively deep puddle, I unclipped. Now my feet will remain wet for the rest of the day.
Until 24 hours earlier I’d not done any bike-packing or any gravel riding, it was inevitable something would go awry and now my road shoes, filled as they are with mud, are struggling to clip into the pedals.
This story is from the June 09, 2022 edition of CYCLING WEEKLY.
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This story is from the June 09, 2022 edition of CYCLING WEEKLY.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
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