At one point today I didn’t think there would be much to tell you about. I couldn’t have been more wrong if I had tried. 10 miles into the ride, I’m going at the slowest pace I think I have been all week. My saddle sores are wanting me to stop, my knee is wanting me to stop and looking on the horizon and seeing hill after hill, even I wanted to stop. My knee was the bigger problem, It has a sharp shooting pain right on the kneecap with every downward push. And this is only 10 miles in. Anyway i decide to stop at the top of one of bigger climbs I did, and to prove how up and down today was, I’ve added the graph of elevation that the sat nav produces. Look at the section with a 40 minute climb!
So after lunch I get going and start to forget about most of the problems that effected the start. These hills by the way were continuous for miles, straight up and down like a roller-coaster but without the cogs pulling you up the inclines!
Everything seemed to be going ok, when all of a sudden I go to change gear (yes another hill was approaching) and my chain breaks! Now I got told before I came away to pick up a couple of spare chain links. I was going to until someone told me that a decent chain has at least 10,000 miles life span. How I wish I hadn’t listened to them! I didn’t panic at first as didn’t know how big a problem it could be. I realised it was the chain link that was missing. I walk back down the road as I had only coasted 10 yards, and like looking for a needle in a haystack I find not one half but both halves of the chain link! I snap them back in place and off I go again. I did however make a quick call to Tony again, as I wanted to know if this should happen and whether you do just snap it shut again. He said I wouldn’t have been able to carry on if I hadn’t of found the links! You might all think that’s being a bit over the top, but its true, a chain is useless without this link. So I decided to take it steady for the rest of the day.
Also noticed today that only a few of the French cyclists going in the opposite direction say hello. Some don’t even acknowledge the fact that your there! Very rude!
Not many interesting photos today, I’ve taken this photo of the corn field as every time I ride past one I think of the scene in Jurassic Park when the Veloceraptors chase the people through them. Anyway just thought id share that with you. And the pic of the sign to Avranches doesn’t truly do the hill any justice, you’ll have to trust me on the fact is was very very long!
Today’s journey was 76.2 miles, riding time of 6:34:26, max speed 35.4 mph, avg speed 11.6 mph, 4298 calories, 3.65 litres so far.
I Just Felt Like Cycling 
Keep going mate, you’re doing great
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The knee worries me. The chain worries me. You going to buy a couple of spare links when you can? Was also thinking that for every trip to a coastal town / city there’s an uphill ride waiting for you at some stage (as the only way is up from sea level bro).Anyway, keep plugging away and get some ice on that knee.
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