Maybe it was that this was to be the last in my current monthly series of 200k brevets, or maybe because both my last long rides had been followed by a fair amount of pain (very sore legs for August, toothache for September), but my anticipation of the October ride was that it would be more chore than adventure. Just to scrape the icing off the cake the forecast was predicting a 16mph southerly wind to slow me down.

I was going to ride whatever so about 8am Saturday I headed south on my Moreton Marlborough DIY-GPS AUK Perm – after about 500m I turned round and headed north after realising I was following the line on my GPS in the wrong direction. I was snug in winter bib-tights and warm gloves and hat and, what with the wind behind me for the first leg, I was soon enjoying the autumn leaves in the morning sun along the rolling road through Islip and Bletchington then onwards into the Cotswolds.

Roughly following the River Glyme and just out of earshot of the A44 I followed quiet, often unfamiliar, lanes. I stopped a bit before Moreton-in-the-Marsh for a snack and a photo. I peeled off my coat and changed into mitts and cap as the day was warming up nicely. Down below I could see the distinctive chimney of Bliss Mill just outside Chipping Norton.

In and out of Moreton without stopping, the GPS track meant I didn’t need any other proof I’d been there, then soon turn right signposted Evenlode into that headwind that I’d managed to forget to worry about for most of the last 50 kilometers. Familiar lanes for a bit now following part of the return leg of the Poor Student 200, then continuing south after Shipton-under-Wychwood to climb long and steady then descend into Asthall where there must have been at least 10 different couples out walking their dogs, I wondered if it was some sort of event.

A headwind is a pain at the best of times but on the fixed wheel, my 72″ gear a little too high, it was particularly draining. I’d rise out the saddle as my cadence sunk then make myself low in the saddle again as my wind resistance went up with my increased profile. It’s not the legs that suffer so much as the back and shoulders. Still, Moreton 20 miles behind me so ‘just’ another 30 miles to Royal Wootton Bassett and that should be it for the againsterly. This might not be much fun but was surely good for the stamina.

A quick stop at Bampton to buy water, a stop somewhere else for a flapjack. The climb up to Coleshill was stiff but I stayed on board as the local CTC outing was descending and waving greetings so it wouldn’t do to get off and push. Different lanes through Purton, I’d obviously been feeling adventurous when I mapped this route out many months back.

Then Royal Wootton Bassett at last for a rest and a munch from the Co-op where a ladybird appeared at the checkout, from my wallet or out of my hair I suppose, and the lad at the till had a laugh while I rescued it and put it out the door. Then back on the bike and off I headed for the first of the two climbs over the Marlborough Downs. The headwind was bad as before, seeming worse because I thought it was over with, I must have forgotten that Marlborough is south of Wootton B.

I rode the first climb but walked the second, it was probably faster and my back was having a moan. A young chap casually threw his drink can out his car window as he drove down the hill. The following long descent was difficult in the cross wind and my VC&AC cap was whisked off my head to disappear into the distance, a speck of yellow in my mirror. Fortunately I’d a spare at home as I wasn’t going to stop.

Through Marlborough then, at long last, no headwind. I danced up the climbs and spun down the descents like I’d just remembered to take the handbrake off. Turning north after Ramsbury I thoroughly enjoyed the climb up over Eastridge, the tailwind helping make easy work of it, Red Kites up above, fields full of seagulls, a startled deer dashing off. I’d been craving chips with lots of salt and vinegar for a while but not enough to stop at Membury Services. Shortly after Lambourn it was time to switch on the lights and put my warm gear back on for the last couple of hours riding.

I enjoyed the ride back in the dark. Mostly flat and familiar but with that eeriness of only really being able to see in the patch of LED headlight. I listened to music and watched carefully for potholes disguised as shadows in the poorly maintained lanes. Briefly an owl joined me, just long enough for me to stop looking at the GPS and miss my turn. Then over Boars Hill and back into Oxford where I probably confused my local DIY organiser by continuing on past the official ride end to the chip shop before remembering to press ‘stop’. 12 hr 15 min overall for about 220km so not fast but plenty of time in hand (the limit being 14 hours).

That was the 12th and final ride in my current Randonneur Round The Year series, all on fixed wheel. I was also pleased to find I could still crank the fixie round an Super Randonneur series, that’s 200, 300, 400 and 600km validated rides each with a 15kph overall minimum speed, while managing to run a bit as well. I look forward to having a break from the long distance rides for a while now but, being as that was my 9th RRTY and there seems to be a new badge for completing 10 of the darn things, I suspect I’ll be struggling round another four seasons sometime in the future.