ILL WINDS

April tends to the breezy, and riding tends to headwinds. Invariably, every tiny gust decides its main aim in life is to blow petals, pollen, insects, sand & grit around my visor and shades and into my eyes. Still, the weather is becoming rideable, and that's why we invented eyedrops, isn't it?

On Sunday, the weather was sunny, and I thought I'd join a HOG chapter run for the first time in a while. They were heading for Chichester, and it looked like a good run. Alas, a needy colleague decided to interrupt my weekend with laziness (seriously, he could have called the courier himself) and by the time I'd got that sorted out, it was too late to join the guys.

However, they say it's an ill wind, so I hopped on the bike anyway and headed out on the A40. There's a particularly nice squiggly bit of the A40 through the Ashton Rowant Reserve, where the road sidewinds down a hill through a wood. I wanted to get my knee down.

Then I split off onto the B4012 to Thame. How have I not met this road before!? It's a seriously fun road to ride. It's nice and smooth and twisty through the countryside and ends up converging into Thame at the same time as the B4445.

I rumbled lazily up and down the high street, searching for the entrance to the parking. Once I'd found that, I discovered that the council has been considerate and put a bike bay out the front of Rumseys, which I was planning to try. (Not that there are restrictions on Sundays, but these things are always good to know).

From the cafe

I recommend Rumseys. It's a chocolate shop as well as cafe, and hands out little coffee-chocolate buttons with your coffee. I like places that are this civilised.

En route home, I thought I'd try the A413 route Google suggested, but missed a fork and ended up coming home on the B4445 Chinnor Road through Bledlow Ridge, rejoining the A40 by the Hell Fire Caves. This is also a fun road, although it goes past rapeseed fields in full flower, which reminds me of damp dog, and gives me hayfever. (See above re April winds).