A wee hill climb

I explored a short little hilly loop starting with a nice steady hill climb, a great fast drop and then those two last hills before home again.

The first climb was steady enough though I should probably have gone for a little warm up first rather than hit it cold. Tough few moments to start then warmed into it. The police were out with their speed camera overlooking the A34. Nice moment realising I didn't have to fear them any more - I went as fast as I could past them just for fun :)

 Nice warm legs by the top (30m higher)so I enjoyed recovering on the straight towards Bagley Wood Road. That hill down into Kennington though! I felt bad watching the pain on a few coming up the hill as I sped down. Don't fancy climbing that one soon (a fair chunk climbing at 7%), I need to work towards it though.. I also need to get a bit more confident with the brakes, wasn't sure if they'd slow me enough at the bottom so held back a bit. I thought I was flying down the hill but others on strava were a lot faster.

 When I hit Kennington I came up behind a guy on a mountain bike. We were pacing nicely, I was about 6m behind, taking it easy but when we hit the hill I wasn't brave enough to fly past him (he was enjoying a nice freewheel) partly because I didn't want to seem to be a dick and partly because I'd no idea if he would then catch up and pass me on the way up the next hill with a Dr Evil laugh mocking my sweaty attempt to climb. So I held back behind him and then paid for it up the next hill. Another lesson learnt. Set my own pace and sod everyone else...

 I also discovered Strava 'flybys' This animates an icon of you and other riders who rode near you at the same time. Slightly freaky but very cool!