Hard Uphills, Fast Downhills and a Great Big Bridge!.

Hi, I have just got back from spending the morning doing some training. My regular commute to work (although good for training) is just not long enough to get some real distance behind me. So this morning I headed out on a mini challenge to skate out to and across the Humber Bridge and back.

I started from home after a good nights sleep and a quick check of the maps. I followed my usual route to work along some busy city streets and some quieter residential streets. All was well up to this point and I had no aches or pains. I continued past work and for the first time stepped into the unknown, as I had not been out this way into Hessle before. I must mention the board was behaving beautifully and the bearings were rolling well. So through Hessle square I went avoiding lunatic traffic and suicidal old ladies crossing the street wherever and whenever they pleased. A little detour up through Hessle high street allowed a more direct route, so I slowed down and gently and gingerly pushed my way uphill (for the first time on route). By this time it was around 9:15am so not many pedestrians to worry about.

From this point until I duck under the bridge was all uphill, and I had a choice of narrow pavements or horribly rough roads....I decided upon the road to get some practise in. I pushed laboriously uphill for what seemed like all morning, the wheels were barely moving and my calf and thigh were on fire. The 75mm wheels struggled on the rough surface but the lowered deck made it all manageable. On getting to the top there was a sigh of relief as the road smooths out and heads downhill under the bridge, before veering into the visitor centre and up onto the bridge itself.

(The downhill although short was a blessing as I had yet to really test the boards stability at speeds above what I can push. Both here and a steeper, faster and longer hill on the return journey the stability of the lowered deck and capabilities of the Randall 180 trucks came into their own and gave me confidence to allow myself to pick-up speeds I had not got to before without the fear of speed wobbles. My confidence grew even higher when my foot-braking was just as good at these higher speeds, being able to stop from speed is very important and with some more practise I'll be confident on any hill I may encounter in July).

The Humber Bridge itself was incredible, I have wanted to skate it for a while now, and i was not disappointed. The footpath was silky smooth and was a blessing on the wheels and bearings. The gradual uphill was met with an eagerly anticipated and joyous downhill to the other side.

Then it was just a case of getting back......

The trip was 17miles and was completed in 2hours.