It only hurts when I pedal - Friday

Spending the night in a room of 10 cyclists, many of whom had eaten curry for supper and had a beer, was never going to be a pleasant experience. And so it proved.

So, bleary eyed we set off, me with a new spoke after one broke yesterday (all part of the service and much appreciated).

Everything went swimmingly for the first 20 miles and then then sore leg started hurting again. With 66 miles to go, this was not good news.

On the bright side, the countryside north of Chepstow is very pretty, with wooded valleys, rolling hills, lots of lush farmland, and the dark clouds and showers that passed ahead of us left everything rich and green and terribly British.

We had a couple of stops. One at an enterprising village store en route with a LeJog signpost.

And one with just seven miles until lunch at a little campsite cafe. We've decided that it is never a bad idea to stop, whether for a photo, a stretch or scenic comfort break in a field. The trouble is, that when rolling along in a group, the temptation to just push on. We're learning how to make the most of this experience we go.

By lunchtime my leg was very sore and I couldn't keep up with the normal gang when we set off for the afternoon ride. I found myself on the wheel of a delightful lady who was going at just the ride speed and I just focused on her back wheel and tried to stay there.

We got chatting and that helped take my mind of my leg - and also my arse which also feels like its been kicked by a horse and hurts constantly. (Forgive the self pity, I can't moan to my fellow riders as they all have their aches and pains too).

When a long, long hill threatened to get the better of me I reached for my iPhone and puts some tunes on to help us to the top. It was something I tried going up a gorge near Chedddar (possibly the gorge) and worked a treat. I just focused my whole mind on the music and away form my leg and arse.

The last 20 miles were down the other side of the big hill and along the flat into Shrewsbury where it was a delight to have a proper hotel room with a bath and proper bed that someone else had made.

So, a tough day that is already losing its sting. Hopefully the cold bath and rest will sort the leg. With two working legs this would be such fun!