Ice, rain and a puncture.

Posted on 18th Jan 2015 by essiep

I rode 8-speed with MapMyRide+! Distance: 38.5mi, time: 02:47:50, pace: 4:2min/mi, speed: 13.8mi/h.
http://mapmyride.com/workout/846930091
It started well. The ice was insignificant and the sun-bright.
In the last 10 miles, clouds built up and the temperature dropped. I didn’t mind the 6 or so miles in rain until a flat on the rear wheel. The rims were covered in black slimy muck and my hands were soon cold. Cold rubber is stiff making the tyre a bitch to get off. By then, my hands were too cold to undo that little nut on the valve.
I must have got something right though. I could not get the pressure high, but it held while I rode the last miles.

Now for some soup, a good way to warm up.

Lovejoy Q2.

Posted on 16th Jan 2015 by essiep

2°C, light wind and clear.
Best chance to see this comet this week. Twice I rode to work in the week. On the return trip, I stopped in a gateway to look up. First a thin veil of high cloud covered the wrong bit of sky. The next one was clear, despite trying, no smudge could be seen.

This photo, not mine, shows the comet’s location. With binoculars, it’s easy to find. I looked from a field in this city, so light pollution covered most fainter stars. That also means the tail is impossible to see.
Nevertheless, I am satisfied to see it.

Deer in headlights.

Posted on 11th Jan 2015 by essiep

6°C, strong W wind. Mostly dry under grey sky.
I rode Fixed with MapMyRide+! Distance: 22.98mi, time: 01:35:19, pace: 4:09min/mi, speed: 14.46mi/h.
http://mapmyride.com/workout/839762827
Very windy, almost unsafe on a bike. Given the quiet roads, I ventured out at 3pm. As seen in the screenshot, the route was a series of loops near home and included some short sharp hills.

Driving back I was forced to take a diversion around Cannock Chase. There was only a few extra miles, and am interesting incident. On the twisty lane back to the normal route, I glimpsed something moving ahead. An animal, but it was very shadowy. Then a deer; both me and an oncoming car stopped too. Then he switched head lights off, and then I did. We let the deer gallop across the road to the south. Sweet!

Insurance?

Posted on 10th Jan 2015 by essiep

7°C, gale force winds, sunny.
What shall I do about insurance? The cycle-to-work scheme requires insurance on the bike which is an issue that’s problematic. My other bikes are not insured because the costs outweigh the possible benefits. Insurance premiums quoted so far, appear to assume the bike will be stolen within three years. I have three bikes, and owned at least one for the last 35 years. I have yet to get one stolen. So my assessment of risk suggests the premium should be less than £30 a year. Otherwise, it’s cheaper to put the money into a savings account.

Here is an edited publicity shot of the yellow version. I will learn to like that colour.

♧

Progress, Jake.

Posted on 8th Jan 2015 by essiep

I rode 8-speed with MapMyRide+! Distance: 23.84mi, time: 01:36:06, pace: 4:02min/mi, speed: 14.88mi/h. http://mapmyride.com/workout/837206651 Windy ride home with some decent split times. Some due to the brisk wind, some due to my feeling upbeat about my new bike. Evans rang me today to say their supplier has my Kona in stock. It’s on order and I set the Cycle-to-work scheme in motion. I could have it by the end of January. The only drawback is, they can’t get it in blue. They are sending the yellow version. ¿♡?

The photo is only a shop. Looks more like a scene from a ufo film. Strange, the things you see while you are out in the night.

One puncture for me..

Posted on 6th Jan 2015 by essiep

5°C, moderate W, dry and clear.
Commute 18 miles.
Ordinary ride home marred by a puncture. A forced stop in the dark is never welcome but fortune smiled. There was a pub nearby with blazing bright carpark lights. So I carefully fixed it, really don’t want it to go down in some inky black lane.
After another 5 miles, there was another guy fixing his puncture, so I stopped for a chat. Nice bloke.
No sign of comet Q2 near Orion, a veil of cloud in just the wrong place.

Expensive whisky in the supermarket. Decimal places are important Co-op.

Back to work.

Posted on 5th Jan 2015 by essiep

5°C, light SW, grey.
New term. Straight into the darkest mornings of the year. Sunrise has only improved by 2 minutes since mid-winter. Whereas street has improved by 16 minutes. Rapid change is coming though. It only takes two weeks for the light at the end of the tunnel to get switched back on.

Half an hour before sunrise, this view was worth pulling over in the car. This is a narrow sunken lane with muddy passing spaces. I got out and took the picture and slowly slid sideways in the mud.

After the rain.

Posted on 3rd Jan 2015 by essiep

Cold with big puddles everywhere. 4°C, light N.
Rode 8-speed, MapMyRide+! Distance: 34.4mi, time: 02:25:54, pace: 4:14min/mi, speed: 14.2mi/h.
http://mapmyride.com/workout/831949269
Rain all day seemed endless. But end it did. 2.30pm the sun broke through so off I went.

Came home in the dark which descended later than at solstice.
It may be too icy to ride tomorrow, so this is am insurance ride.

First 25.

Posted on 1st Jan 2015 by essiep

strong wind SSW, showers but mild: 12°C.

I rode fixed with MapMyRide+! Distance: 24.8mi, time: 01:43:50, pace: 4:11min/mi, speed: 14.32mi/h.
http://mapmyride.com/workout/830046503
Strong winds make careful route planning more important. On a single-speed bike the best approach is to include long cross-wind sections. On New year’s Day traffic is light, on a wet day, there are few boy-racers so this was a good outing.

Birkdale Cemetery, a magnet for Dr Who fans. I had to take these pictures without blinking, honestly!

Micycle

Mike thinks b/hikes

Author Archives: essiep