Author Archives: essiep

Hulme End.

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4C, SW brisk with heavy showers.
DofE- staff training day. This was a re-newal of our navigation qualification. For us, a nice walk around the limestone landscape of northern Staffordshire.
The next stage is a national award, this one cannot be used outside Walsall jurisdiction. A national award is more use for those of up when want to move on. I think he called it the low-life assessment.
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Only problem was nagging aches from that long standing Achilles tendon problem. Every time I think it is healed, it comes back. Frustrating.
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Over the bars for a face-plant.

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11C,brisk Westerly, dry, bright.
Driving but stuck behind a bike club in Stafford. In a complex of roundabouts, one bloke turns to pick up something dropped. He then struggled to get back on to the group in the Saturday traffic. With the group already split in by cars. He had more trouble passing cars between the bunches.
Then, suddenly he was flicked into the air over his bike. A white car had stopped to let turning cars by. The bike’s brakes hadn’t stopped him fast enough, he hit the white car from the back.
By the time I got there, was wheeling his bike to the bus-stop to recover. The young woman driver walked over, visibly annoyed. She was not too happy to see a middle-aged man face printed on her rear window.
It’s understandable how this happened. The guy had his adrenaline up, he wanted to get back to the safety of the bunch. He pushed on, dodging cars only to foul up.
Walking wounded, hope his bike is okay. She will have to wash the sweaty image of a surprised face off the rear window when she gets home.
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Bats.

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Commute- Distance: 23.20mi, time: 01:34:58, pace: 4:06min/mi, speed: 14.6mi/h.
http://mapmyride.com/workout/506053223

A ride home through quiet country roads. I saw many things, mist forming in the corners of fields, the setting sun, stars appearing, Jupiter, and bats.
The first ones were notable in the corner of my eye, but then one flew in front. It flitted in before me as I rode at about 15mph. There it was, for about 10 seconds before escaping across the hedge.
That made my day.
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Bannister hill: fail less.

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12°C, grey start but warm sun later.

Cycle Kona (fixed): Distance: 60.4mi, time: 03:44:44, pace: 3:43min/mi, speed: 16.1mi/h.
http://mapmyride.com/workout/501668581
Who knows why, but the GPS recorded 88 miles for today. Maybe some interference on route. Could overhanging trees do that?
The route took in my favourite measure- Bannister Hill. Like last time, I didn’t make it to the top, but I did get twice as far this week before walking. I weigh 4lbs less than last time and there was no wind, so nothing to blame.
Later, I happened upon the Ormskirk club in a layby so I joined them for some chaingang miles to Southport. That was tremendous, but my legs burnt up with lactic acid and I dropped off along the sea-front. That’s where the anomalous GPS position was recorded (I found later).
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I stopped for a snack and to ease my sore legs. It was so much fun though. They are a good group whom I feel safe riding close with.
The day finished in warm spring sunshine smelling sweet.

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Saturday headache.

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7+C, S wind, smells of spring.
Every Saturday, I get the same headache. What is this- cumulative lack of sleep, stress from work? What can be done to fix it?
Had a good day at work yesterday- its was the DofE taster day in Sutton Park. Hard work, non-stop but refreshing. The sun shone, the spirit lifted and skin toned.
All smells of spring reminding me of the simple pleasure of hiking and camping. Easter- Wales, summer- the Highlands.
This year, I will do the things that can’t be done if you have a dog – Trifan and others.
I hope to find another dog in my life this summer. If it were just me, I’d have two. Wouldn’t it be wonderful to have two poodles from the same litter.
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Found a bird’s nest in the garden. It’s made of bits of spruce, dry moss, and white fluff. The fluff could easily be sheep’s wool, or even some synthetic stuffing. I can only presume the nest blew out of the hedge in recent gales.
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1,030 done.

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Cycling CK55 miles, 10°C, rain wind SW.

Distance: 54.8 mi, time: 03:44:10, pace: 4:06min/mi, speed: 14.6mi/h. http://mapmyride.com/workout/496245393
That was quite good, despite the wind and rain. Legs felt good, tendon pain was not noticeable. I am working on re-building symmetrical strength.
That 1,000th mile was near Ibstock, in Leics. It was then that the rain started.

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Hazel.

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7°C, no wind, clear.
Spring is just starting, ontime for the first of March. The garden is coming alive, and I have over 100 bulbs for a more colourful summer.

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After a decade, I cleared the lockup (where I keep the bikes) in three corners was evidence of mouse nest building, they must have collected seeds from the bird feeder. To make themselves comfey, they made beds of dry moss.

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Gales. Soft Drizzle

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9°C, light showers on a strong S wind. Grey. CK:40.1

Ride- Distance: 39.97mi, time: 02:48:11, speed: 14.3mi/h.
http://mapmyride.com/workout/490717905
fought the strong south gale all the way home. All that time and miles to regret leaving the 16t on the bike. I failed to make Bannister Hill without getting off. I can blame the headwind and 4lbs extra I have about me.

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Moors and ditches.

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Cycle: CK Distance: 36.12mi, time: 02:24:15, pace: 4:00min/mi, speed: 15.02mi/h.
http://mapmyride.com/workout/489195599
Windswept moors offered little shelter near Southport today. It’s a lovely area near Churchtown, but there was litter everywhere. One of the ditches had a light brown sofa and armchair at the bottom. That and other jetsome will block the drainage if left.

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Coastal ride, with punctures.

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9C, light SSW, dry, fine day.
Ride- CK: Distance: 40.60mi, time: 02:32:34, pace: 3:45min/mi, speed: 15.97mi/h.
http://mapmyride.com/workout/487826633
That didn’t go as planned! Decided on a coast ride, along the sea-front at Southport. Near Formby, the first puncture was dramatic, loud and deflated quickly. There was a car crash nearby and traffic was very slow.
The real problem was the crappy pump which broke the valve on one inner-tube.
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Fortune was on my ride today- hidden in a holiday centre was a bike shop. Not only did they sell me replacement inner-tubes but view fitted it. The Tyre was obviously split so the guy found a usable Tyre from out the back.
I will call in tomorrow and buy some kit. It looks like an excellent shop.
Gratefull.

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