Author Archives: essiep

Walsall drivers see no red.

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27°C, hard sunshine.
Walsall drivers have an annoying habit that I have blogged about before. Tonight, coming home through the hazardous Rushall lights I stopped to wait for green. When it came, I clipped in and rode forward only to brake for a brown mini-bus taxi coming from the right. He jumped a red light. I shouted in frustration

“red means stop”

He swore, really he did, as if I had done something wrong.
The next lights, the same thing happens, this time a silver car. He swore too.
What are the chances of that?
This happens more often in Walsall than other places I ride.

Alstonefield ride.

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30°C, no wind, no clouds.
Sunday ride~ tracked with MapMyRide! Distance: 84.73mi, time: 05:42:34, pace: 4:03min/mi, speed: 14.84mi/h.
http://mapmyride.com/workout/321195601
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I rode up with the Burton club, view were heading to the Peak District for some hill climbs. They were quick and seem a disciplined bunch. I only got nervous on stretches with deep pot-holes.
Anyway, I turned off and made my own way to the Peaks with a cafe stop at Ilam.

From there, the route took me further north to Alstonefield and Milldale. There is a back route into Milldale by a road marked as impassible. Impassible roads are a bad idea, they are impassible. It was narrow and dipped down into the gorge at 1:7. I slid back, gripped the drops for a better grasp of the brake lever and took it slowly. My eyes darted from one side to another looking for places to crash should a brake cable break.
They held.

Out of Milldale there is a daunting hill to the east which worked out well. there were more steep hills which I took with renewed confidence and I arrived home feeling reasonably fresh. I credit the extra water I drank for feeling good even after eighty miles.

Magic

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24°C, deep blue,

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Heatwave day 2: Saturday, added the crown to my Hifi in the living room.
A co-incidence that the second lodger moved out today; the same day that I finished organising the room changes in this house. The last step was to crown my Hifi with the record player. I now have magic in my living room, CD is nice but doesn’t do the shivers down my neck that LP does with ease.
A very fine day.

Heatwave.

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We have a heatwave to come. Rumours are of two weeks worth but ten days seems more likely. England has not had hot sunny days in July since 2007. The whole nation seems delighted.
Interestingly, there is a significant number that express a dislike of summer. Perhaps view feel some social pressure to keep quiet about it though, so there could be many people who feel that way.
I am not one.

This is what they said…

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16°C,
The Ormskirk cycle club write regular diarys for each club run, chain-gang and race. Here’s what they said about Sunday’s ride@

Surprisingly low numbers at the shop this morning, but still 40 odd people there. As the Captain was otherwise detained there was no real plan for A groupers. John Hesketh was leading a fairly large group to Beacon Fell. Alternately Wilko was planning on a run to Scorton, although given the planned return time, there appeared to be few takers. Titch had suggested local Hills part 2. Finally Mark Brownett offered up the Southport run. Decisions made the large B group left, Wilko and Titch combined and headed to what in the end was a pretty speedy ride to Brindle I think. Meanwhile, 8 mixed ability riders, including Mike-an interloper ex of Litchfield City Cycling Club- on a fixed wheel 42-16 and Adam a first timer in group riding with a previous max of <10 miles in his legs, set off to Southport. Mark and Mike lead out via the cricket club, Town Green, passed The Swan and out to the Church on the Southport Road. A left here and out down Punnels Lane, picking up the Formby Cycles road. Straight over at the lights and right turn through Formby, and onto Formby Hall. A ‘comfort break’ was taken by some and then on to the Coast road proper. Kev and Jeff now lead until traffic forced the group to single file until passed the cinema in Southport. The paced upped a little out onward Banks but a general regroupment occurred by Ralph Wife’s Lane. Onwards via Hesketh Bank and Tarleton, out to Croston and Mawdsley. The approach to the cafe was brightened by Mark Brownett and his dodgy knee taking a jump and pushing the pace somewhat. He was however caught at the right turn whereupon Kev shot passed and lead all the way to the cafe despite a little chase. Coffee was taken, the A group riders already at the cafe. Tour discussed. And back as one over Hoscar moss. Charlotte left at the Ring O Bells, to get her bag packed for Ibiza tomorrow- watch out Ministry of Sound! The Dark Lane Drag resulted in a little tussle, Cameron jumping early, although I suspect Kev or Wilko got there first! Good well paced and directed ride 50 miles for me, 16.7mph average and very nice it was too. Credit to Adam for cycling further than he’d ever done before and Mike for getting round on a fixed wheel- although he bounced around down the coast road pedalling at 120 rpm….. See you in a couple of weeks — at work next Sunday!

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The low rolling section in the middle is the Southport coast road.

Middleton flat 17.

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17°C; SW wind, brisk, dry. Club ride, tracked with MapMyRide! Distance: 53.14mi, time: 03:08:30, speed: 16.9mi/h. http://mapmyride.com/workout/315175737 image
 They are a likeable club, none of the cliquishness that mar other clubs. Some guys were bemused by me spinning madly on the Southport sea-front stretch where we rode at 22mph and I had a 42×16 gear. A little app tells me that a pace like that is 138rpm. I kept the pace well enough. They stated that the average should be 17mph before we set off and my GPS app put the average within 0.1mph of that; not bad! Also, not bad- riding in a tight group on fixed was quite a success. Sitting close on a wheel was easier with control via the transmission rather than touching brakes and blipping on pedals alternately. Easier, more accurate and ultimately, more efficient.

Hedonism.

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14°C, windy pollenated air.
My other half is a poodle and she gets extended walks on some days. Sometimes I wander around a labyrinthine settlement nearby where pagan animal rituals are performed when decent folk are locked away.

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Nobody really knows the meaning of these carvings, though some claim that they move when nobody is looking.
I have doubts.

Wiring.

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14C, heavy showers, windy.
Clearing the room for the second lodger. There is a decade’s worth of stuff in there. The back of the cupboards have revealed trinkets from the early 90s. This that old are interesting even when it’s just a receipt. I remember the first time I decorated that room, there was newspaper used to line a panel that what published in 1958.
A chunk of my life is laid out in this house.
The biggest job was, though, to move the telephone point. I want it next to the computer and router, not in a lodger’s room. That took five hours and it’s still not quite done.
Anyway, a trip to the dump will clear the clutter.

Bombus Lapidarius

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22°C, foggy yet morning, now blazing.
Last year I was delighted to find a swarm of honey bees in the eaves. This year, we have bumble-bees living in the house. They are orange-tails, nesting in nearly the same place. It prompts a question- how do I go about repairing that part of the roof. The insects have not caused any damage, its just wear and tear to the facia and soffits. The standard way to repair them is to fit uPVC boards. What I want is a repair that does not prevent interesting wildlife getting on with their lives.