8-3°C, ice on Sollom Bridge. Clear sky, sun in my eyes but dry. No wind
The Raleigh Mustang feels so heavy and slow. My other regular ride bikes are not like this. Yesterday, I whizzed along at an enjoyable pace on the race bike. It’s not my legs, the bike is the problem. Maybe I’ll try riding in on the cross (Jake) before I fit the winter tyres, as an experiment.
12°C, fog.
Only the second trip out with the new bars fitted. You probably can’t see but they’re flared bars. It’s subtle but a definite improvement, there is a larger flat section behind the hoods to rest hands which is nice. The wider hooks section is not as dramatic as my Kona Jake’s but it still gives benefits. There is more leverage for times when the surface is poor, potholes or long grass.
The drop is more too. The original.bars we shallow such that riding on the hooks was not much lower defeating those fast descents when you want to get your head down.
https://www.mapmyride.com/workout/3294022513
Ill again. It started during this ride home from work. Shame because I was looking forward to it. The route that runs along farm tracks in the dark is quite an experience. If it wasn’t for the rain, it would have been a photo opportunity.
Was it worse because of the rain? Maybe, and getting cold at the end. The worst came after I got home. When it came to putting the bike away, the sky opened with a deluge. Anyway two nights followed with hot and cold flushes, no strength and a hacking brittle cough. The annoying bit is the brief time since the last heavy cold.
Five days later, I’m still laid up in bed. The cough remains as do the hot & cold flushes. This is definitely influenza.
13 days later, it’s just about gone
12°C, dry and fresh, dark early.
I rode Mustang with MapMyRide+! Distance: 29.98km, time: 01:30:04, pace: 3:00min/km, speed: 19.97km/h.
http://mapmyride.com/workout/1820466335
Moody sunset.
I need a holiday. I feel tired physically such that even running up the stairs is hard. But on the ride, my head felt better as the miles wheeled by. Towards the end, putting on a burst was quite a pleasure. So its head tiredness, not legs.
I rode the Mustang with MapMyRide+! Distance: 36.86km, time: 01:46:41, pace: 2:54min/km, speed: 20.73km/h.
http://mapmyride.com/workout/1776626015
A treat to witness such a fine sunset on the way home. Each half minute, the light would change. Fascinating.
17°C, band of rain cleared to sun.
At last, I have it. I’ve brought it up north to ride and make fine adjustments. The bars were too high and the front brake rubbed.
Here it is today with mudguards and the rack. I’ve lowered the bars and the handling is good.
Looking over it, you could summarise it as a top-quality frame with room to upgrade components. Most conspicuously, the wheels are heavy and the chainset is rather basic. Delivered, it has 175mm cranks and even with mud-guards, there is room for longer cranks. Remember, I use 180mm cranks on the older bikes. SRAM do such a crank-set which includes an external bearing bottom bracket.
While in the shop, I picked up a speedo. They pulled out a gps cycle computer from the back. I have posted about it separately.
I rode Racelite with MapMyRide+! Distance: 84.07km, time: 03:32:02, pace: 2:31min/km, speed: 23.79km/h.
http://mapmyride.com/workout/1724741051
Okay, so it takes more than a few days to get back on form. Average speed is low and after 52 miles, I feel tired.
Still waiting for that new commuting bike. At least I have the old one to use this week.
23°C, dry summer’s day.
This morning, I rode The Jake, Cyclocross 28.3 km Bike Ride with MapMyRide
Duration: 1:31:50, Pace: 3.2 min/km
http://www.mapmyride.com/workout/1626789359
N+1, looking at a replacement commuting bike. This one has disc brakes and an aluminium frame of the right size. It’s to be used as a main commuter with mudguards and a rack fitted.
Rode Home with MapMyRide+! Distance: 29.66km, time: 01:15:13, pace: 2:32min/km, speed: 23.66km/h.
http://mapmyride.com/workout/1607361776
Ordinary ride home until the wasp got into my helmet. I heard a faint clunk as it entered one of the helmet’s vents. It didn’t sting immediately giving me time to pull over and take the hat off. The wasp then seized its moment and stung just below my head buff thing.
That’s it! Three or more days of itchy head. The piercing sting sensation wore off after a few hours and didn’t even bother me while getting to sleep.
Was that little wasp trying to sting through the fabric of my hat? I can picture it probing the fabric with its sting.
7°C, NE chilly breeze.
I rode Arrow with MapMyRide+! Distance: 18.40mi, time: 01:23:07, pace: 4:31min/mi, speed: 13.28mi/h.
http://mapmyride.com/workout/1388479221
Started this morning’s commute with 999.9 miles on the collective clock.
The first mile, barely out of my home road clocked up the magic mile.
That’s the first milestone. Planning is underway for the Diamond challenge. Ambitious, but it looks doable. The main threatening variable is the weather.
Satisfied, moi?
Micycle 