A fine problem to have.

Posted on 25th Oct 2015 by essiep

8°C, still and light. Cold.
It’s a fine problem, to decide which bike to ride today: Jake, the cyclocross; Arrow, the mudguard winter ride; summer racing bike- Racelite. I’m recovering from a virus thing, so to be cautious- it’s cyclocross today. ‘Cross is not exhausting, simply difficult.
I dread bringing that virus back, as happened last week. A dose of exhaustion could be an invite to that damned bug. It’s gone on long enough already, more than two weeks. No chance of beating 6,000 miles this year then.
Never mind.
The ground should be still be firm, perhaps with some mud patches. Anyway, mud fun should be guaranteed. Perhaps the cattle will be away.
How it worked out:

Lay the bike down while I check the route.

Continue reading →

Ride into the sunrise.

Posted on 26th Sep 2015 by essiep

4°C, clear and still.
I rode Cross with MapMyRide+! Distance: 15.8mi, time: 01:25:29, pace: 5:25min/mi, speed: 11.07mi/h.
http://mapmyride.com/workout/1185515511
Relaxing way to start the weekend. This ride, along my favourite canal loop is always different. Today, these wispy cones of mist rise from the still water. I tried to think of a word for them, what about ‘mist-maidens’?

Canals are getting squidgy

Posted on 2nd Sep 2015 by essiep

I rode The Jake with MapMyRide+! Distance: 16.25mi, time: 01:23:20, pace: 5:08min/mi, speed: 11.70mi/h.
http://mapmyride.com/workout/1148282977
I have a pair of summer cyclocross tyres on order. They have a faster rolling file surface in the middle, and blocks at the sides.

However, the towpaths are soft again and quite muddy in parts. It’s seems that I don’t need these tyres this year.
The latest news in cycling is Gravel Bikes. They are like ‘cross bikes but for different geometry. The also make excellent commuting machines, most come with eyelets for guards and rack.
Gravel racing isn’t going to take off here, it’s not dry enough.

Saturday favourite CX.

Posted on 11th Jul 2015 by essiep

I rode The Jake with MapMyRide+! Distance: 14.5mi, time: 01:17:05, pace: 5:20min/mi, speed: 11.25mi/h.
http://mapmyride.com/workout/1067492975
Canal loop; same as previously but found little energy in my legs. The slightly later start meant more people were about. Some green snot on the rear tyre indicate a few punctures recently, as I suspected.

power socket is now re-located and set flush to the wall. That was surprisingly easy. Now it needs finishing and cleaning up. The plaster is terrible in this house. Beneath the skim coat is very crumbly dusty original rendering. These houses were built to good standards but there was a skills shortage after the war.

Cross is difficult, but not hard.

Posted on 28th Jun 2015 by essiep

I rode The Jake with MapMyRide+! Distance: 43.42mi, time: 04:14:44, pace: 5:52min/mi, speed: 10.23mi/h.
http://mapmyride.com/workout/1049041503
finally decided to take my cyclocross bike up Cannock Chase. Winding my way through Chorley and the not to gentle Gentleshaw, then the getting lost started. Down fire tracks, bridleways and some roads. After losing the signs, I found a footpath with fat bike tracks fresh. In ‘cross style, I jumped off and ran the bike. It was the rounded pebble layered tracks that were the most daunting, especially where steep.
This bike has a lower gear than I’m used to, 36×30. All the weight was on the rea;, a few times, the front lifted even when leant over the bars. Out of the saddle, the rear tyre would spin. I need more skill.
Still, I got to the Visitor’s Centre without falling off. And coffee.

My next waypoint was the canal at Great Hay. The route to the canal was less than ideal, an A road. There must be a better path.
From there, the towpath wound it’s way home all level.
The final leg along the towpath was flat, dry and all about vibration. By now, I was hungry and keen to get a meal.

Saturday Canal 16

Posted on 27th Jun 2015 by essiep

I rode Cyclocross with MapMyRide+! Distance: 15.78mi, time: 01:25:52, pace: 5:27min/mi, speed: 11.02mi/h.
http://mapmyride.com/workout/1047149293
Another loop round the local canal circuit. Towpaths are even more dry and hard. I barely saw anybody. An early cafe stop for breakfast would have been perfect, no cafe opens at this hour.

Fradley Canal.

Green blood.

Posted on 30th May 2015 by essiep

12°C, moderate W wind. Sunny and dry.
I rode Jake cyclocross with MapMyRide+! Distance: 38.4mi, time: 03:00:16, pace: 4:41min/mi, speed: 12.8mi/h.
http://mapmyride.com/workout/1006508127
It was chilly early start this morning, and of course, the roads were very quiet. Good conditions even after a night of rain that left trails softer than hard-pack.
Puncture caused by a thorn. The tyre deflated quickly at first, but I wanted the Slime inner-tubes to work so I left the tyre on. I blew the tyre up three times in all and could see slime bubbling out of the hole made by the spike.

Eventually the deflation became slower. And the last leg of the ride was along a canal towpath. A surface like that makes sensing a soft tyre more difficult.
The tyre is holding pressure now.
I think.

200th mile.

Posted on 22nd May 2015 by essiep

11°C, light wind but dull grey.
I rode Cyclocross Jake with MapMyRide+! Distance: 14.59mi, time: 01:22:24, pace: 5:39min/mi, speed: 10.62mi/h.
http://mapmyride.com/workout/996576491
Actually, it’s my 195th mile of the week, but so what?
I have that empty feeling that comes after a week’s high milage. My tanks are empty. The ride this morning was nice enough, start at 6.50 and get home just after 8am. Surfaces are quite firm now as we get towards the end of May.

My Ceanothus in full bloom. I worry that its weight may topple the non-too strong trunk. If so, it would fall into the pond. It needs a stake.

Canal commute.

Posted on 21st May 2015 by essiep

19°C, light wind and clear sky.
I rode Jake with MapMyRide+! Distance: 16.5mi, time: 01:19:18, pace: 4:48min/mi, speed: 12.5mi/h.
http://mapmyride.com/workout/994624185
Rode Cyclocross on the commute today. I took the normal route in, but returned along the canal. It winds around and industrial estate and some rough housing. But in May, everything is lush, water lilies in the canal, a heron fishing and all sorts of water fowl. Perfect weather though I was over dressed.
It’s a shame the canal only gets 5 miles from home. There is one nearer, but it’s a large loop round.

The surfaces are better than other canals I use, wide and often ash covered.

7am canal ride.

Posted on 9th May 2015 by essiep

11°C, brisk SW and grey cloud. Dry.
I rode Jake with MapMyRide+! Distance: 17.8mi, time: 01:39:10, pace: 5:35min/mi, speed: 10.76mi/h.
http://mapmyride.com/workout/977307793
Started early, 7am start and saw few people. The return via Chorley was hillier that I remember but there were no surprise traffic on the narrow twisty lanes.

Mapmyride has strange bugs. If I change the ride type to cyclocross, then the GPS fails to work, change it back to Road Cycling and it’s back to normal. Even changing the ride type after my return voids the mapping. I will hold out for an update.
home:

Another tree felled. I have enjoyed this cherry every spring, it put a magnificent show in flower and the colour glowed against the morning sun. Now it has gone and I am bereft, I hate to see a healthy tree cut down.

Micycle

Mike thinks b/hikes

Category Archives: cyclocross