Category Archives: cyclocross

Kona Jake

Disused railways.

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10°C, brisk NW, grey sky and the rain has finished for now.

I rode Cyclocross with MapMyRide+! Distance: 19.3mi, time: 01:41:30, pace: 5:16min/mi, speed: 11.4mi/h.
http://mapmyride.com/workout/957677509

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Took a familiar route on canals and disused railway tracks. For variety, there are side tracks that are rideable including this one in the photo. It’s a rail bridge that is closed off, rather crudely with tree trunks. You can see over if you climb up, but there is only farmland beyond.
This track looks like trail bikes have hewn a route in footpaths. They undulated so that it was almost possible to propel yourself along by pushing the bars up and down like a kid’s rocking horse.
Finding places like this is the great thing about cyclocross.

That ride makes the week’s total 189 miles. I don’t feel that tired either. That means my fitness is good.

Drying mud.

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17°C, sun and negligible wind. Dry.

I rode CX with MapMyRide+! Distance: 18.4mi, time: 01:47:20, pace: 5:51min/mi, speed: 10.3mi/h.
http://mapmyride.com/workout/931767171
Better weather brings dry air and warm sun. Each day sees the ground becoming dryer and firmer.
I alternated rides this week on the CX and fixed bikes. Each is getting faster.
Today, the canals were less busy, only a few lonely anglers and couples walking dogs. Between them, I built up the speed reaching 17mph along some towpaths. It still requires considerable concentration, but there is less squelching around in black mud and nervously negotiating bridge cobbles.

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The bike has thin mud at the back, but some of it smells of dog shit.

Meanwhile, the rest of the country basks in sunshine.

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I rode CX with MapMyRide+! Distance: 18.4mi, time: 01:47:20, pace: 5:51min/mi, speed: 10.3mi/h.
http://mapmyride.com/workout/931767171
Plod around some canal towpaths in figure-8 routes. On one bridge, a family stopped while dad fixed the lad’s puncture. That was his role for the day.
The mud is more viscous now and the thorns seemed to soften. Anyway, no punctures today either.

Muddy good ride.

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I rode CX with MapMyRide+! Distance: 22.1mi, time: 02:30:15, pace: 6:5min/mi, speed: 8.8mi/h.
http://mapmyride.com/workout/927048337
Slow recovery ride along canals and paths. Largely repeated the route up to Wychnor and found it waterlogged in places, but not the same places as last time.
No punctures. 🙂

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This part of the canal runs next to the river Trent, overspill pours into the river to the left of this photo. Nearby fields are also flooded.

Passed the worst.

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9°C, windy with light showers and sun.
The chilly fevers have gone, so I took the bike out for a test ride. Three laps round the dog-walk field and then put the road wheels on. That makes about 5 miles I would say.
Tomorrow, I will ride a few miles along the canal to a tea shop. Ride slowly!

It looks a bit absurd with huge clearance around that 25c tyre, but once mudguards are on, that won’t show. Swapping wheels is dead easy, I am not proposing using these road wheels for the canal trip. However, they are silky smooth on the road, Great for commuting.

Easter chills.

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8°C, strong NW with heavy rain pm.
Scratch plans: no cycling, camping, nor hiking.
The weather is terrible and I am full of cold. Even cutting some planks for the fire, I was left exhausted. So otherwise, I  can’t do much.
Here is my bike, whispering ‘can we go out yet?’ Imagine that in a voice like the snake from Jungle Book.

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There it is, gathering dust instead of mud. That’s not right, I tell you.

Slime and silt.

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8°C, strong SW, Clear start but clouding over.
I rode CX with MapMyRide+! Distance: 37.3mi, time: 03:00:08, pace: 4:50min/mi, speed: 12.4mi/h.
http://mapmyride.com/workout/889388491
Again, rode the cyclocross bike in the strong wind. The fixed gear is daunting on exposed roads like these, an easy decision.
After only three miles, a puncture. By the canal, there was signs of recent hedge trimming, and it was blackthorn. The have especially long thorns that do not know about Challenge Grifo tyres. I have given in to desperation. Eleven punctures in one month, can you blame me? So, I bought Slime inner tubes. Anyway, the puncture. Those tubes have self-sealing goo inside. So I stopped canal-side and got the pump. I blew the tyre back up, and almost unbelievably, it stayed up.
Riding on the beach seemed appealing this morning. Last week it worked well, so why not again?
I will tell you why not, silt. First it gummed up the chain-stays then the gears and finally, it shed the chain. Even the wheels were hard to turn.
There was plenty of driftwood to use. It took quite a bit of prodding before the biggest lumps dropped out. I must have looked like one of those crows doing IQ tests on TV. Well, a florescent crow, you know the ones.
The tyre pressure remained! In fact, I added more for the tarmac section, and return.

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This is the rear stays with most of the gunk removed.

Icey crust below, canal woodpeckers above.

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4°C, SW brisk, rain/sleet.
Rode CX with MapMyRide+! Distance: 21.4mi, time: 02:25:57, pace: 6:50min/mi, speed: 8.8mi/h.
http://mapmyride.com/workout/882936239
Eventful short ride.
Took the reverse canal route from Friday, my own tyre tracks are still there. The tyres broke a crispy thin ice on puddles and mud. After only 3 miles though, two punctures, both thorns. I then went to a cafe to warm up and patch the tubes.
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Another cyclist suggested Slime Tubes, it’s got to be worth trying.
Later, headed towards Cannock Chase through Armitage. That’s where the rain started.

Then, something strange. Riding under a low bridge, I had to duck down against the bars. But on emerging, suddenly ouch a stiff back- I pulled a muscle. That decided it, turn home. That’s when the sleet came down and wind picked up. So I put my head down and slogged on. Woodpeckers must live near canals, one sounded very close. There were also many dogs to give way to. Will it get too busy to use these routes in the summer?
With a wind like this, there should be a good draw on the fire at home. Though the miles are low, I looked forward to a warm log fire.

The patches held.

Canal gloop.

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I rode CX with MapMyRide+! Distance: 18.9mi, time: 02:15:16, pace: 7:10min/mi, speed: 8.4mi/h.
http://mapmyride.com/workout/881230961
Yesterday’s rain is soaking slowly into saturated ground. It’s deepest by gates and stiles where walkers have trod. These cycling shoes didn’t let me down. The only skid was on a wooden bridge all covered in slimy moss.

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The best bit was along a bridle path towards Wychnor. It looks like cattle land, though none were visible. Most of it was wet but rideable. Crossing points were deep mud, which on flat ground is more stable.
Weather looks unfavourable tomorrow.
Only 18 miles but it felt like more.