18°C, brisk W, deep blue sky.
I rode Mustang with MapMyRide+! Distance: 27.64km, time: 01:26:27, pace: 3:08min/km, speed: 19.18km/h.
http://mapmyride.com/workout/2400430430
A recovery ride, not much energy flowed but I got round. The route is the same last week on the cross bike. The total time map only buddy minutes worse despite the heavier bike too.
I rode The Jake with MapMyRide+! Distance: 17.09km, time: 58:32, pace: 3:26min/km, speed: 17.52km/h.
http://mapmyride.com/workout/2391907526
Started on the favourite canal loop for a tea-time ride. It soon became obvious that energy was missing. Clearly, I’m unwell. So after 5 miles, I turned back.
Bright sun and westerly wind. 19°C.
I rode the Kona Jake with MapMyRide+! Distance: 77.83km, time: 03:51:47, pace: 2:59min/km, speed: 20.15km/h.
http://mapmyride.com/workout/2302108298
Today, I broke the saddle. It’s the same break that they always have- immediately behind the clamp on one rail. I never really liked that seat anyway. Later, I rode along a canal from Rufford to join the Leeds-Liverpool canal.
Another fault has developed recently, the gear change is worse and adjustment makes no difference. The barrel adjuster is at its limit. In fact, it’s beyond. The adjuster is screwed out entirely. Unfortunately, it won’t screw back in. Perhaps the thread is damaged.
15°C, Brisk SE wind, mostly sunny, entirely dry.
I rode The Jake with MapMyRide+! Distance: 72.78km, time: 04:10:50, pace: 3:27min/km, speed: 17.41km/h.
http://mapmyride.com/workout/2160239831
It’s all dried and cracked out there. Even molehills are as hard as stone. The big feature of the day is wind. A strong, dry south-easterly, which can only dry out the land more.
The vibration is hard on the hands. Suspension, at least on the front would solve this. The beach was firm too. Overall, average speed was low today. Partly that’s the conditions, you can’t ride off-road as quickly. The other part is that my fitness isn’t as good this year.
11°C, sunny with strong W, dry.
I rode The Jake with MapMyRide+! Distance: 62.68km, time: 03:11:43, pace: 3:04min/km, speed: 19.62km/h.
http://mapmyride.com/workout/2127494444
Overnight rain dampened the ground somewhat. It dried up during the day.
HDR; although I like the hdr effect on photos like this, it is only an effect. The app uses a kind of bass-relief method rather than genuine multi-exposure merging to create the high dynamic range. It might be interesting to try out the techniques with my new Fuji X-10. It’s a compact camera capable to taking multiple exposure at the same instant. This way, the merge should work without any smudges caused by movement.
11°C, brisk NW, dry and sunny.
I rode The Jake with MapMyRide+! Distance: 49.14km, time: 02:35:15, pace: 3:10min/km, speed: 18.99km/h.
http://mapmyride.com/workout/2123818616
Not much improvisation on kid route today.
Also took two brisk walks totalling about 8 miles. Although there are plenty of public footpaths across farmland around here, there are few circular routes. The best routes use very little road.
I shall sleep well tonight.
5° to 9°C, sunny and very muddy.
I rode with MapMyRide+! Distance: 28.44km, time: 01:52:56, pace: 3:58min/km, speed: 15.11km/h.
http://mapmyride.com/workout/2043054158
Deep, Watery and sloppy mud. Hence the low average speed. Sometimes as low as 5mph. Even so, I still failed to fall off into the canal.
Bright spring sunshine made this a happy ride. The mud was a feature, but it was so watery that most of it didn’t stick to the bike.
7°C, cold SW breeze but it’s drying up.
I rode The Jake with MapMyRide+! Distance: 26.42km, time: 01:46:22, pace: 4:02min/km, speed: 14.90km/h.
http://mapmyride.com/workout/2015532611
The usual canal loop. The mud was deeper and more watery. However, that’s not so bad because the gloop fell off the bike more easily.
I saw fewer dog walkers than usual for a dry day. One commented ‘it’s probably easier to ride on the road’. True, but I want practice riding on mud, I can only get more skillful.
2°C, grey and still. No rain.
I rode cyclocross Jake with MapMyRide+! Distance: 24.25km, time: 01:42:43, pace: 4:14min/km, speed: 14.17km/h.
http://mapmyride.com/workout/1964758442
Look at that flash of red. A tree, with broken branches. The scarlet wound stood out from the steely grey autumn landscape. I cannot get over to look closer, the canal is a complete barrier.
7°C, brisk NW wind.dry, some sun.
I rode The Jake with MapMyRide+! Distance:56.91km, time: 03:11:38, pace: 3:22min/km, speed: 17.82km/h.
http://mapmyride.com/workout/1951884761
These tyres are great in the thick mud that is all around at the moment. This ride was over more tarmac than ideal, tyre year is a worry.
These photos were taken on Southport sea wall. I threw the gloves on the ground so they wouldn’t blow away in the strong wind. I’m starting to get used to the HDR app. It’s best to keep settings low to avoid over-doing the effect.
Micycle 