Category Archives: fixed gear

Kona Paddywagon

Summer wheels.

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3~12°C, bright sun and moderate SE breeze.
I rode Fixed with MapMyRide+! Distance: 60.92mi, time: 03:55:28, pace: 3:52min/mi, speed: 15.52mi/h.
http://mapmyride.com/workout/1421434561

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Near Hesketh Bank


Good ride, spring sunshine after a cold start. This is the first side on the summer wheels. Remember, this wheelset has a slightly taller gear, 16t instead of 15t. Anyway, I went up to Dalton and they Bannister Lane, same as the past few weeks.
Bannister was harder, but not like last year. I’m lighter now.

One hour’s blast.

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7°C, calm with thin broken cloud. Dry.
I rode Fixed with MapMyRide+! Distance: 16.21mi, time: 01:00:23, pace: 3:43min/mi, speed: 16.11mi/h.
http://mapmyride.com/workout/1418899685
Early morning ride to set up for the day. I’m stuck in the house marking until teatime, so this should make it bearable. I saved the route as a favourite, it was ideal.
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Artificial lights: in a room that’s filled with sunshine, and you’re, say, watching TV. Why would you put the lights on?
I wouldn’t bother, but kids do every day and I’m baffled.
If you’ve experienced this, have you thought to ask ‘why?’?
Maybe, your experience tallies with mine. Unfortunately, the answer doesn’t clarify anything. In fact, over the years, I have never heard anything approaching an explanation.
Today, the reply was just to squirm and mutter ‘I don’t know’. That’s pretty much always the same answer, from different kids too.

I remain baffled. If you have any clues, please reply.

First bumbus.

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I rode fixed with MapMyRide+! Distance: 49.63mi, time: 03:17:30, pace: 3:59min/mi, speed: 15.08mi/h.
http://mapmyride.com/workout/1393579517

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Perfect conditions for a spring ride. Both Dalton and Bannister hill were crested comfortably. The latter, slightly less so than last week. The rest of the day was at a decent pace.
With these light winds, a taller hear would work. Note to self: swap with summer wheels later in the month.

First proper day of spring.

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14°C, light wind and clear sky, mostly. Ideal conditions.
I rode Fixed with MapMyRide+! Distance: 55.06mi, time: 03:36:22, pace: 3:56min/mi, speed: 15.27mi/h.
http://mapmyride.com/workout/1383738887
Bannister Hill, Dalton and a decent pace for the rest of the day. Result.
A local rider tracked behind me up the climb, and I pulled away near the summit. ‘Did I do good?’ I said when he latched on when it levelled. If rode choice aluminium like with 10 gears. The descent was his though.

Empty legs.

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I rode the ‘paddy wagon’ with MapMyRide+! Distance: 28.20mi, time: 01:54:46, pace: 4:04min/mi, speed: 14.7mi/h.
http://mapmyride.com/workout/1363319339
Took the flattest route. Warm-up was a full 12 miles. Yes, it took that long before I felt sort of normal. All that time a little voice told me I should go home.
I blame yesterday’s irregular food. I ate plenty in the morning, but didn’t have a proper evening meal.
The same thing gap happened in the past when I had chips for supper. I don’t have chips any more. Pizza is nearly as bad.

I look quite pale in the mirror.

Unnamed storm.

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12°C, grey, clearing to sun later; very strong WSW.
I rode Paddy Wagon with MapMyRide+! Distance: 52.68mi, time: 03:49:16, pace: 4:21min/mi, speed: 13.79mi/h.
http://mapmyride.com/workout/1354437681
Furious howling wind, a tempest even. I tried to select a route that makes the most of the wind direction. Ideally, yet want to come home with a tail-wind. That’s not possible here, upwind is out to sea. Second choice then like a sailor, choose cross-winds. For most of the day, it worked well. The return leg ayr very hard though. Flat, for exposed moors offered no shelves from hurts over 40mph. There was I, standing on pedals, head down trying to offer a small profile, still only able to make 9mph. How my muscles burnt, and how my legs complained.
I map glad to get home.
Geology: stopped in Crossens for a reason you’ll have to guess at. There is a prominent bolder outside a water-works. It was easy to identify as granite. The large square crystals were clear as there is very little weathering on this bolder. It has a plaque:

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Crossens erratic.


That stone travelled over 100 miles way back 12,000 years ago. Somehow, it circuited the glaciers that advanced out from the lake district. Its route must have curved in the Irish Sea. I’m impressed by things like that.

Hills in rain.

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I rode Fixed with MapMyRide+! Distance: 34.53mi, time: 02:25:45, pace: 4:13min/mi, speed: 14.21mi/h.
http://mapmyride.com/workout/1352912209
That was an early one, 8am start; which is unusual for me in February.

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This rain marks the start of a long finger of wet weather that stretches thousands of miles across the Atlantic. It’s one of those dreadful fronts that runs parallel to the wind direction bringing non-stop rain for days and days.
That was the bad bit. The good bit was the hill climbs. Two this time.

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The biggest spike is Bannister Hill; the one before- the village of Dalton. I can’t recall ever doing both climbs in the same ride.
I got home feeling pretty good too.
Note to self:1, take more early morning rides.
2, learn how to make my own flaplack.

Clieves-Eight, x2

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7°C, brisk SW, mostly clear with some showers.
I rode Fixed Paddy-Wagon with MapMyRide+! Distance: 9.60mi, time: 36:30, pace: 3:48min/mi, speed: 15.78mi/h.
http://mapmyride.com/workout/1350870575
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Not much time, so had a quick blast with the fixed. Cold wind blew from the southern approaches, on a short one, that doesn’t really figure.
Today has not been an example of a well used day. This ride did blow the cobwebs away. Without cycling, I would have lost my marbles long ago.

Favourite route, 1 st. Lighter.

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I rode Fixed. with MapMyRide+! Distance: 51.99mi, time: 03:42:53, pace: 4:17min/mi, speed: 13.99mi/h.
http://mapmyride.com/workout/1337951053
Climbed Bannister Hill for the first time in ages, possibly six months. Last time I went up weighing about a stone more. It still felt hard though, but my lungs didn’t feel as though they were about to turn inside out.
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A very satisfying day’s ride.

Fifty, non-stop.

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4°C, fresh and reasonably dry. There was rain in the night.
I rode Fixed with MapMyRide+! Distance: 50.47mi, time: 03:23:13, pace: 4:02min/mi, speed: 14.90mi/h. Fitted the orange winter wheels.
http://mapmyride.com/workout/1257322077
The only notable point about this ride was that I didn’t stop. Fifty miles in one sitting. It felt fine too. Even after getting home, I had enough energy.
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