22°C, bright and sunny. Light SW.
I rode with MapMyRide+! Distance: 25.16km, time: 01:16:28, pace: 3:02min/km, speed: 19.74km/h.
http://mapmyride.com/workout/1718709494
I’ve listed today’s rides separately because of their different character. Firstly a short one on the race bike and then to work on the cross bike. Finally, I returned along the canal.
Total, about 42 miles.
I rode cyclocross (Jake), with MapMyRide+! Distance: 23.57km, time: 01:22:41, pace: 3:30min/km, speed: 17.10km/h.
http://mapmyride.com/workout/1715620499
Still not fully recovered, but it’s time to ride after two weeks.
I rode The Jake with MapMyRide+! Distance: 70.44km, time: 04:40:08, pace: 3:59min/km, speed: 15.09km/h.
http://mapmyride.com/workout/1597123868
I stayed upright, I even passed some mountain bikers on a climb. Later, just as hunger dominated my thoughts, a nice cafe appeared near the Katyn Memorial. Food meant I could continue riding. So the next leg, the Glacial Bolder.
I used a leftover map from easter’s treasure hunt, a training exercise for Y9s who had signed up for bronze. My group didn’t make it to this checkpoint and I wanted to see it. It’s on the edge of a heather moorland that is dotted with warning signs about mine subsidence. Actually, there were stories about people disappearing up here, in particular, a young lad. It turns out tattie stories were nearly true, he was actually rescued by miners.
Most of the tracks were of coarse round pebbles, the Bunta Pebble Bed. The same deposit that Birmingham is built upon.
Mostly dry and dusty, they were no real hazard today.
At the Glacial Bolder, a guy was with a group of teenagers and we got chatting. There are groups of youngsters all over the chase today, in small groups carrying rucksacks. I asked whether they were DofE, but no. It was part of the NCS Scheme.
My bike at the Glacial Bolder for scale.
The Glacial Bolder is am erratic from RW Scotland.
Later, I rode north and eventually got to the canal at Great Hayward.
Here’s another curious picture:
Rhubarb?
Look at the size of it! It must be 10ft high, oh sorry I’ve gone metric, it’s 3m.
It looks like wild rhubarb to me, but is it?
Anyway, I’m recovering now. My arms have taken a battering from the vibration and my tiredness is mostly dehydration.
Rode the cyclo cross with MapMyRide+! Distance:26.01km, time: 01:34:01, pace: 3:3min/km, speed: 16.60km/h.
http://mapmyride.com/workout/1578538022
a pleasant and relaxing ride along a familiar route. Vegetation has bulked up, in places, I had to weave out of their way. Mud was there too, but thinner than last night’s rain would suggest.
Cool, sunny with a brisk wind from the south. It’s July, it should be warmer than this.
Still, it was a good ride.
Cyclocross Jake with MapMyRide+! Distance: 25.40km, time 1:23:17, pace: 3:17min/km, speed: 18.30km/h.
http://mapmyride.com/workout/1553902193
First trip mother route with the gravel tyres. They’re not as grippy in the muddy sections, but they’re fast on tarmac. I don’t mind, the slippy bits can only build my skills.
Next month is the last payment the Jake bike. Then it’s all mine.
Time for N+1?
I rode Cyclocross with MapMyRide+! Distance: 31.24km, time: 01:33:30, pace: 3:00min/km, speed: 20.05km/h.
http://mapmyride.com/workout/1473311243
To tie in with hiking, I will try recording rides in metric. It’s going to take some getting used to.
Besides, the Jake has new tyres, a pair of gravel tyres, Schwalbe CX.
Somewhere in West Lancs.
For today’s conditions, they were perfect. Rolling is much better on tarmac and hard tracks. There are plenty of those this time of year. The only problem I had was a slow puncture caused by disturbing the slime inner-tube.
What a gorgeous day, not warm but blazing bright sun and fees blue.
24°C, light SE, bright sun very dry.
I rode The Jake with MapMyRide+! Distance: 49.43mi, time: 04:02:36, pace: 4:55min/mi, speed: 12.22mi/h.
http://mapmyride.com/workout/1463746063
The route shows several diversions, they were to collect water. Today was hot, the speedo read 28°C and the Jake has only one water bottle mount. At least those canals have lots of places to stop and re-fill.
The ground is hard with all that mud dried out. It’s actually quite jarring on hands.
It’s certainly time to fit the summer gravel tyres. They should be faster, soother and probably more hard wearing.
I rode cyclocross with MapMyRide+! Distance: 16.10mi, time: 01:33:52, pace: 5:50min/mi, speed: 10.29mi/h.
http://mapmyride.com/workout/1429852881
New tyres: I’ve not ridden the ‘cross bike as much this year. More, recently, a cluster of difficult to fix punctures, and slippery conditions put me off more.
Today, I rode the Jake with new Schwalbe Rocket Rons. Suddenly, it was obvious, the Challenge Grifos were worn out.
What a difference, I have grip back even in deep slimey mud. There are some stretches of this favourite route that have quite deep mud. Next to a canal, you don’t want to loose control. Besides, that water is cold and would ruin my phone.
Rocket Ron 33c.
I shall definitely buy these again. The grip is excellent and with a lighter inner-tube, handling is much improved. I could power through the deeper mud and keep feet dry. Only once did I have to put a don’t down. In the past, I have got off and run alongside the deepest mud.
I rode The Jake CX with MapMyRide+! Distance: 10.39mi, time: 01:46:36, pace: 10:16min/mi, speed: 5.85mi/h.
http://mapmyride.com/workout/1371496079
Cold and deep mud, only once did I stop to run around the mud patches. The others, I powered though. Not once did I grind to a halt, nor fall off. Result!
Then a puncture.
The pump let me down, it barely offered any pressure so that after vigorous pumping, the tyre had lower pressure than before.
I will take it apart to see whether it is too dirty to keep pressure. Maybe, it’s just crap.
By now, the pressure is so low that I couldn’t ride, that meant a 4 mile walk home.
Good job that I like walking.
Micycle 