15°C, sunny with a brisk SW.
Sunday: pulled the bike out and found the front tyre flat. I decided to swap to the gravel wheels and take in some non-road routes. Though the distance is no big deal, the time reveals a decent day out.
Tuesday: fixed the puncture and put the road wheels back in. The fault was a punch puncture. I did find fitting the tyres rather difficult.
Damp but some sun. Light SW wind, 11°C.
November is normally the wettest month here, this year is no different. There is lots of surface water around and nowhere for it to drain in this flat landscape. I rode the Mustang with its Marathon tyres. Before setting off, I bloew the pressures up and that makes more difference to handling than with any other tyre. The last ride felt like the brakes were on. I have mixed feelings about those tyres.
11°C, drizzle, almost still.
15st 10lb, what a shock the scales were recently! I need to cut the sugary snacking.
12°C, light breeze, dry but dull
It’s easy to forget how much fun this bike is, especially when not ridden for 6 months I’ve put the winter wheels back on with at 17t cog. The rims are showing signs of wear but remember – next new year is the bike’s 10th anniversary.
I’ll pack away the Zing for the winter with do tube covers etcetera. The Paddy has been off the road since putting a new chain on which was too narrow for the cog. The orange wheels cog works fine. The mistake must be mine, so in future, I’ll stick with wide chains
20°C, sunny and dry. Light SW
I’m working over the weekend so need to clock up some miles during weekdays.
16°C, moderate W breeze, dry and sunny
A familiar route including Bannister Hill.
16°C, light S, dull, rain later,
The bridge at Solom is done now. It’s a small stone bridge not the big girder bridge that leaves your ears ringing with the noisy slats on top.
Arrow, 20°C, sunny with brisk S.
England is a filthy country, there is rubbish dumped in a field.
18°C, light SW. some rain.
These 50 mile rides are definitely getting easier. I painted all morning while the rain poured.
This time, I took the hills from Ecclestone and descended Bannister just touching 40mph. There was no cafe stop but I did stock up on calories at a garage. Today, I rode the 900th mile on this bike, there is no sign of wear in the chain. Also, after checking the age of the wheels – 2014, 6 years! No sign of wear there either; not the bearings nor the brake surfaces.
A grand day out! Firstly, headed north along the farmland by the R Ribble. For miles and miles it was under a few inches of water. This low lying, flat land is only 6m above sea level, he water can’t drain anywhere. So far, it has stood there for two days. Humidity is very high and afternoons are punctuated by thunderstorms.
Further towards Penworthan, I checked out the Ribble Way, a potential gravel route. Then to Stoney lane near Parbold and a fast descent of Bannister Land. I touched 43mph. Next a coffee stop. The bit on the map in Formby was a second cafe stop where I met the other half. By the time I got home was almost 70 miles in all.
Micycle 