17°C, showers imminent.
I rode Paddy Wagon with MapMyRide+! Distance: 44.54km, time: 01:39:07, pace: 2:14min/km, speed: 26.96km/h.
http://mapmyride.com/workout/3100448860
In this field of cabbages stands one solitary, proud sunflower.
16°C, gloomy drizzle and blustery SW
I rode Kona Jake with MapMyRide+! Distance: 31.86km, time: 01:32:04, pace: 2:53min/km, speed: 20.76km/h.
http://mapmyride.com/workout/3087552775
Once I got off the track, it was obvious that the tyres were too soft. Topping up the pressure should be easy, right? The first two attempts left me with a flat tyre. Unscrewing the pump head also unscrewed and removed the valve. Annoying. Eventually, I got it in and it held some pressure, but no more than 20psi.
Its horrible riding with only 20psi, the rear wheel squelches and skids from side to side. It doesn’t feel safe at all.
Tried blnowing up a road bike tyre with the pump and it worked just fine. That probably means the problem all along was the valve is too short on this rim.
17°C, 3/5 sun brisk SSW dry.
I rode Racelite with MapMyRide+! Distance: 52.54km, time: 02:11:13, pace: 2:30min/km, speed: 24.02km/h.
http://mapmyride.com/workout/3086065537
A normal ride on the summer bike and a familiar route. At the lights in Tartleton, a puddle of yellow liquid. It didn’t smell but was viciously slippery after getting it on the tyres. What was it, it didn’t smell of diesel so maybe a vegetable oil?
I phoned the police about it, that liquid was dangerous if you are on two wheels.
17°C, drizzle and onshore breeze.
I rode Paddy Wagon with MapMyRide+! Distance: 44.31km, time: 01:50:20, pace: 2:29min/km, speed: 24.10km/h.
http://mapmyride.com/workout/3078674872
Same route as last time but with claggy weather. The biggest difference was my energy, I was quite enfeebled. The machines felt heavier and I couldn’t do so many repetitions.
This next photo is puzzling, it looks like the grim reaper out on the mud flats.
I rode Jake with MapMyRide+! Distance: 6.29km, time: 25:40, pace: 4:05min/km, speed: 14.71km/h.
http://mapmyride.com/workout/3079817260
A quick evening ride to watch the sun go down. The sand flats go out miles into a big sky.
That was satisfying.
20°C grey start, humid and warm.
I rode a Trek fat bike with MapMyRide+! Distance: 34.76km, time: 02:16:58, pace: 3:56min/km, speed: 15.23km/h.
http://mapmyride.com/workout/3037169839
The idea of tbe ride on this bike was to look for a shipwreck on Ainsdale beach. I saw it from tbe dunes last winter. As I rode, my eyes scanned the sandbanks, but nothing. Either the sands have moved or we need a neap tide to reveal it.
Nevermind my boy, it was still a good ride. Despite the front suspension, my wrists were sore. My riding losition was too upright with too much weight on my hands. On the road, the handling was odd, mainly because of the heavy tyres. Those tyres caused another effect, strange forces pushed tbrough the bars at higher speeds. Probably a gyroscope effect with those heavy flywheels spinning. Most noticeable on corners or road camber, most odd. This bike has SRAM hydralic disc brakes and they’re amazing, perhaps a little sharp, but very stong on descents.
By lunchtime, I’d reached home and wasshed the salt off with a hosepipe. To return, I took the canal. This was interesting because of the comparison with the same familiar journey on the cross bike. Although the huge tyres cushioed over bumps and troughs, the precision tracking on a cyclo-cross bike is preferable in my view.
If I were to buy a fat bike, I might skip the front suspension as unnecessary. More likely, I wouldn’t buy one at all, it’s cheaper in practice to rent one from Leisurelakes; this only cost £15 for the day. How many days would I need to rent before it’s better to buy? No longer in the market to buy, I may rent one again, but frankly, I’m in no hurry.
21°C, 0 cloud but light W breeze.
I rode fixed with MapMyRide+! Distance: 51.55km, time: 01:58:38, pace: 2:18min/km, speed: 26.07km/h.
http://mapmyride.com/workout/3027257854
Back at home, the garden held some pleasant surprises for me, water lilys are in flower and some others that I don’t know names of.
This is the second ride of the day. Today is the first day of my 6 week summer holiday so some celebration is due. The first one was all about collecting my car but included a visit to the Beach Machines.
Back on two wheels I went over to Leisure Lakes, the bike shop there hires bikes so I had a query that has lurked in the back of my mind for a few years. Fat bikes are a kind of simplified mountain bike with enormous tractor tyres. Now, I live by the coast with long beaches that stretch out to a distant sea. There is a perfect land to ride out and explore on big balloon tyres. For £15 I can have one for a whole day. It’s booked for tuesday.
19°C, 0 cloud, no wind either.
I rode fixed with MapMyRide+! Distance: 53.45km, time: 02:03:18, pace: 2:18min/km, speed: 26.01km/h.
http://mapmyride.com/workout/3015838321
As routine, rode out to the seafront machines and I wasn’t the only one there. A guy with a pot and bright yellow shorts was swinging his arms. It’s something people do who are new to exercise. It pot was big.
He mouthed something of a greeting to me as I parked the bike. He can’t talk. Then, he pointed to himself and drew 58 in the sand. Then, turned to me so I drew 53. He looked of up and down approvingly. Strange enough?
Then I rode out towards my house. Somebody was sleeping in the sand. They looked as if they’d been there all night. Seaside towns attract all sorts of people from the fringes of society.
After I came out of my house, some smartly dressed people let themselves through my gate. They asked me some uncomfortable questions about my bike ride, ‘was there an event?’. They handed over a leaflet and invited me to some hall. Creepy. Religious people are sooo creepy.
At least I’ve watered the plants and collected my parcels.
18°C, deep blue and still.
I rode Fixed with MapMyRide+! Distance: 40.97km, time: 01:35:55, pace: 2:20min/km, speed: 25.63km/h.
http://mapmyride.com/workout/2998463041
What a fun ride. The lighter wheels make for a more racey feel, the higher gear is not felt.
As before, I used the seafront machines but one is broken. I hope it gets repaired. The beach is all set up for the Southport airshow. Such a shame that I’ll miss it.
28°C, hot dry and still. Thin brown smoke split the cloudless sky.
I rode from work with MapMyRide+! Distance: 31.90km, time: 01:27:11, pace: 2:44min/km, speed: 21.95km/h.
http://mapmyride.com/workout/2983492537
This photo is from the roadside on the ride home. Yesterday was worse, the entire sky was filled with a hazy bluish smoke that had a distinctive woody smell. It’s good in a way that I didn’t ride, it can’t be good for your lungs. By evening, the smoke spread over all of Lancashire as it dispersed and drifted towards the sea. Once the sun was down, onshore breezes cleared the air near the coast once more.
Today started refreshingly clear, deep blue sky and clean air. The fire in the photo may have started during daylight. Perhaps a lensed bottle, a cigarette or a throwaway BBQ tray. The river of brown smoke split the sky into evening and seemed to float higher than yesterday. the smell was very faint.
23°C, light NW, milky sunshine, still dry.
I rode Racelite with MapMyRide+! Distance: 65.81km, time: 02:46:14, pace: 2:32min/km, speed: 23.75km/h.
http://mapmyride.com/workout/2943936343
This driveway looked quite desolate last time I passed, that was just afternthe trees were coppiced. Now, in recovery, they’re looking better.
Anyway, the ride was in very nice conditions so the pace good. Stopped at Velo Cafe at Twin Lakes, possibly the best cycle cafe around here. The next part of the route inadvertently turned into a lolipop route. Home too early, or start too late more likely.
Micycle 