Arctic Blast.

Posted on 24th Feb 2018 by essiep

+1 to +5°C, sharp ESE wind. Dry with bright blue sky.

I rode Mustang with MapMyRide+! Distance: 80.44km, time: 03:53:29, pace: 2:54min/km, speed: 20.67km/h.
http://mapmyride.com/workout/2729584762

In today’s Daily Mirror, the subheadline is ‘Temperatures colder than the Arctic’. What a stupid, blatant lie. They’ve printed that one before. It’s only a few degrees below in the UK.

I didn’t expect the photo to come out so badly. The lens must have steamed up. This is taken at CafeVelo which is by two small lakes. A very nice cyclist cafe, a good replacement for The Beehive by Rosliston.

By the time I got there, about 10, most of the ice had gone but the wind picked up. My feet and fingertips were cold. Actually, it felt as though there were pebbles inside my shoes. A cafe stop was essential to warm up.

The next leg, I could enjoy a tailwind and enjoy the scenery. The light is wonderful today and the roads, quiet.

Anyway, I set off for an early one. What spectacular weather, the light was sharp which cart deep incised shadows. All was tinged with blue from the cloudless sky.

Angry in an Audi.

Posted on 6th Feb 2018 by essiep

After snow, 2°C, clear with moderate N breeze.

I rode Mustang with MapMyRide+! Distance: 32.50km, time: 01:37:00, pace: 2:59min/km, speed: 20.10km/h.
http://mapmyride.com/workout/2698143748

A short outing after the snow finished. None of it stuck anyway. The first mile goes north along an escarpment but narrows before the 40m descent. At that point, I had 4 cars behind so I pulled into a driveway to let them through. Oddly, the fourth car didn’t pass, it stopped. I waved him through. The other cars had stopped in front too. Then when it cleared, the Audi moved forward with a widow lowered. He shouted at me, “if you used your eyes, you’d see that car instead of blocking the road”

‘Blocking the road‘? I was in a driveway to let traffic through!

‘Using (my) eyes’? I saw the 4 cars, and saw the open driveway. What I didn’t see was the car coming up the hill because 3 cars were blocking the view.

I’m sorry, Audi driver that you’re having a bad day, but you have no right to take it out on me.

There I was, trying to be cooperative and considerate. Should I have continued with 4 cars behind me on that single track road since I had every legal right to?

At test this kind of thing doesn’t happen very often, perhaps once every three years.

Long Winter Sun.

Posted on 5th Feb 2018 by essiep

2C, light NE breeze and clear sky. Dry.

I rode the Paddy Wagon with MapMyRide+! Distance: 71.84km, time: 03:11:01, pace: 2:40min/km, speed: 22.57km/h.
http://mapmyride.com/workout/2694835531

A day of colour. Bright sun cast long shadows, especially towards 5pm, sunset. A copper orange glow illuminated the cloud’s undersides revealing textures and contours that are never otherwise visible. These are photogenic conditions and indeed, I took more shots than usual. An exquisite day, the peaks in Cumbria were visible, and they were capped with snow.

First Fixed Gear Outing.

Posted on 30th Jan 2018 by essiep

Cold but nice in the sun. 5°C, moderate SW wind and sunny.

I rode Paddy Wagon with MapMyRide+! Distance: 45.75km, time: 02:17:58, pace: 3:01min/km, speed: 19.90km/h.
http://mapmyride.com/workout/2685796417

At last, the wind has dropped enough to ride the single speed bike. I found enough strength in my legs to set a decent pace on some stretches. That was fun.

Sunday blast

Posted on 28th Jan 2018 by essiep

11°C strong SW, dry and grey.

I rode Mustang with MapMyRide+! Distance: 83.52km, time: 04:05:28, pace: 2:56min/km, speed: 20.41km/h.
http://mapmyride.com/workout/2682240400

Rode without a great deal of energy in my legs. I tapped out the miles though. The route was chosen to allow a return leg with some shelter from hedgerows. Hedges are good at diffusing an annoying wind.

Muddy Mess Of a Ride.

Posted on 25th Jan 2018 by essiep

Bright winter sun 6°C, brisk S.

I rode The Jake with MapMyRide+! Distance: 26.48km, time: 01:51:48, pace: 4:13min/km, speed: 14.21km/h.
http://mapmyride.com/workout/2676806983

A fine muddy, squelchy start along the canal into early low sun. At 6 or 7 miles, the squelching turned to a soggy back wheel. A puncture.

Since its a Slime inner-tube, I tried pumping it up in the hope it would seal itself. It soon went flat again and left me in the open with a heavy shower threatening. I decided to run for a while. At the next bridge, under shelter, I had a go at changing the tube. The new tube went flat in only 100m. No choice but to put the slime tube back in. That didn’t hold much pressure either. So onto the next bridge. Much further this time, well over a mile of running.

There are deeper puddles to wash wheel and hands. Then, a minibus from an autism charity pulled up. It had a trailer of bikes in tow. The driver lent me a track pump which is so much easier than a stupid little frame pump.

I got a good 2 miles on that 60psi. When it ran flat, I ran again. The last few miles was repeated re-inflations. Along the way was police looking for an abandoned railway’station and a friendly cyclist who offered a tube.

I arrived home, arms shaking from all that pumping (stop sniggering at the back).

Now the bike is in the garage cleaned and gears tuned, the tyre has decided to hold pressure now, how about doing that on the trail?. I don’t trust it though.

Georgina (gale)

Posted on 24th Jan 2018 by essiep

7°C, strong W, clear and sunny.

I rode Mustang with MapMyRide+! Distance: 37.64km, time: 01:41:54, pace: 2:42min/km, speed: 22.16km/h.
http://mapmyride.com/workout/2675561395

Derelict house near Formby Golf Course. The sun made a spectacular exit over the sea tonight (night still happens in the afternoon but it’s getting much better). There is no spring colour yet, hedges are still very grey.

The ride was a blast.

Galanthus season.

Posted on 23rd Jan 2018 by essiep

11°C moderate SW wind, dry with some sun.

I rode The Jake with MapMyRide+! Distance: 30.02km, time: 01:32:11, pace: 3:04min/km, speed: 19.54km/h.
http://mapmyride.com/workout/2673510304

Snowdrops are budding but not out yet. It’s not an early sign of spring, but is the sign winter’s end is approaching.

Pushed along by a tailwind, I did get a personal best for the run along Cheshire Lines cycle track.

Presumably, that’s only the leaderboard for this January.

Mist over the mashes.

Posted on 20th Jan 2018 by essiep

2°C, end of rain, no wind and mist forming.

I rode Mustang with MapMyRide+! Distance: 46.03km, time: 02:08:55, pace: 2:48min/km, speed: 21.42km/h.
http://mapmyride.com/workout/2668104400

One of those rides that were ‘needed‘. I set off in rain though it slowly lifted and even the sun got a look in. Charge on my phone was low so I dare not take any photos. Doing so could have killed off the battery and the gpx track would be lost. This afternoon was a very photogenic dusk.

Cross in the gale.

Posted on 17th Jan 2018 by essiep

5°C, strong W, dry with some sun.
I rode The Jake with MapMyRide+! Distance: 31.03km, time: 01:53:45, pace: 3:40min/km, speed: 16.37km/h.

http://mapmyride.com/workout/2663183518

Very squelchy mud on the towpath today. These winter tyres coped well so I was glad I’d changed them.
The photo shows a reflection in one of the numerous puddles. As an image, it hasn’t worked too well so I’ll try again sometime soon.

Micycle

Mike thinks b/hikes

Category Archives: Cycling