Category Archives: Cycling

82 out of 100.

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17°C, no wind, grey sky to start and light rain after lunch.
I rode Racelite with MapMyRide+! Distance: 82.56mi, time: 05:38:45, pace: 4:06min/mi, speed: 14.62mi/h.
http://mapmyride.com/workout/1144905001
I wanted 100 but had to settle  with 82 miles today. Afternoon rain and tiredness counted against my effort. However, the bike was comfortable and it was warm enough to tolerate the drizzle without a waterproof.
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The roads were remarkably quiet for a bank holiday weekend.
There are two things I like about this time of year: berries and mushrooms. This one was over 15cm in diameter. Magnificent.
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To do: change the gear cable.

Suitcase.

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34°C, very hot, wind has dropped. No cloud.
Your immune system is like airport security. If they find the slightest irregularity in your baggage, then they empty out your suitcase without a second’s thought.
That’s how my night has been. Maybe it was something I ate, or more likely – drank. I did stop by a roadside hut for fruit on the bike. The peaches were lovely, blood red and all juice. But what if the guy who served me hadn’t washed his hands?
In this heat, every drink stop is vital. At Montmaggiore, there is a standpipe by the main church. But, was it clean? I had to drink, no choice.

Corsica ride 2.

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I rode BTwin with MapMyRide+! Distance: 31.74mi, time: 02:44:56, pace: 5:12min/mi, speed: 11.55mi/h.
http://mapmyride.com/workout/1092923395
100times better.: enough breakfast, water and before the full heat of the day. Also, with a little fiddling with the gear adjuster screws, the bike offered all gear ratios. No need to feel the shame from getting off and walking the steepest hills. The lowest ratio is 32x 28, just right for this mountainous island.

BTwin in Corsica:1

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I rode BTwin with MapMyRide+! Distance: 22.68mi, time: 02:05:10, pace: 5:31min/mi, speed: 10.87mi/h.
http://mapmyride.com/workout/1091448741
Tough ride, tougher than it should have been, even considering the steep hills and tremendous heat.
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Oh, and the very strong wind.
I felt terrible, maybe because I had too little breakfast. Also, this bike only has one bottle cage, so dehydration was a serious problem. In a few hours ride, I drank four bottles of water.
The return route was over familiar ground, but surfaces were rough.
The funniest bit was the flock of sheep being herded across the road. They were funny looking things, skinny legs and a very narrow snout. One was limping badly.

Caught in kite tails

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22°C with a brisk SW. I’m bright sunshine.
I rode Racelite-8 with MapMyRide+! Distance: 58.20mi, time: 03:52:32, pace: 4:00min/mi, speed: 15.02mi/h.
http://mapmyride.com/workout/1069477853

Sunday Ride to Bosworth Water Park. As I coasted in, a guy with kids held into their kite. The tails were long enough to get caught in my rear cassette. No tempers were frayed however. I tore the tail off because is was thick with oil and didn’t want any to get on the kids’ clothes.
I probably say this every year, but this bike is so comfortable on long rides, and reasonably quick too.

Saturday favourite CX.

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I rode The Jake with MapMyRide+! Distance: 14.5mi, time: 01:17:05, pace: 5:20min/mi, speed: 11.25mi/h.
http://mapmyride.com/workout/1067492975
Canal loop; same as previously but found little energy in my legs. The slightly later start meant more people were about. Some green snot on the rear tyre indicate a few punctures recently, as I suspected.
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power socket is now re-located and set flush to the wall. That was surprisingly easy. Now it needs finishing and cleaning up. The plaster is terrible in this house. Beneath the skim coat is very crumbly dusty original rendering. These houses were built to good standards but there was a skills shortage after the war.

Cross is difficult, but not hard.

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I rode The Jake with MapMyRide+! Distance: 43.42mi, time: 04:14:44, pace: 5:52min/mi, speed: 10.23mi/h.
http://mapmyride.com/workout/1049041503
finally decided to take my cyclocross bike up Cannock Chase. Winding my way through Chorley and the not to gentle Gentleshaw, then the getting lost started. Down fire tracks, bridleways and some roads. After losing the signs, I found a footpath with fat bike tracks fresh. In ‘cross style, I jumped off and ran the bike. It was the rounded pebble layered tracks that were the most daunting, especially where steep.
This bike has a lower gear than I’m used to, 36×30. All the weight was on the rea;, a few times, the front lifted even when leant over the bars. Out of the saddle, the rear tyre would spin. I need more skill.
Still, I got to the Visitor’s Centre without falling off. And coffee.
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My next waypoint was the canal at Great Hay. The route to the canal was less than ideal, an A road. There must be a better path.
From there, the towpath wound it’s way home all level.
The final leg along the towpath was flat, dry and all about vibration. By now, I was hungry and keen to get a meal.