Which bike today?

Posted on 4th May 2015 by essiep

16°C, mostly sunny with a light SW breeze.
Which bike today? What a good problem to have- fixed gear or cyclocross?
I rode fixed with MapMyRide+! Distance: 50.34mi, time: 03:09:48, pace: 3:46min/mi, speed: 15.91mi/h.
http://mapmyride.com/workout/970325615
‘Rode up Bannister Hill after riding up to Dalton. The big climb felt harder than last time, but this is the first time I have climbed up both.
Good ride at a decent pace.

Venus Fly Trap plant. I like these chaps, they could star in a good animation.

Cross thread.

Posted on 2nd May 2015 by essiep

11°C light rain under grey sky.
It should have been a simple job.
For a few weeks a cracking noise came from the Arrow’s bottom bracket. This has happened before when warm weather started. It’s as if the warmer, expanded metal gap loosened the lock-rings.
It should have taken an hour to fix it. It took over two.
The threads were stripped on the left side. That is a worrying sign of possible damage to the threads in the frame; a job for a frame builder.
Eventually, I got it out, cleaned the inside threads with a wire brush and got swarf in my finger.
It’s done now, but to play safe, I have a new bearing on order.

MapMyfail.

Posted on 1st May 2015 by essiep

11°C, light NW..slight snow.
MapMyRide failed yesterday. The app refused to communicate with the GPS sensor. Other GPS apps worked as expected, but not MapMyRide. Strange because there were no updates that could be a simple explanation. Other software updates?

Eventually, I decided to uninstall the app and replace it. However, using the app manager, I noticed the Clear Data button, so tried that.
After logging in again, success!

Hard soil, Cyclocross.

Posted on 26th Apr 2015 by essiep

I rode Cyclocross with MapMyRide+! Distance: 43.6mi, time: 03:38:57, pace: 5:01min/mi, speed: 11.96mi/h.
http://mapmyride.com/workout/958793413
Developed yesterday’s route, including that trail loop. It includes a steep, short descent with am immediate right turn. I nearly lost it on that curve since the surface is loose.
Later, went north to the nature reserve near Bank. There too, the soil was dry and cracked which hammered my arms and shoulders. See the photo.

Though the ride was only 44 miles, it felt more like 60. Look at the duration for a comparison.

Disused railways.

Posted on 25th Apr 2015 by essiep

10°C, brisk NW, grey sky and the rain has finished for now.

I rode Cyclocross with MapMyRide+! Distance: 19.3mi, time: 01:41:30, pace: 5:16min/mi, speed: 11.4mi/h.
http://mapmyride.com/workout/957677509

Took a familiar route on canals and disused railway tracks. For variety, there are side tracks that are rideable including this one in the photo. It’s a rail bridge that is closed off, rather crudely with tree trunks. You can see over if you climb up, but there is only farmland beyond.
This track looks like trail bikes have hewn a route in footpaths. They undulated so that it was almost possible to propel yourself along by pushing the bars up and down like a kid’s rocking horse.
Finding places like this is the great thing about cyclocross.

That ride makes the week’s total 189 miles. I don’t feel that tired either. That means my fitness is good.

0.8 miles: POP!

Posted on 9th Apr 2015 by essiep

17°C, milky sun and no wind.
Started out on the Jake with the commuting wheels fitted. They have Schwalbe Durano tyres for the fast but puncture resistance. Less than a mile out a sharp high pop rang out. Instantly the front tyre was flat as I made a right-turn on a busy A road.
Rather than fix it there, I walked back to get the other bike.
Here is the puncture:

Part of the tube is actually missing. Looks to me like the tube was pinched inside the rim and chose a bad moment to burst.

I rode fixed with MapMyRide+! Distance: 36.04mi, time: 02:15:09, pace: 3:45min/mi, speed: 16.00mi/h.
http://mapmyride.com/workout/935796653
Plan B, grab the fixed bike, the Paddy Wagon and rode the same route. For only the second time this year I got up Bannister Hill. This time was on the higher 42×16 gear. No serious struggle today.
Those wheels are brilliant. So fast and nimble.
later: it turns out that the climb up Bannister Hill was my personal record 9′.08″.
Bask!

Drying mud.

Posted on 8th Apr 2015 by essiep

17°C, sun and negligible wind. Dry.

I rode CX with MapMyRide+! Distance: 18.4mi, time: 01:47:20, pace: 5:51min/mi, speed: 10.3mi/h.
http://mapmyride.com/workout/931767171
Better weather brings dry air and warm sun. Each day sees the ground becoming dryer and firmer.
I alternated rides this week on the CX and fixed bikes. Each is getting faster.
Today, the canals were less busy, only a few lonely anglers and couples walking dogs. Between them, I built up the speed reaching 17mph along some towpaths. It still requires considerable concentration, but there is less squelching around in black mud and nervously negotiating bridge cobbles.

The bike has thin mud at the back, but some of it smells of dog shit.

Meanwhile, the rest of the country basks in sunshine.

Posted on 6th Apr 2015 by essiep

I rode CX with MapMyRide+! Distance: 18.4mi, time: 01:47:20, pace: 5:51min/mi, speed: 10.3mi/h.
http://mapmyride.com/workout/931767171
Plod around some canal towpaths in figure-8 routes. On one bridge, a family stopped while dad fixed the lad’s puncture. That was his role for the day.
The mud is more viscous now and the thorns seemed to soften. Anyway, no punctures today either.

Canal 9.

Posted on 4th Apr 2015 by essiep

I rode CX with MapMyRide+! Distance: 9.05mi, time: 45:51, pace: 5:04min/mi, speed: 11.84mi/h.
http://mapmyride.com/workout/929583401
Very short ride along the canal in golden sunshine. A reminder of the coming season.
No punctures, but these wheels do feel a little heavy. It manifests as a weight when riding out of the saddle, or on cornering.

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