Mud and sand.

Posted on 25th Jan 2015 by essiep

Rode kona CX with MapMyRide+! Distance: 42.30mi, time: 03:31:38, pace: 5:00min/mi, speed: 11.99mi/h.
http://mapmyride.com/workout/854663071
Slow average speed, but hey, it’s off-road. I took a canal towpath to to the Sefton Cross pennine route. It’s a disused railway line which runs up to Southport. Perfect terrain to try out my new cyclocross bike.

Then on along Southport sea front to the north. At the end of the sea walk is a short track that usefully cuts out a busy roundabout. But I witnessed an unfortunate scene. A hawk, disturbed and took flight along a ditch, in its claws it carried the still live body of a songbird.
After passing the familiar landmark Martin Mere, I made my way back along the same canal towards the start. The bridge I left the water looked like the first one but led to a public footpath. I hope I was legal riding on that route between fields.
Negotiating paths like that demand non-stop concentration, especially the bit past The Saracen’s Head. I really didn’t want to fall in the canal in front of that audience. Next time, make sure your phone is in a waterproof bag.

The whole route was within the bounds of familiar routes, but it felt like I was travelling on new territory. Often, I could not be sure where I was, which canal bridge was coming up or how far remains.

N+1, Kona Jake,

Posted on 24th Jan 2015 by essiep

7°C, sunny, light SW breeze.
Finally it’s mine, I bought the Kona Jake today.

It features disc brakes, chunky 32c tyres and 10 speed cassette on the back. I took it on a test in the middle of the city and immediately, the size felt right.
Looking at components, I will have to buy some new tools. The shifters are the same as that bike I hired last summer.

Tomorrow, I will ride it in more realistic terrain than the streets of Liverpool-1 this afternoon.

Ice, rain and a puncture.

Posted on 18th Jan 2015 by essiep

I rode 8-speed with MapMyRide+! Distance: 38.5mi, time: 02:47:50, pace: 4:2min/mi, speed: 13.8mi/h.
http://mapmyride.com/workout/846930091
It started well. The ice was insignificant and the sun-bright.
In the last 10 miles, clouds built up and the temperature dropped. I didn’t mind the 6 or so miles in rain until a flat on the rear wheel. The rims were covered in black slimy muck and my hands were soon cold. Cold rubber is stiff making the tyre a bitch to get off. By then, my hands were too cold to undo that little nut on the valve.
I must have got something right though. I could not get the pressure high, but it held while I rode the last miles.

Now for some soup, a good way to warm up.

Insurance?

Posted on 10th Jan 2015 by essiep

7°C, gale force winds, sunny.
What shall I do about insurance? The cycle-to-work scheme requires insurance on the bike which is an issue that’s problematic. My other bikes are not insured because the costs outweigh the possible benefits. Insurance premiums quoted so far, appear to assume the bike will be stolen within three years. I have three bikes, and owned at least one for the last 35 years. I have yet to get one stolen. So my assessment of risk suggests the premium should be less than £30 a year. Otherwise, it’s cheaper to put the money into a savings account.

Here is an edited publicity shot of the yellow version. I will learn to like that colour.

♧

Progress, Jake.

Posted on 8th Jan 2015 by essiep

I rode 8-speed with MapMyRide+! Distance: 23.84mi, time: 01:36:06, pace: 4:02min/mi, speed: 14.88mi/h. http://mapmyride.com/workout/837206651 Windy ride home with some decent split times. Some due to the brisk wind, some due to my feeling upbeat about my new bike. Evans rang me today to say their supplier has my Kona in stock. It’s on order and I set the Cycle-to-work scheme in motion. I could have it by the end of January. The only drawback is, they can’t get it in blue. They are sending the yellow version. ¿♡?

The photo is only a shop. Looks more like a scene from a ufo film. Strange, the things you see while you are out in the night.

One puncture for me..

Posted on 6th Jan 2015 by essiep

5°C, moderate W, dry and clear.
Commute 18 miles.
Ordinary ride home marred by a puncture. A forced stop in the dark is never welcome but fortune smiled. There was a pub nearby with blazing bright carpark lights. So I carefully fixed it, really don’t want it to go down in some inky black lane.
After another 5 miles, there was another guy fixing his puncture, so I stopped for a chat. Nice bloke.
No sign of comet Q2 near Orion, a veil of cloud in just the wrong place.

Expensive whisky in the supermarket. Decimal places are important Co-op.

After the rain.

Posted on 3rd Jan 2015 by essiep

Cold with big puddles everywhere. 4°C, light N.
Rode 8-speed, MapMyRide+! Distance: 34.4mi, time: 02:25:54, pace: 4:14min/mi, speed: 14.2mi/h.
http://mapmyride.com/workout/831949269
Rain all day seemed endless. But end it did. 2.30pm the sun broke through so off I went.

Came home in the dark which descended later than at solstice.
It may be too icy to ride tomorrow, so this is am insurance ride.

First 25.

Posted on 1st Jan 2015 by essiep

strong wind SSW, showers but mild: 12°C.

I rode fixed with MapMyRide+! Distance: 24.8mi, time: 01:43:50, pace: 4:11min/mi, speed: 14.32mi/h.
http://mapmyride.com/workout/830046503
Strong winds make careful route planning more important. On a single-speed bike the best approach is to include long cross-wind sections. On New year’s Day traffic is light, on a wet day, there are few boy-racers so this was a good outing.

Birkdale Cemetery, a magnet for Dr Who fans. I had to take these pictures without blinking, honestly!

Cold ride on wet roads.

Posted on 26th Dec 2014 by essiep

5°C, light SSW breeze, wet roads but no rain.
I rode fixed with MapMyRide+! Distance: 38.9mi, time: 02:36:23, pace: 4:01min/mi, speed: 14.9mi/h.
http://mapmyride.com/workout/825424237
Slow, cold but steady side. Even in the 17t, the moderate pace felt like an effort.

Building heavy clouds with icy tops. They look so solid, but the feathery tops are somewhat ominous. Light snow came later in the evening.

Winter in Leicestershire.

Posted on 14th Dec 2014 by essiep

6°C, SW brisk, one sunny bit.
I rode the Arrow with MapMyRide+! Distance: 53.13mi, time: 03:50:29, pace: 4:20min/mi, speed: 13.8mi/h.
http://mapmyride.com/workout/817772727
Typical winter’s side. Cold, blustery and dull. So were my legs but at least the bike was comfortable and click free. That average speed is low! The ride out was much quicker, I managed to overtake a mixed club all dressed in Santa costumes. Okay, with the assistance of a crossing tailwind. The return leg really was slow though.

The Water Park was very quiet, but at least there was some food. Alas, no soup.

Micycle

Mike thinks b/hikes

Category Archives: Cycling