12°C, moderate SW, dry later and warmer.
I started out with all these plans to do a loop approaching Preston but the drizzle turned to proper rain so I dove into my favourite café. The afternoon was far better and more mild at 12C.
The Mustang has Schwalbe CX 30c tyres which are actually rather good for January. I was too lazy to repair the puncture on the Marathon+ tyre.
8°C, sunny with light SE.
I’m still struggling with the bursitis (Achilles). The ankle stiffens up and can feel quite sharp. After a short break, it does loosen up. I have to concentrate on an even pressure on each leg.
9°C, light breeze with drizzle and bouts of heavier rain.
Passed this large glasshouse in Banks. Look at the strange neon magenta glow.
End of year: later I’ll add the annual milage to the end of this page.
Annual Summary: below
Arrow, 9°C, brisk Southerly, dry until the last few miles.
Rode out to a park that’s new to me in Birkdale.
There are a reasonable variety of machines in a useful place. The one pictured (right) has a much lighter leverage than others in Sefton. And the pull-down machine is absent. 3 Stars ⭐⭐⭐ Would use again, recommended.
16°C, strong wind.
Rode the Arrow because it’s too windy to use the single speed bike. The route worked well: head out downwind and come back along a route sheltered by more hedges.
Mustang: grey damp and no wind
Pushed back the ride to get some maintenance done. The Zing has a new chain that I failed to fit. Shimano chains have a single-use pin to close the chain. I broke it. The Jake also has a new KMC chain which was easy to fit but there’s a problem. The cassette is worn out on about 4 cogs. It’s the original on a 2015 bike, so that’s a decent life. The jockey wheels were almost toothless. Changed them too.
Great, an hour’s work and now 2 bikes are unrideable. At least I got a run this morning.
Rides from New Year to last day of March 2022
Normally I guage the start of the year aiming to get 1,000 miles done by Easter. Since Easter is the movable feast, I’m taking the last day of march this year. Easter has a range of a month, and it can be any sunday between March 22 to April 25. That puts the median easter at 11th April, but that seems like an awkward date to use.
The total for this time period is 1,687km, = 1,041 miles. Just inside!
Monthly total, (added retrospectively).
8°C, cloudless blue sky, light Northerly.
Mawdsley pumping station.
50 miles in the sun. Okay, it wasn’t that warm but I had a new base layer to test. It feels like merino wool but isn’t. After 3 hours it was still not clammy and remained warm. Excellent for £22.
8°C, stiff W breeze. Dry and sunny.
After the weather we’ve had! 3 named storms last week and some bouts of heavy showered including hail. My average milage has really suffered.
The original idea was to go out on the cross bike. Infuriatingly, it has a flat tyre. It didn’t respond to reinflation so I left it for today and headed out on the heavy Mustang.
13°C, moderate SW, dry and sunny (again).
Micycle 