Cross the chase, December.

Posted on 8th Dec 2018 by essiep

11°C, sun and cold wind. Rain to finish.

https://www.mapmyride.com/workout/3280048873

Besides that, here’s an anecedote. The bike got quite muddy on this outing so normally I’d hose it down. Today, I have no access to a hose. Instead, I used a watering can and.poured it from height. Soon it stopped with a blockage. In the nozzle was a little face poking out.

The can was stored near the bins along with another one so I swapped them. The face was a field mouse that must have drowned. A sad and sorry end. Worse though, the other watering can also had a mouse’s corpse. I think we should store the cans inverted I told mum.

Towpath in darkness

Posted on 8th Dec 2018 by essiep

8°C, clear sky with brisk W wind and cold.

https://www.mapmyride.com/workout/3279276373

Here’s a first, an off-road ride in the dark . The hard contrast from the light make ruts and pits easy to spot. Last night’s rain made the surface quite squelchy, that back wheel didn’t always follow the front. I did not fall.

It’s been a fun day. First thing, I visited a geology muse in Birmingham, The Lapworth Museum. This fossil as a cast, you can see that in close-up. Bits of white plaster show between the grey. I think the grey is graphite powder that was rubbed in.

Anyway, Lapworth us a well laid out museum with plenty of interesting exhibits. I highly recommend it. There is a rock wall made of samples and a key. I played the game of guessing and then looked up each type to make a score. I got about 1/3 correct. Clearly, I need to read up on peridotite.

Dank Sunday gravel

Posted on 2nd Dec 2018 by essiep

11°C, some rain early, brighter later on, brisk SW.

https://www.mapmyride.com/workout/3272450158

A sluggish ride but that doesn’t matter, it’s December. The fitness miles don’t start until January. Winter miles lead to summer smiles, as they say without cringing.

Atlantic storms by bike

Posted on 1st Dec 2018 by essiep

8°C, short sharp showersh.

https://www.mapmyride.com/workout/3270371716

Battered in blustery showers. Apart from some dramatic skies, there were no great events to report. The Arrow bike has a new lease of life currently. I’ve taken the rack off and it handles very nicely. It’s the best bike for these winter road rides.

Heavy wind and strong rain

Posted on 28th Nov 2018 by essiep

5°C, stormy return in headwind.

https://www.mapmyride.com/workout/3266109343

The idea was to ride to the beach machines and drop into the bank. Actually, that went to plan but the rain arrived early. Then the return was a slog into the wind and rain where speed dropped as low as 7mph. The route was flat too, a-hem. Both hands and feet were cold by the finish, more because of the wet despite extra layers.

That heron

Posted on 24th Nov 2018 by essiep

5°C, grey but calm.

https://www.mapmyride.com/workout/3261885259

A short outing, a circuit around Southport today. I’m really enjoying riding the Arrow. It’s happy on the muddy roads and the gears are close enough to get the right cadence.

This, I think, is probably the culprit. This bird’s regular visits explains why I have no more frogs in the pond. dammit.

Fixed shod with winter wheels

Posted on 19th Nov 2018 by essiep

7~9°C, clear with cold easterly. 0 cloud.

https://www.mapmyride.com/workout/3253994575

This ride felt like an uphill push the whole time. Partly caused by the easterly wind. Unlike the Midlands, I had no option to plan a route in some directions, the Irish sea prevents some route choices.

Note to self: fit new blocks on the front brakes.

It’s over.

Posted on 17th Nov 2018 by essiep

8°C, light cold easterly. Sunny.

Mapmyride let me down today, but it’s about 9 miles on the Arrow. Things went wrong when I rode into town to visit the record shops. The app has not been right since it was reinstalled.

I bought this bike in 1993 when I lived in Bristol. At the time, there were 2 good second-hand record shops. Each week, I’d ride to Clifton triangle to browse and buy. Notice the nostalgia.

Cross Ribble Nat Trust

Posted on 16th Nov 2018 by essiep

11°C, grey but dry and calm.

Rode the Jake along the Ribble estuary. The ground was softer than last time but some sections were too broken up to ride

https://www.mapmyride.com/workout/3251440075

This was a recovery ride after a persistent cold. It’s not fully cleared and nearing the end of its third week. I despair at the longevity of this one. Despair? I’m downright annoyed about it.

Gravel miles

Posted on 4th Nov 2018 by essiep

14°C, white cloud and a S breeze

https://www.mapmyride.com/workout/3233791615

While not entirely recovered, I managed to tap out 84km the feeling of emptiness is a result, I’d say, of an inadequate meal last night. It’s a particular feeling and I know my meal yesterday was low on carbs.

Micycle

Mike thinks b/hikes

Category Archives: Travel