Rode the cyclo cross with MapMyRide+! Distance:26.01km, time: 01:34:01, pace: 3:3min/km, speed: 16.60km/h.
http://mapmyride.com/workout/1578538022
a pleasant and relaxing ride along a familiar route. Vegetation has bulked up, in places, I had to weave out of their way. Mud was there too, but thinner than last night’s rain would suggest.
Cool, sunny with a brisk wind from the south. It’s July, it should be warmer than this.
Still, it was a good ride.
I rode Fixed with MapMyRide+! Distance: 83.86km, time: 03:22:42, pace: 2:25min/km, speed: 24.82km/h.
http://mapmyride.com/workout/1564894565
When did that bolt drop out? The two either side were loose too. Perhaps it’s been a while. The loss of support worked them undone. I picked up a new set on the ride.
As for the ride itself- quick, smooth and free flowing. It’s marvelous when when it feels like this. The route was typical, included Dalton and Bannister Lane climes. There was wind too, but it didn’t cause much discomfort.
On the approach to Bannister Lane, a guy on a bike set up for time-trials lay ahead. Strangely, however, his low gears were very low. Nonetheless, he was easy to pass.
A good day out. Rain arrived in the last few miles, but so what? The afternoon was very wet and relentless.
these Schwalbe Durano tyres are impressive. The running surface seems tough enough to resist local roads and their thorns. Meanwhile, those side-walls are supple. A good combination that seems to run well.
Cyclocross Jake with MapMyRide+! Distance: 25.40km, time 1:23:17, pace: 3:17min/km, speed: 18.30km/h.
http://mapmyride.com/workout/1553902193
First trip mother route with the gravel tyres. They’re not as grippy in the muddy sections, but they’re fast on tarmac. I don’t mind, the slippy bits can only build my skills.
Next month is the last payment the Jake bike. Then it’s all mine.
Time for N+1?
20°C, sunny start but building clouds and light S breeze.
I rode Cyclocross with MapMyRide+! Distance: 74.35km, time: 03:30:43, pace: 2:50min/km, speed: 21.17km/h.
http://mapmyride.com/workout/1548544646
Main feature- weaving through the gravel lanes behind Southport. There are many signs forbidding access to private roads, but they are not marked as such on the map. So, I pressed on. This time, I carried a 1:25k map which is suffering from the damp now. Note to self, it needs replacing.
The bike ran smoothly and the gravel tyres remain a good choice for days like this.
At the time of writing, heavy rain has set in.
24 – 18°C, warm, humid sun building mist to rain.
Thursday, another big day with DofE; this time, bronze Practice, and a year younger. Twice as many kids, less experience but first run, no fails.
I spent the whole day on foot by myself. I can be more useful that way. Mostly in radio contact so I had no difficulty intercepting groups. I used the day to catch 5 groups at checkpoints, although I am normally allocated to 3.
We issue checkpoints to all groups along with grid references. The girls plot their own routes freely as long as they make the checkpoints. I took a side route to the first. 3 groups pass Panner’s Pool and I relocate to meet them at the next one North. The big issue now is water. Many are only carrying 1 litre bottles, (despite instruction).
Then a call comes in, a following group reports a broken leg!
Midges, everywhere.
24°C, light wind. Clear deep blue.
Duke of Edinburgh expedition, qualifying (retakes). Forty odd girls needed to re-take their expedition as a result of failing last year. Most had made a mess of navigation. All groups had most of the day to walk the 10km on low level rolling ground. Admittedly, there were tricky areas that need detailed navigation and other bits that simply need a longer steady trudge.
Most groups were at camp by about 8pm. Then a distress call came over the walkie-talkie radio at about 9pm. They were lost in woods that they had searched through for hours.
Chris and I decided to go find them and lead them back.
Up through the zig-zag path to the ridge we went. At the top, Chris went West, I went south-east. By now, the sun was down and we were desperate to get the girls off the hill.
The radio signal seemed clearer now, then a flash of inspiration; “girls, have you got a whistle?”. They had, so “give two quick blasts”
I heard it! I could pin-point the direction it came from. The Ridge was capped with Heather and grasses, below was dense woodland. They said they were on the edge of the trees so I told them to head uphill. My head-torch was set to red flashing. “Go uphill and aim for the red flashing light”.
“I can see you girls”, I called over the radio. Their whoop of delight was clearly audible without the radio. This was working. They were over 100m away but their torches were clear. “Careful and slow over the heather girls, there’s plenty of time”.
Heather can be horrible, depending on what they’re wearing.
Before light had completely gone, the first ones were on the ridge with me. By which time, Chris had arrived.
I headed down to help the last one who was struggling with her load.
One of them said, “never thought I would be so glad to see a teacher”. Big smiles with the relief. There they stood, with full packs but with shorts on this hot day. Their long, beautiful legs were criss-crossed with blood and scratches from the heather. Heather can be viscous, more when mixed with bramble.
They were happy to follow my plan- follow me down, I would lead and Chris takes the rear.
It must be after 10pm by now.
The return was fairly easy, just take the same route back. Once in the woods though, it was obvious how dark it had become. Those girls must have been quite frightened back there. Five young women, naive and inexperienced navigators had faced the possibility of a night on the hill.
I made sure lily walked behind me, but we should bunch together to pool the light. Only likely had a head-torch, the others carried hand torches that weren’t particularly bright.
To the right, I noticed the sound of deer amongst the trees, sometimes a bird would fly across the pathway, surely a tawny owl.
Shortly, Chris’s headlight gave up. It was the same one he used on that long night on Scafell over a week ago. Mine kept going.
It probably took 40′ to get back across the river. Across the river, the last part was easy. The camp was visible from there.
14°C, N wind, expected strong at the top. Clear and sunny.
Down to 3 of us. Chris dropped out with blisters caused by poor fitting boots.
Again, I powered ahead on the up climb and lagged on the descents.
Carl and Emma actually ran the descent after Bwlch Cwm Glas. That stretch is all slate waste, though dry, the progress was good. Emma sprang ahead, and I stayed with Carl.
The weather was superb, crisp sun brought out the land in its finest.
Start in clear sky, 00.32′.
Started well, we paused to enjoy the crystal clear starry sky.
By about 650m we were walking into cloud. Hill fog dominated the rest of the walk and contributed to our problems. We, as mountain leaders failed this day. If we were leading a party on this hill, we let them down. This should never happen again. See later…
The plan was to get back to the bus by 5am. We were disastrously late.
14°C, moderate NNW breeze. Sunny.
Straightforward climb to the top in perfect conditions. The top was busy, but not excessively crowded in my opinion.
Some snow fields remain and the cornices were still large. An air rescue helicopter maneuvered below the north face. It drew the curious towards the cornices as they held their cameras. We, in our best teacher voices, warned them away. The look on some of their faces!
Descending was tremendous fun. Carl, the skier, zoomed ahead on the snow and I followed. Expecting to fall at any second, I was surprised to stay upright. Sometimes there’s undercut melt on the snow edges, not this time. By now, I was whooping with excitement.
We made the descent in 4h 34min. A time we’ll be ahead of schedule.
You can see the helicopter in this photo.
15°C, light NNW breeze and clear, dry conditions.
Chose a fairly short route up from Glen Brittle. Ian knew we’d find other groups up on the ridge waiting to climb the Pinn. He suggested that I climb in my approach shoes, and even consider walking up to the ridge in them. Given that the idea would shave off 1/2 kilo I decided to go ahead.
2 1.4 hours later we were up there. Thanks to my not making the same navigation error as the party in front, we got there before. It was pretty clear where the turn was (oops to them).
Ian set Chris and me to climb first- Chris had his proper climbing shoes and I in my approach so we climbed the South Crack. HVDiff (Hard/Very/Difficult) Which is about a grade 4. Ian led and placed hear for the two ropes. I climbed first and removed gear as I went. The first 3rd was the most tricky. I took ages trying to find a solution- where to put my feet, where for hands, what combination, and so on. It’s all about decisions, some are how to hold while you rest a hand that’s going wobbly.
Figured out, I picked up the pace. It wasn’t until I got near the top that I noticed my breathing was hard. Not from the height, fear or stress, it was the exertion as I sped up.
Me, in red on the abseil.
Micycle 