4°C, fresh and reasonably dry. There was rain in the night.
I rode Fixed with MapMyRide+! Distance: 50.47mi, time: 03:23:13, pace: 4:02min/mi, speed: 14.90mi/h. Fitted the orange winter wheels.
http://mapmyride.com/workout/1257322077
The only notable point about this ride was that I didn’t stop. Fifty miles in one sitting. It felt fine too. Even after getting home, I had enough energy.
6°C, light NW. Rain to start and clear later.
Commute with MapMyRide+! Distance: 14.99mi, time: 01:48:39, pace: 7:15min/mi, speed: 8.28mi/h.
http://mapmyride.com/workout/1254815419
Sketch in the margin of my planner.
Set out in rain but full of energy. At 9 miles front tyre lost pressure on an awkward stretch of road. Soon, all was lost and I had to walk about half a mile to a brightly lit pub. The new tube only lasted another mile or so. I can’t keep putting tubes in so decided to walk the remaining 3 miles.
At least it was dry by then. It’s so difficult to reliably fix a tyre when there is dirt all over the road. That dirt includes thorns. Also, I need tyres I can trust, so both will have to be replaced with something more resilient.
12C, wet and showery, brisk SSW.
I rode Fixed with MapMyRide+! Distance: 28.99mi, time: 01:54:37, pace: 3:57min/mi, speed: 15.18mi/h.
http://mapmyride.com/workout/1241984279
Only a short outing today. Dark skies threaten heavy rain carried in from the southern approaches. Those threats were carried out, but it was never cold.
Everywhere you look, some days, there are little inanimate characters.
I rode CX Jake with MapMyRide+! Distance: 35.67mi, time: 03:14:03, pace: 5:26min/mi, speed: 11.03mi/h.
http://mapmyride.com/workout/1233102627
Woke to very dense fog; and a choice of Fixie or cyclocross bike for today’s ride. CX gets me away from the traffic in poor visibility and to safety.
I picked a familiar route and took a diversion in the last leg. Along Southport seafront, a few cyclists pedaled northwards, and I steadily passed them.
One guy was on a Fat Bike so I asked him about it. They’re intriguing machines, and bizarre looking. Anyway, an odd thing happened moments before- I got told off! It happened on filtering though a small group of less experienced cyclists. (See below)
The Fat-bike guy showed me a route thorough gravel roads to get me close to the return leg by canal. Excellent route, but the ‘Private Road’ signs were offputting. Maybe I made a mistake somewhere near the start. I never did find a level crossing.
12°C, light S breeze. White stratus.
I rode Paddy Wagon, with MapMyRide+! Distance: 24.09mi, time: 01:33:27, pace: 3:53min/mi, speed: 15.47mi/h.
http://mapmyride.com/workout/1230179587
This short ride felt normal. All I want to do is build back some form.
8°C, still and light. Cold.
It’s a fine problem, to decide which bike to ride today: Jake, the cyclocross; Arrow, the mudguard winter ride; summer racing bike- Racelite. I’m recovering from a virus thing, so to be cautious- it’s cyclocross today. ‘Cross is not exhausting, simply difficult.
I dread bringing that virus back, as happened last week. A dose of exhaustion could be an invite to that damned bug. It’s gone on long enough already, more than two weeks. No chance of beating 6,000 miles this year then.
Never mind.
The ground should be still be firm, perhaps with some mud patches. Anyway, mud fun should be guaranteed. Perhaps the cattle will be away.
How it worked out:
Lay the bike down while I check the route.
Are modern cycle lights too bright? I’ve just taken delivery of a Knogg Blinder. At 44 lumins it’s nearly double the brightness of the light it replaces.
Great, I feel safer. But. Is it a problem for anybody else, you know- drivers?
What prompted this is a comment by somebody at work. They complained that it bike lights are too bright and are annoying.
They can’t be as bright as an Audi, so are cyclists aiming their lights carelessly?
I suspect so. I fit two front lights, one aimed at eye level. The other, a brighter one, points downwards to pothole level. Sometimes, I turn the light left if on full power when there’s oncoming traffic. Also, there is no need for full beam in towns. Modern led lights are bright enough to ‘be seen’ on lowest power. Some riders do blaze away, probably unaware of how drivers see them. Drivers have a much lower eye-level than a cyclist, a factor that is worth considering.
I rode Arrow with MapMyRide+! Distance: 11.51mi, time: 47:27, pace: 4:07min/mi, speed: 14.56mi/h. Slow.
http://mapmyride.com/workout/1218989531
Mediocre ride with the energy sapping virus’s return the culprit. 12 days feeling ill, some at home. On a return to health, pent up energy poured out in a few fast rides. Now I’m all weak, trembling and pathetic.
Turning right at a roundabout, a young guy cut me up. I hate pulling the brakes on a sharp turn. He argued that I was not in the right lane. It doesn’t matter, you give right at a roundabout. Simple.
Diesel engines can be unlocked am a company like Revo. Apparently, the engine is detuned in the software for lower powered cars in the range. The manufacturer gains because their range of engine models is smaller. We can gain fuel economy, power and delivery through the Rev. range. The car is not really built for the higher power, not the gearbox suspension or brakes. But, if you drive normally, you get the benefits at no loss. I will wait until VW have removed their emissions cheating software first.
14°C, sunny but fresh.
Drove the car today. I’m not well enough to cycle.
A spider was busy on the wing mirror through the whole 10 miles. With up to 40 mph headwind, I could see her attempting to build a Web. I could steal a glimpse of those finger like legs pulling at threads in the buffeting. Next, the car hit a bump and she was gone.
I was devastated, after all that work had she dropped under the wheels of a following Vauxhal? A mile later, the lights were red. Then she came out from the mirror! The relief! That feeling set me up for the whole day.
Grins.
Last summer, I brought a spider back 300 miles from Scotland that way. You’ve got to admire tenacity when you see it.
I rode Arrow with MapMyRide+! Distance: 29.1mi, time: 01:56:19, pace: 4:00min/mi, speed: 15.03mi/h.
http://mapmyride.com/workout/1193551675
Extended tonight’s ride since Parents’ Evening prevented me cycling yesterday. The route was the same as Tuesday’s. This time was a little later, taking me into Bat Time.
Got myself another lodger, that makes two. A young bloke who seems like a true gentleman. After I met him on Monday and showed him the room, I was hopeful that he would accept. He has.
Fruit of my labours. Scrumped from the same tree I pass every evening on the route home.
Micycle 