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.

Depths.

Posted on 7th Dec 2014 by essiep

4°C, windy, some hail showers,
No ride, latent virus saps my energy so I am in rest phase. I can’t tell whether this cold will erupt fully or fizzle out losing the fight with my immune system.

Hoar frost on my car yesterday morning. The drive home was interrupted by three crashes. The worst stopped traffic for half an hour so I switched off and got my Murakami book out. Divers on the M6 don’t make the connection between tailgating and long delays after each collision.

Greyness.

Posted on 30th Nov 2014 by essiep

9°C, sunny with light NW breeze,
Sunday, rode fixed with MapMyRide+! Distance: 52.31mi, time: 03:29:03, pace: 4:00min/mi, speed: 15.01mi/h.
http://mapmyride.com/workout/807418955
In contrast to yesterday, today I saw colour, blue sky and golden autumn colours.

Saturday, was it tiredness plus grey weather that left me wanting to sleep all day? Low grey clouds and light mist sucked all the colour out of the day. Dull dull dull.

Near the river Ribble.

Tired, take the singletrack.

Posted on 19th Nov 2014 by essiep

9°C, grey misty but dry. Distance: 11.53mi, time: 51:01, pace: 4:25min/mi, speed: 13.56mi/h. http://mapmyride.com/workout/799316005 Took the short route home, running on empty tanks. I hate November, it can only get worse. Another month before mid-winter, then another before the coldest days. For now, dense fog.

Micycle

Mike thinks b/hikes

Category Archives: Travel