Category Archives: Travel

Steam-punk.

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Rode fixed: Distance: 46.23mi, time: 02:50:29, pace: 3:41min/mi, speed: 16.27mi/h.
http://mapmyride.com/workout/608547833
Had quite a pacey ride today after a sluggish morning.

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This is a picture from a school trip last Tuesday. Birmingham museum has a range of Victorian, steam machines. Currently, this stuff is quite fashionable- steam-punk. The style appears in another graphics andgame design. Games like Bioshock make it a central feature. I have to admit, there is something appealing about the hand-made look of brass and iron components.
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29um,

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16C, no wind, feels warmer.
29miles fixed.
Back on the bike. it’s been a week since the last ride, and three weeks since that cold came on. That makes today’s ride a recovery one. They are characterised by a feeling of sluggishness. You have to push in an unnatural way.
Hay-fever is in full force. It must look like I am crying.
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The flats behind Churchtown in Southport. I like this area, big skies.

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Bumbus nesting.

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21C, no wind, few slow clouds.
Rode 8speed, Distance: 32.91mi, time: 02:16:09, pace: 4:08min/mi, speed: 14.50mi/h.
http://mapmyride.com/workout/590941255
Another slow ride; I bet this feeling drags on for another week. The sun shone brightly though.

Meanwhile on the home front- my immediate neighbours warned me about a wasps’ nest in my roof. Today it became clear that they are not wasps but bees. White-tail bumble bees. I hope the summer works out well for them.
Last year, there was a similar nest. It was ousted by wasps though, which seemed a pity.
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Try a ride today.

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14°C, light showers later. No rides for over a week now. That cold turned into a bit of a chest infection. Typical After vast amounts of sleep, I will try to shift the remains of this cough with a short ride.

later: Rode Fixed-Distance: 19.27mi, time: 01:13:23, pace: 3:48min/mi, speed: 15.8mi/h. http://mapmyride.com/workout/582229249 image
Also, called in on Formby Cycles to oggle at the carbon racing bikes. There are quite a few at reduced prices that feel as though they weigh nothing. Be careful when you pick one up, they are so light you might fling them across the shop.

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Not the same this year.

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15C, sunny, wind has dropped.
Rode: 36 miles today. Things have changed this year. I ride more on work nights, but the usual surge of energy and enthusiasm has not taken over this time. Something has changed and I am feeling for what it may be.
Rosie leaving still seems the most likely reason. Annoyingly, I can’t be sure. The house feels wrong without a dog. There is no curious wet nose pressing at the gap as I open the door to come in. No-one to think of as I potter about the house, no daily visit to the local field. I don’t know how the juvenile oak tree getting on in the spring light.

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Aksium, first outing.

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15C, strong W. Many showers.
Cycle, Racelite-8, Distance: 41.41mi, time: 02:49:30, pace: 4:06min/mi, speed: 14.66mi/h.
http://mapmyride.com/workout/565813479
First ride on new wheels. Even in the first few miles, it was obvious they are lighter. Most striking is the quicker acceleration. Stiffness was reasonable, though some flex showed while climbing. I have yet  to find a wheel that does not rub the rear brakes when I am out the saddle.
These Aksium wheels feel better than the previous Campagnolo pair.
The rims are slightly deeper but I noticed no pulling in today’s strong cross wind.
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Best without wind.

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Cycle fixed: Distance: 55.6mi, time: 03:27:33, pace: 3:44min/mi, speed: 16.1mi/h. On 42×16.
http://mapmyride.com/workout/557777869
On low rolling lands and light wind you can find perfect single-speed bike conditions. Even the hills don’t seem as intimidating as on a windy day.
Tendonitus flared up yesterday during a long drive. It does seem to get aggravated by long periods of sitting still. Three and a half hours of cycling has soothed most of it away. Odd how that happens.
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This Laburnum at work is in full bloom, whereas mine at home shows no yellow at all. Perhaps view are different varieties. I know not.
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What’s in the box?

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3C, sunny and still.

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Been shopping? For the first time in about 20 years, I have bought a new pair of wheels for a racing bike. Previously, all the wheels I have, were built using hubs with replacement rims. Sometimes, the bearings needed renewing, sometimes just packing with grease. They can be re-used many times so the layout cost can be spread over a decade.
The bike is quite old with its 8-speed cassette. So. I may have to fiddle with this wheel set which was designed for 11-speed gears. The local bike shop said they will work with 8-speed using two spacer washers.

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They are Mavic Aksium wheels. This rear hub is laced with 20 spokes, straight laced on the left, and 2-cross on the right. The front is all straight laced. Each spoke is a flat blade with no bend, which is the point where they might break. I tend to break spokes.
The pair feel light to me and ring clearly when tapped. That should mean they are well built.
More later, I can’t fit them today anyway.
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