17°C, strong SW wind.
The crank that gave so much trouble yesterday did hold today. At home, I tightened with all my strength and took a rest before adding another eighth of a turn. It held through quite a vigorous ride home, 33 minutes is about as east as that route can be.
Relief.
10~16°C, windy with sun.
The bike felt good, to start with. I had to stop to adjust the saddle and then found the front brake loose. It was only tightened a few turns. Okay then for the next 4 miles. There is a big hill half-way, and this loosened the left crank. That damned bike shop didn’t finish the service properly.
Then the journey got really annoying. I tried 2 garages, a builder’s merchant, a plumber’s and even a bloke in a lorry. No-one had a 7mm Allen key. Everyone had 6 and 8mm keys (like I had).
I got there in the end, late. Not sure whether there is any permanent damage to the left crank. Those things are not cheap.
16°C, sun +rain showers. Sunday Ride tracked with MapMyRide! Distance: 27.40mi, time: 01:47 speed: 15.2mi/h. http://mapmyride.com/workout/259040208 Good, if rather short ride. Heavy marking work-load, you see. The Racelite feels mighty fine, bar the bb noise. lodger has a pet.
My lodger has a new pet. It looks healthy enough, but that vivarium seems a bit small to me.
Did I ever tell you how much I hate marking? But then everybody grumbles about their job.
10°C, N wind, hardly any rain.
Racelite ride with MapMyRide! Distance: 39.04mi, time: 02:36:44, http://mapmyride.com/view_route?r=5992020101417664513
First time out this year. The new headset makes it feel great on corners, smooth and accurate. There was a growing clicking from the bottom bracket which could be felt through the pedals by the end. Strange because that bearing is quite new. Nevermind, it was excellent ride where spring is just about given the all-clear to go. Very late but it’s here, just.
9°C, light cloud My mind is still filled with the magical experiences in Wales. What a special place; I can see how stories of monster and myth arise. I am no religious man, but there is something in those special places.
llyn Edno on the Molwyns
Moel Lefn
Look carefully and you may see monsters. They come out of the ground in Wales.
+5° @ ground, -6° at summit.
Started this morning not sure whether I would attempt the summit. So we started off, after a lengthy breakfast, at 11.30. At each stage I was encouraged by conditions. So up we went.
The landscape on the ridge another world, only a year after I started to feel jaded by busy Snowdon. On the upper reaches, towards the summit, the snow changed. It became harder to dig toes in to get a foothold, and crampon marks became common.
The ice became difficult only at the summit cafe and the trig point. I decided against a descent the same way, too risky. The Snowdon Ranger path is far easier, but took up off the mountain on the wrong side.
We arrived in Rhyd Ddu at about 6 after a diversion across moor-land. That left up with a long walk along roads, 7 miles in all. Back at camp at 9.30.
What does this all mean? We visited another country, another world. Ice sculpted rocks poked out threatening.
We walked long and hard, but my stamina did not lessen. Poor Rosie struggled in the last 5 miles, she’s getting older but perhaps needed another feed. This morning, I have stiff legs, but no blisters, no injuries. I feel strong.
-3 to +9, clear blue.
Crossed the ridge from south to North. Walked for 8½ hours with a few breaks not counting photo stops. Most of it was on snow. A new experience for me, the technique seems to be – dig your heels in on the way down. There were few of The ice slides I had feared but I did change the route. It’s a bit like walking on soft sand, except that the support is less predictable. Sometimes the snow supports your weight, sometimes your foot plunges in deep. Deep enough to reach your bum a few times.
-3°C, clear, calm.
Coldest morning that I have ever woken to in a tent. The water bladder is a slush-puppy inside and the tap is frozen. I cleared it but it’s glazed over again now. However, it’s a dazzling beautiful morning and I am comfortable in my quilted coat and ski salopettes. It’s dangerous on the upper slopes of Snowdon, so probably best to walk on the Molwynion just south of here. The ground should be less marshy between snow fields.
8°C,Clear sky, warmer.
Quick dash with MapMyRide! Distance: 22.03mi, time: 01:28:40, http://mapmyride.com/view_route?r=3382856112234561537
Very dry, dusty in places with some lumps of snow remaining. Got an idea for the weekend though- go to Wales and camp by Llyn Gwynant. If the hills are too icy to venture high, then spend time in a canoe, with low-land walks for the rest of the time. Their website says the valley floors are free of snow. I could venture up to the snowline with my main camera. That should mean that it’s easy to get up to the Watkins stone, great photos can be found up there.
Night temperatures shouldn’t be too far below freezing, but forecasts warn of ice and the need for crampons. I should do a course at Plas-y-brenin to be safe.
…miles to Easter…
the total so far:
Fixed gear 280 miles.
Arrow: 700.5 Miles.
Racelite: 0.0
Not matched the usual thousand miles by Easter. Okay, so Easter is early this year and I lost 2 week’s worth because of bad weather and illness. This is the first time this has happened that I can remember.
Micycle 