Sunday fixed.

Posted on 18th Sep 2016 by essiep

I rode the Paddy Wagon with MapMyRide+! Distance: 81.64km, time: 03:07:59, pace: 2:18min/km, speed: 26.06km/h.

This isn’t the Paddy Wagon, it’s the cross bike I rode yesterday. That was a 25 mile ride in fine sunshine.

Took a variant on a familiar route that includes Bannister Hill. This is a benchmark for me. Today, it felt tougher than previous ascents this year. That’s the effect of not climbing anything serious for months.
On the other hand, the overall average was higher so my basic fitness is sound. It’s just that some climbing strength gap diminished.
Wasp sting: has swollen up all round my ankle. It looks like a sprain. There’s no pain of course, but it does itch.

A Spitfire.

Posted on 6th Jul 2015 by essiep

I rode Paddy fixed with MapMyRide+! Distance: 54.6mi, time: 03:24:45, pace: 3:45min/mi, speed: 15.99mi/h.
http://mapmyride.com/workout/1058575075
Unremarkable in some ways. I used a familiar route in reverse and climbed Dalton from the north. It was easier than I anticipated.

Passed this Spitfire parked at Woodvale. It could the Battle Of Britain machine, though it’s a late version, perhaps a Mark XIV.

Fixed 61

Posted on 17th May 2015 by essiep

12°C, white cloud and one shower. Strong W.
I rode with MapMyRide+! Distance: 61.8mi, time: 04:26:08, pace: 4:18min/mi, speed: 13.9mi/h.
http://mapmyride.com/workout/988541573
Riding fixed in wind is not recommended. Wind is a weakness of single speed bikes, it turns the ride into a long steady climb up a hill. That hill can easily be ten miles long. The trick is to choose a route that crosses the wind direction as much as possible.
Speaking of hills, I got up Bannister Hill again, also after Dalton.

Joey in the woods.

Cold dry start.

Posted on 19th Apr 2015 by essiep

I rode Fixed with MapMyRide+! Distance: 50.1mi, time: 03:08:57, pace: 3:46min/mi, speed: 15.9mi/h.
http://mapmyride.com/workout/949380413
Cold dry start with light breeze from the north. Quite a contrast with yesterday’s blazing sunshine. I ducked out of Bannister Hill but went up Dalton instead.
Decent ride overall but sad to see roadkill hares. Both were males, probably full of young enthusiasm for the spring. Oh, the needless destruction. I despair.

Yesterday’s sunset on Formby beach. That sky was clear right down to the horizon. Breathtaking.

0.8 miles: POP!

Posted on 9th Apr 2015 by essiep

17°C, milky sun and no wind.
Started out on the Jake with the commuting wheels fitted. They have Schwalbe Durano tyres for the fast but puncture resistance. Less than a mile out a sharp high pop rang out. Instantly the front tyre was flat as I made a right-turn on a busy A road.
Rather than fix it there, I walked back to get the other bike.
Here is the puncture:

Part of the tube is actually missing. Looks to me like the tube was pinched inside the rim and chose a bad moment to burst.

I rode fixed with MapMyRide+! Distance: 36.04mi, time: 02:15:09, pace: 3:45min/mi, speed: 16.00mi/h.
http://mapmyride.com/workout/935796653
Plan B, grab the fixed bike, the Paddy Wagon and rode the same route. For only the second time this year I got up Bannister Hill. This time was on the higher 42×16 gear. No serious struggle today.
Those wheels are brilliant. So fast and nimble.
later: it turns out that the climb up Bannister Hill was my personal record 9′.08″.
Bask!

Started quickly.

Posted on 5th Apr 2015 by essiep

I rode Fixed with MapMyRide+! Distance: 51.9mi, time: 03:15:43, pace: 3:46min/mi, speed: 15.9mi/h.
http://mapmyride.com/workout/930567699
Started this ride in sprightly fashion and zipped along, often at 20mph. The climb up to Dalton was fine too, though I avoided Bannister Hill later.
While much of England basked in sunshine, here is misty under thick cloud.
As the sun burnt through, an interesting effect was visible in brown fields. Only the ploughed dark fields had a duvet of white mist up to about 6ft above. In places it rolled over hedges or gathered into conical convection structures.

Mist near Hesketh Bank.

Breaking: cyclist jumps red light.

Posted on 23rd Mar 2015 by essiep

7°C, mostly dry.
Yesterday, I ran a red light. I had no choice. At the lights at Stanley Gate in Lancashire is on a normal four way junction. I approached from the north and stopped on red. Then the lights went through the changes twice before it became obvious that my side were staying red.
I would still be there now if I waited for them to turn green.

One more mile.

Posted on 22nd Mar 2015 by essiep

I rode fixed with MapMyRide+! Distance: 58.3mi, time: 03:37:10, pace: 3:43min/mi, speed: 16.2mi/h.
http://mapmyride.com/workout/913645993
Spring ride no.1: and it was a good one. With the summer wheels fitted and fresh brake blocks, the bike was ready. And, so was I.

There seems to be less gyroscope effect on these wheels. Out of the saddle, the whole bike is easier to thresh side to side while climbing or adding speed.

Only wish I added a few extra miles to make sixty.

Fixed sixty.

Posted on 15th Feb 2015 by essiep

I rode fixed with MapMyRide+! Distance: 60.0mi, time: 03:54:58, pace: 3:55min/mi, speed: 15.3mi/h.
http://mapmyride.com/workout/876416783
Spring soon. Rode familiar routes on the road at the best pace so far this year. Winter seems to be drawing to a close with all the usual clues appearing about now.

Only drag is another puncture, again, a thorn. Eight flats in six weeks.

A good problem to have.

Posted on 7th Feb 2015 by essiep

5°C, dry with white clouds. Light NW, salty roads.
Decision, which bike to take today. What a fine problem to face when you have two.

Rode fixed with MapMyRide+! Distance: 18.9mi, time: 01:11:22, pace: 3:47min/mi, speed: 15.9mi/h.
http://mapmyride.com/workout/867946215

Quick blast on white salty roads. No frost, but good conditions.

Micycle

Mike thinks b/hikes

Tag Archives: fixed gear