I rode Cyclocross with MapMyRide+! Distance: 15.78mi, time: 01:25:52, pace: 5:27min/mi, speed: 11.02mi/h.
http://mapmyride.com/workout/1047149293
Another loop round the local canal circuit. Towpaths are even more dry and hard. I barely saw anybody. An early cafe stop for breakfast would have been perfect, no cafe opens at this hour.
Fradley Canal.
12°C, moderate W wind. Sunny and dry.
I rode Jake cyclocross with MapMyRide+! Distance: 38.4mi, time: 03:00:16, pace: 4:41min/mi, speed: 12.8mi/h.
http://mapmyride.com/workout/1006508127
It was chilly early start this morning, and of course, the roads were very quiet. Good conditions even after a night of rain that left trails softer than hard-pack.
Puncture caused by a thorn. The tyre deflated quickly at first, but I wanted the Slime inner-tubes to work so I left the tyre on. I blew the tyre up three times in all and could see slime bubbling out of the hole made by the spike.
Eventually the deflation became slower. And the last leg of the ride was along a canal towpath. A surface like that makes sensing a soft tyre more difficult.
The tyre is holding pressure now.
I think.
11°C, brisk SW and grey cloud. Dry.
I rode Jake with MapMyRide+! Distance: 17.8mi, time: 01:39:10, pace: 5:35min/mi, speed: 10.76mi/h.
http://mapmyride.com/workout/977307793
Started early, 7am start and saw few people. The return via Chorley was hillier that I remember but there were no surprise traffic on the narrow twisty lanes.
Mapmyride has strange bugs. If I change the ride type to cyclocross, then the GPS fails to work, change it back to Road Cycling and it’s back to normal. Even changing the ride type after my return voids the mapping. I will hold out for an update.
home:
Another tree felled. I have enjoyed this cherry every spring, it put a magnificent show in flower and the colour glowed against the morning sun. Now it has gone and I am bereft, I hate to see a healthy tree cut down.
11°C, W brisk, 3/5 cloud.
Evening cyclocross: did a short route on the Jake in a loop on the canal.
13.5 miles in 1h 20.
GPS failed again. It’s a bug in Mapmyride that started on the 30th April update. Again, it failed to connect to the GPS sensor mm my phone so would only record the time for the outing.
I have cleared the data for tomorrow’s commute, so it should be okay.
Breaks in the cloud produced long shadows and a blaze of colour from fields of rape. Big grin.
I rode Cyclocross with MapMyRide+! Distance: 43.6mi, time: 03:38:57, pace: 5:01min/mi, speed: 11.96mi/h.
http://mapmyride.com/workout/958793413
Developed yesterday’s route, including that trail loop. It includes a steep, short descent with am immediate right turn. I nearly lost it on that curve since the surface is loose.
Later, went north to the nature reserve near Bank. There too, the soil was dry and cracked which hammered my arms and shoulders. See the photo.
Though the ride was only 44 miles, it felt more like 60. Look at the duration for a comparison.
10°C, brisk NW, grey sky and the rain has finished for now.
I rode Cyclocross with MapMyRide+! Distance: 19.3mi, time: 01:41:30, pace: 5:16min/mi, speed: 11.4mi/h.
http://mapmyride.com/workout/957677509
Took a familiar route on canals and disused railway tracks. For variety, there are side tracks that are rideable including this one in the photo. It’s a rail bridge that is closed off, rather crudely with tree trunks. You can see over if you climb up, but there is only farmland beyond.
This track looks like trail bikes have hewn a route in footpaths. They undulated so that it was almost possible to propel yourself along by pushing the bars up and down like a kid’s rocking horse.
Finding places like this is the great thing about cyclocross.
That ride makes the week’s total 189 miles. I don’t feel that tired either. That means my fitness is good.
17°C, sun and negligible wind. Dry.
I rode CX with MapMyRide+! Distance: 18.4mi, time: 01:47:20, pace: 5:51min/mi, speed: 10.3mi/h.
http://mapmyride.com/workout/931767171
Better weather brings dry air and warm sun. Each day sees the ground becoming dryer and firmer.
I alternated rides this week on the CX and fixed bikes. Each is getting faster.
Today, the canals were less busy, only a few lonely anglers and couples walking dogs. Between them, I built up the speed reaching 17mph along some towpaths. It still requires considerable concentration, but there is less squelching around in black mud and nervously negotiating bridge cobbles.
The bike has thin mud at the back, but some of it smells of dog shit.
I rode CX with MapMyRide+! Distance: 18.4mi, time: 01:47:20, pace: 5:51min/mi, speed: 10.3mi/h.
http://mapmyride.com/workout/931767171
Plod around some canal towpaths in figure-8 routes. On one bridge, a family stopped while dad fixed the lad’s puncture. That was his role for the day.
The mud is more viscous now and the thorns seemed to soften. Anyway, no punctures today either.
I rode CX with MapMyRide+! Distance: 9.05mi, time: 45:51, pace: 5:04min/mi, speed: 11.84mi/h.
http://mapmyride.com/workout/929583401
Very short ride along the canal in golden sunshine. A reminder of the coming season.
No punctures, but these wheels do feel a little heavy. It manifests as a weight when riding out of the saddle, or on cornering.
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I rode CX with MapMyRide+! Distance: 22.1mi, time: 02:30:15, pace: 6:5min/mi, speed: 8.8mi/h.
http://mapmyride.com/workout/927048337
Slow recovery ride along canals and paths. Largely repeated the route up to Wychnor and found it waterlogged in places, but not the same places as last time.
No punctures. 🙂
This part of the canal runs next to the river Trent, overspill pours into the river to the left of this photo. Nearby fields are also flooded.
Micycle 