23°C, no wind & dull grey.
Set off on the Kona Jake to the chase via lanes that should have gone to Wandon. But on getting disorientated I popped out near the start. When I lived here, I would never have made that mistake. I would have retained my sense of direction.
The rest of the route was familiar and I stopped for a coffee in the forest.
A good day out which means I’m ready for the coming holiday.
Rode the cross at a gentle pace through routes I used hundreds of times before I moved.
17°C, strong SW, grey but dry for now.
Third day in a row, but I was limited in time by impending rain.
Evening outing on the Kona Jake to blow away the cobwebs (it’s been a dull day at work).
Kona Jake, 9°C, light wind and thin cloud.
This is unfamiliar, those large jockey wheels and new adjustments to make. There’s even a clutch intended to make setup easier. The promise was realised to some extent.
Not long after this shit I rode towards the firing range and went over some thin branches. One got caught in the rear wheel. It bent the rear derailleur and pushed it into the spokes. The chain was looped and the cage turned more than 90° rendering the bike unrideable
With some convoluted bending, I got the bike ready to coast back to the carpark. Fortunately we is was mostly downhill. So that’s what I did.
Back at the car, I got dressed and packed the bike. Getting dressed outdoors can be tricky. The sun was out in full winter force. Besides. There is a good bike shop on Milford Common so there I went.
I got a replacement mech and asked about changing robes. They are an oversized smock to use on the beach to get dressed in decency. I bought one.
6-9°C brisk SW wind, clear and sunny.
It’s been a while since the last bike ride. Icy weather has stopped me venturing out. Some days were so bad, I daren’t even go for a run. That means the default is the gym or at home, the turbo. I get ratty at these times and feel a constant fizzy agitated feeling in my limbs.
Back to normal now.
10°C, light at first then rain. Heavy rain to return, included hail.
Kona Jake: missed exercise recently so set off thinking the forecast was exaggerated. I was cold on arriving at the cafe and got pelted with hail on the return.
Tarleton ditch: I took a bridle path towards Tarleton to get off the main road. Immediately after passing three folks, my rear wheel skipped. That tipped me off, the bike fell flat and I rolled down an embankment in the rushes. No harm done. I bet they weren’t expecting that. The youngest was walking on her phone but she hadn’t filmed it. I asked.
Banks Birdshot: on riding along the edge of RSPB by Gorse Derry, I could hear gunshots. A cloud of birds took off in front and more shots sounded out. Then the clatter of pellets swept across the grass. Some of them hit me.
Kona Jake, 17°C, light cloud, light NW breeze.
After work ride. I headed up the moor towards Winter Hill. The total distance is not great but many of the inclines are. The Jake is a good climber with the right gears, weight and stiffness. I gave the path across Spitlers Edge but stopped at the 2nd gate (No Bikes).
Micycle 