75 miles in comfort.

Posted on 9th Jul 2017 by essiep

22°C, light breeze and some sun. Dry.

I rode Racelite with MapMyRide+! Distance: 118.89km, time: 05:10:08, pace: 2:37min/km, speed: 23.00km/h.

Adjusted the saddle before setting off, so glad I did. The ride remained comfortable right to the end. Still, the seat-post needs replacing. The seat goes out of adjustment too easily leading to backache.

I spun alley today and I’m sure that’s why the long miles were comfortable. Oh, by the way, that’s 75 miles in old money.

Road crescents

Posted on 27th Nov 2016 by essiep

Dry, rather cool at 7°C with light NE breeze.

Rode Arrow with MapMyRide+! Distance: 68.90km, time: 03:00:32, pace: 2:37min/km, speed: 22.90km/h.

http://mapmyride.com/workout/1886134235

At the cafe stop.

Rode the Arrow for the first time in nearly 6 months.I’m riding the Raleigh gravel bike to work now so the Arrow has been neglected. I was beginning to think that I may not need that bike anymore

This morning, all I had to do was blow tyres up and take the carrier off, and then get on.

However, it did actually feel rather strange when I did get going. The riding position felt odd over the bars. After a few miles I rank into the right position and ‘found my legs’. That seat will have to go forward, raising it wasn’t enough. It’s okay to have differences is position on the various bikes, but this change is too much. I expect a similar feeling when starting out on the Mustang next week. At least the brakes and gear-change are good.

Conclusion, it’s going to be good to keep this bike as a specific winter ride.

Strange phenomenon, every so often, I noticed crescent shaped patches of wet road as I came home. There were dozens of them, full road width and distinct from the otherwise dry tarmac.

Here is one, I laid my bike next to it for scale.

Looks like summer, but it’s cold.

Posted on 15th May 2016 by essiep

I rode fixed with MapMyRide+! Distance: 84.86km, time: 03:18:54, pace: 2:21min/km, speed: 25.60km/h.
http://mapmyride.com/workout/1474829699
That’s 52 miles to you.

A field in Dalton, where an intimidating sign warned off trespassers. Looking left, the eye is drawn to the door of a sandstone church. Looking ahead, I could see all the way to Wales. It was that clear.
That was a very satisfying ride, it felt easy to life the pace as the bike felt light. That’s partly the summer wheels, partly the fine, energising sunshine.
It’s remarkable how quickly the summer takes hold.

First proper day of spring.

Posted on 13th Mar 2016 by essiep

14°C, light wind and clear sky, mostly. Ideal conditions.
I rode Fixed with MapMyRide+! Distance: 55.06mi, time: 03:36:22, pace: 3:56min/mi, speed: 15.27mi/h.
http://mapmyride.com/workout/1383738887
Bannister Hill, Dalton and a decent pace for the rest of the day. Result.
A local rider tracked behind me up the climb, and I pulled away near the summit. ‘Did I do good?’ I said when he latched on when it levelled. If rode choice aluminium like with 10 gears. The descent was his though.

Caught in kite tails

Posted on 12th Jul 2015 by essiep

22°C with a brisk SW. I’m bright sunshine.
I rode Racelite-8 with MapMyRide+! Distance: 58.20mi, time: 03:52:32, pace: 4:00min/mi, speed: 15.02mi/h.
http://mapmyride.com/workout/1069477853

Sunday Ride to Bosworth Water Park. As I coasted in, a guy with kids held into their kite. The tails were long enough to get caught in my rear cassette. No tempers were frayed however. I tore the tail off because is was thick with oil and didn’t want any to get on the kids’ clothes.
I probably say this every year, but this bike is so comfortable on long rides, and reasonably quick too.

Solstice Ride.

Posted on 21st Jun 2015 by essiep

Strong wind, 14°C, sunny with some grey times.
I rode fixed with MapMyRide+! Distance: 48.18mi, time: 03:06:10, pace: 3:52min/mi, speed: 15.53mi/h.
http://mapmyride.com/workout/1038647175
Today, I struggled to even get fifty miles done. Felt empty by the finish. Some rides are like this.
And so it came to pass.
Continue reading →

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.

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.

Winter in Leicestershire.

Posted on 14th Dec 2014 by essiep

6°C, SW brisk, one sunny bit.
I rode the Arrow with MapMyRide+! Distance: 53.13mi, time: 03:50:29, pace: 4:20min/mi, speed: 13.8mi/h.
http://mapmyride.com/workout/817772727
Typical winter’s side. Cold, blustery and dull. So were my legs but at least the bike was comfortable and click free. That average speed is low! The ride out was much quicker, I managed to overtake a mixed club all dressed in Santa costumes. Okay, with the assistance of a crossing tailwind. The return leg really was slow though.

The Water Park was very quiet, but at least there was some food. Alas, no soup.

Long, slow and hot.

Posted on 22nd Jun 2014 by essiep

23C, still and sunny.
Rode summer bike: Distance: 79.75mi, time: 05:23:29, pace: 4:03min/mi, speed: 14.8mi/h.
http://mapmyride.com/workout/617338239
Passed through Heather with a tall oily black column of smoke from the north. It looked as if it came from a farmyard near the open cast quarry. Watching the billowing, almost solid looking forms developing from the deep orange flames was strangely fascinating.

later, on mile 68, I overtook some portly blokes on bikes who were weaving about noticeably. I gave then a wide berth. They startled me after a few minutes by passing me at speed. They still rode bow-legged on their basic looking mountain bikes. But there was something different about them, they made a whirring noise and had huge front hubs. They were on electric bikes! Both caught up with other similar looking men who were also distinctly fat.
I would be impressed if the bikes could charge up on descents, or from rider’s effort. It would be great if they had started the ride with no charge today.

Here is another view of the fire from about 3/4 mile.
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Tag Archives: Sunday ride