A leaving curry

My friend Odile is moving back to Ireland, i'm really going to miss our rides but apart from my selfish reasons for her staying I know its something she's wanted for a long time, it justt took time to get a job. So we decided to head out for a curry last night, we did think about riding but the ice put both of us off.

Phil, Ali, Odile and me met at a pub near the science and industry museum and then headed to Akbars - home of the huge naan breads. We ordered loads of food and I ate way too much so walking back to the pub was hard. Although when I spotted the pink mini I was soon running.

Home later than I should on a school night but great fun and totally worth it!

Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.5

Beer and Darts

After 50 + miles of commuting I went night riding with Odile and Ali. We set off up Winter hill, with a stop for dougnuts on the way. At the top I suggested some options and they both decided that down the Belmont descent to the pub was the way to go. It is really nice to ride at the moment and I felt fast down it. At the pub with beers we noticed a dart board. As the evening wore on we got better at hitting the board (although Ali had obviously played before!) The bar man said we sounded like we were having fun and fortunately none of the darts hit anyone!

Bikes the language of everyone

Yesterday was the start of bike week which meant a busy day for my work. I was at Trafford doing skills at their bike festival, which went really well and once I saw a five-year old riding over the seesaw I had to do it without screaming! Ali even "worked" for us, helping us set up in Trafford and then riding a Brompton in a parade in Manchester. It was a tiring day but we decided to head out for a curry. Joined by Phil, Odile and Pauline we had a great time. Heading home we got to the train station and there was a 25minute wait. Ali decided we should ride home. Heading through Cheetham Hill and I punctured. Stopping at a bus stop we set about fixing it. I was trying to get the tyre back on and picked up a tyre lever for the last bit when a guy waiting for a bus took over. He obviously knew what he was doing and had that extra strength I was missing. He even offered to pump it up. He didn't speak a word of English and I did wonder what was happening when he started but it shows bikes are the language of everyone!

A weekend of food

My plan this weekend was for an easy weekend, laze around, read a bit, watch some tv, you get the idea. Oh and maybe a ride on sunday, well it seemed a shame not to.

Saturday I did manage this, a trip to the Garden Centre and then it was a BBQ in the back garden.

Sunday I went on a short ride, or maybe not so short as I suggested Southport. Odile joined us and we headed off after a stop for sweeties for Ali.

The rain kept threatening on the way out but apart from being a headwind the whole way there it wasn't too bad. There was of course the now traditional photo stop at toogood lane. For the first time ever I was stopped at two of the swing bridges over the canal for boats to go over, it was quite exciting.

It started raining just as we arrived at Southport so it we quickly locked the bikes up and got inside, there would have been a picture of the food but we were all so hungry we just ate. Ali was so hungry she got a seaside special in which they gave her two pieces of fish. The rain stopped just before we left so it was along the coast road. I was beginning to hurt now and my leg that had woke me up the night before the Welsh Ride Thing was really being a pain. Still I knew it wasn't far till Ice-Cream.

A stop at Freddies and Odile was converted, after saying she wasn't an ice-cream person! Then it was the last 10miles home. Tired, sore legs but happy we were all glad to be back

75miles in total and for some reason it felt hilly today although only about 750m of climbing.

Preparation

So what is that on the bike? Yes its suspension forks. Them and a bigger rear cog were put on the bike today at cooksons. An evening ride with Odile and I had to remind myself that suspension forks did not mean that I could ride anything as I nearly overshot a corner. I did get down a set of steps (with some screaming though). Now time for lots of rest!

The miles add up

Today I had lots of errands to run, first it was down to Cooksons Cycles to get them to have a look at trek, as expected it needs too much doing. Back home again and there was just time for a quick lunch before heading out for a hospital appointment. Heading down Crompton Way I saw the strangest sight, a young deer racing all over the road. It looked terrified. I have to assume there are deer in Seven Acres Park but I am suprised. Onto Bury Road and straight into a headwind, not good. I was on the drops working as hard as I had at the time trial the other week only I was barely moving. In fact I only just got to Fairfield hospital in time. The way home was a lot easier, although you never notice the wind when it is a tail wind!

Then it was time for a short mtb ride. Odile had just picked up her bike with new forks so wanted a ride but was on a time-limit. Ali was tired but wanted some mtb miles so we set out to the golf course. Some playing on trails I normally run, great singletrack here I should do it more often. Some riding down steep slopes.

Then an attempt to get back up by me.

A cheeky ride through Jumbles with some new lines taken then back home via last drop village. 10miles on the GPS.

40miles in total for the day!

Winter Hill

My rota this week seems to involve lots of miles so my only real day for a night ride was tonight. Odile was onboard and turned up to mine at 5pm. My grumbling about the rain in the morning worked and it turned into a lovely evening. I was still glad of my tights but the sun was out and the trails dry.

We went up Winter Hill, down past the quarry onto Georges Lane - really impressed I rode it. Back up Winter Hill and down the Belmont Descent. Which was in fantastic condition. My legs were sore buy the time I reached the gate though. Then it was an easy spin home, well that was what I thought but Odile put herself in big ring and stormed back leaving me spinning like a lunatic!

Dusty Trails

First thing on the to-do list for yesterday was to get Rigger sorted, he needed a new chain and the chain tension was so loose on the old one I couldn't really get away without doing something. Unfortunately I could not get the EBB to move. Hitting with a hammer, spraying in lube, cycling up a steep hill, etc just didn't work so off I went to Cooksons. Here Martin got to work, no big hammers for him just some nice tools. He also greased it all up and put the new chain on for me. I also picked up some new bar tap for rigger as ge has needed some new stuff for a while.

After some doing some bits round the house it was time to head over to Lee Quarry to meet up with Odile. After our last attempt at riding up there we were both hoping for better weather. Odile did ring to check we were still on as the weather looked like it was going to change. As it turned out the weather was fine, a little windy but nothing like last time. We headed up to the pump track and then went to play in the skills area. After a while we did the red route before heading back up to the skills area. Here we met up with Donk, Junkyard and Si. At this point Odile decided to head off and I stayed on with the boys. Some more skills area playing and then I showed them where the pump track was. Donk made it look easy! He then started talking about a vertical wall in the Quarry he wanted to ride. We all encouraged him but none of us offered to join him!

Partway up with his bike I think he may have been wondering what he was doing, he was soon carrying and practically crawling up! A nervous look over the top and in he dropped. Using my phone meant the pictures were rubbish. He refused to do it again for the camera though.

Then it was time for a lap of the red, me and Si peeled off at some point to head over to Rooley Moor Road and down towards Heywood. Where we split and went our seperate ways.

A lovely evening and a real change to ride dusty trails, although I did have some skids as it was such a strange surface!

Sunny Days

The weather yesterday was lovely and I am glad to say I took advantage of it. After dragging myself out of bed I sat out in the back yard with my sister for a while before heading over to meet Ali for a picnic lunch in the park. I had brought the frisbee so we had fun running round the park. Unfortunately for Ali I am not very good with the frisbee so she had to do a lot more running than me.

After that it was home and then it should have been out to Lee Quarry only my little bit of bike maintaince meant I was too late to get there so I ended up riding with Odile from home. It was a lovely night to be up on Winter Hill and I was riding with gears for a nice change. We went off the shoulder from Winter Hill, I have done this trail once but the weather meant I couldn't see much so I ended up pushing. This time there was just one section I walked and I know its rideable, one to try again!

A little detour as I wanted to see where a trail went led to lots of pushing, but the plus side was seeing loads of baby sheep wearing little coats. No idea why but it was cute.

Home just as it got dark with 15miles on the GPS and a huge smile.

Project ride my mountain bike begins

Although my mileage has increased to a level I am happy with and I have started to do longer rides it has nearly all been on road. Now that would be fine but the race in May is off-road and at a trail centre, a type of riding that I don't do much of when I am riding off road regularly anyway. So a plan was hatched! It started with arranging to meet Odile for our evening ride at Lee Quarry I then added in a daytime ride with Jumbly and the day was set.

I was all ready to go an hour and a half before meeting Jumbly so I could go a longer way over and take in the ICR, only when I got rigger out his rear tyre was flat. So the extra time was spent putting a new inner tube in. The way over was nice and I was wearing just a base layer and a Jersey. Climbing up Barrow Bridge I felt so unfit as I made slow progress, but at least I didn't stop! Up onto Georges Lane and I decided to drop down through Wilderswood, then along to meet Jumbly. She had some excuse about sore legs, something to do with running 18miles yesterday. So my suggestion had been two hours riding, over to the nab play on the trails, then one hour of cake at the cafe!

The nab has some new stuff since I was last there including a singletrack climb which we both enjoyed. But a lot of the downhill sections showed me I have a lot of work to do. We started with me taking 3 attempts to ride over some logs and there were plenty more bits to scream down or have to try again after stopping. All I need to do is get over there regularly as it will help me with my riding.

Back to the cafe and amazingly enough I had timed it perfectly and we arrived at 1pm. But then it got odd, neither of us had cake. Although the sandwiches on this new bread were amazing!

At exactly 2pm I set off towards Lee Quarry. A mixture of roads and trails taking me towards my destination. By the time I got there the sun was out and I was looking forward to riding. As I was a little early I headed up to do some riding. Partway up I bumped into Chips and Matt Wilderness they said it had been windy earlier but the new stuff was great. So I headed up and did the last descent before getting to the car park. Here I had some food and waiting for Odile. It wasn't long before she arrived, after stripping in the car park to change while a local tried to have a conversation with us we were off.

Partway up the climb and we joined the new singletrack climb, here it got windy and I was reduced to walking up something that didn't look that steep! But it was worth it with some lovely flowing singletrack bringing us back down to what was the top of the climb. At this point staying on the trail was getting harder! We got to the skills area and it has completely changed. The plan was to play but the hail came and it was impossible. We set off following the red arrows, only to find ourselves with four options (I think this might be the new pump track) before getting back to where we started. Here I led us straight down the shortest way. Back to the car and Odile was shivering!

Not long after my last companion for the day arrived when Ali rode up. She had rang me when she finished work unsure of what to do, she wanted to go for a ride but wasn't sure. Next thing I know she was ringing me again, she had a plan, she was going to ride out to meet me and ride home with me as long as I was riding home on road. So with perfect timing she arrived just as I was ready to leave. So we set off, both cold by this point and wishing it wasn't downhill to Rawtenstall. In fact the hill out of Rawtenstall wasn't long enough to warm up on. I was starting to warm up but then I was on a mountain bike so putting more effort in than Ali on her roadie. She tried going ahead and coming back but no still cold. We were both glad to get home and take the wet layers off. Pizza for tea was the easy option. I finished feeling strong which after 9 hours out of the house was good.

90km, not a bad start to mountain bike miles.

A wet and windy night ride

Out tonight with Odile and Ali. The ride started off fine, it was raining but not too bad. Once we got on winter hill it was a different story. Windy and shards of rain trying to pierce my skin. At this point it was try and get home as quick as we could. Descending unable to see anything but hey it was fun!

Just as we got to smithills I realised something was wrong with my bike. Checked that the rear wheel was in tight, yes, then notice the EBB had moved out of the frame. It wasn't for moving so I stamped on it to get it back in enough to pedal. Two more stops were needed to do this as it worked its way out. Ali was looking worried that I would break the bike.

Then all that was left was to swim home through the huge lake that once was a road. At least we had clean tyres at the end of it!

Summer again

Last night I took Odile on my strawbury duck loop, the pub was closed and looks like it has been for some time. But the weather was amazing, shorts and t-shirt weather and views back over bolton that made it feel like a summers day! It's been so long since I have done the ride that lots of parts felt different, the stables had gone, with new ones in a slightly different place. I tried to trap my thumb in a new gate. But all in all a great ride!