Riding Home

So after Christmas Day and Boxing day being spent with Ali's mum I left on the 27th to ride home. As I was unsure of the weather I had planned to take two days, staying at my sisters on the tuesday evening. I left a little later than planned but made reasonable time riding lots of country lanes made me glad of my exposure 6pack, otherwise I would probably ended up on main roads and the tiny bit of the A6 and A50 I did wasn't that enjoyable. I had one stop to pick up more water and once again the last 10miles was uphill. Turns out Coalville is on a hill. I had also worn summer gloves as it was lovely and warm.

The evening was spent drinking wine and eating pizza. Helen had to be in work for 7am so it was to be an early start. Unfortunately I didn't sleep well, think I was scared I would sleep through the alarm.

I was on the road at about quarter to seven and Coalville being on a hill played in  my favour as I set off downhill. I was making steady progress to Derby then I started climbing towards Ashbourne and it got slower and slower. The hills didn't help but neither did the fact that the wind was trying to blow me back where I came from. It felt a long way to Ashbourne and any downhills had to be pedalled so that I kept going forward! I stopped in Ashbourne to grab a sandwich and change into winter gloves, it was a little colder today!

Then it was time to Climb again to Buxton and then over to Whaley Bridge. Here I spent some time looking for a cafe as I was cold, even after adding a waterproof for the descent, and hungry. But they were all closed. I headed off towards Disley on a back road which was another huge hill and was very glad to see Disley. At Bramhall I was so happy to see Sainsburys had a cafe but I wandered around in a daze for a while and only bought cake, could have done with some 'real' food as well.

By this point the wind was a constant battle, the only respite from the headwind came when it started gusting from the side, which meant wrestling my bike to not end up under a bus on the A6. Through Manchester and still not making any time as the wind was against me. I was glad to get home, two hours later than expected, and find that my mum had been round and left me a Pizza and ice-cream.

Day 1: 80miles 1770m ascent / 1400m descent
Say 2: 92miles 2980m ascent / 2640m descent

Off roading with panniers

Most of this week I'm working in the office as there is very little cycle training taking place at the moment. So this morning I arranged to meet Colin and we rode in together. I dragged him round the berms at Prestwich and was impressed at how well the bike coped seeing as it had a rack and panniers. I struggled with uphills, running out of gears and this cold still lingering. Getting to work I was covered in mud, Colin was clean. Mudguards were needed.

On the way home I decided it would be a waste not to ride so it was another 16.5miles and I got home covered in mud.

The ultimate bike?

Not been 100% since I got back from my ride on Sunday. Yesterday I wouldn't have ridden to work only I was delivering level 3 training so needed the bike. In the session we rode 18miles so it certainly wasn't a rest. Today I would be riding again as I was doing a reece ride/risk assessment.
I was awake early coughing so instead of just lying there I got up and put a rack on my cross bike. This meant I could ride gears and use panniers. I can't believe I used to think I wouldn't like them I love riding with nothing on my back. I also added a water bottle cage and lights to the cross bike which means its all ready for riding down to my sisters for Christmas.
Jen and I met at Irlam station which meant a nice ride across the moss for me. I was glad of my cross tyres on the off-road section and was moving a lot faster than the car behind me. The route was pretty straight forward and we collected four geocaches on the way to the cafe. I keep expecting to do a route with no new caches along as I'm reusing trails but once again there were some right on the trail. The cafe ar Croxeth Park was really friendly, although I wasn't popular with jen after having the last jacket spud.
As the route is an out and back, its for January so we wanted something easy for bad weather, all that was left to return to the station. Getting off at Irlam I was even across the moss before it got dark. I stopped at the supermarket on the way home for food. Coming out I realised I had no bungy to strap things on the rack. Somehow I managed to get everything in the bags, not easy when you have two bottles of pop, orange juice, milk as well as other bits.
Getting home, helmet off and rear light attached to helmet was flashing away. I realised I had walked round the supermarket like that.

Still loving the panniers

Another week of my summer holidays spent working. The first three days should have been teaching cycling skills but due to having no children booked onto the sessions I basically sat reading books in a playground. Then thurs and fri were in the office where I was offered a new job, basically doing what I have been doing but not termtime only. I start on the 1st September and I'm so happy.

Alll this means that the legs haven't had much recovery and i've rode 30miles most days commuting. I've also being doing errands on the way home. With one day involving shopping for cereal and packages from the post office. My panniers managed to cram it all in, just! Although when full pulling away from lights and on hills I can notice the weight. My back though is thankful that it isn't having to carry it!

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Shopping on the way home

I went shopping on the way home again, this time there was no handy box so I just filled up the panniers. There was no chance of closing them, but a bungy cord over the top and everything stayed put. The more I ride with them the more I think they are great!

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