I knew today I wasriding on the track from 12-1. Then there were vague plans about maybe riding there and back with Jenn, maybe on road, maybe some cross. See what happens with couriers etc.
Everything worked fantastically, I rode there on my cross bike on the road, had to ride hard as I left late! Had a great hour on the track! Then we rode cross bikes to ramsbottom, via an ice-cream stop, split the far side and I rode home.
On the way home I had a silly puncture thing, failed to find the cause, punctured new tube, took 10 minutes to get a thorn out and then got home.
Wondering if its too much riding since I'm riding again this evening?
Wednesday, 16 September 2009
Tuesday, 15 September 2009
Off to watch the pros
The tour of britain came close by today so I persuaded Jumbly to trust my route planning and come for a ride up waddington fell to watch them. After I was a little late, due to forgetting how much further Addlington is from tesco we got going. Straight up a hill that the road sign told us was 17%. All the way over towards Jeffery Hill we were having fun and the weather was great. We did get held up a bit by rush hour though!
We got to Waddington Fell just before the pros and headed up, by this point I think I had broken Jumbly who has had a hard week already. Somehow I lost her, turns out she couldn't get her feet out of the pedals and had to stop just below where I stopped, only in the crowds of cyclists it was hard to spot each other.
The pros soon came past, the leading three dancing on the pedals, the chasing group looking strong and then the last few making the hill look hard. Although they were probably going twice my speed it was nice to see it didn't look any easier for them than me.
They were closely followed by Jumbly. We then dropped down into Waddington for lots of food and Vikki rang her broom wagon for a lift back.
We got to Waddington Fell just before the pros and headed up, by this point I think I had broken Jumbly who has had a hard week already. Somehow I lost her, turns out she couldn't get her feet out of the pedals and had to stop just below where I stopped, only in the crowds of cyclists it was hard to spot each other. 
The pros soon came past, the leading three dancing on the pedals, the chasing group looking strong and then the last few making the hill look hard. Although they were probably going twice my speed it was nice to see it didn't look any easier for them than me.
They were closely followed by Jumbly. We then dropped down into Waddington for lots of food and Vikki rang her broom wagon for a lift back.A fab ride and the weather was amazing!
Monday, 14 September 2009
Trio takes the roadies off-road
Last night I get an emergency message from Jumbly, can I help with a route from Salford to Bolton that doesn't involve main roads as she is a human sat-nav for Dave Gorman. After admitting I didn't know who he was I got looking at maps. Not long I had an idea and soon the route was plotted. It used a lot of sustrans trail so needed to be checked. Sometimes they are fine on roadies sometimes they are impassable! So Jumbly turned up at my house just before 9am and we headed off to Walkden where after only a couple of wrong turns we found the track, on we went to find the canal. Right past the back of the trafford centre, I guess most people have no idea it is there at all!
To the lowry where we met Dave and his friend Chris. A few errors at the start and eventually I not only got us on the canal but on the right side as well, not before I fell off my bike while playing with my gps, opps!
The route worked well with just a bit of the A6 near the end, I dropped them off at the middlebrook way and had to turn and head for work back the way I had come.
We all managed really well on road bikes, a couple of bits were a little rough, but worth it for the traffic free element. Dave's journey sounds fab to me, he is riding to four corners of the UK, much more interesting than Lands End to John-a-groats!
To the lowry where we met Dave and his friend Chris. A few errors at the start and eventually I not only got us on the canal but on the right side as well, not before I fell off my bike while playing with my gps, opps!
The route worked well with just a bit of the A6 near the end, I dropped them off at the middlebrook way and had to turn and head for work back the way I had come.
We all managed really well on road bikes, a couple of bits were a little rough, but worth it for the traffic free element. Dave's journey sounds fab to me, he is riding to four corners of the UK, much more interesting than Lands End to John-a-groats!Friday, 11 September 2009
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!
Wednesday, 9 September 2009
Short (?) Ride
I met Jumbly this morning for a ride to cooksons as she needed some brake blocks. I suggested cross bikes so we could chat as there are some nice trails to take you there. When we got there, after some window shopping (I am trying not to buy anything at the moment) I checked my phone and Jon was nearly at Bolton, a lot earlier than I said I would be in. So a couple of texts and we agreed to meet in Adlington, so Vikki and I headed back, getting even muddier. It was a lovely day for riding.
Once I left the pub I got as far as rivi and had to stop for ice-cream before getting home with 52.5 miles on the computer. So much for a short ride!
Once I left the pub I got as far as rivi and had to stop for ice-cream before getting home with 52.5 miles on the computer. So much for a short ride!
Sunday, 6 September 2009
Kielder 100
Wow how hard was that but how much fun...
So on fri Ali and I headed up to Kielder Forest to take part in some silly event. Somehow it was after 4pm when we left so obviously I was a little stressy! We got there in plenty of time and after sorting out Ali's entry, getting the tent up, eating and getting to the riders briefing I was shattered!
The next morning the alarm went off at 5am, it was still dark and it was all a shock to the system, Ali was her wonderful usual self and made me porridge. The campsite was full of lots of scared looking zombies. We headed up to the start and got checked in. It wasn't long before we were following a car along for the neutralised start. Then we were let off the lease, it felt like everyone was flying past me. Kate was up there as well and we spotted another girl at the start on a singlespeed. She flew past me on the first uphill. On the first few climbs I could see Julie in the distance and it looked like she was flying, I couldn't hear Ali and kate chatting behind me anymore. But I was concentrating on not getting carried away at the start and let the speedy people fly! I was enjoying myself and felt like I was riding okay except on the downhills, but after 25miles that improved! My strategy was not to stop so at feeds I got what I needed and headed straight off. Cut-off was made with plenty of time and I headed over to Newcastleton, it was bleak over the tops and with no-one in sight a little lonely! It was nice to arrive there and be greeted by a piper and loads of people cheering!
Heading off from there I felt good, I caught the other singlespeed girl who was fixing her chain and pushed on, I felt I was riding the singletrack well which was good! Not long after that I stopped feeling good and my digestion was not very happy. Miles 66 to 73 were the hardest I have had on a bike, but after that I could drink again and things started to feel better. From then it felt like I was plodding away, reaching the last feed where I had sweets was great. After that I was counting down the miles! Any singletrack climb was walked and the downhills hurt so much, at least my automatic pilot for riding downhill seemed to be working!
The finish line was a welcome relief! With Ali there cheering, turns out she just missed the 55mile cut-off, still 60miles on a bike is her longest mountain bike ride ever! after being bitten alive we spun down to the castle, some food and beer and it was time for the presentation. Kate arrived back just as they had started, a little later than me as to save me feeling bad when she beat me she had a play in the bike park over at Newcastleton! First up I was 3rd in the open female which was exciting. Then I got to stand on the top of the podium as the 1st female singlespeeder, I got to spray cha,pagne everwhere for the first time in my life which was exciting. I also got a load of singular goodies, not sure what to do with an XL jumper though, it drowns me!
The event was fantastic, the organisation brilliant and the course a great mix of fireroads and singletrack. Not sure I would recommend it fully rigid though! I think I took just under 12.5 hours and it was hard, but if you want a challenge I recommend it!
So on fri Ali and I headed up to Kielder Forest to take part in some silly event. Somehow it was after 4pm when we left so obviously I was a little stressy! We got there in plenty of time and after sorting out Ali's entry, getting the tent up, eating and getting to the riders briefing I was shattered!
The next morning the alarm went off at 5am, it was still dark and it was all a shock to the system, Ali was her wonderful usual self and made me porridge. The campsite was full of lots of scared looking zombies. We headed up to the start and got checked in. It wasn't long before we were following a car along for the neutralised start. Then we were let off the lease, it felt like everyone was flying past me. Kate was up there as well and we spotted another girl at the start on a singlespeed. She flew past me on the first uphill. On the first few climbs I could see Julie in the distance and it looked like she was flying, I couldn't hear Ali and kate chatting behind me anymore. But I was concentrating on not getting carried away at the start and let the speedy people fly! I was enjoying myself and felt like I was riding okay except on the downhills, but after 25miles that improved! My strategy was not to stop so at feeds I got what I needed and headed straight off. Cut-off was made with plenty of time and I headed over to Newcastleton, it was bleak over the tops and with no-one in sight a little lonely! It was nice to arrive there and be greeted by a piper and loads of people cheering!
Heading off from there I felt good, I caught the other singlespeed girl who was fixing her chain and pushed on, I felt I was riding the singletrack well which was good! Not long after that I stopped feeling good and my digestion was not very happy. Miles 66 to 73 were the hardest I have had on a bike, but after that I could drink again and things started to feel better. From then it felt like I was plodding away, reaching the last feed where I had sweets was great. After that I was counting down the miles! Any singletrack climb was walked and the downhills hurt so much, at least my automatic pilot for riding downhill seemed to be working!
The finish line was a welcome relief! With Ali there cheering, turns out she just missed the 55mile cut-off, still 60miles on a bike is her longest mountain bike ride ever! after being bitten alive we spun down to the castle, some food and beer and it was time for the presentation. Kate arrived back just as they had started, a little later than me as to save me feeling bad when she beat me she had a play in the bike park over at Newcastleton! First up I was 3rd in the open female which was exciting. Then I got to stand on the top of the podium as the 1st female singlespeeder, I got to spray cha,pagne everwhere for the first time in my life which was exciting. I also got a load of singular goodies, not sure what to do with an XL jumper though, it drowns me!
The event was fantastic, the organisation brilliant and the course a great mix of fireroads and singletrack. Not sure I would recommend it fully rigid though! I think I took just under 12.5 hours and it was hard, but if you want a challenge I recommend it!
Wednesday, 2 September 2009
A little muddy!
A message from Cooksons on my blog - they couldn't find my phone number! My wheels were ready! So I headed off on rigger, dropped down onto Bury road and decided to nip down an off-road track, after two metres I was covered in mud! It hadn't occured to me that since it was wet I would get muddy! Since it was too late I carried on off-road. When I got there I asked if they wanted me to stay outside but they just laughed at my muddy face. The new wheels were put on rigger and at the moment they are nuts but they bit to convert to quick release will appear next week. Another a nice ride off-road on the way home and I realised all I needed to cheer me up was a nice mountain bike ride!
I got home and Ali laughed at me and made me wait while she took a picture! Then told me off for spending money!
Tomorrows job is to get her bike sorted for the weekend, she has some silly idea in her head about riding!
More fun to be had
I've just entered Dusk 'til Dawn in a pair with Ali. It was her idea. At the moment we are thinking I will double lap and she will single lap. She is really keen and it should be great fun. Time to get used to riding at night again!
Tuesday, 1 September 2009
August Round Up
So this month was dominated by transwales. A great week with great weather and great riding. The end of it was quite sad really and took me a week to pick myself back up. Apart from that and SITS there has been very little riding - recovering or tapering all the time, makes me sound so serious!
The figures:
0 mile running (Oh dear that is not good!)
391.83 miles moutain biking (361 singlespeed)
9.33 miles cyclo-cross
191.74 mile road
23677m of ascent
Progress on targets:
So onto September and the first challenge is the kielder 100, followed by the three peaks cyclocross. I'll definetly be keeping myself busy. Oh and of course there should hopefully be some work again.
The figures:
0 mile running (Oh dear that is not good!)
391.83 miles moutain biking (361 singlespeed)
9.33 miles cyclo-cross
191.74 mile road
23677m of ascent
Progress on targets:
- Run at least once a week Failed in March :o(
- Run 300miles in the year 38% complete
- Cycle an imperial century a month Failed in March :o(
- Cycle 8000miles in the year 71% complete
So onto September and the first challenge is the kielder 100, followed by the three peaks cyclocross. I'll definetly be keeping myself busy. Oh and of course there should hopefully be some work again.
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