Socialising by bike

Last night just after getting home from work I got a text from someone I work with inviting me out for a curry as he was celebrating. I usually ignore anything like this and bascially only socialise if it involves a bike ride. But for some reason I started thinking about it! He is really nice and I really like his company. I text back asking if many would be there and he said at the moment three. So I decided to go for it!

After 35miles commuting I decided not to ride there so put on my skinny jeans, ideal for cycling in, and headed off to Bolton station. I decided to wear my cycling shoes as I am still not 100% confident of riding fixed not clipped in, especially after a couple of pints! The train arrived and was packed, but I had to get it as otherwise I would be late! I stood there with my bike vertical but not stopping at Salford Crescent meant we were in Manchester in 20minutes. I got off at Oxford Road since I was probably in everyone elses way. The all that was left was the 3miles out to Levenshulme, my friend saw me arrive and came out to meet me (which made it loads easier).

A brilliant evening followed, great food, a couple of drinks and amazing company. There were ten of us in total including another three I know and like from work. After the meal I even went to the pub! I left at midnight and decided just to ride all the way home. It was a lovely ride and when I got home I was buzzing.

Can't remember the last time I went out but I had a great night.

I needed reminding

Today I was working over at Rivington and after finding out I didn't have to be there till 12noon I had plans to run in the morning then head over. Well after a bad nights sleep and waking up with no motivation the run didn't happen. But I still had to ride over to Rivington so I set out at 11am. Up onto Winter Hill, the sun was out and I remembered how much I enjoyed this. My poor mountain bikes have been feeling neglected this year. Riding through the trees on the way to lower barn everything felt right.

Then it was a few hours of skills and a ride. The group were great, no moaning on the climbs and we made it all the way to the Pike. I was in charge of the route down, since I know the area so well. Some good descending from the group meant I could set a good pace!

Time to head home and I was tired and climbing up to Georges Lane was slow. But once there I made the decision to head on up to the top of Winter Hill.

The sun was beginning to set and for the first time in years I wished I had a proper camera with me. Still my phone almost captured it.

Off down the Belmont Descent, wow this is fun, oh my legs hurt I want to sit down. I no longer have the strenght for 5minute descents. I was glad to get to the road and spin home.

It's been a poor start to the year mountain bike wise. Must make more of an effort as it is fun!

An afternoon of bikes and cake

Yesterday I headed into Manchester to meet Emma to go window shopping for bikes. She has decided to get a mountain bike. Seeing as she lives in the Peak District this is an excellent idea!

Originally Jumbly was going to join us but she wasn't feeling great. Turns out that was a good thing for me as once I got on the bike my legs started hurting so a shorter route there was no bad thing! I had thought they were fine from the 80mile trip to get cips yesterday. By the time I got to Manchester I had decided to get the train home!

Once I met Emma we headed to Harry Hall to try Spesh and Trek out - the spesh was too long. Then onto Evans where we tried a Kona and got excellent service. I know others have had issues but everytime I go there they are lovely!

After that it was time for cake and hot chocolate. Well it is an essential part of any bike shopping trip! before heading up to the station, which was packed. But the first bit of anxiety I had all day so pretty good going! I hadn't realised till this point what time it was as I was having so much fun!

At the station I had another odd bloke talking to me, something about how he wanted my bike. I moved!

Once home I was so tired I had a bowl of cereal and went to bed. Lovely day, will be repeated when Emma wants to test ride bikes!

Fixed to the seaside

So today the plan was to ride to the coast for fish&chips and ice-cream with Simon. I has plotted us a route that was a little further than his usual route but I promised it wasn't hilly so it would be fine. At 10am exactly I got to the Co-Op in Adlington (Jumbly will be impressed!) where Simon was riding up and down the road to ensure his bike worked! We set out and the weather seemed to be trying to impress us as the sun came out. The ride over was lovely and there was only one navigation error when I took us down the wrong road, but its good to practice U-turns! Although the one long downhill was terrifying, Simon shot off past me and I was completely out of control. My legs were trying to stop pedalling which made the bike feel odd, I had my brakes on and I was squealing! I have no idea how his legs spin so fast!

Once at Southport it was straight to the chippy, I was suprised to see so many people, guess I normally go during the week, although it has been a while! The sensible decision was made and we ate inside since it was cold. That meant a plate, knife and fork. Although we both forgot them and sat down first!

Eventually we had to drag ourselves back out into the cold. Two extra jackets on for me! Just as we had got all the bits back on the bikes and the lock off I noticed a man looking at the bikes. Well they were pretty! Then he came and stood between me and Simon before starting to talk to Simon. So not just me that odd people seem to flood to. After his life story we managed to escape after 10minutes. Simon blames me but it was definetly him the man was talking to and I barely said a word!

Back onto the Coast road and into the wind! It was nice to get off it in fact. Back the hills didn't seem too bad, although Simon on my shoulder on a downhill shouting spin caused my legs to blow up as I hit the uphill section, that is my excuse for how painfully slow I was getting up it!

Since Simon had said he was too cold for ice-cream at Southport I demanded a stop at freddies on the way back. Two lovely scoops, one of the valentines special and one of Chocolate Monster - well I had to! Before heading back to Adlington, here Simon tried to hug me as we rode along, he had some excuse about turning round to look at the car that was beeping at us.

All that was left was for me to drag myself home, it seemed very hilly and I didn't go over Chorley Old Road as Simon had suggested!

Fab day when can we do it again?

Taking my own advice

Today I am resting my legs! Having gone from doing hardly any exercise - I never quite got to nothing - to lots! I am always reminding people how rest is one of the most important parts of training. Without the rest you won't recover and improve. But have I been taking my own advice? No my last rest day was over a week ago when I spent the day with my mum. Since then there has been something everyday. Some days it is just commuting and I do take it easy but the shortest day of that was an 18mile round trip. Today I was planning on doing the park run and then rushing off to work. I decided yesterday that this was just a silly idea and so today is going to be a rest day. Yes I will ride to and from work, but at less than two miles each way I think that is fine! The rest of the day is going to spent doing basically nothing. My legs are sore they will appreciate it! Then tomorrow I have a plan that involves bikes, chips and ice-cream!

Puppy Power

I was working out in Didsbury today and my friend kate tried to persuade me out for a ride, but I decided to be kind of sensible - I did commute by bike - and say no. I woke up to a text asking if I would at least come round to see her and hugo (her puppy), how could I say no? So it was a nice couple of hours walking round the park and then playing with the puppy, perfect.



Left to ride home and had to stop and take a couple of layers off, down to just a base layer and a thin windproof. It felt so warm compared to what it has been like!

Puppy Power

I was working out in Didsbury today and my friend kate tried to persuade me out for a ride, but I decided to be kind of sensible - I did commute by bike - and say no. I woke up to a text asking if I would at least come round to see her and hugo (her puppy), how could I say no? So it was a nice couple of hours walking round the park and then playing with the puppy, perfect.

Left to ride home and had to stop and take a couple of layers off, down to just a base layer and a thin windproof. It felt so warm compared to what it has been like!

A long run

Since Jumbly was away on monday and I went cross riding instead of our usual fixie chicks ride we arranged to meet today. Since she is following a training plan for her marathon I suggested we could run, as long as it wasn't too long and wasn't too fast. She wanted a 90minute run which sounded fine. So I headed out on my bike, stopped off for a couple of errands and got there just after 10am. On the way there I got a new maximum speed on the fixed bike of 27mph, apparently a cadence of 137.7rpm!

After a bit of faffing we headed out with flipper for a nice muddy run, not too hilly which is good for me as I am rubbish both up and down. Jumbly set a nice pace, although I was glad I could hide from the wind behind her on the last bit.

Back to Jumblys and the wonderful Glyn went out and bought us sandwiches. Then a nice afternoon chatting before I rode home. That felt harder with tired legs from the running.

Lovely day, can I do it everyday?

Potholes

When the snow went it left huge holes all over the roads, they are everywhere. At first it was okay I was able to avoid them, even some little hops over them. But then I started riding fixed, what now? I am sure there are amazing riders out there who can bunnyhop fixed but I am only just coping with the keeping pedalling. The first one attacked me last wednesday on the way home from work, pinch flat on the rear. Since then I have been more aware of these monsters waiting for me. But today I was spinning downhill, my legs a blur and I see one waiting for me, a glance over my right shoulder and I see a truck. Decision time, pothole or the truck. I take the pothole, clunk! A couple of metres, dare I think it, a couple more, I think I got away with it, a couple more, oh the steering is gone the front tyre is flat. Wheel off new tube, CO2 back on my way to work, having to work hard now to limit the lateness.

So what do I do about these evil puncture fiends?

A bike for everything

A chance email about maybe riding over at Marple or Disley today from a group I used to nightride with got me interested. Jumbly is away so no fixie chick ride this week. It was billed as an easy social ride so I came up with a plan. I would take the cross bike and ride there, do the ride and then get a train home (my legs are sore from trying to do loads after relative inactivity). I was a little late leaving, I really need to work on this, and even working hard any hills were imposible and I was a little late. Still Anna and Jane didn't seem bothered and we set off along the canal. After that I am not sure where we went, at times I knew where I was at times I had no idea. On one lovely bit of singletrack, still feeling nervous after no recent off-road activity, I let a bump scare me, manage to unclip then tumble off the side, forward rolling with my bike. Jane heard my screams, the braken braking my fall and then me laughing. A bang to the knee which didn't really hurt was all the damage, it is looking a little grazed and bruised now though. So back on the bike and tried to remind myself I could ride. Once around Linnett Clough I recognised it and we took in a nice rocky descent, a new drop-in thanks to Jane, which felt vertical on my drops, and then lots of careful line choices meant I didn't pinch flat! Back to Marple and Anna kindly treated me to Chocolate cake.

Feeling good I decided to ride to Stockport make a decision on the train, then Manchester and oh somehow I rode all the way home. So 100km on the Garmin, longest ride of the year, first metric century. Mainly on the road, but the cross bike is ideal for rides like this, the road would have been a killer on a mountain bike.

Bike is even washed, shame I have another three that need doing!