2 years later

still got nowt to say

Rides 10 and 11 of 2014

Ride 10

36 miles, Salsa Fargo, cheshire lanes.

Ride 11

Cotic Solaris, 3 hours riding time, roast beef and onion baguette, coffee, excellent company.

Ride 9 of 2014, White Peaks photo shoot, Cotic Solaris

About 15 miles ridden, about 6 hours out in the hills, about 250 photographs taken, of these 250 there are about 45 different actual location shots.

Classic route guide for STW magazine, just the three of us, me, Jenn and Barney, wet, windy, muddy, snowy, cold but mostly good light.

Trails were extra claggy, mud tyres would have been a good idea !

Stopped at Eyam for lunch, struggled to leave the warmth of the cafe, made the most of the dying light, job done.

Bonus was calling in to see Cy and Paul at Cotic HQ.

The shot above was taken whilst driving home, the actual riding shots will be in the April edition of the magazine, its fair to say that I'm quite pleased with some of them.

And for the two of you who are interested, Nikon D7000, Nikon 16-85mm f3.5-5.6, Sigma 50-150mm f2.8, 35mm f1.8, stashed inside a lowepro photosport 200 AW bag, with a Sony RX100 as back up.

Ride 7 and 8 of 2014, new bike shakedown

Ride 7

12 miles, new Salsa fargo, wet, windy, didnt feel much like riding....

new Fargo, decided that Jack and I will be doing some 2 and 3 day rides this summer, the Fargo is in my opinion the perfect bike for this as we will be doing mixture rides, thats on road, off road and anything in between rides, he will be on the cream version, I will be riding the new blue version.

Ride 8

55 miles, back lanes and sausage butty, felt tons better today, might have been to do with the bright spring sunshine.

Headed out to Jodrell Bank, 2 reasons, I like the back roads way I can get there, went out via Pickmere, across to Knutsford and then out to Goostrey.

The best reason though is the sausage butty, without doubt the finest sausage butty £3.50 can buy, accompanied by great coffee and a view to inspire.

Ride 6 of 2014, 44 miles, Salsa Fargo

First ride after a few days on Anglesey, walking in the magnificent weather, winds like you'd never believe, unfortunately I picked up an eye infection, probably something blown in by the wind.

So, I set off without breakfast, aiming to get something along the way, no idea where I was going, headed out into the battered lanes of Cheshire, I was glad to be on the Fargo with the state of the roads. Before too long I was out near Knutsford and thought about the cafe at Jodrell Bank, so thats where I headed, a coffee and a Cliff Bar.

Raining and hail on the way home, and of course that ever present headwind, I'm begining to think that its not really there, just my legs are so heavy !, by the time I get to the outskirts of civilisation I'm staving and starting to feel the early stages of bonking so head over to the bike shak to see Simon.

Two gels later and I'm good top go, ten mins of catching up on each others news and I'm away off home, 44 miles, 3200 Garmin calories.

Ride 5 of 2014, Feb 10th, wet, windy, cold, miserable, 28 bike destroying miles.

Legs were heavy after yesterday, I wasn't going to go out but the sun was shining, so I went out.

Almost the second I left it started raining so I headed back for a rain jacket, in fact it looked like light showers, perfect to test the Scott Divider jacket I'm reviewing for STW, light weight and allegedly totally waterproof.

So off I set, aiming to get to Jodrell Bank along a mix of on and off road, just short of 50 miles round trip, I've all day so will be pootling along at a sedate pace.

By the time I got to the river it was throwing it down, cold rain and hail, great.

By the time I got to the Lym end of the TPT I was cold, my legs and hands were soaked, my top half however was warm and dry, the rain just beading on the fabric of the jacket and rolling off, I was surprised at how effective it was.

By the time I got to Tatton Park I was wet, cold and bloody miserable so turned for home.

By the time I got home I was wet, cold, bloody miserable and hungry.... but not wet up top.

So, a soul and bike destroying ride, only positive was the jacket proved to be everything it claimed.

Ride 4 of 2014, Salsa Fargo, TPT, Delamere, 68 miles

Met Greg at the wardens hut and off we set, no agenda other than to meet up with Nick and Rob at the Anderton Boat Lift, I hadn't factored in the headwind which meant we were running a little behind schedule but no problem, a quick call and the plan was readjusted, ended up at Delamere via the River Weaver path, and we'd managed to dodge the rain and hail that everyone else seemed to have suffered today.

By Delamere my legs were toast, cake, sausage butty (thanks Rob), two coffees, a cliff bar and a bottle of nuun restored enough strength to get me home, slowly....

68 miles in mud and against a headwind, pleased with that after just a week back on the bike, four rides in and already my legs are getting stronger, my waist lines is receeding and my alcohol intake was almost under control last week :-). 

In other news the Brooks Cambium saddle I fitted to replace the Swift fitted like a dream, so much so I can see this being my saddle of choice for the Vaya and other long haul bikes. I'll be swapping out the Brooks bar tape this week, Lizard Skins 3.2 DSP tape is to replace it.

Its fair to say that I've given the Brooks saddles and bar tape a fair trial, probably 18 months use on the Fargo now, I love the look of it, and its reasonably comfortable but not enough to contemplate really long days in the saddle, I'm sad about that.

Riding chat was mostly about bike packing long routes, making plans, choosing kit, and of course bikes and new zealand, I can feel myself becoming something of a zealot in my espousing of this wonderful country, its fair to say that if Janet and I were younger we'd be seriously considering moving there.

For those who are interested this is what has piqued my interest.

http://kiwibrevet.blogspot.co.nz

Ride 3 of 2014, Trans Pennine Trail, Bridgewater Canal, Surly Krampus

Five hours sat in the saddle, slowly grinding my drive train away at about the same speed as my fitness is returning, seems a fair price to pay, the recent high rains have left their mark on my local trails, either heavy mud, deep puddles or both with not much solid ground.

Despite what I thought the Surly Knards were actually perfect for these conditions, not a great deal of grip but the big carcass floated over the top of the mud and the treads cleared well, it got to be quite fun when a turn was required and soon became predictable.

Sore sit bones today, in hindsight getting straight out on the Fargo with the Brooks saddle after such a long break wasn't the smartest move ever but served to confirm that the Brooks Swift saddle has served its time, I have a Brooks Cambium ready to be fitted, just need to find some bar tape to match the slate grey colour.

Other thoughts, I've been focusing heavily on the Kiwi Brevet after talking to one of the guys who was riding this event, it really appeals to me, especially after spending some time in New Zealand, its fair to say that this event (and the earlier in the month Southern Brevet) are appealing more to me than the Tour Divide.

I've entered the Welsh Ride Thing, after spending most of my riding time alone last year (by choice) this year I want to get out and ride with people, that is actually get outside on a bike instead of talking about it.

I have a long list of friends all over the country that I am going to visit this year, ranging from Cornwall up to Edinburgh, and lots of places in between, and I'd really like to push the photography and writing this year, maybe I can combine the two ?.

Ride 2 of 2014, Llandegla red and black, Surly Krampus

First mountainbike ride of 2014 with Barney, one lap of the red and black, 2 stalls at the drops, no damage done, sore wrists and backside, coffee and the biggest slice of toast in the world to finish, tired now.

Ride 1 of 2014, 28 miles, Salsa Fargo

Its been 8 weeks since I last threw a leg over a bike, in that time I've been in New Zealand and Singapore, its been a whirl wind of travel, new places, new experiences, lots of smiles, lots of great food and drink and just short of 45000 kilometres of carbon based movement.

Because of this I have lost most of the fitness I gained last year and oh boy does it show, today was the first day back in the saddle and as is always the case that fitness hill is even steeper than last year, 28 miles today on the Salsa Fargo with a seeemingly ever-present headwind. I was only pootling along but it hurt, everywhere it could, sat here now 5 hours later and legs still tingling, its going to be a hard few months to get back.

But, I'm happy to have had the privilidge of doing what we did, and losing some fitness and gaining some fatness is a price worth paying.

2013 finished

Still searching.....

4 months later

not got much to say

been riding bikes, been walking, been taking photographs, been enjoying my family and friends

you know, the usual stuff

been thinking too much, been drinking too much

been reading books again, been writing words again

you know, the usual stuff

2 week catch up

Local rides mostly with a few jaunts out of cheshire, well one actually.

Monday 1st, 28 miles along the TPT.

Tuesday 2nd, 20 road miles.

Weds 3rd, 25 miles around Gisburn Forest with Piers, we managed to get lost on man made trails !, and when Piers fell heavily for a few seconds I had that "oh shit" feeling but he manned up and got on with it :-), it was by any standards a good days riding.

Thurs 4th, 62 miles, up to Delamere, just pushing te miles up a bit now.

Friday 5th, 54 miles, Salsa Vaya, damned if I can remember where I went !

Weekend off bikes then boom, straight into a century, a real old fashioned imperial century, Salsa Vaya with 40mm tyres so not exactly easy, mix of 45 off road miles and 55 tarmac, 101 miles and I still felt good in the legs at the end, in fact it was only my wrists that were sore, pleased with that.

Monday 8th, 101 miles.

Tuesday 9th, declared this a rest day, I was tired so just drove to Delamere and had a spin around the singletrack, 8 miles and a picnic.

Weds 10th, 38 miles, rode with Barney to a hill, the biggest hill in Cheshire, slept on top and talked lots of shit. It was Barneys first ever bivvy so it was definatly a "not roughing it"  version and I think he enjoyed it.

travelling relatively light

pub stops along the way

remembering some good times in the past

after some boil in the bag meals (which are delicious BTW) we spoilt ourselves with some fine cheese and wine

I think that we were in his spot

emptying the excess water ( I think thats what it was)

Sunrise shadow

Thursday 11th, early start and another amble through the lanes, 48 miles in total.

That means 384 miles in 9 days of riding, should help me through the Lakes 200 that I am starting on Sunday with another old friend, we aren't racing and not going to be strict on the route, but will be self sufficient and expect to have a least 2 nights under the stars.

MTB Trail Leader

Part of my redunancy package was £1000 that I could spend on "retraining" for a new career, with that in mind I booked myself on to the CTC's MTB trail leader and MTB tech leader courses, both at the Dales MTB centre.

Run by friends Stu and Brenda, its located just to the bottom right of this picture in the fanstastic setting of the dales, the course was run by Sam Cook, one of the legendary mountainbike racers of the early 90's (Sam was a sponsored Orange Bikes rider).

I turned up early on the Monday with an arrangement to go riding with Stu for the day, unfortunately I'd managed to sleep awkwardly and had a crook'd neck :-(, so as Stu had the lawns to cut I went out for a bimble on my own, just along the river and back, but enough to loosen things up a bit.

Tuesday dawned and with it big blue skies and sunshine, too good to miss a ride today, and as the course didn't actually start until 5 that afternoon I decided to explore. Once again heading up river to Gunnerside. I'd long ago seen that there are the remains of lead mines scattered around this area, scanning the map showed at least 2 locations.

Heading uphill in the blazing sunshine proved that my fitness is still sorely lacking, and that despite checking my map several times I managed to miss the right hand turn that would take me into the valley where the remains are, backtracking until I found the trail, I was presented with a lovely swoopy singletrack descent right down to the valley floor, hard to resist letting the Krampus fly.

Had a good long chat with a chap who had walked up the valley to see the ruins, he knew the history of the place well, and we both agreed that whilst we had arrived here for pleasure, the thought of doing a 10 hour shift having walked up from Gunnerside and then back again afterwards was not that appealing !.

Now that I'd dropped all the height, and looking down the valley at some very interseting tracks I decided to head down to Gunnerside by following the river, it was fine for a while, occcasionally getting too technical for my skills which meant the odd carry (also mindful that I was on my own and apart from the walker I hadn't seen anyone for hours).

I ended up in a lovely little wood, that would have been perfect but for the fact that I was carrying a 30lb bike, still it only took half an hour to get through on foot, once down I headed back to the river to follow the trail home, a nice day out, some 30 odd miles covered and back in time for the start of the course.

The course itself was most enjoyable, good folks and a great teacher, Sam has a nice way about him and gets across what he needs to without seemingly any effort, 2 full days of theory and field work and glad to say we all passed, so now I am a qualified MTB trail leader.

Driving home that night meant passing York so I picked up No1 daughter and a car full of stuff to be stored whilst she is away in New Zealand.

Last week was spent at home, just the occasional ride out in between showers, although one day I did get to Delamere for a play out on the new Cotic Solaris.

And then on Thursday finally linking the trans pennine trail with the Middlewood Way so that now when I head into the peaks I no longer have to endure the A6 through Stockport.

After a weekend away in Anglesey with Jan, this week will be all about riding bikes and not drinking, today I went out in the rain on the Salsa Vaya, 28 miles in under 2 hours without really trying at all, maybe there is a hint of fitness finally coming through ?

S24O

is a picture is worth a thousand words ?

70 miles door to door, 1000 metres of climbing, 6000 calories.

day 1 - 40 miles, 12inch subway sandwich, chicken jalfrezi, chocolate pudding, tea, whisky, cold and windy, 5 hours saddle time.

day 2 - 30 miles, no food, little drink, downhill pretty much all the way, 2 and 1/2 hours saddle time.