Craig's Musings

Club run to High Cross 

Winter bike is growing on me.  A nice ride, not too much extra effort required now it has been adjusted, and we did have rain, so the mudguards were required…

Club Run (almost) to Vanstone Park

Some small adjustments today to the Winter Bike, brakes and mudguards rubbing considerably less, hoped for an easier ride than the commute of Friday. The club run today was meant to be out to do the freewheel competition on Wheathampstead Hill, which did not appeal to a group of us in the Fast Mods and Rapides, so Andrew Grant led us on a good long route out through Studham, Totternhoe, Toddington, Lilley Bottom round to Vanstone Park.  The efforts on the adjustments prior to departure seem to have made a considerable difference,much easier ride today.  On the route we had one puncture before we crossed over on to the Lilley Bottom Road, after waiting a suitably short time fo rthat one to be repaired we went off, only for me to get a rear puncture soon after.  A quick change and a pump with CO2 soon had me off again.  We approached Vanstone as the massed ranks of those who had done the Freewheel competition went the other way, so there was no great wait at Vanstone.  A short ride directly home from Vanstone, not feeling bad at all, despite having cranked in a very respectable time.

 

 

 

 

The weather was suitable, the diaries worked, so yesterday was a cycling commute day. I chose the winter bike again, against my wishes, off we went, it was a cold start, but luckily no frost. (av temp 1.2 degrees according to Garmin – not sure I agree with that).  It was hard work on the way in, I struggled a bit on the climbs.  On inspection, the heart rate was elevated, and Jon had felt comfortable, not a good sign.

The return in the evening definitely challenged me. The overall timing is not relevant, just look at the moving time, Jon was delayed so I waited at Old Street for him to start. The first big climb on the way home (the Col de Muswell) I barely managed to keep up with Jon, and on each of the subsequent climbs I slipped further and further back.  On the climb to Totteridge common, Jon was out of sight, and he hadn’t realised how far he’d dropped me.  For him it must have felt a bit good dropping me for a change.  The ride knackered me.  As I put the bike away when I got home, the rear brake was definitely rubbing, those big 700×25 tyres and mudguards on the bike make it really susceptible to drag.  Maybe it was that, maybe I’m incubating a virus.  Don’t know, but as can be seen by the figures in the diagram, the ride home was hard work for me.     What will I do this weekend?

At least there is now less drag as Movember is over.  I was pleased to see two good friends had also participated, Jordan’s Mo was the most awesome.  Well done guys.

Turbo by 01badger at Garmin Connect – Details

If I am not allowed to ride in (weather forecast not good morning and evening) and I am getting woken up by the traveller departing at 5am, then I might as well good use of the time.

Winter Bike outing

I don’t like mudguards, they are ALWAYS a pain.  Anyway, I finally succumbed and got the winter bike down, and took it out for a spin.  Naturally had a problem with the mudguards while out – the front one broke and jammed.  Funny what happens when the front wheel stops dead….

Anyway, I removed what was left of it, and will have to replace it.  The chainrings on that bike (a Giant Defy 3.5) are cheap and nasty, and I really must get them sorted.

Club Run to Barton-Le-Clay – Details.

 
Went out on the club run with the Fast Mods. Luckily, the leader planned a good route, changed frequently and ran a well disciplined ride. As we approached Barton, he even threw in a quick climb of the Sharpenhoe Clappers for good measure. (the good thing was that I managed to climb it without fatiguing. However as we approached St Albans on the return, I did flag a bit, but family lunch (daughter home from Uni for the first visit, and parents here too!) was scheduled for 13:00 so I had to get home on time. (13:01 due to getting caught at the lights….)

Club Run to Wendover Woods by 01badger at Garmin Connect – Details.

Today was the first time I have led a group at the club, so a little planning was required, rather than just turn up and ride, I spent Saturday afternoon planning the route, and taking my wife out for a drive, stopping for a cuppa whilst out. The Group was small, seven of us, which is a relief as it gets a bit dodgy when there are too many, and there has been recently some bad behaviour. The average speed worked out quite sensible, and the group rode well, I called changes at the front every 5 minutes or so, so everyone took their turn, although there were only a couple of sections where the wind seemed to be directly ahead.

No complaints from those in the group, so I call that a success. On the return we did a shorter route and were back in plenty of time for lunch and no ear-bending! It could have been ten miles longer on the return, but I enjoyed the ride.

Outside Schipol airport a giant hamster wheel with human hamsters,  raising money for cancer research.