Cycling 2024

[Nickslikk2112]

Got out today, but not for long. Little brother came round to introduce his new lady friend to us, just a quick visit for a coffee. Three hours and a lunch later he left. Ho-hum.

Managed a quick 21.5 miles before sunset, it'll do. Be nice to get 12 more in tomorrow for 150 for the week, but the weather may not be too good. We'll see.

https://www.strava.com/activities/12915098497/

[Slim]

Today I wanted to do 50km, to get the monthly total over 650. Rain was threatened for the afternoon, and the roads were wet. Normally I probably wouldn't bother but I hadn't been out on a bike since Thursday and the next couple of days look cycling-hostile.

For wet roads I'd normally choose the Tricross or the first Boardman. I didn't quite have my nerve back for the Boardman, having had to contend with a flat tyre on its last two outings. But the Tricross still has a deformed rear tyre and I wasn't able to straighten it out by deflating and manipulating it. So the Boardman it was.

I set off at about 1030, later than I intended. I did a Twycrosser, with the detour to Orton.

I wrapped up very warm but didn't overheat. Cold out there. The advertised rain started at about 1330, but it was very light. I didn't have to put up with it for long anyway. I was home 20 minutes later.

Back on 57.63. Quite an enjoyable run out really, apart from all the slimy mud on the quieter roads. Happy to have road tested the new inner tube and tyre, and the front hub adjustment on the Boardman.

Listened to 5 Live and more Boris memoirs.

https://www.strava.com/activities/12922423242

[Nickslikk2112]

Be nice to get 12 more in tomorrow for 150 for the week, but the weather may not be too good. We'll see.

Weather wasn't good and I didn't feel good.

Decided to spruce up the Turbo Trainer bike yesterday. Chain was almost completely seized up, took a good hour to clean it up and get it moving, still several stiff links after that. Plenty of GT85 and lube seem to have it about 99.5% there now, might give it a try. Still don't feel good though.

[Slim]

A very cold day, about 1C. But sunny. I hoped I could tolerate the temperature long enough for 40km or so. I thought I'd do a shortish version of the Twycrosser.

Well, when I actually got out there, I found that the conditions were more than tolerable. Unexpectedly, it turned out to be quite an enjoyable ride. Bright sunshine helps a lot. Actually really nice out there.

So I did a Twycrosser, with a brief excursion down the Dad's Army route (maybe I should stop calling it that? I don't know how many people read these but no doubt some find it baffling). I turned at Old Grendon, but instead of continuing the usual loop to the east and back up, I just went back up exactly the way I'd come down. An - if you will - Double Half Twycrosser.

Took the pic near Alton Hill and annoyingly, I got mud and snow stuck in my right cleat so it wouldn't clip in properly, which made the hill more of a challenge than usual.

Back before sunset. I could have stayed out longer. I did have lights. But my thumbs and toes were starting to get a bit cold. It had been a nice ride. I didn't want to spoil it.



Back on 58.93. It's looking like I might be able to match last year's distance total, 10321k. Depends what the weather's like in December. 9582 done in 2024 so far.

Listened to more of Boris Johnson's Unleashed. Right up there with Pete Townshend's book as one of the best memoirs I've ever read. Or listened to.

https://www.strava.com/activities/12945145075

[Thenop]

I don't know how many people read these

I read them, I like reading all of this. That I never respond is mostly due to the fact I do not cycle so have little to add. But I do enjoy reading these, as I do all the cyclist stories on here.

[Nickslikk2112]

After three days of half-hearted Turbo Trainer use - but it felt so hard - due to cold weather and feeling rather under the weather due to a cold, I managed to get out on the roads today.

It gave me a chance to wear my new long sleeved base layer - my Disco Perv outfit as Mrs S calls it - new overshoes and new gloves. The Base Layer and Overshoes performed well, despite the overshoes being a struggle to put in - since buying them I've found people saying that Endura sizes come up small, ho-hum - but my gloves seem to be for for about 20 miles at 3C. Luckily I was out for 21 so didn't end up too bad fingerly.

Roads were a bit wet and ice free with just the occasional bit of snow transgression into the carriageway and it felt an awful lot nicer than slogging away indoors for an hour. Don't know as if I'll make it to 500 road miles in November though now, the weekend looks a wash out.

https://www.strava.com/activities/12957870538

[Slim]

Not so cold today, about two degrees warmer, or less cold, than Wednesday. The wind was coming from the west and I thought I'd do the same as last time, but maybe not so far. Down the western leg of a Twycrosser, and back up the same way.

Well, when I got out there, unfortunately, conditions felt worse than Wednesday. I was definitely colder, despite the modest uplift in air temperature. The bright sunshine made a lot of difference, last time. Also I found that I didn't really feel like coming back the same way again. So I decided I'd do a regular Twycrosser.



However .. by the time I'd reached Sheepy Magna the sun had come out, the roads had dried up a bit and conditions were generally a lot more accommodating. How to extend the ride? My first thought was to go east to Kirkby Mallory and come up through Bagworth and Ellistown. But that would mean a cold headwind after Bagworth. So I looped back to Sheepy, pedalled north all the way to Measham then went west for a bit of the "Lower Westbound" route. Before I got as far as Acresford, I hung a right toward Ashby through Willesley. Not sure if I'd ever been along that stretch between Acresford and Ashby before. Not for years if I have, anyway. Back the usual way from Ashby.

I listened to 5 Live.

Back on 62.65km.

Glad to have clocked up 179km on the Boardman without a flat tyre. The front wheel is still spinning nicely without a wobble, as well.

https://www.strava.com/activities/12958682503