Today's Bike Ride

Lol Merrysteve :)

daz it is a chainsaw!!! And it saws a treat now that it has a new blade and chain! I go and scrounge for wood, so I passed a HUGE branch fallen off an oak tree lying in the side of the hedgerow when I came off the hill on the crosser last Friday. Ian and I went to pick it up in his pickup Saturday afternoon. It needed cutting into manageable lengths on the roadside. Once cut up and split it filled half my logstore :) Another 1/3 of the store was filled with an almost equally large bit of blackthorn. It all burns a treat as it was nicely seasoned along the roadside ;)

Hmmmm, warmth for weeks :)

Oh and I watched the first round of the national cyclocross league as it was in Abergavenny. All top riders were there, so I thought I have a look at how it is done. Definitely going to give it a go myself in a couple of weeks or so, after the relays...

Well, I was meant to be working but somehow had this familiar calling to the hills.......I couldn't resist and as if by magic found my way via some testing climbs to Nant y Moel and the famous Pricetown clock tower, it never tells the correct time, always an hour and a half ahead of both BST and GMT, so somebody must change it. I suppose in the bowels of the Garw valley it does get dark somewhat earlier than one would expect. Only one way out from there, the Bwlch in all its autumnal glory and what a treat, stunning, stunning weather for cycling, dry, crisp and cool but clear blue sky illuminating the Beacons. Swooping down to Treorchy at, ahem...45mph or so was utter, utter joy, just magic, pure magic. One of "those" moments, makes you glad to be alive:):)
And, by golly, those Swiss wheels don't half go:eek::eek:

Just under 21 miles on the mountain bike on sunday.........absolutely love it, love it love it!!!!!!
Crashed twice - one on each down hill run thats recently been made near blackburn (billinge hill, by witton park) but got away with minor scratches!

Then 6.5 miles home from work on my ribble....quads still very destroyed from sunday and the hill after hill hurt...but got home in 20 minutes - nearly killed by a silly woman in her BMW M3 not watching where she was going........I kinda accepted I was about to die as I was going at some speed and I could either hit a stone wall or her...she saw me at the last minute and swerved outa the way!

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Originally Posted by Al Fowler

Just under 21 miles on the mountain bike on sunday.........absolutely love it, love it love it!!!!!!
Crashed twice - one on each down hill run thats recently been made near blackburn (billinge hill, by witton park) but got away with minor scratches!

Then 6.5 miles home from work on my ribble....quads still very destroyed from sunday and the hill after hill hurt...but got home in 20 minutes - nearly killed by a silly woman in her BMW M3 not watching where she was going........I kinda accepted I was about to die as I was going at some speed and I could either hit a stone wall or her...she saw me at the last minute and swerved outa the way!

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you sure she actually saw you. what colour top was you wearing ?

8 mile over fields and trails on mountain bike. Just took an hour.
Think I enjoy the road outings more.

no more cycling for me until I save pennies for a new helmet, shoes, overshoes, arm warmers, leg warmers, cape.....you get the picture!!!

A tad over over 55miles today in the peak. Not bad weather wise although it rained near the end. Latched onto some derby mercury lads for the climb up to alderwasley and bolehill Lovely views. Hammered it back to derby. Full winter gear on. Bit blowy and about 17 mph. Bit slower on the Mercian.

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Originally Posted by daz h

you sure she actually saw you. what colour top was you wearing ?

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Yeah she definetly saw me to swerve out of the way at the last minute, or she'd of squashed me.
I was wearing a royal blue jersey...with my bright yellow OMM jucksack. It was still bright daylight and wearing anything brighter I doubt would have made any difference.

I mentioned it to my mum and she said that woman is always on the last minute and speeds through our village to pick her daughter up from dancing.

56 miles through the Peak on another lovely autumn morning. Perfect conditions hardly any wind. Got caught up in Weaver Valley's hill climb up the Cat and Fiddle but managed to resist temptation and stayed in a steady rhythm all the way up. New cassette on the back much lower than the 11-19 8 speed I had on before, that was murder on the climbs.

A brisk 16 mile in 62 minutes with 1000ft ascent.
I will break the hour one day.
Still trying to keep cadence high and HR between 140 and 150 bpm.