Today's Bike Ride

[Graham Breeze]

On the gravel bike and a mix of road and off road, 30 miles with 3500ft. My longest so far and felt ok, pleased with that, it's the long off road hills that sap the energy from my legs but becoming stronger.

I did the last 25 miles of the 128 miles Leeds - Liverpool Canal yesterday from Burscough (I drove 60+ miles to get to Burscough with my bike, but that's what you do for a fell race). It was cold and very windy and whereas on last week's 25 miles I encountered football crowds of people enjoying the sun, yesterday was merely a few hundred. Which is good because cycling along narrow tow paths etc etc.

Whilst there isn't much climbing on tow paths the scene can vary from bucolic tranquillity to derelict decaying industrial buildings - all within a few miles. Yesterday I saw a field full of blazing poppies and then redundant gas holders. It seems odd to me that no photographer has published a book showing the astonishing contrast - and how living by a canal has now become an attractive proposition for new build housing, unlike when canals were half empty dumping grounds for bikes, rubbish and dead animals with rotting locks gates.

Some things change for the better.