Today's Bike Ride

[Hanneke]

Ratfink, I used to sling the bike over my right shoulder... the new technique is to put it accross my upper back, leaning on both shoulders. MUCH more comfy, as the weight is balanced evenly accross your back and you can walk streighter with it. It does bounce a lot while running though, but I doubt I'd do much of that at Three Peaks

Lilac, you have to carry one of those orange plastic bivvy's. I have a better one, but they insist on that large heavy pastic one. Depending on weather they may make you take a waterproof as well, and you need to carry a whistle. Mine is incoporated in my rucksack. That is it really. I carry gels and bars to keep the energy levels up, have a waterbladder in my rucksack, as there is only one waterstation (that you HAVE to walk through) going up Whernside. I also carry a multitool, chaintool, spare chainlink, a couple of inner tubes, a pump a spare cleat and spare cleat bolts. I have a friend (Dominion) doing my support and he has spare wheels and outer tyres in the car with him as well as more food and drink just in case, but I haven't had to use any of that before...

I go very carefully, so not had any wheel/tyre mishaps... I think you are quicker when you take it carefully enough not to have any mechanicals rather than going fast and get mechanicals, but that is my excuse for being a chicken off road really LOL

[dominion]

Is that technique going to work when you've got a rucksack on as well?

[emmilou]

I did some flat / sedate rides along the Monsal Trail (old railway line) - 6.5 miles Saturday, 8.5 miles Sunday

Did you go 'wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee' when you went through the tunnel?! :wink:

[ratfink]

Emmi - I went Whoo-whoo!

Lilac - you can roll up your survival bag (big orange thing) and tape it to your frame with insulation tape (if you don't have a rucksack/ camel back).

My chap takes a 500ml bottle in his jersey pocket rather than camel back, though loads of people have camel back.

[Hanneke]

Is that technique going to work when you've got a rucksack on as well?

Well, yes, as I said, I carried it up both Cribyn and Pen-y-fan yesterday, that is about as much carrying as Simon's Fell and Whernside...

[wheezing donkey]

hanneke could you tell me what are the legal requirements of things you have to carry with you on the 3 peals cross ? ie maps ect . and what personal things will you be taking ie tubes gels ect ?

All the regs can be found at 3peakscyclocross.org.uk

[Toffer]

55miles of hard graft in the wind and rain, well half was a slog into a howling headwind, the return loop very very fast! Might as well be autumn with the amount of leaf mulch on the road! Still feeling righteous now and stuffing my face all evening!

[Hanneke]

I only got as far as the pub... which is 50 metres, when I turned back, too wet, cold and especially windy, as I had a ride along hatterall Ridge planned, I decided against it and get on the turbo for some intervals in stead... Had a quick nap before getting the turbo out and woke up just after 11 pm!!! So no riding for me today

[ratfink]

napping is good!

well this rubbish weather has seen a dramatic decrease in my (admittedly declining) weekly milage. With just commute going on and no extra eveing or weekend rides - oh well

[Hanneke]

I am finding it hard too Ratfink... Nights closing in, having to work late, doesn't help! So took the day off today for a mega ride in the Peaks, on the crosser, training for 3 peaks cx... It included an ascent of Winnatts in a gale force headwind blowing down the gorge :w00t: 4.4 km/hr, don't think yuo can go any slower than that without falling over