Needs a splash of orange here and there to fully 'Beestonise' her, the saddle needs replacing so there will be an opportunity for orange there, and I'm thing bar tape as well, that will be enough ;)
Wednesday, 14 July 2010
Velo Solo!
The single speed is here, took her for a short test spin today and I have to say I think I am going to enjoy this :)
Needs a splash of orange here and there to fully 'Beestonise' her, the saddle needs replacing so there will be an opportunity for orange there, and I'm thing bar tape as well, that will be enough ;)
Needs a splash of orange here and there to fully 'Beestonise' her, the saddle needs replacing so there will be an opportunity for orange there, and I'm thing bar tape as well, that will be enough ;)
c2c
Started the trip with a c2c 'shakedown' Kelly dropped us off just outside the lovely village of Ulpha, leaving us 23 miles via St Bees to the B&B in Whitehaven, the idea was just to loosing the legs a little, the climb out St Bees certainly did that, little did I know at that point that that was just an 'inconvenience' compared to what lay ahead.
Distance = 23.3 miles
Time = 1 hrs 42 mins
Ave Speed = 13.7 mph
Top Speed = 37.0 mph
Hillometer = 101.5 ft/mile
Weather = Sunny Spells, 17c
Day 1
Set out from Whitehaven just before 9 am, the first few miles are on cycleways around the houses of Whitehaven and out into the countryside, rolling hills soon become the order of the day but nothing too testing until Winlatter, that was my first real test on the c2c, it felt hard!
First Sight of the hills Lowes Water
A quick snack at the visitor centre at the top of Winlatter and we were off again heading for Keswick, we didn't stop there but the little bit we saw reminded me of what a lovely town it is. Back onto a section of cycleway out of Kewsick, the old train line out of the town was through some nice wooded area and took us 3 miles out of town until we met the A66, we followed alongside this for a few miles until turning off towards Greystoke.
From Greystoke we headed down to Penrith for a lunch stop in a lovely quiet Cafe. After a lovely omelette and chips off we went up a nasty little dig, well it was nasty on a full stomach and onwards towards the biggy of the day, Hartside.
We were soon in Renwick and at the bottom of the 4.5 mile (and 1300ft) climb to the top of Hartside, it just went on and on. I was OK up untill a switchback before joining the main road, that took a fair bit out of me but I recovered and made it to the main road up, about a mile and a half to go at this point. The headwind now felt as though it was blowing me back down, head down I ploughed on, past the cottage on the left, not far now, one last bend near the top and it levels out a little, I even dropped it a couple of gears and pushed for the top. I had made it, at that point it was the hardest thing I had ever done on a bike, it took a big effort and a large slice of will power to pull me up there, not forgetting the weight I was carrying in the panniers, this was the pinnacle for me.
After a well deserved glass of Coke and a coffee for Dad we headed downwards towards Alston, our stop over point.
Distance = 75.6 miles
Time = 6 hrs 24 mins
Ave Speed = 11.8 mph
Top Speed = 35.2 mph
Hillometer = 129.4 ft/mile
Weather = Sunny Spells, 16c
Day 2
Alston is a lovely town, apart from the cobbled hill out of it, very picturesque I agree but not the easiest thing to cycle up after a full english before setting off towards the highest point of the c2c route, the climb began only 5 miles into the day, far too early for me as I like to have have a good few miles in the legs before a goodclimb, oh well, we couldn't move the hill.
Any how we reached Nenthead at the bottom of the climb, I got my head down a dug in, this was harder than Hartside, much harder. It was also harder than the correct route I suspect, the top of the climb was like a wall! I didn't beat me though. I say the correct route as I had my head down so much so that I missed the turn. After waiting for Dad at the top for 5 minutes the phone rings. "Where are you?" "At the top" I reply "No your not" says Dad...... I had missed the turn and climbed 16ft further than the highest point on the c2c (had to get that bit in) We decided to meet in Allenheads. About 5 miles later we were reunited.
A nasty little climb out of Allenheads and I'm beginning to wonder if this climbing is going to end, we knew we had one nasty one out of Stanhope further down the line, this was supposed to be an easier day! Rookhope to Stanhope showed as flat on the c2c booklets profile, was it heck, another steep but shortish climb took a little more out of the legs.
Then came Stanhope, what a bugger that was! 2.5 miles of hell, especially the first half up to the cattle grid, it was steeeeep! That was hard but not for long so in a way not as bad as other hills encountered but the effort required at points was more than any other. At least that was it, downhill from here.
Road to Rookhope View from top of Crawleyside Bank
After that big hill it was back onto cycleways all the way to Sunderland, some of this was a little hard going on a road bike equipped with 700x23's but was almost navigated without any issue until about 15 miles from Sunderland. Hit a large stone which caused minor rim damage but enough to puncture the tube, this was not spotted until the second change of inner tube, nothing that a patch on the rim couldn't cure, and a minor repair the next time the tyre is off. If I'm honest I would avoid this part of the route if doing it again, as said it was little rough (but just about manageable) for a road bike
After 34 miles of Sustrans tracks we made it to the coast, it had been hard going off road for so long and the finish line was welcome. We had made it. This was my motivation for getting back on a bike, a change of direction from off road to on road along the way and I'm really enjoying my cycling.
Thanks to all the good wishes I received and all the donations to Macmillan that you made (there is still time if you haven't).
Distance = 62.6 miles
Time = 5 hrs 29 mins
Ave Speed = 11.4 mph
Top Speed = 38.8 mph
Hillometer = 99.7 ft/mile
Weather = Sunny Spells, 19c
2010
MTB = 89.2
Road Bike = 2008.2
Single Speed = 0.8
Total Mileage = 2098.2
Distance = 23.3 miles
Time = 1 hrs 42 mins
Ave Speed = 13.7 mph
Top Speed = 37.0 mph
Hillometer = 101.5 ft/mile
Weather = Sunny Spells, 17c
Day 1
Set out from Whitehaven just before 9 am, the first few miles are on cycleways around the houses of Whitehaven and out into the countryside, rolling hills soon become the order of the day but nothing too testing until Winlatter, that was my first real test on the c2c, it felt hard!
From Greystoke we headed down to Penrith for a lunch stop in a lovely quiet Cafe. After a lovely omelette and chips off we went up a nasty little dig, well it was nasty on a full stomach and onwards towards the biggy of the day, Hartside.
After a well deserved glass of Coke and a coffee for Dad we headed downwards towards Alston, our stop over point.
Distance = 75.6 miles
Time = 6 hrs 24 mins
Ave Speed = 11.8 mph
Top Speed = 35.2 mph
Hillometer = 129.4 ft/mile
Weather = Sunny Spells, 16c
Day 2
Alston is a lovely town, apart from the cobbled hill out of it, very picturesque I agree but not the easiest thing to cycle up after a full english before setting off towards the highest point of the c2c route, the climb began only 5 miles into the day, far too early for me as I like to have have a good few miles in the legs before a goodclimb, oh well, we couldn't move the hill.
Any how we reached Nenthead at the bottom of the climb, I got my head down a dug in, this was harder than Hartside, much harder. It was also harder than the correct route I suspect, the top of the climb was like a wall! I didn't beat me though. I say the correct route as I had my head down so much so that I missed the turn. After waiting for Dad at the top for 5 minutes the phone rings. "Where are you?" "At the top" I reply "No your not" says Dad...... I had missed the turn and climbed 16ft further than the highest point on the c2c (had to get that bit in) We decided to meet in Allenheads. About 5 miles later we were reunited.
Then came Stanhope, what a bugger that was! 2.5 miles of hell, especially the first half up to the cattle grid, it was steeeeep! That was hard but not for long so in a way not as bad as other hills encountered but the effort required at points was more than any other. At least that was it, downhill from here.
After that big hill it was back onto cycleways all the way to Sunderland, some of this was a little hard going on a road bike equipped with 700x23's but was almost navigated without any issue until about 15 miles from Sunderland. Hit a large stone which caused minor rim damage but enough to puncture the tube, this was not spotted until the second change of inner tube, nothing that a patch on the rim couldn't cure, and a minor repair the next time the tyre is off. If I'm honest I would avoid this part of the route if doing it again, as said it was little rough (but just about manageable) for a road bike
After 34 miles of Sustrans tracks we made it to the coast, it had been hard going off road for so long and the finish line was welcome. We had made it. This was my motivation for getting back on a bike, a change of direction from off road to on road along the way and I'm really enjoying my cycling.
Thanks to all the good wishes I received and all the donations to Macmillan that you made (there is still time if you haven't).
Distance = 62.6 miles
Time = 5 hrs 29 mins
Ave Speed = 11.4 mph
Top Speed = 38.8 mph
Hillometer = 99.7 ft/mile
Weather = Sunny Spells, 19c
2010
MTB = 89.2
Road Bike = 2008.2
Single Speed = 0.8
Total Mileage = 2098.2
Saturday, 10 July 2010
Well, that's it!
Off to Cumbria tomorrow, got a 25 mile ride planned from Ulpha to Whitehaven to keeps the legs moving, then 9am we'll be down to the seafront in Whitehaven to begin. Follow my twitter and facebook pages for updates as well as gps tracking on the link above.
Wednesday, 7 July 2010
Tarted up n ready to go
I've always been weary of too much bling on a bike, it's like these young lads with their saxo's and dustbins strapped to the underside along with numerous neon lights....you get the picture. So it is with care and consideration that I have subtly 'enhanced' my Trek, new tyres were needed a while ago so on went some schwalbe blizzards in red, then it was time for a wheel upgrade so on went the mavic's, and just as a treat for the c2c I popped some red bar tape on, finishes it off nicely I think :)
Too much bling?
Tuesday, 6 July 2010
What a difference the wheels made!
Well within 200 yards of leaving home I was already impressed with the Mavic Aksiums, they felt much lighter and more responsive, it was riding a new bike, it's hard to describe the difference, the closest I come to it would be to say that difference between the wheel sets was almost as big as the difference between riding my NRS compared to the Trek when I first got it, yes the gap really is that big!
Hills seem to be achieved much easier, in general the whole ride was much more pleasant due to the wheels. I'm no wheel expert by a long shot but would definitely recommend Mavic Aksiums as a good upgrade to any mid to low end machine.
Hills seem to be achieved much easier, in general the whole ride was much more pleasant due to the wheels. I'm no wheel expert by a long shot but would definitely recommend Mavic Aksiums as a good upgrade to any mid to low end machine.
Monday 5th July *Road*
What was going to be an easy week with 3 short rides already changed. I decided to bang a longer one in yesterday as a tester, glad I did. I've had a bad throat *sorry VIRUS* for a few days and I could feel it in yesterdays performance.
Firstly how about the new wheels....WOW what a difference, I could not believe how much difference they made, so much so I wont bang on about it here I'll blog another post for that.
Took the lap of Burton that I did with Mike W of Beeston CC a few months ago, took us just over 4 hours (15.8mph ave) on that day and I was shagged by the time I was home, yesterday it took me 21 minutes less and I wasn't quite as shagged :) For some reason this seems to be quite a testing route, can't quite put my finger on why, but it certainly takes it out you a little.
Distance = 62.6 miles
Time = 3 hrs 42 mins
Ave Speed = 16.9 mph
Top Speed = 42.5 mph
Hillometer = 35.0 ft/mile
Weather = Sunny Spells, 24c
2010
MTB = 89.2
Road Bike = 1846.7
Total Mileage = 1935.9
Firstly how about the new wheels....WOW what a difference, I could not believe how much difference they made, so much so I wont bang on about it here I'll blog another post for that.
Took the lap of Burton that I did with Mike W of Beeston CC a few months ago, took us just over 4 hours (15.8mph ave) on that day and I was shagged by the time I was home, yesterday it took me 21 minutes less and I wasn't quite as shagged :) For some reason this seems to be quite a testing route, can't quite put my finger on why, but it certainly takes it out you a little.
Distance = 62.6 miles
Time = 3 hrs 42 mins
Ave Speed = 16.9 mph
Top Speed = 42.5 mph
Hillometer = 35.0 ft/mile
Weather = Sunny Spells, 24c
2010
MTB = 89.2
Road Bike = 1846.7
Total Mileage = 1935.9
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)