Wednesday, 18 September 2013
Weeks 23~26 Junes pedalling related activities
Week 23
3rd of June 43.84 km going home on randonneur
4th of June 43.7 km to work on randonneur
8th of June 301km rough diamond audax
A jolly good ride with Tim (his report can be found here) this was to be one of my fastest rides ever, a significant moment was looking at my odometer and realised we'd done the first 200k in 9 hours something. Tim who was a little weary from big miles earlier in the week had commented on how speedy I was which I had put down to him being slower but he wasn't I just felt like a whippet out the blocks, a great day out and my first 300 km completed in a very reasonable 15hrs ish
Total for the week 388.54 km
Week 24
nothing
Total for the week 0
Week 25
For a few years now I had wanted to be able to cycle to work every day but 28 miles each way is just too much, I have tried and the most I have done is 3 days a few times and once 4 days but it is really tiring. By chance I found a different train route which I hadn't previously been aware of which I thought might be manageable, this would entail a 10 mile ride between home and Ascot train station and 7 miles ride between Frimley train station and work, cost was favourable, working out cheaper than the car so I hatched a plan for a trial run.
20th of June 28 km trial run on train home on evo
Not knowing the terrain exactly I opted for taking my mountain bike, I needn't have as I didn't need to go off road, the route was pleasant and took about 25 minutes with me riding almost as quick as I could to the train station from work. Train journey took 20 minutes then it was off at Ascot for the stint home. This for future rides would be pretty straight forward, however I had chosen Royal Ascot week to do my trial run. Arriving at the station I could see a sea of people, the chaps in top hat and tails, the ladies in the posh frocks, disappointingly the ladies in particular more than a little inebriated seemed more intent on pushing their way onto the train than letting me off, grubby mountain biker with his bike verses drunk tart in her Sunday best....I won, fortunately their chaperoning better halves were more polite and saw more sense and let me off without an incident. The ride home was really pleasant with lots of horse and carts out and so many people wafting about in their finery. I plodded along and arrived home after about 40 minutes
The journey had been a success, now to try it in reverse.
21st of June 27.5 km trial run to work on train on randonneur
now I knew the route could be done on my road bike I went for the speedier option and went into work on the randonneur, this was with a reading book and my clothes for the day to replicate what I would need to carry doing a round trip.
I loved it
the scene was now set, at every opportunity cycling/train was to be my primary means of getting to work.
Total for the week 55.5 km
Week 26
nothing
Total for the week 0 km
Total for the Month: 444.04 km
Weeks 18~22 Catchup again, a précis of May
week 18
No Riding this week but lots of tinkering.
Firstly it was time to say good buy to my Orange Elite.
I packed it up properly having acquired a bike box from my local bike shop. Quite stressful when you pack up something like this to ship off when someone has spent a significant amount of money on it. The postage cost me loads in the end as I decided to add insurance on at my cost but at least it was going.
Next up was Scotty.
Scotty sold for quite a bit more than I expected, too much I would say, having been in constant communication with the chap who won it in the end I decided to make it the absolute best I could prior to sending it, the winner was happy to wait a couple of days extra so I set about rebuilding the rear mech which had got a bit stiff, replaced the tyres and tubes, new brake blocks and some new cables and went through the whole thing cleaning and lubing and ensuring everything was absolutely spot on, all told I probably spent a couple of evenings and about £80 on improvements which a lot of people wouldn't have done but my conscience was eased so I was happy.
Total distance achieved 0 km
week 19
Still no riding
Having got rid of the Elite I had to rebuild my Evo2 to put the drivetrain back to being fully geared and with suspension forks and a few other bits.
Like most people who consider upgrades and um and er over the cost breaks of SLX to XT and so on I can honestly say XT is worth it. My Elite had brand new SLX drivetrain on it, the same model which had won loads of reviews, it felt alright and never gave me any trouble, however when it came tot rebuilding the Evo I dug out all the old XT drivetrain which I had meant to put on ebay, still covered in mud, bolted it on and it indexed way better than the new SLX kit I had said fairwell too. never again shall I ponder the merits of spending the extra loo laa.
Built up with the Fox Talas forks which I had also meant to put on ebay and my Juicy 7 brakes of my Sub3 and it was ready to rock and roll again.
Sad as it is I know, it felt so right to be building it back up like building an old hotrod to put up against modern Italian supercars.
I was quite satisfied that I had made the right decision.
Total distance achieved 0 km
week 20
As they say "The proof of the pudding is in the eating"
13th of may 10.52 km on evo after rebuild
Quick lunchtime blast on the Evo was brilliant, proving yet again that no matter what configuration of parts I hang off this frame it just feels right
15th of may 21.12 km on evo at swinley forest
Swinley Forest blast around the red and blue runs with the chaps at work, all on their full suspension mortgaged mountain bikes, well I was keeping up and faster in many areas and never slower, proof yet again that you don't need all that tech to go fast and have fun.
Total distance achieved 31.64 km
week 21
Back in the habit
bit of mountain biking bit of road riding, just enjoying turning the pedals
20th of may 10.32 km on evo
21st of may 44 km on randonneur going home
22nd of may 44km on randonneur going to work
23rd of may 21.20 km on evo at swinley, chain snapped
Total distance achieved 119.52 km
week 22
Just a commute this week
29th of may 48k cross country route home on evo
30th of may 43.8 km to work on randonneur
Total distance achieved 91.8 km
Total for the month 242.96 km
No Riding this week but lots of tinkering.
Firstly it was time to say good buy to my Orange Elite.
I packed it up properly having acquired a bike box from my local bike shop. Quite stressful when you pack up something like this to ship off when someone has spent a significant amount of money on it. The postage cost me loads in the end as I decided to add insurance on at my cost but at least it was going.
Next up was Scotty.
Scotty sold for quite a bit more than I expected, too much I would say, having been in constant communication with the chap who won it in the end I decided to make it the absolute best I could prior to sending it, the winner was happy to wait a couple of days extra so I set about rebuilding the rear mech which had got a bit stiff, replaced the tyres and tubes, new brake blocks and some new cables and went through the whole thing cleaning and lubing and ensuring everything was absolutely spot on, all told I probably spent a couple of evenings and about £80 on improvements which a lot of people wouldn't have done but my conscience was eased so I was happy.
Total distance achieved 0 km
week 19
Still no riding
Having got rid of the Elite I had to rebuild my Evo2 to put the drivetrain back to being fully geared and with suspension forks and a few other bits.
Like most people who consider upgrades and um and er over the cost breaks of SLX to XT and so on I can honestly say XT is worth it. My Elite had brand new SLX drivetrain on it, the same model which had won loads of reviews, it felt alright and never gave me any trouble, however when it came tot rebuilding the Evo I dug out all the old XT drivetrain which I had meant to put on ebay, still covered in mud, bolted it on and it indexed way better than the new SLX kit I had said fairwell too. never again shall I ponder the merits of spending the extra loo laa.
Built up with the Fox Talas forks which I had also meant to put on ebay and my Juicy 7 brakes of my Sub3 and it was ready to rock and roll again.
Sad as it is I know, it felt so right to be building it back up like building an old hotrod to put up against modern Italian supercars.
I was quite satisfied that I had made the right decision.
Total distance achieved 0 km
week 20
As they say "The proof of the pudding is in the eating"
13th of may 10.52 km on evo after rebuild
Quick lunchtime blast on the Evo was brilliant, proving yet again that no matter what configuration of parts I hang off this frame it just feels right
15th of may 21.12 km on evo at swinley forest
Swinley Forest blast around the red and blue runs with the chaps at work, all on their full suspension mortgaged mountain bikes, well I was keeping up and faster in many areas and never slower, proof yet again that you don't need all that tech to go fast and have fun.
Total distance achieved 31.64 km
week 21
Back in the habit
bit of mountain biking bit of road riding, just enjoying turning the pedals
20th of may 10.32 km on evo
21st of may 44 km on randonneur going home
22nd of may 44km on randonneur going to work
23rd of may 21.20 km on evo at swinley, chain snapped
Total distance achieved 119.52 km
week 22
Just a commute this week
29th of may 48k cross country route home on evo
30th of may 43.8 km to work on randonneur
Total distance achieved 91.8 km
Total for the month 242.96 km
Monday, 16 September 2013
Week 17 The pressure is off
I had found the need to ride stressing me out that i wasn't enjoying riding and the thought of riding which is one of the contributory factors to bailing out of LEL, but the now that the pressure is off, my desire to ride is back again.
Monday
With the weather forcast looking good for monday i sorted all my stuff out for a commute home. It was a cracking ride, i absolutely flew home and i smashed my faster ever previous time, considering i am not as fit as i have been, i was quite impressed.
Tuesday
An equally fast commute into work but possible my most dangerous, 2 near misses, the first being a carefree van driver, chatting to his mate cut a corner entering a roundabout and closed me out, i saw it coming so no real drama but a good reminder to get up earlier and to keep my witts about me. The second was less than a mile later, a bloke waiting to cross the road seemed to only see cars as a guide to whether to cross or not, despite my bright orange jacket and bike he just stepped out, i locked up the tyres, accidentely a few impolite words jumped out of my mouth and the bloke barely even noticed the whole incident, proving my accidental words to actually be justified....perhaps.
Friday
One goal i have kept hold of is to continue with RRtY (Randonneur Round the Year) with the end of month luming i booked a day off to cycle with my buddy Tim.
He had a "Perm" event already lined up to do called "Cotswold and Thames 200K", in advance i contacted the organiser and followed suit.
A full report of the ride from my buddies perspective can be found here
its so long since i did i can't remember the details myself but it was a lovely ride.
Total distance achieved: 296K
Monday
With the weather forcast looking good for monday i sorted all my stuff out for a commute home. It was a cracking ride, i absolutely flew home and i smashed my faster ever previous time, considering i am not as fit as i have been, i was quite impressed.
Tuesday
An equally fast commute into work but possible my most dangerous, 2 near misses, the first being a carefree van driver, chatting to his mate cut a corner entering a roundabout and closed me out, i saw it coming so no real drama but a good reminder to get up earlier and to keep my witts about me. The second was less than a mile later, a bloke waiting to cross the road seemed to only see cars as a guide to whether to cross or not, despite my bright orange jacket and bike he just stepped out, i locked up the tyres, accidentely a few impolite words jumped out of my mouth and the bloke barely even noticed the whole incident, proving my accidental words to actually be justified....perhaps.
Friday
One goal i have kept hold of is to continue with RRtY (Randonneur Round the Year) with the end of month luming i booked a day off to cycle with my buddy Tim.
He had a "Perm" event already lined up to do called "Cotswold and Thames 200K", in advance i contacted the organiser and followed suit.
A full report of the ride from my buddies perspective can be found here
its so long since i did i can't remember the details myself but it was a lovely ride.
Total distance achieved: 296K
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