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Pete
314 Posts |
 Posted - 29 Oct 2009 : 12:47:22
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| Same here, I'm back to the shorts... |
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PhilW
United Kingdom
667 Posts |
Posted - 11 Feb 2010 : 20:41:14
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Well after a gap of a few weeks the bike is back out from behind the stored furniture, re assembled and in daily use.
I've gone a bit mad since last Friday and covered 214 miles so far this week. If it doesn't kill you.... (which it is at the moment, the first few days after a gap in exercise are always the worst)
I'd forgotten how much I prefer cycling to work rather than sitting in traffic in the car. Yes it been snowing, yes it's been cold. But I love it. I no longer needs lights for the morning and there's a little bit of light (sunset!) in the sky in the evening.
Seen two foxes and a deer over the last 3 days. Here's a shot from a section of my route this morning
Pete, Paul hope you're getting out on the bikes and keeping fit (in my case trying to get fit) for the coming Spring rides.
Phil
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| You are lucky: if for one moment in eternity you have really lived. |
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fatbuoy
United Kingdom
1001 Posts |
Posted - 12 Feb 2010 : 14:47:23
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Here, dunno if you guys know about or use this site, but ye can add yer own routes tae their database for the Herts area and check out other folks routes too..
http://www.cycle-route.com/routes/England-Cycle-Routes-2.html |
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| Laybacking hurts less than jamming until you fall off. |
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pauld
United Kingdom
539 Posts |
Posted - 12 Feb 2010 : 17:19:17
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Barry
There are a few like that but thats the best I've seen, well populated, good selection on Isle of Wight for example.
I must start commuting if I going to get to my goal of matching Phils fitness, I've not done well yet this year. |
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PhilW
United Kingdom
667 Posts |
Posted - 14 Feb 2010 : 11:53:15
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Not a bad route site. I used to use motion based which had loads of tracks I could download straight to my bike GPS. But Garmin shut it down.
I thought the cranks were creaking this week. So I duly put the bike on my work stand on the patio about 1 hour ago. However when taking the left crank arm off to clean the threads and re tighten. I discovered that my bottom bracket left bearing cup is broken with the ball bearing only just staying in. So no biking today (boo hoo) - replacement bottom bracket now ordered. Hope it comes soon - don't want to lose momentum in my attempt to build my fitness back up.
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| You are lucky: if for one moment in eternity you have really lived. |
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PhilW
United Kingdom
667 Posts |
Posted - 23 Feb 2010 : 19:21:36
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Well I replaced the bottom bracket last Wednesday (thanks Chain Reaction Cycles for prompt delivery of parts).
Only been out on bike last Thursday and today. Both days very icy, front wheel slide last week (which I caught). No drama today but could feel ice under wheels this morning and tonight in the wet the roads were rapidly refreezing. Fields and woods have kept the afternoon snowfall.
If cold overnight I'd better drive lest I wish to slide my bike and myself down the sheet ice. Take care if riding your bikes on the road (offroad is fine with loads of grip and no ice..) |
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| You are lucky: if for one moment in eternity you have really lived. |
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PhilW
United Kingdom
667 Posts |
Posted - 25 Feb 2010 : 12:11:12
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Got absolutely covered in mud on the ride to work this morning - big grin  |
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| You are lucky: if for one moment in eternity you have really lived. |
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Pete
314 Posts |
Posted - 25 Feb 2010 : 12:41:10
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| Might have to remove a layer, it's been feeling a bit warmer the last couple of days. Is this the start of spring? |
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fatbuoy
United Kingdom
1001 Posts |
Posted - 25 Feb 2010 : 14:07:18
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If you guys are removing layers already, then christ knows what you'll be down to by the summertime...
Image above:Pete making his way to the office in summertime, he's borrowed mrs petes bike for safety reasons |
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| Laybacking hurts less than jamming until you fall off. |
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PhilW
United Kingdom
667 Posts |
Posted - 01 Mar 2010 : 12:33:14
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Hi,
Spoke too soon. I too was considering switching to my wicking t-shirts last week. But it's turned cold again.
Lot's of black ice this morning with many country lanes taking seepage from the fields. I caught 3 two wheel slides this morning. A couple were about 1/2 miles beyond Paul's house at the junction of Whitehill and the Ayot's road. I then walked for 400 yards to slide past that stretch
Coming off on the ice can certainly do some damage as well. I came off in mid December and also in January. Gears have been playing up since, but it wasn't till last Sat that I decided to adjust them, and made the connection. Once on the stand I noticed the bent deraillier hanger and bent rear deraillier. Must have been from those black ice, bike's upright, oh no it isn't moments, when the bike clattered onto it's right side without warning. Pliers and gentle mallet tapping of the hanger, and a new gear cable have fixed it for now. Time to order some replacement parts.
Watch out for black ice if you're cycling.
Phil
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| You are lucky: if for one moment in eternity you have really lived. |
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Pete
314 Posts |
Posted - 01 Mar 2010 : 13:00:17
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| Lovely sunny morning though.. |
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pauld
United Kingdom
539 Posts |
Posted - 01 Mar 2010 : 13:49:47
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quote:
I caught 3 two wheel slides this morning. A couple were about 1/2 miles beyond Paul's house
you looked in control when you rode past, (I just happened to be admiring the sunny view over my mug of tea)
pretty much flooded further up towards Ayot Green, that must have frozen.
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PhilW
United Kingdom
667 Posts |
Posted - 01 Mar 2010 : 14:06:16
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Paul,
The bit up Whitehill and past your house generally doesn't take drainage, so is rarely frozen and is not a problem. The flooded bit up towards Ayot Green is precisely where it froze over - a good 400m stretch of lethal ice. (wonder if the routes in Ayot Brick have formed water ice  )
Pete - Yes it was pretty sunny this morning and only a few more weeks before the lights won't be need for the evening commute home.
Hoping to switch to my cycling shorts soon enough - but it needs to consistently climb above 5c in the morning for that to happen.
Phil |
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| You are lucky: if for one moment in eternity you have really lived. |
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PhilW
United Kingdom
667 Posts |
Posted - 01 Mar 2010 : 14:08:10
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Paul,
The bit up Whitehill and past your house generally doesn't take drainage, so is rarely frozen and is not a problem. The flooded bit up towards Ayot Green is precisely where it froze over - a good 400m stretch of lethal ice. (wonder if the routes in Ayot Brick have formed water ice )
Pete - Yes it was pretty sunny this morning and only a few more weeks before the lights won't be need for the evening commute home.
Hoping to switch to my cycling shorts soon enough - but it needs to consistently climb above 5c in the morning for that to happen.
Phil |
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| You are lucky: if for one moment in eternity you have really lived. |
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PhilW
United Kingdom
667 Posts |
Posted - 03 Mar 2010 : 19:55:39
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| First 30 mins on the ride home are now in daylight - hoorah. |
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Diary of a mountain bike commuter