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We started off with a lovely night away at Bartley Lodge in the New Forest. This was a freebie from New Forest Hotels after the less-than-acceptable weekend we had at their Beaulieu hotel in January. Very nice it was too and ever so close to Crow Hill for round three of the Southern XC championships.
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I decided to take the ASR-5 after getting kicked about on the ARC in the last race and hoped this would be a little more forgiving. I think it was, but a bit heavier going in the dry loam sections. I had empty legs at the end (and for a few days after) but managed another 1% improvement in my 'compare with winner's time' calculation. Won't make a podium, EVER, but I will catch some of the other non-podium competitors in another seven races at this rate !
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Up north early the next day and I had arranged to meet 'Dynamic' Dave Buchan after work to ride his home patch near Rothbury. Dave and I attended the same TCL course at Cyclewise and will keep in touch.
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Molly suggested I take the SS as I would have the bike on the back of the car all week and it is much less attractive than a Yeti. Good plan .. until I arrived in Rothbury and followed (the fitter) Dave up the road climb for several miles (with his 26 extra gears) before we got to the interesting stuff. A couple of hours in Thrunton wood on secret local trails followed and what a fab place to ride. Another hidden gem tucked away from the riding masses who flock to the nearby Lake District or Kielder Water and don't know this place exists. It was tough on the climbs with one gear and tricky on the descents with no QR on the seat post. I walked some bits, fell off twice going up short steep sections, rode some bits well, rode some bits very carefully and gurned a lot.
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Many thanks to Dave for the tour. It was great to catch up and I was thoroughly broken, but not beaten, at the end !
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I always carry the bike when I am away and I have been away most of June. Weekends have been but a brief respite in a hectic schedule and haven't been really long enough to do any relaxing because of the chores and socializing to catch up on.
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I had two days in Scotland and, due to a bizarre work schedule, I drove up there and managed to fit in two more gentle rides in the Forth Valley. One night in Glasgow with friends, one appointment and I am driving to Llanberis in preparation for a presentation in Bangor the following day. I checked in, lubed the chain and went straight up Snowdon :-)
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We have a voluntary bike ban on Snowdon from April and September between 09:00 and 17:00 to 'protect' the walkers. There are hundreds that go up there, on foot and by train. It was busy that evening too and I passed 20-30 walkers and 2 other bikers. The Llanberis path is 'easier' that the others but when riding alone I feel the need to be sensible. Llanberis is by the lake in the picture above. Yes, I did ride all of it to this point except a short rock section after the first railway bridge and YES, I did have gears - lots of them.
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The stretch either side of the second railway bridge is a hike-a-bike section (going up) and then the gradient eases sufficiently to ride one-handed and snap the first tantalising view of the summit ..
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Just around the corner and The Llanberis path meets the Miners / Pyg track by the standing stone and the views unfold. Looking North East towards Crib Goch and nice to see a Yeti in the mountains where they belong.
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What a great way to spend an evening .. about an hour and a quarter up and fifteen minutes down ! A bag of chips on a wall, two glasses of red wine and I sleep like a baby but probably snore like a pig.
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We squeeze in one more weekend and then I am away for the last week of June too. More miles by car and bike including a good ramble round the moors above Horwich in Lancashire and then a double loop of 'The Dog' on the way to Cheltenham - all on the SS. A year ago I would not have been able to get round the Dog 'clean' once without gears, but this time I got round twice with no falls and no dabs. Felt strong, why don't I feel like this on race days ?
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Monthly statistics 3768 miles driven, 170 miles ridden.
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Molly and I are on holiday to Skye at the weekend for a week. Can't wait :-)
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