One Gear, No Idea

T'was a mixed week during our fantastic late summer ..

Sunday afternoon was spent following my favourite person and enjoying, possibly, my favourite view. I mean that in a very complimentary way .. :-)

Twenty-odd km, including a cake stop, followed by my customary solo blast up the long, but mostly gentle, climb to the house while Molly drove home. What a good start to the week.

An early (actually VERY early) start allowed me to fit in at least a day's work and be out on the trails by 16:00 in Yorkshire. I went round my Marsden loop up onto the Pennines and then round again using an old railway bed from the dis-used quarry. Quality miles, quality time, knackered afterwards. 

Looking down on loop one, from loop two ..

Tuesday brought the only downside. A useful couple of hours in Sefton Park practising those elusive silky-smooth bike handling skills was concluded with the only mis-judged bunny-hop of the evening and a flat. Close proximity to the hotel, car, track pump etc meant I reluctantly pushed back and called it a day. I spent 45 minutes fixing the first, then trying to find the second, puncture only to have the inner-tube explode when I pumped it up. The racing-snake gossamer-thin specialized tube went in the bin and a proper Continental one fitted. Job done, ready for tomorrow.

Wednesday was a full day and, with time ebbing away, I had to go for plan B. I parked at the National Trust car park at Aber Falls and decided to ride up Drum (pro Drim). Drum is the most northerly of the Welsh 3000' mountains and it is a gentle giant compared to some of the others. However, it is quite a grunt up there and I did start at sea level and I was on the singlespeed.

Did I ride it all ? Er No (well not on the way up!) Could I ride it all ? Yes, I think so had I had taken a Yeti. Good blast down but mostly on the main track with a few diversions onto the grass to find the odd kicker and drop-off, but nothing too exciting if you know what I mean. 

Doubly knackered tonight.

Another long day, then one final stop near Cannock had me Following the Dog twice with some empty old legs but some great, dry and almost deserted, trails. 

Stats - about 100 off-road miles v two cheese burgers with chips, one chicken Jalfrezi , one lamb Rogon Josh. 

Another calorie neutral week is logged in the training diary of this awesome athlete.