After 4 days without a ride I was eager to get out today. The problem was that I’d woken yesterday to a snow shower which had left a thin covering. We walked our dog, Freddie, and I think it may have been the first time in his three and a half years that he’s experiencedContinue reading “Is it worth riding in ice and snow?”
Category Archives: MTB
Boxing day ride.
Boxing day has always been associated with sport, which for many people means spectating. I’ve always preferred to participate than watch sport and today would be no exception. I’d thought on Christmas day that it would add spice to my ride to try to break the fastest time on the Birkacre Race Route circuit butContinue reading “Boxing day ride.”
Targets for next year.
I like to set myself some mountain bike riding targets at this time for the coming year. This year I had 2 aims, one of which I met when I rode to the top of Great Hill and back in under 22 minutes and 19 seconds. Strava had me at exactly that time, to theContinue reading “Targets for next year.”
Too short a ride is a waste of time.
I try to get out on my mountain bike at least twice a week and preferably three times. This will always need me to wash my riding gear. This doesn’t involve going down to the river and beating it against a rock. It’s more like putting it in the machine and pressing start but myContinue reading “Too short a ride is a waste of time.”
A road ride in the sunshine.
After many wet days I didn’t think I’d enjoy an extremely muddy off road ride so I chose a road ride, today, instead. Fortunately the temperature was an easily tolerable 6 celcius and the sun has shone all morning. I was eager to get out after 5 days without a ride and thought it wouldContinue reading “A road ride in the sunshine.”
The importance of planning a ride.
I always like to have a plan for every ride. I’m often flexible once I’m underway as I was on my last ride 3 days ago. I started with the idea to ride 3 laps of a circuit which I’d learned about from the app. Strava. Two other riders had competed to be the fastestContinue reading “The importance of planning a ride.”
Entering a virtual race.
Many cyclists use exercise bikes for virtual racing but I spied an opportunity for a race using the app. Strava. A local cyclist has set up a Strava segment called “Birkacre race route?”. It starts and finishes at the high point of a circuit of 2.47miles, drops gently on a rough rocky track before itContinue reading “Entering a virtual race.”
Recovering from injury.
During my last ride, on Tuesday, I fell off the Trek 29″ wheeled mountain bike trying to negotiate a very sharp corner. I landed on my knees from a height of several feet and by the evening my right knee was swollen. It was uncomfortable to walk and I had a scuff mark from underContinue reading “Recovering from injury.”
I found the limit of 29″ wheels!
My plan for today’s ride was to use a road route to the village of Rivington where I’d ride 2 very different downhill sections in the terraced gardens. This would also give a valuable training element with 2 tough climbs to reach the top of each descent. The weather was very still with occasional, hazyContinue reading “I found the limit of 29″ wheels!”
Riding Rivington Pike.
After 2 rides of good training value I thought that I’d take it a little easier today on a longer trail ride with no targets. My purpose today was simply to enjoy the trail and get out in the environment on a pleasant enough day. The weather was very still and quite misty as IContinue reading “Riding Rivington Pike.”
Mountainbiker 