A mountain bike is an inanimate object, a fact which cannot be denied. I’ve never given a name to a mountain bike. I didn’t name motor vehicles, either cars, bikes or scooters which I owned, until our son, Dylan was born. It then seemed like a good idea to name vehicles as if they hadContinue reading “Oranges are not the only fruit.”
You need the right type of snow.
I wasn’t impressed on my last ride. It had snowed but the snow was melting in places and forming ice in others. It wasn’t cold enough to freeze the thick mud and I didn’t enjoy the unpredictable trail conditions. I was aware that what I really needed was no snow at all or more snowContinue reading “You need the right type of snow.”
A brief review of my year.
I’m going to avoid the currently popular cliches to describe this year, we all know what Covid 19 has done to all our lives. In terms of my mountain biking it made little difference. I’d set myself just 2 targets for the year, one of which I achieved and one I was unable to complete.Continue reading “A brief review of my year.”
Is it worth riding in ice and snow?
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?”
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.”
An exciting way to waste my time.
After my last ride I wrote that too short a ride is a waste of time. This was in reference to a challenge that has been placed in my path by another user of the app. Strava. It is not just a cycling app., mapping your rides through GPS and comparing your performance on segmentsContinue reading “An exciting way to waste my time.”
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.”
What should I get for Christmas?
When my wife asks me what I’d like for Christmas I usually just ask for a bit of leeway. This year could be different. Today I diced with a road rider on tarmac on my mountain bike for over 11 minutes and came out victorious. I analysed my performance later on the app. Strava andContinue reading “What should I get for Christmas?”
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.”
Mountainbiker 