Since my heart valve problems I’ve often ridden my mountain bike along the canal bank. It’s off road yet somehow not real off road riding. For one thing it’s completely flat, except where there are locks. It also has no corners to add challenge and excitement so the experience is nothing like the riding I’mContinue reading “Off Road at Last.”
Getting used to the E bike.
I took my newly converted E bike out again yesterday. I’ve renamed the Trek Fuel EX8 as the Trek Fuel EV8. It still needs some repairs after use last winter. After the pawl spring in the freehub broke I dumped it, unwashed, in my bike shed and had rather forgotten how many other components wereContinue reading “Getting used to the E bike.”
First E bike test!
I’ve been taking my E bike build slowly to make sure that I didn’t make mistakes. Yesterday, however, I realised that I was very close to being ready to test so I completed the few items left. I fitted the throttle, mounted the battery and turned it on with 2 switches. Lifting the front wheelContinue reading “First E bike test!”
Twenty years too soon?
I’ve always accepted that I might need some assistance to climb hills on my mountain bike but thought this wouldn’t be necessary until I was in my eighties. Unfortunately at sixty one, with a failed heart valve, I’ve been struggling. It’s difficult to get any excitement out of a ride if you don’t have theContinue reading “Twenty years too soon?”
Seven Swans a Swimming.
Christmas is still too far away to be giving much thought to seasonal songs but today I saw 7 swans during my mountain bike ride. I set off with no firm plan but decided to access the canal bank where I’d ride south to the White Bear Marina. Here I would turn northward to rideContinue reading “Seven Swans a Swimming.”
Flower of the Week, 29th October 2023.
We have around a dozen acers (Japanese maples) in our garden. They give a spectacular display of autumnal colour but this only lasts for a short time. They don’t all change colour at the same time, though, so we do get a few weeks of delight at this time of year.
Treading water.
Because I can’t now put any strain on my heart, due to a malfunctioning heart valve, I can’t have any aims in my mountain bike riding. I ride for fresh air, some maintenance of fitness and just to get out there. I’m treading water until I can have my valve fixed and the time scaleContinue reading “Treading water.”
Flower of the Week, 11th October 2023.
As in the picture above, our garden is starting to gather its strength to brave the winter. A garden must rest before it can exhibit the joys of spring, but what about a gardener? Do we need a long break in the darker seasons? We will leave the garden alone at some point but firstContinue reading “Flower of the Week, 11th October 2023.”
Enjoying it.
Since my diagnosis with a heart valve problem I’ve had to radically change my priorities. Yesterday I had a better mountain bike ride on a carefully planned route. I aimed to keep the climbing to a minimum to avoid raising my heart rate. At worst I could trigger an incident of atrial fibrillation, where theContinue reading “Enjoying it.”
I need to invent a new sport.
I rode my mountain bike yesterday but stuck to the roads, except for a tarmac section through a park. With my recently diagnosed heart valve problem I am encouraged to exercise but have to keep the intensity low to avoid putting strain on the heart. This means that mountain biking, as I always thought ofContinue reading “I need to invent a new sport.”
Mountainbiker 