Quick local ride out on my shiny, new bike-a Cotic X. On the first (even shorter) ride, the bike felt a bit big for me but it felt a lot better this time. Think I might need to try a slightly shorter stem though and move the brake levers about a bit. Gears are taking a bit of getting used to, but it seems fast and I like it :)

Distance: 22km (map on Strava)
Surface: Road
Time: 1:00
Weather: Cold but dry
Bike: Cotic X

We were in the Lakes for a short family holiday, but the bike came along. On the final morning, my brother-in-law and I got a lift up to Whinlatter for a lap of each of the red routes; bizarrely, we’ve never ridden together before.

Found the climbs surprisingly easy despite this being only my second ride of the year. Commuting on my ‘fast’ bike this winter must have helped me make some more higher-intensity efforts. Or something.

We had to take it very easy on a lot of the descents as they were very icy, but they were still enjoyable.

Distance: 21km (map on Strava)
Surface: Off-road (plus a road descent)
Time: 2:00
Weather: Snow and ice on the ground
Bike: On-One Inbred SS (with 2.4″ tyres, 32:17)

1707 miles

300 more than last year, about the same as 2007 and 1010, about 200 less than 2008 and 2009. Only 11 rides that weren’t for commuting or just getting around.

Jan – 113
Feb – 90
Mar – 110
Apr – 115
May – 268
Jun – 140
Jul – 232
Aug – 171
Sep – 108
Oct – 147
Nov – 133
Dec – 70

Rubbish. Again.

Another trip up to Hamsterley on Thursday; the fourth in eight days, which is unheard of riding frequency for me. Dropped down (Section 13 then up the Transmission climb and down Transmission, Accelerator, Nitrous) before heading up the road climb out of the forest.

Felt much better than last ride, after a day off on Thursday, and got a mix of fastest or very close to fastest times (for me) on the climbs, and went down the off-road stuff faster than usual too. Turns out, I get faster at riding a bike if I ride a bike; who’d have thought?

Apple juice and pork pie fueling seemed to do the trick. The pies were nice and peppery, but I’m looking forward to trying the ones with apple in next time. A mix of plain, pickle and apple should be good for Kielder100 this year.

There was even enough enough sun to finally start this year’s ridiculous cyclist’s tan.

Distance: 83km (31km Darlington to Woodland, 20km from Woodland into/round the forest and back again, and 32km back home again)
Surface: Road and off-road
Time: 4:25 (1:45 + 1:10 + 1:30)
Weather: Warm and dry
Bike: Inbred SS (with 2.4″ tyres on 32:17)

As last Friday, up to Hamsterley by the usual route. Hit the ‘old new’ trails at Hamsterley (Section 13, Special K, Brain Freeze), then along the Grove Link and climbed direct to the top of the ‘new new’ trails (Transmission, Accelerator, Nitrous) before riding home. Used the road climb out of the forest, instead of the big push up past the DH hut, which is further but ridable.

I was slower down all the descents that last week, but it was very wet, but faster up all the climbs and faster overall. Plan is to do this ride every day this week, so we’ll see how that drops away as the week goes on.

The tri bag was great for food; looks dorky but works well.

Food was two litres of apple juice diluted with 2 litres of water, plus four mini pork pies. One pork pie after every hour and drinking steadily throughout seemed to work fine.

Distance: 85km (31km Darlington to Woodland, 23km from Woodland into/round the forest and back again, and 31km back home again)
Surface: Road and off-road
Time: 4:36 (1:38 + 1:27 + 1:31)
Weather: Cold and wet
Bike: Inbred SS (with 2.4″ tyres on 32:17)

A rare sunny day and a much-needed bike ride.

Up to Hamsterley by the usual route, but feeling really good on the climbs. Hit the ‘old new’ trails at Hamsterley (Section 13, Special K, Brain Freeze), then along the Grove Link and found the climb direct to the top of the ‘new new’ trails (Transmission, Accelerator, Nitrous), and couldn’t resist dropping down Section 13 again. All the new stuff is great fun and has held up absolutely brilliantly to all the recent heavy rain; riding at Hamsterley isn’t the mudfest it used to be.

I surprised myself with how well I was climbing, as I’ve not been riding that much recently. Being a few kilos lighter must be helping. It’s only 5kg or so, but that makes me about 7% lighter, which must help.

Definitely need to get up to Hamsterley more often; with some early starts, I could do that ride and be home late morning. I need a lot more practice riding off-road before Kielder 100 in a couple of months; climbing fine but slow downhill and my shoulders are sore this morning.

New Camelbak worked well – great to not have to faff about swapping bottles around. With a bottle on the frame, I had best part of four litres of fluid (half apple juice and half water). I think for Kielder I’m going to have to use the dorky tri bag on the frame for eating on the go, as the pack made it hard to reach into jersey pockets. Food was four mini pork pies, eaten roughly one per hour and a handful of chocolate raisins for the ride home. For Kielder, I should be able to steal Trio‘s tactic of skipping the first water/feed station, and so missing out on the queue and gaining 10 minutes or so, plus a lot of saved overtaking, early on.

Distance: 83km (31km Darlington to Woodland, 20km from Woodland into/round the forest and back again, and 32km back home again)
Surface: Road and off-road
Time: 4:45 (1:42 + 1:38 + 1:25)
Weather: Warm and sunny!
Bike: Inbred SS (with 2.4″ tyres on 32:17)