Author Topic: Have you been out today? (Read 3901127 times)

Socks · « **Reply #22100 on:** 04 October, 2018, 03:31:05 pm »

A nice day out on a mixture of roads and cycle routes along an old railway line. Blustery wind, but not too bad on the recumbent (A short wheelbase two wheeler, with small wheels). I tried out a new back wheel, with sturmey hub brake. The wheel is 20" and hub brakes seem to be more effective in smaller wheels, I assume because the ratio between the brake and the wheel size is bigger. It works well, a good drag brake on the downhills which got a bit scary with the wind behind me. 32 easy and enjoyable miles including an ice cream in the park on the way back.

T42 · « **Reply #22101 on:** 04 October, 2018, 04:32:37 pm »

At last managed to enjoy a ride today. Kept it short, 45k, but took a hilly route so I got a good work-out. Nothing much of note other than the wind, which was pretty strong on the exposed bits. Saw a total of two autumn crocuses, which have been rare this year. They're usually sworn at, being a sign of summer's end, but these were rather welcome after our long drought.

T42 · « **Reply #22102 on:** 07 October, 2018, 09:20:23 am »

Yesterday, 119 km with El Prez to have lunch in Baden-Baden. Not a great ride. Promised morning temperature was 23°C but B² is in a Black Forest valley so when Alsace was basking we had a chilly 16°. The route was almost dead flat, too - 400 m total climb and that includes my usual 50-metre hill at the end. The very pleasant ferry we usually take over the Rhine was closed so instead we had to take a converted railway bridge with the rails still embedded in the tarmac and impatient motorists wanting past. Traffic in B² was thick and fast, the route was tortuous and only El P knew the twists & turns so that bit was somewhat frazzling, and after that our lunch was ho-hum - the currywürst we coveted wasn't on the menu and the coffee was vile. Rather a shame, since the last time I was in B² I really liked it.

We were both a bit knackered at 100k so we had another vile coffee in a greasy spoon. I also had an apple purée out of a wee stoppered sachet the missus had given me. As a pick-me-up it was great: a while later a young bloke went whizzing by without a word, so just for fun I chased him down and stuck behind for a couple of k, and I did the final climb standing on the pedals with 4 cogs in hand.

That's that for B² this year. Might get back if we do a proper Black Forest trot next year.

ElyDave · « **Reply #22103 on:** 07 October, 2018, 10:38:03 am »

This morning, wrapped OK on the top half, and anticipating around 6c rather than the 1c I experienced on the fens, my legs and feet were rather chilly. Time to get the winter boots and leggings out I think, as my feet were blue when I got home.

Only 35km, had the idea of a 50, but I think I'm coming down with something, scratchy throat, phlegmy and sneezing so didnt push it.

T42 · « **Reply #22104 on:** 07 October, 2018, 10:44:58 am »

My knees get stroppy below 10°C.

ElyDave · « **Reply #22105 on:** 07 October, 2018, 11:50:52 am »

Knees OK, if a little on the chilly side, but my feet really suffer when it gets cold - symptoms very much like Reynauds, they go white/numb and then when re-warming in the shower go purple like grapes and are very painful. I've tried everything except heated insoles to no avail.

T42 · « **Reply #22106 on:** 07 October, 2018, 01:54:31 pm »

Sounds pretty standard. I used to get it too, but thanks to coronary ills I'm not allowed out under 5°C these days so I rarely suffer that much. On one memorable trip across the Jura at night in summer kit it got down to 1°C and my fingers got that way too. I don't think I've ever felt as cold.

cycleman · « **Reply #22107 on:** 07 October, 2018, 06:47:14 pm »

14miles today . I mile on the ez3 and 12miles on the repaired electric trice, thanks torslander

Kim · « **Reply #22108 on:** 07 October, 2018, 06:51:07 pm »

Quote from: cycleman on 07 October, 2018, 06:47:14 pm

14miles today . I mile on the ez3 and 12miles on the repaired electric trice, thanks torslander

New hamsters?

cycleman · « **Reply #22109 on:** 08 October, 2018, 07:23:35 am »

New hamsters

Cudzoziemiec · « **Reply #22110 on:** 08 October, 2018, 09:11:15 am »

Quote from: cycleman on 08 October, 2018, 07:23:35 am

New hamsters

And Igor's got them trained?

Cudzoziemiec · « **Reply #22111 on:** 08 October, 2018, 09:22:56 am »

I haven't touched my bikes all weekend, other than to replace a tube which had a dodgy valve.

But it's autumn so I went for a wander in the woods. Across the Suspension Bridge, wander among the trees – it's easy to get away from the crowds with dogs and little black bags even on a sunny Sunday – then along the Pill path past the pills to Pill. Wanted a cup of tea, couldn't get one. Over the Avonmouth Bridge, unpleasantly noisy, into the Shire and decide to see how long till the next train home. Five minutes! I totally lucked out cos the trains are only about one every two hours on Sunday. A rough recreation on bikehike tells me it was about a dozen miles, my legs tell me this is the equivalent of cycling 120 miles.

orienteer · « **Reply #22112 on:** 08 October, 2018, 12:50:49 pm »

I always reckon that one off-road mile = two on-road miles in terms of effort, but not a factor of ten! Unless in mud, which I don't do if I can avoid it.

Kim · « **Reply #22113 on:** 08 October, 2018, 01:02:24 pm »

I reckon a factor of ten is achievable if you pick a particularly technical hilly route, and/or bring a Mildly Inappropriate Bike.

Also, when the Pill path mud is involved, you've got to factor in the extra effort of the trip to A&E for stitches (but, disappointingly, not pills) afterwards.

Cudzoziemiec · « **Reply #22114 on:** 08 October, 2018, 01:04:12 pm »

This was a wander on foot (and mostly off road, but I don't think that was really a factor) which I tried to compare to one on wheels (on road). I hadn't really thought to compare it to an off-road ride.

Cudzoziemiec · « **Reply #22115 on:** 08 October, 2018, 01:05:36 pm »

A pill, in case anyone is wondering, is a stream or possibly an artificial drain emptying into the estuarial basin (of the Avon, in this case).

ElyDave · « **Reply #22116 on:** 08 October, 2018, 07:08:03 pm »

go further down into Somerset and the'yre rhynes, or so I found when I lived down that way.

Cudzoziemiec · « **Reply #22117 on:** 08 October, 2018, 07:45:25 pm »

There are some rhines round Avonmouth too. I'm not sure but I think there might be a distinction between a pill as a natural stream and a rhine (pronounced "reen" or so I'm told) as a drainage ditch on the flatlands. Or possibly the distinction is something more subtle than that. Or maybe it's just local variation... $:-\$

ElyDave · « **Reply #22118 on:** 09 October, 2018, 11:11:30 am »

I think you're right. I was roundly mocked as a non-native pronouncing it as rhyming with twine, a mistake only made once.

My understanding is that the rhynes or rhines are essentially as in the fens, the drainage ditches on the levels.

rogerzilla · « **Reply #22119 on:** 09 October, 2018, 07:42:44 pm »

I gave the Moulton TSR its inaugural (to me) thrash. All good except that the seat tube bottle cage is just in the wrong place for my knees, since I have taught myself to pedal with knees almost brushing the top tube of a conventional bike, racer-fashion. It's going to need a bottle cage cantilevered behind the saddle, since the alternative set of bosses under the spaceframe is nigh-on inaccessible when riding.

slope · « **Reply #22120 on:** 10 October, 2018, 09:54:45 am »

Quote from: rogerzilla on 09 October, 2018, 07:42:44 pm

I gave the Moulton TSR its inaugural (to me) thrash. All good except that the seat tube bottle cage is just in the wrong place for my knees, since I have taught myself to pedal with knees almost brushing the top tube of a conventional bike, racer-fashion. It's going to need a bottle cage cantilevered behind the saddle, since the alternative set of bosses under the spaceframe is nigh-on inaccessible when riding.

Or you need

a Campag biodynamica aero bottle and cage from the late 80s/early 90s?

LittleWheelsandBig · « **Reply #22121 on:** 10 October, 2018, 10:40:54 am »

I use an Arundel aero/TT bidon and cage on the seat tube of my current TSR. My previous Moulton indeed had a Biodynamica bidon. The underslung mount carries my spare tubes, tools etc.

I also have normal bidons mounted either side of the head tube. A couple of SS straps with 45 degree twists between upper and lower rack mounts are worthwhile for that.
https://judithswallow.wordpress.com/tag/audax-2/page/2/ illustrates the general concept.

cycleman · « **Reply #22122 on:** 10 October, 2018, 06:31:35 pm »

Aprox 55 miles today out through maidenhead and along the pickers green road along cycle route 52 down to the a4130 to Henley. I bought some lunch and water then the a4155 for a mile before heading onto the lane's through Fawley , South end. , down to Fingest and on to Marlow .the climb up winter Hill was soon behind me and then Cookham and Bourne end where I climbed up kiln lane heading for Beaconsfield services. .just a couple of climbs bought me to stoke Poges and back to slough. .
A beautiful day for a potter

robgul · « **Reply #22123 on:** 10 October, 2018, 08:05:14 pm »

Quote from: slope on 10 October, 2018, 09:54:45 am

Quote from: rogerzilla on 09 October, 2018, 07:42:44 pm
I gave the Moulton TSR its inaugural (to me) thrash. All good except that the seat tube bottle cage is just in the wrong place for my knees, since I have taught myself to pedal with knees almost brushing the top tube of a conventional bike, racer-fashion. It's going to need a bottle cage cantilevered behind the saddle, since the alternative set of bosses under the spaceframe is nigh-on inaccessible when riding.

Or you need a Campag biodynamica aero bottle and cage from the late 80s/early 90s?

That looks distinctly urological to me - does it come in cardboard too?

Rob

robgul · « **Reply #22124 on:** 10 October, 2018, 08:07:28 pm »

About 30 miles in glorious weather - had to open up the shop for 20 minutes for a customer to collect a new bike but then on into the Warwickshire countryside and lunch at The Whore's Bed pub on the way home.

Rob