Cycling 2024

[Slim]

A dry but overcast day was promised. Unusually light winds. I got up earlier than I expected and set off on my usual eastbound fondo route at about 0915. After about 30km though I decided to take a left signposted to Upper Broughton. I'd passed it many times, but didn't think I'd ever been along there. I thought it might be fun to explore, get lost slightly and orienteer my way back to known territory.

However I realised after a couple of km that I had been along there before, but coming the other way (ie on the way back). I was back on the usual route a few km later.

Went as far as Eastwell, stopped there for lunch at the bench (pictured), came back via Wymeswold and Rempstone to avoid possible flooding near Burton on the Wolds. And took the slightly longer route home via Diseworth once back in Leicestershire.

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Although it didn't rain exactly I did have to put up with very light drizzle intermittently. It was cold, but I wrapped up warm. Some of the lesser roads were liberally coated with a thin film of wet mud. But it was an enjoyable run out.

Listened to Gil Scott-Heron's Minister of Information and 5 Live.

Back on 104.89km, 13 minutes before 2024's earliest sunset. The sun will set four seconds later tomorrow.

336 this month now.

https://www.strava.com/activities/13107854073

[Slim]

Somewhere between Wymeswold and Rempstone I noticed a very regular bump-bump-bump coming through the rear wheel. At first I thought it was the road surface .. when it was still happening 5km later I realised it wasn't. Stopped and inspected the rear tyre. It was still inflated, but there was a bit of a bulge, or more like a twist. Subtle, but enough to make a noticeable clonk every revolution. Did I overinflate it? Is the tyre unevenly seated on the rim? Naturally I was a bit tense over the last 25 klicks, not least because it seemed to be getting worse. But I made it home OK.

Before I fork out for a new inner tube and tyre I'll try deflating it, reseating it and reflating it again. It's a 700x32. They aren't as expensive as I feared, but assuming the deformation isn't terminal, I think it's got plenty of life in it although it's done nearly 7000km since I bought it, and it wasn't new then.

Well - deflating and reseating didn't work. The old tyre is permanently deformed, I couldn't get the bump out of it so it has been replaced by a Continental Ride 700x32 acquired from Amazon at a cost of £20.69.

It's a very rigid tyre and it was a bastard to get on the wheel. It's certainly very sturdy though. Oddly it looks a lot narrower on the rim than the old Specialized Borough CX Cyclocross tyre that it replaced, even though both are explicitly labelled 700x32. Will give it a run out next week.

[Slim]

Well fuck.

A rain-free, mild day was forecast. It was a bit gloomy out there with a stiff wind from the west (supposedly), but I wanted to do at least 60km. Maybe even 100. I decided on the Lower Westbound route. I elongated it a bit by going out through Packington. Took advantage of the petrol station at Measham to get a pasty and a sandwich, as I felt a bit low on energy. Had only had a small breakfast and hadn't brought much with me.

I stopped at a bench at Netherseal after 17km to refuel. A nice location next to the church in a sleepy village. Very pleasant.

But as I set off following my impromptu early lunch, I noticed that the front tyre was very soft. Not again! Well - I was in an ideal spot to swap in a new inner tube. I could use the bench as a sort of work surface for an inverted bicycle, and I'd be able to wrestle with the tyre levers while seated. However - I thought I'd see if I could get away with reinflating the old inner tube first. I did that. Then, of course, I reluctantly turned for home. I wasn't going to be able to get enough pressure in the tyre, even if I replaced the inner, for another 80km with my mini pump.

This was surprisingly successful - I moderated my posture to take as much weight off the front as possible, rode carefully and when I stopped after 3.5km to check the front tyre, it hadn't lost much pressure. I stopped another couple of times to put a bit more air back in and made it home without changing the inner tube. I came back the shortest way through Heather.

Conditions brightened a bit on the way back and I hadn't noticed much of a headwind on the way out. I might well have done a fondo if not for the flat. I had to make do with 31.82km.

So, the Boardman front wheel strikes again. It's only five weeks since the last time it hosted a flat. This time I will change the tyre as well as the inner tube, and I'll check the rim very carefully.

Anyway - 368k this month which is OK for half the month gone, but the weather looks iffy for the remaining half.

https://www.strava.com/activities/13120729349

[Nickslikk2112]

Well, I managed a week of 25 mile rides. Today was 13.5, but I'd built up enough sliding room to just need 50 minutes today. Gets me over 300 miles for December, "just" got to find another 200 in the second half of the month.

Had to get out as the Sister in Law came over today, and five minutes in her company sends me genuinely insane. Unfortunately I won't get the chance when she comes over the day after Boxing Day

[Slim]

I was determined to get a fondo in today, having been foiled in my effort to do so yesterday by a flat tyre. The wind was coming from the west again (allegedly) and I thought I'd do the Lower Westbound route. I set off at about 1020.

Since both my usual winter bikes have had new tyres, and in one case a new inner tube fitted since last time they were used, I took Boardman II. I don't test new equipment on a fondo. It hadn't had a run out since October. I knew it was due a lube though, so to save time I just hosed round the chain with a spray can of 3 in 1 and gave it a good wipe. I'll lube it properly at the weekend. Probably.

I turned for home after a bit more than 50k, at Bagot Wood. Came back the same way except that at King's Bromley, instead of taking the right turn toward home, I kept going toward Yoxall. Just in pursuit of a few flat, well-surfaced, low effort additional kilometres. My intention was to turn back to King's Bromley, but I saw a road signposted to Barton-under-Needwood. From there I could come home via Walton-on-Trent .. might have made a nice change. But I remembered that it involves some steep climbing and I stuck to Plan A, a U turn back to King's Bromley and back the usual way from there.

Although the wind was supposed to be westerly, I seemed to have more of a headwind on the way back. But it wasn't bad. I was warm enough in the morning but the temperature seemed to drop sharply after about 1300. But it rose again, or seemed to, an hour later. I had a bit of drizzle to contend with as well early in the afternoon but nothing troubling.

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I took plenty of food with me but oddly, although I'd only had toast and a banana for breakfast, I didn't feel hungry at all on the outward leg and I didn't stop to eat until I was coming homeward. Testament perhaps to the benefit of a large sunday dinner the previous evening.

Back on 107.52km. Another 10km will take me past the 2023 distance total, which is currently a personal record. Another 167km will mean I've fulfilled my aspiration, expressed earlier in the year, before I succumbed to metrication, to have done at least 400 miles in each month of 2024. And another 228km, which I think is doable, will mean I've done 80,000km in the last ten years exactly.

I listened to 5 Live and The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars.

https://www.strava.com/activities/13128629424

[Nickslikk2112]

Managed a couple of 30 milers so far this week. Thought I'd just up it a bit as the weather is looking a bit uncertain, so uncertain that it changes every couple of hours, but tomorrow could well be a bit gusty.

Actually broke out of my samey rides today, new roadworks have appeared on my recent regular routes and some which I have been avoiding have disappeared, so I managed over 2,000ft of elevation gain in a ride for the first time seemingly in ages.

https://www.strava.com/activities/13134356950         

[Slim]

Wasn't going to go cycling today. But I went out to the garage to do a bit of bike maintenance in the early afternoon, and I decided to do an impromptu short ride. Wasn't wearing cycling clothing. No padding to protect my nether regions from the ravages of a bike saddle. But I was only going to do a short one. Enough to get me over 10321 km for 2024, to set a new personal annual distance record. A mere 10km would do it, but I wanted to do about 40.

I also wanted to test the new rear tyre on the Tricross.

I set off at about 1325. Rain was due over some time after 1500. I decided to do some of a Twycrosser, but to come back the same way, so I could easily do a set distance. Didn't want to get rained on unnecessarily by overextending it. So I went down to Twycross, had a brief excursion along Burton Road then came back the same way. Back on 40.46km.

I did have to put up with light rain for the last few km, but I couldn't say I hadn't been warned! Actually it helps to keep the bike clean. A Dettol bathroom wipe on a pre-dampened bike frame scrubs up a bike very nicely. I finish off with a rag moistened with GT-85.

The new tyre seems to work nicely. I'm still a bit disconcerted that it looks a bit narrower than the front tyre despite being ostensibly the same size. But I didn't notice a difference in the ride.

So that's 10352 km done this year, a new personal best. Still want to do another 120 or so if I can.

https://www.strava.com/activities/13143333867

[Slim]

Three days of rain and drizzle coming up, so although I did 40km yesterday, I wanted to clock up a few more today. The BBC promised 0% risk of rain all day, and yet as soon as I'd put on my cycling clothes, I noticed that it was raining. I waited ten minutes and it passed.

As is so often the case, I set off without a clear idea of where I was going to go, but I intended to start by going up through Coleorton then up Top Brand.

I didn't do that. At the bottom of Top Brand I turned right along Ashby Road instead, along to Belton, then up past Tonge. If I recall correctly I had a vague idea that I might go through Donington and west through Shardlow. However, I didn't do that either. I took a left down through Breedon and down through Lount. I knew that this road led eventually to a brutal multi-lane roundabout near Ashby which I don't particularly like negotiating even in a car, but I hoped I'd find a left turn first. I didn't, so I did have to cope with the roundabout.

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After that - down to Packington to join the Twycrosser route. I cut it short by taking the short cut through Little Twycross and Bilstone, but I was surprised to find the road flooded after Shackerstone. Never seen that bit of road flooded before. I saw a couple of cars turn back but as you can see from the pic, a brave bus driver attempted it coming the other way. I wasn't going to though, so I rerouted via Derby Lane and Swepstone.

I hadn't been along Derby Lane for at least five years, mainly because it's a bit lumpy and muddy. It wasn't too bad. At least I was on the optimal bike for it.

The driver's door of a parked car opened suddenly as I was passing it along Moor Lane, fortunately I managed to swerve round it. I do know someone on another forum I frequent who suffered a punctured lung after being impaled on the sharp corner of a car door, so it could have been very nasty. I did issue a profanity, but at least the driver was gracious enough to shout a cheery "sorry pal!" as he emerged from the car.

I see that Wikipedia has a page dedicated to this phenomenon.

Do car doors have to have those sharp corners?

Anyway - back on 57.44km. I did intend to do more than that to be honest, but it's more than enough really. Actually I felt a bit weary after only 15km or so. Hadn't fed myself properly, probably. A small pork pie and a flapjack seemed to fix it.

The weather forecast seems very changeable at the moment but right now it looks there are a few decent cycling days left in the year.

https://www.strava.com/activities/13148829902

[Nickslikk2112]

Do car doors have to have those sharp corners?

Yes. To help kill cyclists

Olympic Road Race and Time Trial Gold medallist Remco Evenepoel got car doored whilst training in Belgium recently - by a Belgian Post Office Van - and broke his shoulder blade, some ribs and dislocated his collar bone, think it's seven weeks off the bike for him; and his Gold painted bike snapped in two.

Anyhoo, after staying in yesterday thanks to a very windy morning, then dull drizzly afternoon I got out today. I fully intended riding up to the Peak District for the first time in weeks. But, six miles in, I found out the noise I'd heard when going over a speed bump was my bidon escaping, so I turned round to get a new one.

Didn't see where my bidon had got to as a couple of cars had parked up in the most likely position for it and with the trip back home and the fact that it was still quite windy at low levels I decided to postpone a ride to the tops as it would have been very windy once over 1,000 feet on exposed moorlands.

I headed back out the other way and just rode on my flatter lands being alternately helped along and then held back by the wind. Such fun. I got 36 miles out of it, which is what I wanted to get out of it, it gets me to 400 miles for December. Twelve days left for another hundred, but the weekend looks like being too windy, then next week will see three days of feasting. Seven days for a hundred then.

https://www.strava.com/activities/13148569219

[Nickslikk2112]

Got out again today, just in case the weekend is too blustery. It's been windy enough as is at times, but I'm satisfied with another 35 miles. Mow need to get in another 63 miles before the end of December. Should be doable, unless I stuff too much food down the old throat.

Think the lungs may have been wrecked today, got stuck in a queue of traffic behind a car driving along at 5moh seemingly with its engine on fire. It stank. Had its hazards on too, which is illegal whilst in motion unless you're on a motorway. Thankfully it stopped after a few hundred yards of choking fug.

https://www.strava.com/activities/13154903698

[Thenop]

Olympic Road Race and Time Trial Gold medallist Remco Evenepoel got car doored whilst training in Belgium recently - by a Belgian Post Office Van - and broke his shoulder blade, some ribs and dislocated his collar bone, think it's seven weeks off the bike for him; and his Gold painted bike snapped in two.

The one time the postie was on time, and he does this.
In all seriousness, professional cycling must be the only sport where you train and are exposed to such high number of risks. Amateurs as well of course, but imagine being on a 5 million EUR contract with a pro cycling team and this happens. No way these guys can get proper insurance.

[Slim]

I really fancied a run over to Markfield today. I like to do that this time of year. But the wind was coming fairly directly from the west, so it wasn't the best idea. So - I thought I'd do some of the Dad's Army route. As it happens I watched the Christmas 1974 episode of the BBC's celebrated sitcom for which the route is named last night.

Ideally I wanted to do about 75 km. I set off early enough, and the BBC forecast assured me there was no risk of rain until about 1600. I went up to Ashby first, down to Twycross, did the detour to Orton, down through Sheepy and west along Grendon Road. However .. I decided on a whim to take a right along Warton Lane and just to busk it for a bit, rather than following the usual route down to the A5. At the junction with Orton Road I kept on, rather than taking a familiar turn left or right. This took me along a road called Linden Lane, which I don't think I've ever been along.

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By this time I was putting up with drizzle and light rain, despite the BBC's promises. I took a right turn along a road called Polesworth Lane, leading eventually to a village called Newton Regis. Definitely hadn't been along there before. Took the pic there. I consulted Google Maps, plotted a route to No Man's Heath and came home a familiar way from there.

Listened to LBC mostly; Iain Dale was sitting in for James O'Brien, making the discourse about 800% more sensible than usual.

Back on 59.59km, not quite the distance I wanted but then again I wouldn't have gone out at all if I'd known the weather was going to be so dismal after the first hour. Nice to do something a bit different just before Christmas.

https://www.strava.com/activities/13174461332

[Nickslikk2112]

Another day I'd intended to ride up to the tops and another day plans didn't come to fruition. Weather was supposed to be dry up until one, but one look out to the Peak District and it did not look promising.

OK, let's do the old stand-by and ride out to Tibshelf and back. OK. Even rising up to Tbshelf's modest altitude of 600 feet was enough to get into light rain and drizzle. Nothing too bad, but enough to prove the worth of not going higher.

And if I had gone out as planned I'd have come back and hit a gridlocked Chesterfield. It was bad enough on the run in to home, I'd got up to an average of 16.9 mph and the downhill run home should have got me over 17 mph average. No such luck. What normally takes under 90 seconds took over four minutes due to all the traffic queueing to get into the local Sainsbury's.

Still 31 miles gets me to within 24 of December's target of 500. Hopefully Mrs S won't have too many jobs lined up for me tomorrow...

https://www.strava.com/activities/13174121685

[Nickslikk2112]

Despite feeling under the weather - why do I always get badly at Christmas - it was nowhere near manflu levels, so I decided to get out for a couple of hours and sneaked out before Mrs S could find me a job to do.

Again I decided against going out to the Peak District as it looked a bit damp up there and the westerly wind was stronger than I thought it would be. Still managed to get in a climb with 550ft of elevation again even at the lower levels so that was OK by me.

So the 31 miles gets me over 500 miles for December so I can now sit down for a few days of eating, drinking and being slightly less miserable than normal.

https://www.strava.com/activities/13181211322

[Slim]

I was determined to do a fondo today. The forecast claimed that a morning fog would have burned off by 1030-ish, leaving a dry day in its place.

Well, the fog hadn't cleared by 1100, and I set off anyway at about 1125. I wanted to pay my old house a visit at Markfield, about 15km away, by the route I chose. I'm drawn to do that this time of year, probably because I moved into it with my partner at the time just before Christmas 1989. So I did that. I went along Ellistown Lane this time, don't think I'd been along there before.

After that I sort of made it up as I went along, meandering through Thornton, Newtown Unthank and Desford to Kirkby Mallory. From there I had the idea of going over to Sutton Cheney and down Fenn Lanes. I went all the way down to the A5, then followed it all the way to the Atherstone Bypass. Wouldn't normally do that, but it was quiet today.

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Followed a sign to Sheepy from there. That took me along a road called Holly Lane. Not particularly interesting but I hadn't been along there before either. As far as I can remember.

I'd given up on the fog clearing by this time, and on doing a fondo. It was foggy and wet all day, with a thin film of moisture forming on my clothing and on the bike. The roads were very wet. But I did at least want to do 70km, because that would give me the distinction of having completed 80,000 km since January 2015.

I came back a familiar way from Sheepy, as if doing the latter part of a Twycrosser.

Stopped to put lights on in front of a house at Newton Burgoland, and was startled to notice Nigel Farage pointing at me from their kitchen window. Would have stopped for a chat about the national interest but I wanted to get home for a coffee and some trifle.

The fog started to grow thicker just before sunset. One thing that makes a big difference when cycling in fog or a mist, or indeed drizzle or rain is wearing contact lenses instead of glasses. Glad I did that today.

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Listened to LBC, then football coverage on 5 Live. Unaccountably, although it was cold and wet all day I really enjoyed that one.

Back on 79.51km, which takes me to 712 this month, 10548 this year and 80009 since Jan '15. I think 2024 has one more ride left in it, possibly two.

https://www.strava.com/activities/13195271578