I am a lifelong mountain biker who rarely lacks motivation. I had always ridden bikes off road like most kids but in 1976 I bought a “scrambler” for 70 pence. This was a bike which was dedicated to off road use. In 1977 I added a homemade suspension fork. I used the front suspension unitsContinue reading “Why I’m writing this….”
A small world.
My mountain biking world seems rather small these days. I used to occasionally ride trails centres in North Wales or the Lake District with friends but they’ve all given up riding, now. I was going to expand my horizons this coming weekend with a ride of over 100 km but I’ve called it off becauseContinue reading “A small world.”
Exploring again.
On my last ride on Sunday I used a high level route over Redmond’s Edge and commented that I needed to have a look at some downhills which I haven’t ridden in many years. Now we have the very best type of conditions for exploration because the ground is almost totally dry so I wouldContinue reading “Exploring again.”
A different way up.
After a ride of around 45 miles on fairly level ground, much of it along canal towpaths, I wanted to do another slightly longer ride than usual today but incorporate some climbing. I had the idea to ride a long climb to Hordern Stoops, which is a high point when you take the tarmac roadContinue reading “A different way up.”
Preparing for my big ride.
I had to have some work done on my car yesterday. It’s a rather specialist vehicle which my local garage don’t want to work on so I had to take it to the experts about 18 miles away, north of Preston. Previously I’ve left it there and ridden my mountain bike home and back againContinue reading “Preparing for my big ride.”
Back on it.
After feeling very tired yesterday, which I’m sure was an after effect of my second Covid 19 vaccination, I felt fine today. I wasn’t sure that I’d have my normal energy levels during a mountain bike ride so I didn’t set any other target for my ride than to go to the top of GreatContinue reading “Back on it.”
You don’t need your brain. It’s just a bike!
I decided not to ride my mountain bike today. Yesterday I had my second Covid 19 vaccination, the Oxford/Astrazeneca variety, and it’s left me feeling very tired. The first dose seemed to have no effect but today I’ve felt sleepy all day. That doesn’t mean that bikes haven’t been in my thoughts, though, so afterContinue reading “You don’t need your brain. It’s just a bike!”
A different kind of ride.
My last ride was a race but only against myself. I’d set a target to ride 4 laps of an off road circuit in less than an hour and managed to do it in 57 minutes 52 seconds. It may have been too easy to achieve but I certainly pushed myself and was spent byContinue reading “A different kind of ride.”
A big challenge, on a short circuit.
Each year I like to set myself some mountain biking challenges. It motivates me to work towards harder goals, which must be good for maintaining fitness. This year I’ve set only 2 challenges with the proviso that I can add others later. One is to ride over 100km, taking in 4 big hills in theContinue reading “A big challenge, on a short circuit.”
One big ride, four epic downhills.
Today’s ride was the biggest I’ve done since I attempted the Mary Towneley Loop last September. The weather was perfect, in the high teens Celcius, sunny with no appreciable wind. I knew I’d eaten enough last night to be well fuelled so I had some cereal and made sure I was well hydrated before settingContinue reading “One big ride, four epic downhills.”
Riding Rivington Pike.
Today I rode to an old favourite, Rivington Pike. It was a part of so many rides in the late 1990s but I just don’t seem to get there very often now. It’s in an area which is a real mountain biking hotspot so I could expect a quality ride but I also wanted toContinue reading “Riding Rivington Pike.”
