The weather hasn't been kind in May. We've had temperatures way below seasonal norms and quite a lot of rain. This is undoubtedly one of those "expected anomalies" which enthusiasts of Global Warming Theory use to "prove" their hypothesis. Still, it will never stop a determined mountain biker so I took the mainly off road … Continue reading Explore, then explore some more.
It’s easy to get stuck in a rut with regular rides in the same area. I have a firm favourite trail but the shine might go off it if I ride nothing else. Today I decided instead of my favourite to ride Healey Nab but again this is somewhere I ride a lot. So much … Continue reading Making an everyday ride more interesting.
Great Hill is the northernmost high point at 1,251 feet of the West Pennine Moors, a chain of hills stretching for around 12 miles north of Bolton and east of my hometown of Chorley. The Highest point is Winter Hill, a little higher at 1,498 feet. The mountain biking is good from top to bottom … Continue reading What’s so great about Great Hill?
On my last ride I felt full of energy but today I was rather tired. In the morning I'd had a cooked breakfast prior to walking the dog before my ride. It could simply have been that I was still digesting my food and wasn't ready to ride, I'll never know. Had I felt more … Continue reading Strava likes me!
My home made boat used a flapping foil (fishtail) for propulsion and although it did propel the boat forwards it had too many difficulties which I considered insurmountable. It didn’t move me nearly quickly enough and caused the boat to bob up and down. I decided to completely change the way in which the boat … Continue reading More boat testing.
Recently I've dug a pond by hand and paved around it. We had no access to use a mini digger and getting the heavy clay soil to a skip in the road meant using a wheelbarrow to cart it through the garage. Initially I thought the project wouldn't affect my mountain biking since I expected … Continue reading Feeling far fitter.
Today I had the exciting prospect of riding my Boardman FS Pro mountain bike. I bought it new in November 2016 so riding it wasn’t truly a new prospect but I haven’t been able to ride it since 14th February. It was on that day that a small spring on the freewheel broke, leaving me … Continue reading An exciting new prospect.
It’s my favourite ride. Go to the top of Great Hill at 1,251 feet and ride the exquisite downhill through Brinscall Woods. It’s a long and varied ride with some flat and undulating sections, lots of gravity assisted parts and a bit of everything that we mountain bikers love. The climb is valuable exercise and … Continue reading Returning to Great Hill.
I’ve dug a new pond in our garden and am currently laying bricks to support the paving which will surround it. It’s hard physical work and has had a bigger effect on my energy levels than I ever would have expected. On Tuesday and Wednesday I was too tired to go for a bike ride … Continue reading A quick spin becomes a perfect trail ride.
My title is from a poem of 1804 by William Blake which is often sung as a hymn entitled Jerusalem. On a day like today England fully deserves the eulogy. The temperature reached a pleasant 14 celcius and the sun has shone for most of the day. Perfect conditions for a mountain bike ride. I’m … Continue reading In England’s green and pleasant land.
