Just some of the stuff i get up to when not planning and training for this ride.
Monday, 31 January 2011
Saturday, 29 January 2011
Why?
WHY?
Why do you want to do this ride??
Well heres our list, its not in any order and its a work in progress:
1.) Love riding the bike, don't just like it, Love it!
2.) Because its there....
3.) Wanted to do a big ride and this is the ultimate in the UK.
(there are many others, but we will get to them later....)
4.) We are outdoorsy people. We go walking, camping, mountain biking, caving, climbing. Steve is a Mountain Leader and Mountain bike instructor.
5.) We are not weather dependant, we arent fair weather bikers. Right gear for the weather!
6.) Doing exercise/activity makes sense to your brain, is great for fitness, makes you feel good, increases your energy levels, prolongs your life.
7.) Karen let us. (Steves wife, my sister) gave us permission to go on a two week expedition.Agreed to the financial aspects and allowed us the time to go training, not to mention the two week epic!
8.) To raise money for Charity. Charities are dependant on donations. (This list isnt in order of importance!)
9.) Because its going to be bloody hard, a massive challenge. Also a massive adventure. We like adventures!
10.) Lejog South to North direction because of chances of prevailing winds being behind us. Midday sun not being in our faces.
11.) We didnt want to ride 100 miles a day so we are going a longer more scenic route.
12.) Cycle touring is the best way to see places.
13.) I spoke to some Lejog riders as they came through Preston on their 9 day ride, 'I havent seen anything, i am gonna have to do it all again but slower'.
14.) Biking = playing and a its a good craic.
15.) Setting targets gives you something to look forward to.
16.) We like drinking Scotch. Scotland is full of whisky, we are there for a week....
17.) Cycling is green, petrol is blooming expensive.
18.) Biking is addictive, it will make you slightly obsessed. (I am considering shaving my legs, mostly cos its funny, how far do you go?)
19.) If you do a massive amount of exercise daily your allowed to eat Eccles Cakes, with all their buttery calories. We like Eccles Cakes. (We like scotch slightly more see point 16.)
20.) 'Bicycle touring is a form of cycling where riders travel long distances, prioritizing pleasure and endurance over utility or speed'. (I stole that from wikipedia)
21.) Cycling relieves stress.
22.) For the thrill of pure road riding.
Cheers for now
DB
Why do you want to do this ride??
Well heres our list, its not in any order and its a work in progress:
1.) Love riding the bike, don't just like it, Love it!
2.) Because its there....
3.) Wanted to do a big ride and this is the ultimate in the UK.
(there are many others, but we will get to them later....)
4.) We are outdoorsy people. We go walking, camping, mountain biking, caving, climbing. Steve is a Mountain Leader and Mountain bike instructor.
5.) We are not weather dependant, we arent fair weather bikers. Right gear for the weather!
6.) Doing exercise/activity makes sense to your brain, is great for fitness, makes you feel good, increases your energy levels, prolongs your life.
7.) Karen let us. (Steves wife, my sister) gave us permission to go on a two week expedition.Agreed to the financial aspects and allowed us the time to go training, not to mention the two week epic!
8.) To raise money for Charity. Charities are dependant on donations. (This list isnt in order of importance!)
9.) Because its going to be bloody hard, a massive challenge. Also a massive adventure. We like adventures!
10.) Lejog South to North direction because of chances of prevailing winds being behind us. Midday sun not being in our faces.
11.) We didnt want to ride 100 miles a day so we are going a longer more scenic route.
12.) Cycle touring is the best way to see places.
13.) I spoke to some Lejog riders as they came through Preston on their 9 day ride, 'I havent seen anything, i am gonna have to do it all again but slower'.
14.) Biking = playing and a its a good craic.
15.) Setting targets gives you something to look forward to.
16.) We like drinking Scotch. Scotland is full of whisky, we are there for a week....
17.) Cycling is green, petrol is blooming expensive.
18.) Biking is addictive, it will make you slightly obsessed. (I am considering shaving my legs, mostly cos its funny, how far do you go?)
19.) If you do a massive amount of exercise daily your allowed to eat Eccles Cakes, with all their buttery calories. We like Eccles Cakes. (We like scotch slightly more see point 16.)
20.) 'Bicycle touring is a form of cycling where riders travel long distances, prioritizing pleasure and endurance over utility or speed'. (I stole that from wikipedia)
21.) Cycling relieves stress.
22.) For the thrill of pure road riding.
Cheers for now
DB
Sunday, 23 January 2011
Rivington Mountain Biking
This afternoon we went mountain biking in Rivington. Good fun, me, Steve and Tim. We tried and failed to get three bikes in the rack on the back of my car, your probably supposed to turn your handle bars straight so three fit on? We are now very used to road bikes and our mountain bikes feel very foreign, like clown bikes? I bounce all over with the suspension, the tyres are massive?! I find its more like playing now, go anywhere, any surface. The weather was fairly mild really, it was rammed with walkers, dog walkers and a few bikers. It was very clear up top. I have never been up there before and the views were quite spectacular, I hope the photos come out.
I experimented with the ActionCam I have just bought, the videos came out 90 degrees the wrong way, also looking at the floor! Plenty of grass, gravel, trees, very bumpy too, think it will be okay on a road bike, with a little bedding in period!
Bikemap route link
We are going to add random mountain biking trips into our training plan, it works the same muscles, and is more like playing out, plus going up the hills still gets you working hard!
Cheers
DB
I experimented with the ActionCam I have just bought, the videos came out 90 degrees the wrong way, also looking at the floor! Plenty of grass, gravel, trees, very bumpy too, think it will be okay on a road bike, with a little bedding in period!
Bikemap route link
We are going to add random mountain biking trips into our training plan, it works the same muscles, and is more like playing out, plus going up the hills still gets you working hard!
DB
Sunday, 16 January 2011
A Good Wet Ride
Me and Steve went out early this morning 8:30am, even though from checking the weather the previous night we knew it would be heavy rain and windy. Braking in wet weather is difficult, mostly because it takes much longer to stop, we adopted the braking procedure of oil tankers i.e. really early!
Bikemap route
Not sure how these videos will come out on here but here goes!
I didnt think I was that wet till I got home and turns out water got everywhere, my sealskinz wetsocks did the job though.
Cheers
DB
Bikemap route
 |
| I only take pictures when we stop for a stretch? |
 |
| River Ribble Preston = Full |
 |
| wet Dave, am actually quite happy |
 |
| Deserted park |
Not sure how these videos will come out on here but here goes!
I didnt think I was that wet till I got home and turns out water got everywhere, my sealskinz wetsocks did the job though.
Cheers
DB
Saturday, 15 January 2011
Thursday, 13 January 2011
Steve's bike spec.
- Frame:
- Reynolds 631 Main Tube Touring Frame With Braze On Spoke Holder And Triple Bottle Bosses
- Fork:
- Touring Fork With Reynolds 520 Blades And Cr-Mo Ahead Steerer. Constructed With Double Mudguard Eyes And Low Rider Bosses
- Front Derailleur:
- Shimano Deore
- Rear Derailleur:
- Shimano Deore
- Shifters:
- Tiagra STI Shifters
- Chainset:
- Shimano Deore FC-M533-SK Chain Set
- Chainrings:
- 26/36/48 tooth chainrings
- Bottom Bracket:
- Shimano Hollowtech Bottom Bracket
- Pedals:
- Shimano M540 SPD pedals
- Front Brake:
- Tektro Oryx Alloy Cantilever Brakes With Tektro RL720 Upper Bar Levers
- Rear Brake:
- Tektro Oryx Alloy Cantilever Brakes With Tektro RL720 Upper Bar Levers
- Handlebars:
- 31.8mm Alloy Bar
- Stem:
- 31.8mm Alloy -17 Degree Stem
- Headset:
- Semi Cartridge Satin Aheadset
- Grips:
- Gel Bar Tape
- Rims:
- WTB Dual Duty XC 700c Alloy Double Wall Rim With Machined Side Wall and Single Eyeletes
- Front Hub:
- Shimano Deore 36 Hole Quick Release Hubs
- Rear Hub:
- Shimano Deore 36 Hole Quick Release 9 Speed Freehub
- Spokes:
- Stainless steel spokes
- Front Tyre:
- Schwalbe Marathon 700x32c Reflective Side Wall With Kevlar Guard
- Rear Tyre:
- Schwalbe Marathon 700x32c Reflective Side Wall With Kevlar Guard
- Saddle:
- Brooks B17 Saddle
- Seatpost:
- Laser Cut Claud Butler Seat Pillar
- Accessories:
- Large Tube 4 Point Fixing Carrier, Full Chrome Plastic Mudguards With Plastic Tails
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