hey look, it's one of those funny bikes...

We took advantage of the evening sun to go out and ride our bikes. Amy and Ali made the trip over from Bolton, tempted by the prospect of (mostly) leaving the world of 26ers. Oh, yeah and pizza.

It must be one of the few times so many clown bikes have gathered since the 69er Gathering earlier this year. Can you count the funny wheels kids?

No. it. wasn't.

Broken rib = no Mayhem for me this year. Left leg's not working too well either. Seem to be having a little run of it lately. The biggest event in the mountain bike calender has kind of got automatic over the years, which probably isn't a good thing. Anyway, spent the last couple of days wandering around the White Peak taking photos, eating cake and drinking coffee. Also getting stuff and routes ready for the Iceland trip that's looming excitedly on the horizon.  It's been good.

Hit the North - get entered!

If you're a mountain biker in the North West then here's a couple of things happening that you should know about.

Hit the North  is the fourth big fun race from the same people that brought you the other three. Fab varied racing raising cash for local charities. Check out the website and get entered. Just a week left and filling up fast...



On a smaller scale British Cycling are hosting fortnightly hour long races in Clayton Vale. Thursday evenings, home in time for supper. We did the first and loved it. Turn up, pay up and get yer racing boots on :o)

knee deep across pathless moorland

 

Old packhorse sign on the road near Pistyll Rhaeder 

Idyllic campsite, oasis of grassiness amidst all the heather and gorse

 Land of my father, or something.

 

Can you see the path? No, we couldn't either. All weekend.

Nice...

Steamroller

I had some handlebars lying around so decided to build a new bike. What frame goes with H-bars like PB & J? It's a Pug!

Got a new toy. Took it for a ride across Marsden Moor to the coffee shop today. Lots of fun pointing it in the right direction and letting it roll over anything and everything. See what I mean? Surly must have been been thinking of something else when they named their urban fixie thing the Steamroller This is the real deal. Although it's not very intuitive in the steering department. More like point it to Nome and don't change course til we get there.

Riding back on the road from the shop it had 20 psi in the tyres. That was dropped to 16 for the start of today's ride and dropped a further couple while we were out. Nice and grippy. What other bike lets you run such low, traction happy pressures? If in doubt, let some out.

 
Used a Mr Whirly chainset because of it's multi use adaptability and it's very shiny.  The MRP chain keeper is there for keeping the chain on when gears are needed. 36:18 wasn't the right gear choice by the way, tyre diameter is similar to a 29er so 36:20 would be more useful.

So, there it is. Pugsley is fab. Go ride one.

Been away

Just back from a month in sunny Spain. Lucky to get away on the morning of the Icelandic volcano eruption. Fortunate to get back too as it happens. We're left wondering whether our planned travels to Iceland will happen?

First ride out on the mountain bike was a bit of a disaster. Crashed and bashed my hand. Bruising and swelling that still hasn't completely gone meant that I was confined to the road bike for a couple of weeks. Good job we both took 2 bikes!  Not such a bad position to be in as the roads out in the Granada region are absolutely stunning. Plenty of routes to keep us busy. Mostly long, hour plus, steady climbs followed by big, grin inducing, hairpin infested descents. Plenty of coffee and cake stops kept us fuelled.

More later...