Life on two wheels.... the random musings of a cyclist

not professional enough.. it seems!!

2011-11-19T06:37:00.001-08:00

http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/10281/Eight-teams-awarded-ProTeam-licences-for-2012-others-must-await-future-decision.aspx

Essentially we need to wait until around the 10th of December to find out if Euskatel Euskadi will actually get a Pro team Licence.

Seems less of a question and more of a given to me.

Unexpected gains

2011-11-19T06:02:00.001-08:00

Wow so this is supposed to be November, seems more like late September to me. Not that I am complaining since it does mean that the evenings although jet black are not too cold for a brisk ride. Let's see what interesting stuff I can find to write about over the coming months. Hold that thought I will update soon.

Apples fall

2009-07-03T04:25:00.001-07:00

me + tandem + 6 yr old daughter + trailer + 3 year old daughter + 5.8% incline = 532 watts

Yes dear friends you read correctly, I did ride the tandem with a 6 year old stoker, 2 panniers and a baby trailer with a 2 1/2 year old in it.

I knew it would be a tough climb up Westburn Road and into the hospital, not that any of us were ill, no we were just out for a ride.

It got me thinking why is it so hard, why does a small change in the gradient have such an acid producing effect in the thighs?

Well being the sad Aspie’esque type that I am I hunted for a model of cycling power. There are plenty, just google “bicycle power calc”. After much analysis putting data in and reading results, and playing with excel I established that gravity is to blame.

Simple, the more your fight against gravity the more work is required. If you are worried you wont make it to the top, then slow down. If you want to protect your knees from high torque, change into a lower gear and spin.

It’s all about timing

2009-06-20T07:20:00.001-07:00

How to adjust the eccentric bottom bracket on a 2008 Dawes Duet Tandem.

It is technically a Pinch Bolt Eccentric.

Beneath the Captain’s crankset there is a bulbous projection.

Within that are two 6mm Allen bolts.

Loosen them, note they are quite tight, fully off.

On the drive side of the eccentric bb housing there is a hole suitable to hold a 5mm rod, insert a suitable rod in the hole and use this to rotate the eccentric shell either clockwise or anti-clockwise. As the bottom bracket moves towards the rear of the shell the timing chain will loosen, as it move towards the front of the shell the timing chain will tighten.

Adjust until there is some vertical play in the timing chain. Mine was shipped very tight; less than 1mm vertical play, so I loosened it and now it has about 3 mm vertical play.

Retighten the 6mm Allen Bolts to around 10 – 12nm, I used a torque wrench at home, but on the road you would feel that as quite tight.

A bicycle made for 2.. or at least 1 1/2

2009-06-18T14:53:00.001-07:00

I couldn’t wait to tell everyone. The day has arrived, daughter number 1 just 5 years and 10 months old has finally taken her position as stoker on the Dawes Duet kiddyback tandem. Admittedly she is quite tall for her age and yes she could pedal before she could walk (strange but true) and yes she is already on her third bike. But who would think that I could collect her from school in a trailer. Sit her on the tandem, tweak the seat and at first attempt we cycled on the pavement for 150 yards, then onto the road for 1 mile.

A few more tweaks to the bars and a wee bit more air in the tubes and off we went back to school for Sradagan (Gaelic Youth Club).

Round the roundabouts, stopping and starting at the lights. So I need to drop my cadence, she is not yet a spinner, but not a complaint nor a whimper.

“Is this better than the trailer”..

“Yes Daddy”,

“Why is it better?”

“I can feel the wind in my face daddy”

I will get photos when I can but for now I am probably the happiest man in the world.

Weight loss strategy.. haha

2009-06-18T02:36:00.001-07:00

I my last post I discussed how I was involved in an RTA. I wont rewrite the events, hunt around if you want to read them, but the net effect of the accident was 14 weeks off the bike, 36 pounds in weight gain and the cardiovascular output of an earthworm.

So I went from a lithe 142 pounds to a pant tightening 177 pounds. I thought it would be worthwhile describing how it feels to be a skinny bloke in a fat body.

Awful, it feels awful. I went from people saying “ you look slim” or “ you look skinny” to “hmm that is a belly” or “ you look stocky”.

Truth is even at 141 and 5’9” I still had no six pack, I was lean but not superduper Bruce Lee lean. Functionally at 141 I was a mountain goat, very handy living in the Grampians. The effect of the weight was to retard my hill climbing by a painful chest bursting amount.

So I needed to lose the extra poundage. But how?

Now dont get me wrong I am not a fad dieter or a starver. I spent years cycling to build good thighs and I don’t want to crash diet and lose the muscle.

So i decided to ride it off. 3300 calories a pound, so I just need to start cycling. I did so and found that the broken elbows might have healed but they didn’t work as well as previously. Riding the drops revealed that my arms are now different lengths, that the triceps hurt like hell most of the time and that getting fit was going to hurt. But I do like a little pain ;)

I set about cycling, January 668 miles, February 553, March 698, April 682, May 829, June estimate 880. Did it work, hmm, unfortunately my appetite has risen, my legs are perpetually tired and I am a moody discordant individual. But yes the net effect is I weigh 162 pounds, 15 pounds of fat dropped. I can see the mountain goat returning more steady than fast. The data, I am anal about data, says Jan 25k calories burned, Feb 16k, Mar 20k, Apr 20k, May 25k, and Jun 25k. Success yes but I long for the day when I can again ride 100 miles on oxygen, 3 bananas and a few litres of electrolyte, come home eat dinner and go out for another 20 mile cruise with the CTC. It will come, but no point rushing, another 6 months and I should be another 15 pounds lighter with little or no muscle loss. 147 pounds would be a great Christmas present.

I am motivated and habitual, I just need to remember to take it steady and that is the hard part.. I don’t do steady or should I say I didn’t, the crash and the events after changed my thinking. Now I can do steady I just have to want to.

UFO’s or UDO’s

2009-06-12T01:41:00.001-07:00

So it is 13th October 2008, 7.10pm. Yours truly is completing lap 7 of a hilly loop and setting off home. Cycling down hill I am suddenly filled with a sense of dread, then I feel myself rotating backwards and upside down. I brace my body for the impending impact. I feel my back hit the tarmac, and the breath is squeezed from me. Laid in the road I see my capable mountain bike 10 yards down the hill lighting up the road, I feel sick. I see 3 vehicles coming up the road toward me. Oh my God I am going to be run over. Fortunately the first car slows, the following pair do likewise. The first car speeds off. The remaining two stop and the drivers alight. They help me to my feet and move my bike.

The driver of the third car, a mini truck, puts my bike in the back and asks where I live, he and the other driver decide I need a hospital, just to be safe.

By now I am rambling about being ok and he can take me home, insistently he proceeds to Aberdeen Infirmary. I sit, I shake, the put me at the front of the queue. They scan me, X-Ray me, hurt me. They inject me, I ask to be let out so I can ride home only to be told that I can’t ride home as I have two broken arms, a dislocated jaw, deep laceration to the chin, puncture wound to the left calf, and unequal pupils. My arms are broken at the elbow joints I can now not move my arms.

What hit me.. I will never know, the police opened a case and closed it three days later due to lack of witnesses.

13 weeks later I am still unable to ride the bike, have gained 31 pounds in weight and lost all my hard gained fitness.

So timetravel 8 months forward. I have now dropped 9 of the extra pounds I am cycling more frequently and gradually for longer.

Interestingly, if I hear a vehicle drop a gear or rev behind me I am immediately filled with the same sense of dread, the October 13th factor. So whilst I can never state for certain and never truly know what happened on that evening I have a very good idea.

The idea? well I doubt it was a UFO more certainly a UDO (unidentified driven object). So as I ride and think just how lucky I am to be able to write this I know there is a driver somewhere who hit a cyclist on a remote coastal road at dusk on October 13th 2008. Having done so he turned around to come back up the hill and see if the cyclist was still alive, having done so he left the scene. He need not worry it was an accident.

Opus 23

2009-06-07T04:51:00.001-07:00

http://www.last.fm/music/Edvard+Grieg/_/In+the+Hall+of+the+Mountain+King

Peer Gynt

2009-06-06T16:30:00.001-07:00

a truly stunning performance at HMT.

the best I have ever seen at any theatre.

Big question? why was the auditorium not filled to the rafters.

The Journey of an Original Glazed

2009-06-05T06:14:00.001-07:00

http://www.krispykreme.co.uk/doughnuts/our-varieties/original-glazed/

National Doughnut Day

2009-06-05T06:11:00.001-07:00

The Consumerist reports

“June 5th, is National Doughnut Day. Why do you care about this? Because it is your opportunity to grab yourself a free doughnut. And as we all know, free doughnuts have no calories. Actually, that is a lie.

In honor of National Doughnut Day, participating Krispy Kremes are offering one free doughnut per customer, no purchase necessary.
(We feel compelled to mention that the company just released their earnings and the news wasn't good. Fiscal first-quarter earnings skidded 53%. So, maybe if you're feeling generous and want to take pity on them, you might want to buy a coffee while you're there.)

Dunkin' Donuts also has a deal -- participating locations will give every customer a free doughnut of their choice, with the purchase of any beverage, limit one per customer.

if you're the sort to get annoyed easily, call first to see if locations are participating.”

This is interesting, why?. Well the CTC are a notoriously tight fisted bunch who will go to any lengths not to spend money, remember 101 uses of an inner tube !!. They will cycle miles out of their way to get 10p of a Scone and a Latte. Consider also that the Scottish are a notoriously “grippy” race with deep pockets and short arms. So if you were a Scottish member of the CTC you would probably have reached the pinnacle of miserliness, have a wallet from within which the monarch on the money blinks when she sees daylight and be rueing the day the establishment removed the 1/2p coin from circulation.

So the very thought of free food, doughnuts or otherwise must have them route planning and pannier packing. As much as I would love to see them in their hoards plodding to Dunkin’ Donuts I have to share the following bad news with my Grampian colleagues.

THE CLOSEST OUTLET IS IN ENGLAND.

Dave and Mark will be kicking themselves, with tired, toned and tanned legs, that they didn’t delay their epic ride for a week.

http://www.krispykreme.co.uk/store-locator/

CTC’s record membership

2009-06-05T05:47:00.001-07:00

Extract From CTC Newesletter, copyright acknowledged.

Every day more and more people join CTC and that’s why we have surpassed our membership record set back in the ‘Golden Age’ of cycling in 1899, just after the invention of the pneumatic tyre and the safety bicycle, and before cars appeared in any great number. Today CTC has 60,776 members, supports 10,000 more cyclists in affiliated groups and has helped 20,000 beneficiaries through its charitable work. CTC Director Kevin Mayne said: “I am delighted we have reached the highest membership in our history. Membership helps make CTC unique and gives us our independent and democratic voice as we are 60,000 people united by a passion for cycling. It also makes us a community, a club and, even at times a safe haven, for all types of cyclists: ‘Safety in Numbers’ has real meaning in CTC.” To find out more read Kevin Mayne’s message to members.

Kwai Chang Kane.. no more

2009-06-05T05:28:00.001-07:00

Sad to read today of the mysterious death of David Carradine in a Bangkok Hotel. I am not going to delve into the how and why of his death just say that he was a favourite actor of mine and my lasting image of him won’t be as a dead Holywooder, or Bill, or Chuck Norris’s adversary but as Grasshopper. For me, the original SuperHero.

RIP DC

The duo complete

2009-06-05T05:18:00.001-07:00

Well done to Dave and Mark, a good ride for a good cause.

that was the summer, here comes autumn

2009-06-02T01:34:00.001-07:00

So just as I am getting a tan the sun again proves to be a weakling when compared to the North Wind.

So it looks like summer is leaving as fast as it arrived and over night we lose 10 Deg C of warmth. I now understand why Majorca is a favourite destination for UK cyclists.

Ah well time to put some warm clothes on.

Joggers

2009-05-31T14:35:00.001-07:00

Well not exactly joggers more LE joggers, Lands End to John O’Groats. LEJOG.. gettit.

Two friends of mine are about to complete the effort. Read all about them on http://newtdavelejog.blogspot.com/ and don’t forget to give to charity.

Ok so why the prompt, well as you know I love to ride and whilst the worthy twosome have been riding a 1000 miles for charity I have been riding my usual 900 miles for no purpose other the self fulfilment. I was reading the joggers blog when it struck me that maybe I should do something worthy with my legs. But what ??

current options are Aberdeen-Inverness-Aberdeen in a day, or Aberdeen-Fraserburgh-Aberdeen on the Formartine line in a day, or Aberdeen-Oban-Aberdeen, LEJOG & JOGLE.

I am not sure which or why to pick, I have the legs and the bike but just looking for the ounce of motivation.

Come on Dave .. share the magic

Why do they wear Lycra ?

2009-05-20T10:49:00.001-07:00

So I did get a 31 mile ride this afternoon. From Aberdeen, Orrock, Newmachar, Dyce and back to Aberdeen. So why should you never trust a sunny day? well here on the North East Coast the sun is often only visible when there is either an offshore or onshore wind to blow the haar and the clouds away. Today was one such day, an offshore wind was blowing and from what I can see outside it is still blowing. 24 km/h from the west which for me meant I got the wind on my left side, on my right side and in my face but never on my back. I would love to say it’s no bother but after 1200 rides over 4 years and nearly 29,000 miles covered I still can’t seem to break through the impenetrable wall we refer to as wind. If you chat to folk they will swear black is blue that rides it the wind are faster and they may well be if the wind is on your back. But if you have to turn back into the wind then whatever was banked before is withdrawn and leaves you in debt.

The simple fact is that a ride on a looped course is always slower when the wind blows. You don’t believe me??

Here look.

20 mile out and back course with 6mph tailwind.

tailwind of 6mph, effort of 20mph, speed on cycle computer = 26mph. So 10 mile course covered in 23.xx minutes.

headwind of 6mph, effort of 20mph, speed on cycle computer = 14mph. So 10 mile course covered in 42.xx minutes.

total time 20 miles in 65 minutes = 18.4xx mph

Same 20 mile out and back course but with 1 mph tailwind.

tailwind of 1mph, effort of 20mph, speed on cycle computer = 21mph. So 10 mile course covered in 28.xx minutes.

headwind of 1mph, effort of 20mph, speed on cycle computer = 19mph. So 10 mile course covered in 31.5xx minutes.

total time 20 miles in 59.xx minutes = 20.3xx mph

So that’s why they wear Lycra.

Oops sorry

That why we wear Lycra.

And Spandex.

And Meryl.

And …….

The sun is out

2009-05-20T03:33:00.001-07:00

So the sun is out and the wind is warm, the tarmac beckons.

A nice ride of 30 miles or so, but might be only 25 as the legs are a little tired. Why such a short ride, well Wednesday is CTC Pub Run day so there will be a 25 mile group ride later this evening and I don’t want to be too tired.

I spent some time last evening taking a look at family transport, bicycle style, and I will share my thoughts and some pictures later.

Long time.. no posts

2009-05-19T17:05:00.001-07:00

Well fear not dear readers, paraphrasing the immortal words of Arnold,, I’m Back.

So you probably want to know why I stopped posting easy,, baby number two. Yip if you think one little poppet is hard work then you have no idea how hard it is to find spare time to do anything when you have 2 little darlings.

But the good news is that the tunnel is showing some light. Baby number 2 is now 2 years old (and a few months) and well occupied at nursery. Her older sister, yes the wee one on the bike, is 6 in August and still eager to get on the back of the tandem.

Potential Tandem Stoker number 2 arrives

2007-03-28T15:05:00.000-07:00

Yes she is here.
Evie Ann Miles born 14.02 pm 22 March Aberdeen Maternity Hospital. A real cutey with tiny aero efficient ears. Just have to wait 3 years to get her on a bike like her big sister.
Mother and baby are doing well. Thanks Leona for carrying such a sweet baby. You did all the hard work.

Data time again

2007-03-28T14:51:00.000-07:00

Time has passed since my last post but my eager readers want more so here is some very dry data.
In my last post I noted that I was targetting 1300 miles without a break, well I did it. I managed to amass 1480 miles before I took a day off the bike. 43 days with a bum on a saddle averaging 33.x miles a day. Ah that is not much I hear you scorn. Trust me by the 43rd day my legs were sore, my chest was tired and my ass was like an anvil. I actually only broke the sequence because I acquired a chest infection, darned immune system all that cold weather riding took its toll.
So 14 days off the bike, well 8 days off and the rest just pootling around in a very relaxed manner. But I am back, fit and riding with a goal. With Andrew my training partner we have been getting out to Aboyne and back, 62 miles, at a healthy average speed of 16.2 miles per hour into some vicious headwinds.
Just tonight we managed a midweek dash of 22 miles at 17.2 mph average, that brought a sweat on :).
It will soon be time to stretch the mileage, we need to aim for a 100 mile reliability ride in April which will be fun.But my main goal so to achieve repeatable 300 miles per week in April. Can I manage 1200 miles in April, don't bet against it.
I think I will take Saturdays off and recover just as a test, there must be some other stuff to do that doesn't work up so much heat and hunger.

1000 miles in 28 days

2007-02-20T15:23:00.000-08:00

Ok, so I promised an update on the journey to a 1000 miles. The dull data is 1017 miles in 28 days, 24 January 2007 to 20 February inclusive. Averaging 36.3 miles per day. Peak 7 day mileage was 303 miles. Typically the time on the bike would be 2 1/2 hours a day, split between zipping along on the road bike and hauling a child in a trailer to and from school and creche. But there were 4 and 5 hour rides at the weekends, thanks Andrew :)

If the wind blows trees from the ground you cycle, if it rains you cycle, if it snows you cycle, no matter what happens you cycle. No rest days have been taken, well that is not strictly true there were days where less hills were ridden and no trailer was towed so in the spirit of this I did take some rest but I sat on the bike while I did it.

Without the need to tow the child trailer my legs tell me that it would have been possible to ride 50 rolling miles per day for the same 28 day period, with the odd tough climb thrown in. But the real killer is the lack of rest days.
So for the 24 hour time trial preparation I will need to remember to take time off the bike to let the body recover. This may sound odd after only riding 36 miles a day but the impact of the child trailer dragging in to the wind for 10 of those miles 5 days a week cannot be underestimated. It is serious effort. Hey if towing children to school in trailers was easy, everyone in Aberdeen would do it.

Next update will be on the target of 1300 miles without a rest day. I can just imagine the thoughts going through your remote heads but this is my mental preparation for the 24 hour race, I already feel resilient and I know I can improve.

You can tell winter is here when...

2007-02-13T16:51:00.000-08:00

.. the front wheel slides to the side when you turn or brake.
Hmm methinks there must be a solution to the problem of sliding wheels and unstable baby trailers on ice.

There is, 700c Nokian Hakkapeliitta W106 35mm. What I hear you say, well look above, see the carbide studs in the body of the tire.
Wow they work well. They grip the slippery stuff like a Gekko to a wall.
Downside, they are so noisy, like a herd of mice in hobnails and the drag on tarmac is unreal but it is getting me fit:)

A'lanes bike

2007-02-13T16:45:00.000-08:00

Lorraine, my sister-in-law who you have seen here previously, or A'layne as Tabitha calls her; has become a closet roadie.
Transitioning from the hybrid she has moved onto a neat Edinburgh Cycles Continental Race WSD.
Rack packed with all manner of goodies, including a very out of date Strawberry cake bar type thing in the back. I you see her riding by feel free to honk.

24 Hour time trial bike

2007-02-13T16:30:00.000-08:00

Here it is.
It rides like a dream.
Comfortable and very very fast.
Stock wheels swapped out for Mavic Aksium with Continental Attack/Force 700x22/700x23 tires.
Profile Design IronMan Aero Bars.
Oh and what is it.. a full carbon fibre composite framed Giant SCR Composite 3, Cycling magazine Long Distance Bike of the Year 2006.
Why do I need it?, to ride the Mersey 24 Hour Time Trial. Get on the bike on Saturday 21 July get off 24 hours later on Sunday 22 July. No drafting, no chatting, just pedalling for as far as I can go. How far do I want to go? 384 miles would be nice 400 would be better, but more importantly I want to stay the course and contribute to the team total.
11 riders to date have signed up from Deeside Thistle and that will be some presence on the course.
So the base miles from October, November, December 2006 will come in very handy when I start to up the stakes over the coming months.
Can I achieve 1000 miles in February.. still on the cards. But March will need to be 300 miles per week, April 350 miles per week. And May will need to include some back-to-back 150 mile rides. Keep this blog bookmarked if you want to read the weekly mileage and progress reports.

just data

2007-02-13T16:14:00.000-08:00

Some mileage data for those that are interested

October 2006
31 days to ride, 29 ridden.
Mileage 900
average 31.03 miles per day.
Trek 2300 Racing bike, reasonable weather, if a little windy.

November 2006
30 days to ride, 29 ridden.
Mileage 708
average 24.4 miles per day.
Super Galaxy Touring bike, windy and chilly.

December 2006
31 days to ride, 30 ridden.
Mileage 874
average 29.1 miles per day.
Super Galaxy Touring bike, windy and very chilly.

January 2007
31 days to ride, 23 ridden (influenza in mid-Jan).
Mileage 646
average 28.06 miles per day.
Mix between Super Galaxy and Trek 2300, windy and uber chilly.

February 2007
28 days to ride, to date(13 feb) 13 ridden.
Mileage to date, 485
average 37.3 miles per day
Mix between Trek 2300 and Giant SCR C3, wind, snow, rain, ice, very sub-zero.

GLOOMY

2006-11-17T01:40:00.000-08:00

No pictures for October or November. Up here in Aberdeen the adjective "grey" adequately describes the scene.
Over the past month the temperature has begun to drop.
The past evening my on board cycle thermometer reported 0 degrees C, which is chilly :)
With the wind added in the total chill factor was -11 degrees C on the skin.. ouch.
And it will only get worse.
Bu t we keep the mileage up to 35 miles per day... dont want to get podgy over christmas and undo all the marvelous summer work :)

2006-08-19T17:45:00.000-07:00

Yum Yum, Mr Moon Birthday Cake.
Trifle topped with diamond jellies, coconut Ice, Fairy cakes, Orange cake, scones, al made from scratch by Daddy and Auntie Lorraine.

2006-08-19T17:16:00.000-07:00

Even at the height of summer if it is your third birthday, a fleecy pink dressing gown can raise a pretty smile.

2006-08-19T17:05:00.000-07:00

Wow, July and August have been very busy months.
Lots of cycling, 3rd birthday for our daughter, Highland Games in Aboyne, camping in Braemar.
Genuinely kaa--pooped.
So plenty of updates to write and pictures to post but a new time for Tabitha will start on the 28th when she starts nursery at the Gaelic Language School.

A complete June.

2006-07-11T07:43:00.000-07:00

June is complete. Rode the bike on 30 days. Covered 795.5 miles.
As of the 4th July inclusive, 28 days covered 830 miles.

A lonesome ride

2006-07-11T07:37:00.000-07:00

With the family away in St Andrews, the trip to Aboyne was a quiet affair. Only me, the bike and a 50lb trailer. The damn flag... just adds drag. Next time I 'll leave the Italian shoes out of the bag.

A short family outing.. minus children

2006-07-11T07:32:00.000-07:00

After much yomping, honking, bonking and related exercise we decided upon a quiet restful ride to Ballater.

The key question "What is Leona thinking"?.

1) hmm Jewellery Shop

2) hmm I am hungry

3) uhh when do we go home?

Answers on a postcard

2006-07-11T07:29:00.000-07:00

Grampian DA at the peak of the Cairn O'Mount

and the Cairn

2006-07-11T07:26:00.000-07:00

Ahh.. the view from the Clatterin' Brig Restaurent of the Clatterin' Brig while the rain is a clatterin'.

2006-07-11T07:07:00.000-07:00

What a decision.

15 miles to Pain or 3 miles to cakes and pies.

2006-06-28T02:40:00.000-07:00

Created a new personal high. 752 miles on the bike in 28 days. I have three days left to make the 30 days of June an 800 mile month. I am happy now that my wrist is recovered after 3 months off following the "car" incident.

Some stats:

1) 1.7 million pedal revs in 316 hours
2) 194,000 Calories burnt.
3) Equivalent to 57 lbs of bodyweight.
4) Actually lost 30 lbs of bodyweight
5) Still calculating how many Danish pastries make a pound of bodyweight.
6) average RPM 96.

Cairn O'Mount

2006-06-25T09:31:00.000-07:00

Another weekend past, brrr you can almost feel winter coming. Friday was an easy but very wet ride out from Aberdeen to Aboyne.
Saturday, a mixed activity day. Auntie Lorraine is bowling for the ladies, Leona and Tabitha are planning on doing nothing much. Daddy will be cycling over the Cairn O'Mount.
9am Saturday, still in bed and no wafting scent of bacon. I get up to investigate the lack of breakfast. Simple,, there is no bacon and worse there is no bread. So back to bed.
40 winks later I rise. Lycraed and caffeinated I set off with waves and ta ta's behind me.
Drizzly rain has forced the waterproofs out of the pack, so spinning and sweating I reached Strachan to find blazing sunshine. I peeled and searched out a watering hole.. none found but I did locate a General Store. Two pies purchased, 1 eaten 1 packed. A glug of juice moistens the palate before the ride out to the Cairn.
Please be mindful, I had never been over the Cairn O'Mount not even in a car, I had heard many rumours aboutthe Cairn. " it is very steep" " I couldnt get the car up the bottom section" "be careful on the Devils Elbow". So I was somewhat anxious as to what I would find.
A serious climb. Starts with a 1 in 10 just past the Feugh. A lumpy 2 miles follow. A sharp 1/2 mile climb, another lumpy 2 miles. Wow a very sharp descent, down a right hand bend at 1 in 10.
Another 1 in 10 climb out of Glen Dye, then one more sharp descent before the climb proper.
2.5 miles, average a strong 1 in 10. climbing to 1400ft or thereabouts. The descent on the southside is shorter and steeper 14%, 16% and steeper stretches.

The Clatterin' Brig cafe was a welcome sight. Bacon, cakes and tea. Then wait. The Grampian DA were out on a run through Inverbervie and returning via the Cairn. The rain was 20 minutes past, the road drying. Then on the bridge a bunch of Yellow Jackets. I joined them for the return climb up the Cairn. Now my choice of gearing was seeming odd. All the others were riding in the inner ring of the triple. Yours truely was on 53/42 with an 11/21 block. Early doors the hill was tough on 49/21. Rpm down to 50's. As the climb rose the gearing was tortuous, causing 1 stop but no walking. Eventually to the top, amazingly not last or close to last. Definately need to choose 50/39 with 12 27 next time.
A short pause for sweeties at the top, then descent and lumpiness back to the Penny Farthing for more hot drinks and the usual debates over speed and calories.
For me, job well done. over the Cairn in both directions in one day.

2006-06-22T02:53:00.000-07:00

Another Wednesday, another Grampian DA pub run. This week Aberdeen to the Northern Lights at Hatton of Fintray. This week was extra special as one of our members celebrated a birthday. I won't name the individuals around the table as I don't want their work colleagues to know they consume alcohol while wearing skin tight Lycra. I was planning to change the names to protect the innocent but there isn't an innocent one among them ;)

Happy Birthday Wilf..

2006-06-22T02:46:00.000-07:00

Wee Callan takes a dram. The Brides Mother dancing. The Father of the Bride(left) and Tabitha's Great Grandpa Phillip are propping up the bar. Actually we discovered later that the bar was propping them up :)

2006-06-22T02:44:00.000-07:00

Ever the punishers of legs and bums, we attended an Evening Reception on the Saturday night.
Lisa and Scott were celebrating their marriage, village friends of Leona.
We cycled in and out. A few photos.

2006-06-17T10:15:00.000-07:00

A Heron found time to scan for food in the River Ythan.
The girls watched from the shelter.
Had nobody seen the fishing Ban??

2006-06-17T10:12:00.000-07:00

In Ellon, we sought shelter at Safeways. We found shelter but no hot pies.

2006-06-17T10:09:00.000-07:00

Aberdeen to Ellon.. It was forecast as overcast.
It was plain that it would rain. It did assisted nicely by the wind.

return trip

2006-06-11T16:31:00.000-07:00

No photos from the return trip. Too much energy expended in the heat and the headwind.

2006-06-11T16:28:00.000-07:00

After the trip to Dinnet and the tour of Strathdon we left the doorstep looking like a cycle park. We had to, homecooked lasagne was waiting.

2006-06-11T16:17:00.000-07:00

We stopped at the Colquhonnie Hotel for lunch, they served us tea and cakes last year so we returned but alas no cakes. Hospitable folk though at the Colquhonnie and we were presented with delicious Espressos and biscuits which we ate on the lawns overlooking the hotel entrance.

As with most of the Highlands odd things are everywhere. I am still trying to determine the purpose of the Totem Pole at the entrance to the hotel. Definately worth a visit http://www.colquhonnie-hotel.co.uk/

2006-06-11T16:12:00.000-07:00

We set off from Aboyne from Strathdon, we considered cycling around GlenBuchat, but it was very hot and windy. So we decided to take a detour.. look what happened :)

2006-06-11T16:09:00.000-07:00

A brief water stop at Inchmarlo, 9 June

2006-06-11T16:02:00.000-07:00

Wow, we had a baking hot weekend in Grampian. Sun tan all round.
Friday, 32 miles Aberdeen to Aboyne. Me, Mrs Me and Mini-me in the trailer.
Saturday, Mrs Me and Mini-me sat tripped off to Dinnet in the trailer. Me and Mini-me's Auntie tripped off to Strathdon from Aboyne, 3300 ft cumulative ascents, some harsh steep sections over the 43 mile trip. Sunday return trip for the family back to Aberdeen from Aboyne. a scorcher of 75f into a 12mph headwind.. we burned of the Rowies today.

2006-06-08T01:27:00.000-07:00

We have plans for a trip in the country this weekend.. more photos to come.

2006-06-08T01:04:00.000-07:00

The Humpert AHS is a very useful handlebar system for touring and commuting use.
The bars are hinged either side of the headset clamp and may be locked via 2x 4mm Allen bolts in almost 180 degree position, this is useful for travelling as the bars can be folded shut removeing the need to demount the front wheel. Also the bar ends, the horns, are supplied loose; see upper picture; they may then be set in any position to suit the rider of the purpose.
The bottom image show the AHS fitted to my Trek 7300fx and set to allow the wrist to remain reasonably straight. Shown here is the 90mm Bontrager stem, I did try out a Vario stem but found the Allen bolt locking mechanism to be a little awkward for my liking. http://www.humpert.com

Ritschie 2 Baby Carriage

2006-06-07T23:41:00.000-07:00

This always draws attention when we transport junior. Lots of people ask about where we bought it? is it heavy? does she enjoy it? so here is the definitive lowdown on her.
It is a Ritschie 2 KiddyPorter. It has a honeycombed aluminium sandwich base with a folding internal cage that is tensioned for strength. Overall weight, sans infant, is around 18.5 kg. It connects with a standard Weber hitch. We bought it in summer 2003 to coincide with the birth of junior, we used it from 4 months old with a pre-formed back rest insert but removed that as she grew.
It has been used to transport 50kg bags of sand, groceries oh and of course a child. The longest trip has been 45 miles in 1 day, average 10.5 mph. Cautionary note, towing the trailer requires extra leg strength and much cake as fuel. On a still day towing is ok but the slightest hint of headwind and it is akin to drawing a caravan up a vertical slope. So low gearing is required and high cadence recommended. Typically I will use 38/24 but when the wind is hard as it often is in Aberdeen I will be found spinning in 26/30 or lower. Thank heavens for MegaRange. Due to the weight a solid rear triangle is required on the towing bike, I generally use the Trek 7300fx or the Dawes SuperGalaxy.
Does our daughter enjoy it? Absolutely. She can talk to me, invent stories, inform me of my excess speed, point out animals and objects on the way, sometimes she even sleeps. As she has grown the towing effort has increased but that actually make the trip all the more "real" for me.
So where did we get it? Edinburgh Cycles Aberdeen, price £500 or thereabouts. May seem expensive but 3 years use, so far, has made this one of the best value cycling purchases I ever made. These are very difficult to obtain in UK now, best check the Weber.de site for dealers ( but it is all in German). Any questions on the trailer just drop me a mail and I will add further bloggets.

Trek 1400

2006-06-07T23:30:00.000-07:00

Trek 1400, very different from the stock bike. Onl;y the frame is original. This is my current strength development bike. Using the DMR singlespeed conversion it runs 48/16 with development of around 75 inches and freewheel so most Grampian hills hurt the thighs. Here fitted with SQR Tour saddle bag and Ironman spinachis. I may get round to replacing the 105 STI's with Aero Brake levers but more likely to locate a frame with specific fixed gear bike and then convert this to a TT bike. The most noticable thing about this bike is the silence, there is no chatter from a derailleur, it is smooth and very very silent.

Trek 2300

2006-06-07T23:22:00.000-07:00

Trek 2300, Ultegra 53/39 c/w 12-23 block. Replacement Aksium wheels.. The stock Bontrager Race Lites broke with fatigued nipples. However this is still a nice bike to ride and relatively light.

The keen eyed will notice Look pedals, Cateye CDW and Carradice SQR for those rides which require sandwiches.

CTC Grampian District Association Runs in June

2006-06-07T07:23:00.000-07:00

http://www.ctcgrampian.org.uk/runs_june_06b.htm
note the frequent pub runs !!

Cycle Grampian

2006-06-07T07:17:00.000-07:00

http://www.cyclegrampian.co.uk/index.html This is a reasonably fresh summary of the facilities for cyclists in and around Aberdeenshire.

2006-06-07T07:02:00.000-07:00

Bikes, Bags and Baby Carriage.

2006-06-07T06:57:00.000-07:00

Leona and Tabitha squinting in Ellon.

By George She's got it!

2006-06-07T06:52:00.000-07:00

date 07 June 2006
time 14:30 UK

Subject.
2 year 10 month old child visits lavatory unattended, performs, flushes and washes hands.
Father is reported to be ecstatic and naturally self-congratulatory over his efforts at toliet training.
Time will tell if the training sticks.
Message Ends.

2006-06-07T06:17:00.000-07:00

Another Lollipop !!!!

2006-06-07T05:22:00.000-07:00

A family day out in Banchory. Leona, Lorraine, Tabitha. Many sandwiches eaten and someone ate a very cold ice-cream.. hmm I wonder who?

2006-06-07T05:15:00.000-07:00

Me and the babe sitting by the river in Ellon, May 9th 2006. The first warm day of the year in Aberdeen.

2006-06-07T05:07:00.000-07:00

Welcome to my Blog.

Over the coming months I will be adding allsorts of information about things I like/dislike, links I use, leisure activities and the odd photograph.
I hope you enjoy.

thx
Steven