I’ve had a hectic week. Not only have I painted my kitchen, put some shelves up, announced to far more people that I should have that Deb’s expecting again and done all my usual other shit but I’ve done some proper mileage on the bike(s). Road riding, offroad singlespeeding, running, big hill riding in the Lakes, I’ve done t’lot.

Anyway, yesterday’s Industrial Fell Biking-arranged ride in the Lakes was a bloody corker.

I came off a couple of times actually so “a bloody corker” is apt in more ways than one.

The climb up the Walna Scar road was steep and hard. Another for the “must go back to ride a few times before Cristalp” list. I enjoyed it actually, which made me feel a bit of a pervert.

The downhill is regarded as a classic, and it’s easy to see why. Switchbacks, VERY steep sections, billions of big rocks (that move), high winds, big views and a really nasty bit at the end (just before the twee little tearoom in Coniston).

The last part of the ride was that great undulating trail in Grizedale with views of Coniston Water.

As usual, more guff and pics from this ride from the older-than-he-looks Simon Jarvis on Industrial Fell Biking… 

On the way home I got a call from the VW dealer telling me the mid life crisis mobile has arrived! It’s being delivered on Saturday!

First ride on the Uncle John ‘cross bike yesterday. I planned a route containing more road than off-road just to see how fast I could go. I rode the 20 or so miles to Horwich through Bolton and even though I’m running cyclocross tyres, I could not believe how quickly I was travelling. The climbs on the route were all sprinted up, the downhills and flat bits were taken at speed, hands in the drops, eyes streaming. By the time I got to Horwich I was almost running on empty and sweating like a Bangkok money lender. This thing just makes you want to get in the big ring and mash the pedals.

Anyway, I’d arranged to go to Nick’s to check over his brand new Trek road bike. He’s new to all this so just wanted me to check that he’d assembled it right (he had). Lovely bike too. Full carbon. I advised him to “lose the reflectors”.

From there I went up towards the Pike then dropped down the bridleway back into Horwich. That’s where I got the bike dirty. Bouncing down over the rocks was even more brutal than it is on the singlespeed – my eyes felt like they were going to bounce out of my head and I’m sure I was pulverising my wrists. It’s all good.

I’ve since ordered a roll of extra gel-padded bar tape and a new (comfier) saddle.

It’s been a few weeks since I had a proper rest, but this coming week is a “proper” rest week. I’m needing it too – the last week I’ve been off work, working on the house, running more and riding more. The ride with Simon the other day and the hill intervals session the day after pretty much finished me off. Still, I went for my customary ride this morning. I wasn’t feeling like going far so I went for an hour’s spin on the singlespeed.

 This weekend I’ve also been catching up on a fettling backlog. Maintaining several bikes is pretty time consuming, especially when you’ve decided to strip and grease 4 rear hubs and 5 headsets on top of bleeding a pair of hydraulic brakes, nipping up 4 pairs of crank bolts (Simon take note), putting anti-puncture strips in a pair of wheels and a few other grease monkey jobs. Anyway, it’s all done now for a few more months. What’s more, I’ve pretty much finished the cyclocross bike! All it needs now is a shorter stem (expected this week) and some bar tape once I’m happy with the bar and STI positions. Looks fast eh?

I’m looking forward to putting in some SERIOUS miles on this one…

Simon and I tackled one of my regular routes today, but this time at a “faster pace”. Well, a bloody really quick pace in fact. Simon’s geared bike was in a bad way so he singlespeeded (singlesped?) – meaning he had no choice but to ride with a certain degree of committment up the climbs….

 The bloody rain did not stop until we got back to the car and were well on the way back.

What a glorious morning! I did a quick loop this morning early on, then back to the house to collect Michael who was then joining me on another ride. It was warm, dry and there’s definately a change of season in the air.

I’m off work all next week. As well as a load of DIY I’m planning to get a load of early morning and evening running and riding in. The CX bike should be ready to roll today too. Woohoo!