Last ride

Last pedal of 2007 a quick blast on my fixie. See you out riding in 2008. Vikki

Country Roads

Visiting family in the sticks no internet so blogging via mobile phone, ain't technology great? Bike plus empty country roads equals big fun!

Fixie fun.

Want to get a bit of confidence up on the fixie without the added pressure of traffic so took it along the canal tow path for a short pedal. I heart my new bike...... a lot!

Vikki

First time on the fixie!

The uber skinny tyres and ice meant I only was only brave enough for a constant pedal round the block!

Vikki

Click to buy!

T'internet it's a dangerous place. A bit of looking can easily lead to a bit of naughty clicking to buy! And then before you know where you are you're explaining away the presence of a giant cardboard box in your house. Even more explaining to be done when husbands see what's in the box!

Vikki

Towers and toffee.

40 miles of trail for me (50 miles for Amy) taking in several follies. A delightful phenomenon round here is a plethora of hilltop turrets, mostly built by slightly bonkers industrialists of the past. Today we took in Rivington Pike, Peel Tower, Turton Tower and as featured in todays photo the itty-bitty tower in the grounds of Turton Gardens. We also managed a pub stop for yummy sandwich. 40 miles is my longest ever off road ride and the last bit was somewhat hard going, I've had double portions of sticky toffee pudding for dinner to apologise to my abused body.

Vikki

Big Tuesday!

32.24 miles of trail riding with Amy. In summary, not necessarily in order and some features repeated; ice, sunshine, climb, descend, crash, reattach back wheel, give praise for Giro helmets, pedal up rutted trails, push bike, carry bike, jacket off, jacket on, pub stop, delicious sandwich, cold hands, remember extra gloves in bag, back brake trouble, transmission difficulty, mad dog, discover day rides become night rides quite quickly and curse lack of lights. 

Vikki

Rude not to.

My plans for the day all involved sitting in front of the computer. But, the sun came out and the wind dropped down from a howl to a whisper, so it just seemed rude not to ride. So I did a quick 10 miles on the road, you know, just to be polite. 

Vikki

Shopping.

Went shopping with Carolyn today, not ordinary Christmas shopping round the Trafford Centre mind you. No, we bundled bikes and kit into a car and headed to Coed Llandegla rode the red route and then hit the bike shop. I treated myself to a Dakine Nomad hydration backpack, I justify this purchase by explaining that now it's winter I don't have enough room in my current backpack for extra clothes and sandwiches. I didn't take any photos on the ride because frankly it was too wet and windy to stop and get the camera out, so you'll all (I assume we have a massive readership) have to make do with feasting your eyes on a pic of my new bag. God bless it and every sandwich that rides in it!

Vikki

Sooooo, tell me what you want, what you really, really want.

It's all been about off-road riding lately so thought a few road miles were in order today. Shopping, faff factor and the short days meant I only managed to squeeze in an hour of pedaling before darkness. Took me the entire hour to cover 10 miles, bizarrely I seemed always to be riding into gale force winds! This may not have been so torturous were in not for the fact that I seem also to have got a Spice Girls song stuck in my head at the moment. Damn their pesky reunion.

Vikki

Morning, 'noon and night.

I love Tuesdays. I get to ride morning, 'noon and night if I want to and today I did. Well, sort of. I rode with Amy this morning, 19 miles of trail, rode up a section I normally only ever ride down, was utter madness, some bits of trail are clearly unidirectional! And did two descents I've never done before, came off my bike on the trail that comes down off the front of Rivington Pike, but as Amy pointed out I had managed to time my crash perfectly and was on the only squishy bit of the hill so no damage done. I actually spent the afternoon eating choccie biscuits and snoozing and then rode again tonight. Only my third off-road night ride, only 10 miles, rain and no functioning back brake (Lancashire mud eats brake pads) made me feel the need to head for home earlier than I might have done. Was good fun though and husband of mine and Flipper the dog came out to take pictures of me riding the last bit towards home and a much needed bath.  

Vikki

Is this winter?

Let's keep our fingers crossed that the sunshine and warmth here today bodes well for the rest of the winter. As a result of the glorious weather there were absolutely tonnes of people out on the trails, careful route choice kept us away from the worst of the crowds, this did however, mean the last climb of the day had to be the one tired legs wouldn't normally choose. But, a harder climb at the end somehow made me feel perfectly justified in my chocolate cake choice at the post-ride cafe.

Vikki

The misty moutains (well......... hills)!

My Tuesday luck continues with me having the day off and also finding a friend available to ride with. No sunshine this week just a lot of mist to make for some reduced visibility riding. Lack of visibility not aided by the amount of mud spraying up into my face, and smiling in such situations also leads to gritty teeth, still my teeth didn't seem to be attracting as much grit as my brakes and drivetrain if the grinding noises were anything to go by. Great way to spend the morning!

Vikki

Shame

I wimped out of commuting by bike today because the intermittent drizzle and heavy rain looked too nasty. Then the sun came out to scorn me for my lack of fortitude. The shame stayed with me all day.

Vikki

Fi's Top 10 things At The Moment.

1. Molly Brown. My friend Kate's 9 year old daughter who I hung out with all weekend. 'Hope or Rhyddian for X-factor victory: Discuss'.
2. The Boy (will I get in trouble for putting him second?)
3. Icebreaker 200 bodyfit thermal top. I could not survive my cold university office, nor night rides, nor existing in general this time of year without it.
4. Slightly green bananas
5. Smartwool socks (especially the ones with snowflaks round the ankle)
6. GAP denim mini skirt
7. Tea. What kind? Builders of course.
8. Hashing in the rain
9. Porridge with apple bits in.
10. My new bike - arriving next week...

Fi

Delamere Forest

Delamere forest (Cheshire) yesterday with some of the Groovy Chicks and Rob our guide for the day. 18 miles of mud, wet leaves, slippy tree roots, eye level branches, sandy climbs, one mad dog, a short 4X course, two cafe stops, and a descent called "No Brainer." Great fun but hard work and I'm a little bit tired today.

Vikki

23:51 Thursday November 15th

Home, bed. Feet still chilled through. Shoulders still tense from the cold.

I rode from university to my friend Phil's for dinner tonight. It took me over an hour with a huge bag full of laptop and papers named things like "social class and the meanings of physical activity: a social constructionist's viewpoint" which are now dog eared and slightly damp. I got a twitch in my shoulder from the weight digging in to a nerve.

I also lost the feeling in both feet, one calf and all my fingers. My knees ached from the cold and my nose turned red. Even after a hot shower and 3 mugs of tea I sat with my ankles tucked underneath me to warm my feet. I failed. They are still cold.

Nicky offered me a lift home and for the first time in a long long time I accepted. I am tired and slow and cold and wanted my bed. I discarded by bike at the back door and reached for the fluffy bedsocks quicker than you could say 'assoss overshoes'.

Mmmmm.....

Bad Thing, Good Thing

Bad Thing: Despite speedy pedalling I missed the early train by a minute.
Good Thing: I didn't miss the next train.
Bad Thing: My bike fell over on the train.
Good Thing: I wore my new Swrve Knickers today and they were lush.
Bad Thing: I forgot my sunglasses.
Good Thing: At least the sun was out.
Good Thing: Made it to Uni on time.
Good Thing: Wasn't cold for the ride home.
Good Thing: My untried commuting lights turned out to be little gems.
Good Thing: I got a really cheery "hello" as a series roadie overtook me going uphill.
Good Thing: I've just about ridden enough miles to justify a slice of apple crumble.

Bike riding equals more good things than bad, that's why we do it!

Vikki

Mayhem

This is me at the end of Mountain Mayhem this year. I look a mess? I was...

For some totally unknown reason all I can think about today is Mountain Mayhem. I can't wait. Well, I can't wait to be fast enough to kick ass. I am doing long slow miles at the moment. Not even that long actually. Building my engine slowly with the awesome support of Rob Lee. I am eating good food and have a speedily developing six-pack. All very lovely. Haven't been on the mtb for ages though which is a bugger but will do in time, no doubt.

But Mayhem still eats away at the back of my mind. It was the most exhilarating feeling in the world finishing that race and my whole being is aching to do it again. The pain was indescribable but I will be better prepared next year. Each night as I layer on the thermals and strap lights to my head and handlebars I think of all those people sat behind Hollyoaks and feel pride that I am not just thinking it, I'm doing it.

Nothing worth doing was ever easy.

Fi
x

TFI Tuesday!

Tuesdays are rapidly becoming my favourite day of the week. For the second Tuesday running I've been lucky enough to have free time, a friend also not at work to ride with, nice weather and almost empty trails right on my doorstep. This Tuesdays ride was better than last Tuesdays, no punctures and a ride route that took in the cafe for the best slab of carrot cake ever! Absolute Autumnal perfection.

Vikki