~o~
Up at 7.45? My sleep patterns are all over the place!
9.00 Going for a walk.
9.30 A cool breeze but the cloud is breaking up. With the promise of some sunshine. Scrapman has been moving his collection of giant garbage around. It's amazing how one [alleged] raving lunatic can ruin so many people's lives and property values and get away with it for decades. He buys up properties for small change at forced auctions. Then uses the gardens/grounds for collecting any old crap. Which he leaves mostly untouched for years. So that the weeds and brambles take over.
Cars, lorries, tractors, shipping containers, large boats, site offices, etc.etc. are all stacked next to people's homes. He takes the roofs off the properties and removes the windows. Then leaves an ugly skeleton for years for the neighbours to enjoy. Complain, and he will park something huge and hideous, like a factory boiler, right against your hedge!
I wonder where I could go for a ride?
12.30 Returning from a circuitous, 24km ride around the area. Though some of the the lanes were plastered in mud. Thick, wet, liquid mud and mixed with gravel at times. The Moustache has very close clearance mudguards. Which meant the mud building up on the 2.7" wide road tires was making scraping noises. I decided to speed up the cleaning process and walked the bike along the grass verge. Later I noticed areas where the mud had built up on the frame. I shall have to rinse it all off.
I deliberately explored side roads which I have never ridden or driven before. Some were marked with "No through road" signs. I even found short cuts between all too familiar main roads. Other roads were the result of industrial estate establishment or expansion. I rode several kilometers of rough gravel drives associated with a stately home/farm. Which the Moustache managed well but noisily for the contents of the rear panniers. I shopped on the last leg on the way home.
No padded shorts today. Just pants and trousers. The Contec saddle top continues to confirm its considerable comfort superiority over the Brooks B67. I can't readily explain why. Both are made of fairly thick leather. They feel similarly flexible when freed of their coil sprung, supporting frames. Both are much the same size. I can't even blame the frame. The Contec Exclusive Classic Touring leather top is now sitting on the Brooks B67 frame.
The Brooks has firm lines embossed front to back and a textured overall finish. The Contec has none. Just smooth leather and very firm "lacing" underneath using rivets. I punched and tied the side flaps of the Brooks to stop it splaying foolishly when seated. The Brook's splayed side flaps would rub when I pedaled. It was turning into a triangular plate! I know from long experience that Brooks saddles will quickly become shapeless unless laced or tied.
Despite the smooth, overall finish. I do not and cannot easily slide about on the Contec. I have to lift off to adjust my position. Had the Contec frame not broken I would still be riding it and saved the silly money that the B67 costs. The Contec was selling for about £65 equivalent at a village local bike shop.[LBS] but they gave me a serious discount. The B67 cost me about £90 equivalent online. Prices are lowest at the Holland Bike Shop 775 Danish Kroner and much higher at 90 Euros at Amazon.de. There don't seem to be many Contec dealers. I tried many different bike shops for a replacement frame but nobody stocked Contec.
Dinner was a mushrooms, chicken, peas, boiled potatoes and gravy from the last of my Bisto gravy powder. I am looking for a stockist in Denmark. The English shop is daylight robbery. Buying from the UK, post Broxit. Would risk £20 of Danish post office customs clearance charges. On top of the purchase price and post and packing. Which charges, by the way, include gifts and printed paper rate parcels.
~o~
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