6th October 2014

*

Monday 6th 53-56F, 12-13C, windy from the east, lots of grey cloud. Forecast to be dry but very windy. 20mph base with 35mph+ gusts. I'd better make a chinstrap for my baseball cap before I go on my morning walk.The wind is stripping out the autumn leaves so that they fall like large snow flakes at times. Japanese Knotweed is doing well almost everywhere I go now. The kommune [council] obviously doesn't take it seriously.

I saw another, smartly dressed  jay today. There were hundreds more geese migrating. All heading south in long ragged lines. Though they were flying rather high I could still hear them clearly from down below. Watching them through my binoculars was fascinating as they were soon well out of unaided sight. Lots of gulls wandered aimlessly across the sky as rooks foraged restlessly on the fields below.

Rats seems to have enjoyed the mild weather and are increasingly visible as road kill. One ambled across the road right in front of me this morning! I also watched a cat pounce on a tiny vole and chomp it down. A 3 mile walk in just over an hour as the weak sunshine peeked out between the clouds at times. I had better leave early for my ride to avoid the strongest winds.


Famous last words, as usual. By the time I escaped it was blowing hard with fierce gusts. I did a loop which forced a complete U-turn to my initial direction. Which was amusing because I was doing about 22-26 mph at the start. Even staying ahead of an elderly driver who was unwilling to overtake me. Even when I pulled into a bus stop to let him pass he hesitated.

This amazing old farm building must have had a fresh repaint. I'm sure it used to be a lighter red. It looks as if the roof has had some repairs too.

As soon as I turned off I was right down to 10-12 mph with no more than 16 mph on the steepest descents. The light, GripGrab scull cap was warm but beneficial until I reached the shops. First time I've worn it this year. The distinct wind chill through the slots of the helmet as I stepped outside suggest they do their job in keeping my bare bonce cool in warmer weather. So it was straight back indoors for the cap.

It was quite amusing when I rode down an avenue of Hornbeam at right angles to the wind. The bare trunks and busy branching above caused a Venturi effect. Which accelerated the wind off the bare fields in combination with a severe negative camber. I was almost crabbing along as I hung right off the upwind side to stay on. Fortunately there was no traffic and a slight decline so I didn't have to pedal too hard to keep going fairly quickly.

I was grateful for the shelter of the forest further on but rather afraid of falling branches. The wind was really roaring in the tops. There were broken twigs up to 2" diameter [50mm] lying about on the roads already. A direct hit from one of those would do quite some damage. Just being hit by an insect at speed is painful enough!

Coming home by the same route was the complete opposite. I was climbing effortlessly at 22 mph so pressed on a bit harder and topped out at 26 mph, still sitting, on a long uphill drag. One which usually sees me struggling to hit 12 mph in still air on a good day. I was fairly well loaded with shopping as usual. Which I noticed immediately I stood up to exit a junction on the main road. They drive around the blind approach bend like maniacs. So it pays to get safely over to the other side ASAP. One can't always rely on hearing them coming round the corner. Only 14 miles.

Tuesday 7th 52F, 11C, gales, almost continuous rain. I think I need a slightly shorter handlebar stem. I'm feeling stretched out again. The present one is 120mm so I'll try a 100 mm first. It rained and blew hard for most of the day. Rest day.

Wednesday 8th 49F, 10C, very windy, very cloudy, rain. Before buying a shorter stem I moved a 10mm spacer from above to below the handlebar stem. Perhaps raising the 'bars slightly will reduce the slight sense of being stretched on a rack. This only occurs when I'm on the brake hoods with my fingers wrapped around the brake levers. I'd rather I wasn't sitting more upright but I have no choice if my back complains.

It would be slightly safer if I could wrap my fingers naturally around the tops of the levers. Instead of resting further back on the bar bends and and only on the middle of the hoods. Campag supplies hood extensions for large hands. I may be furnished like an Orangutan but I'd need an even shorter stem to use those.  I didn't bother with a walk this morning but it is brightening up nicely now. Though still blowing well.

Rode to Assens to look for a 100mm stem. Raising the bars hadn't helped much at all. I found a nice, matt black stem for £15. Heavier than my Ritchey 120mm but hardly a deal breaker. 20 miles so far. Going out again.

A red form of the Spindle tree. [Euonymus europaeus] These bushy trees seems remarkably commonplace in local hedges. More usually in the dull green form. The strange, bright pink fruits are easily recognised. These eventually open to show the relatively large seeds.

I fitted the new stem before leaving and was surprised how 20mm can make such a difference. I felt more upright and reaching the hoods to wrap my index finger around the brake levers felt much more comfortable than before. I no longer spent time pushing myself back on the saddle. The steering felt lighter too. I should have made this change earlier. Further rides will prove whether I have now found a more suitable position on the trike. The stem can easily be fitted upside down or spacers moved up or down. Plus 7 more miles.

Click on any image for an enlargement.

*

3rd October 2014

*

Friday 3rd 56-66F, 14-19C, overcast, misty, damp, light SE winds. Started with a 2.7 mile walk. Lots of geese going south in noisy, untidy gaggles. Several hundred failed to make even a half-decent chevron as they bunched and wandered around the sky heading only in a general direction. It was interesting to see how they made space for wanderers to return to the line. Several, smaller flocks followed over the half hour it took me to reach the woods and return to the road. Their sense of aerial geometry was rather more obvious.

The hearing in my left ear seems to have returned. A journey in the car with the window slightly open must have been to blame for the temporary deafness. Though it is possible I have had a slight cold. This would better explain my tiredness tiredness and general feeling of being bunged up.

I keep looking at the cardboard boxes on the shelving in my shed and wonder why nobody sells shallow plastic tubs instead the standard storage item? The usual deep tubs are useless for racking. If they are filled with bike bits they become far too heavy to handle and difficult to search. Leave them half empty and you need two tubs instead of one and the racking is now full of tubs but half full of fresh air. Large, shallow, storage tubs are made to go under beds but they are far too large for normal racking. They'd also weigh a ton if filled up to the brim! I keep looking at the tubs in the various superstores but still haven't found anything remotely useful. Surely there must be a huge market for shallow tubs! There's a punny joke in there somewhere.

This strangely sunken road would be called an ancient track if it was in Gravely Blighted. It seems to go from nowhere to nowhere else in particular. Gå [pron. go] is Danish for walk.

Went out after lunch. Very mild, so I soon had to strip down to my racing jersey and shorts. The wind was much stronger than forecast. So I shall be seeking a refund if I can find the right queue. Cruising at 18-20 mph  going. More like 10-12 mph coming back. Another goodly wodge of shopping. Only 16 miles. 

Saturday 4th 56-63F, 13-17C, windy from the south and SE , full sun. I walked a large loop through two woods for 5 miles in 2 hours. The sound of sporadic shooting and dogs barking had me a little worried but there were no warning signs up. It is expected to gust up to 30mph later. They were right. It was rather windy with a headwind going and tailwind coming home. Going well despite my hip aching. Though pleasant enough, it didn't become as warm as promised. Somebody fired a gun behind the hedge, right beside the main road, as I rode past a farm. I jumped out of my skin and may still be suffering from PTS as I scribble at the keyboard! 15 miles.

Sunday 5th 51-63F, 11-17C, brightening, light winds expected to gust to "only" 20mph  from the south and SE later today. I still haven't decided on a suitable target for a ride. In the end I stripped all the junk off the Trykit and pumped the 4000S tyres back up to 90psi. Then headed north along the prettiest lanes for 25 miles. Having reached Særslev I looped back further west to avoid a direct headwind coming home. Which I seemed to avoid until the last five miles.

The Trykit,  fitted with a Carradice Junior saddlebag, poses casually near Gamby at 25 miles. I took the opportunity, and extra road width, to consume my mature Cheddar, cheese roll.

Gorgeous countryside, gentle sunshine, very light traffic and cool enough not to break into a sweat. Though I am an absolute martyr to the late, heavy bombardment of conkers and hazel nuts. They litter the roads for miles. These things are sent to try us but we won't mention the plague of small flies. Sunday is not a good day for photographing pretty old  houses. Far too many cars parked in front! The trike felt lighter and more responsive than usual without the Abus lock. Though the new sense of freedom faded as the miles passed. Going well today with no obvious fatigue. 46 miles.


  

Click on any image for an enlargement.

*

1st October 2014

*

Wednesday 1st 57-60F, 14-16C, misty, heavy overcast, damp, with light winds forecast. It is supposed to brighten up later. Better start the day with a walk. It tried to rain briefly but soon cleared up again. Warm enough for just a T-shirt. The sun broke through towards the end.

Lots of small birds dashing about on the fields and in the trees and hedges. Mostly chaffinches and goldfinches or sparrows. I tried to tip-toe past the lake because there were at least 100 female ducks on the water. I was almost past when one of them panicked and they all took off at once!  That'll teach them to laugh! 3.5 miles.

I left my ride until after morning coffee. Very light wind with some weak sunshine. The windmills were mostly stationary. I was going reasonably well. Tidied the trike shed after lunch. It needed it! Mr Higgins is now hanging upside down without his wheels to avoid taking up so much room. It only takes moments to be roadworthy again. Plus pumping the tyres up with the track pump of course. Still only a couple of minutes work. 16 miles.

Thursday 2nd 60-62F, 15-17C, mild, very light winds, overcast but slowly brightening. A 3 mile walk. It can keep up this quiet weather for as long as it likes. I did a pleasant loop around the lanes down to the coast before I started shopping. A bit breathless and not feeling very energetic today. I was down to 8mph on some of the longer drags. Even used the small chainwheel a couple of times to keep up the revs on the steep bits. Climbed out of the saddle several times for a few hundred yards. Keeping in a slightly higher gear helps to avoid fatigue from dancing in too low a gear. The pedal resistance seems to help. I passed a sprayer working in a field beside the road. Though I could smell it I have no idea what it might have been. 23 miles.

Having always been a bit of a hill climbing fetishist I enjoy reading British Hillclimb Champion, Tejvan Pettinger's thoughts and actions on his blog. His latest post discussed weight saving on an already ultra-lightweight bike. Cutting off the handlebars takes on a whole new meaning when you go out and buy expensive carbon fiber 'bars just to chop off the drops! I did the same in my youth but most bike handlebars were alloy and fairly cheap back then.

Drilling holes in brake levers and chainrings made me feel better though I never actually worked out the real weight loss. Affordable pocket calculators had yet to be invented let alone home computers. Slide rules were foolishly expensive for a teenager. [Yearn as I might while staring endlessly at the manufacturer's printed catalogues]

I do remember the bitter disappointment after fitting 5oz wood-insert rims and lighter tubs with stainless double butted spokes. I had almost expected not to have to pedal at all such was the expense. Far from it! It seemed like even harder work to make them go along! Lifting the back wheel and spinning it up in top gear felt no different from the Fiamme Road rims and Milremo Sportivos. The latter were the Town and Country tubulars for a training bike back then.

Climbing or sprinting up behind a bus or lorry, to draught between cities, seemed no easier with the ultra-lightweight wheels. Though I really had noticed the difference between Dunlop steel rims and Racer HPs when I was advised to fit sprints and tubs after my first [accidental] 10 mile TT. I had been out riding flat out [as usual] in the evening and came across of a gaggle of clubmen in a village ten miles from home. I was persuaded to ride and won on handicap on rather soft HPs. It was getting dark and freezing on the 10 miles back home! I was in shorts and a short sleeved top.

With Fiamme sprint wheels fitted the brakes suddenly started working as well. So the new lightness and increased speed of the Milremo tubs were even better value. The Sportivo's superb grip on corners made me a madman around town as I laid the bike right over on every corner. I was fearless and would climb out of the saddle to sprint on to the next corner like a teenager possessed. Well, you have to, don't you?

Getting back to hillclimbing though: It amuses me how much extra weight I am often carrying over and above the lightweight carbon bike rider's I meet on my travels. Even the bare Trykit is no lightweight compared with most of today's bikes with remotely sporting pretensions. I drag the 1kg Abus lock around with me everywhere in my heavy, canvas, Camper saddlebag. The B17 Brooks saddle is standard wear because nothing else I have tried is remotely comfortable.

My camera, toolkit, sports bag and all the junk I need for shopping all add to the total weight. Now throw in a few liters of milk, a bag of organic spuds and all the rest of my shopping load of the day. I still have to drag myself up lots of hills whichever way I head for home. Let's assume that my shopping averages 10kg. I must now be pushing into mobility trike territory for all-up weight.

Now plonk "our hero," still with delusions of sporting grandeur, on top of that lot. Every time he sees another cyclist the red mist comes down and off he goes like a badly trained dog to try and catch them. I never dawdle. Always trying to keep up a good pace and high cadence regardless of today's load. The odd thing is that I rarely feel the need to strip everything off and go for a ride just for the fun of it. I have become so used to shopping on my trike that it has become the reason I ride most days. I always need a goal even if it is a distant one. Perhaps to photograph something interesting or new.

Aimless wandering seriously lacks purpose in my cycling vocabulary. I am still having fun but I should really make an effort to ride without any purpose but the journey itself. I don't need any more training and intervals really don't appeal. At my age I ought to know better. It's just that my lifelong, competitive drive has no real or useful outlet. I would love to do a regular time trial to try and get it out of my system. Or just to better measure my remaining abilities as a rider.

I tried riding a 10 mile course along a main road to the roundabout and back about ten miles from home. Somehow it seriously lacked the direct competitive element. There was nothing to compare myself to and this is surely the essence of competition. All I seemed to be doing was thrashing along, in considerable pain, all on my own, trying to prove something to myself. All done in a partial vacuum of sharing my experience on the internet. It was another case of; does the tree make a sound when it falls when there is nobody there to hear it?

I have no guarantee that anyone will ever read my rambling blog. Then again, should it matter? Is the blog the raison dêtre? Or is it merely a record of my thoughts and actions regarding my tri-cycling. Does it even matter? The blog started to ensure self-discipline in my riding every day. Or, at least, as often as possible. Cycling is almost inevitably a solo pastime unless one limits oneself to social occasions. Perhaps to only to ever ride in groups. That's never going to happen in my case. My deliberate choice of a trike isolates me from most bicycle-orientated activities. As does the language to some degree. Most of them probably think I'm handicapped anyway just for riding a trike. They may well be right! Though why people make so much of an extra wheel on a bicycle remains a mystery.

Click on any image for an enlargement.

*