21.02.2024 A minor trailer for the Morris?

 ~o~

  Wednesday 21st 41F/5.6C. Lots of small, fuzzy clouds. Promise of sunshine in the forecast. Museum day. I'll probably go in the Morris Minor.

 7.45 62F/17C in the room. Up at 6.45 after a reasonable night. Woke in the dark from weird dreams.

 I have had another idea about cars and my shrinking need for two. The old car is costing far too much to keep going. Its main purpose is providing the pulling power for the trailer. Scrapping this car would leave me with the Morris Minor. Which has much less pulling power and poorer brakes. 

 If I buy a new, but much smaller trailer, then the Minor shouldn't struggle. It is not only logs I need to fetch but trips to the recycling yard. Occasional shopping trips for recycled furniture. There is also the need to be rid of garden waste and to fetch gravel to repair the drive.  

 I was looking at Brenderup's smallest trailer. With mesh, add-on side panels. A matching tarpaulin cover will ensure the contents remain dry. I was given a price for the 1170 S yesterday. By a trailer specialist I happened to pass on my e-bike ride. When I got home I discovered the model he offered is discontinued. I looked it up on he manufacturer's website and to check prices. Nobody else lists the 1170 S for sale. So it must be some time since it was a current model. 

 Later models have a folding tow bar triangle and body tipping. Which would allow it to be more easily stored on end. Instead of constantly gathering rainwater in the PVC cover and deteriorating. I could probably sell my old trailer for a couple of hundred pounds equivalent. It is a good size but over two decades old. And looks it. I replaced the base board quite recently but I can't undo twenty years of standing outside. 

 8.10 Weak sunshine. I had better shower and dress for my weekly stint of manual, modern slavery. 😄

 12.30 Returned from the farm museum. Where I helped in various situations.

 14.30 I have been trying to use the greenhouse to warm indoors. Unfortunately the sun has been veiled. The greenhouse was at 66F while indoors struggled to reach 63F.

 Dinner was broccoli with fish fingers.

 

 ~o~

20.02.2024 Another 62km/40 mile ride.

 ~o~

  Tuesday 20th 42F/5.6C [at 9am]. Overcast but mostly dry with a moderate westerly breeze. Up at 7.50. I got up at 6am but went straight back to bed. Then it was suddenly light. 61F in the room and kitchen. 

 A suitable day for a bike ride? Wednesday museum tomorrow. So that's out.

 Crocuses outside the greenhouse.

 I just discovered a reader's comment from January about saddle springs and rider weight. Unfortunately I missed seeing it. Then had to open Chrome to be able to reply. 

 There seems to be almost no recognition of rider weight from cycling manufacturers. This is despite average bodyweight rising steadily around the globe. My own weight has crept up to 80kg [12.6 stone] after a winter of little physical activity. There has been record rainfall to match a record mild winter. 

 While it is certainly possible to ride in the rain it really isn't remotely as pleasant as in the dry. Or even in the cold. Every aspect of one's clothing has to be considered. Even waterproof shoes. Mudguards are not as protective as the manufacturer's might hope. I am very tempted to add a flap to the Moustache's substantial front mudguard. The front tyre sprays liberally well above ankle height. Moustache make much about their double pressing for stiffness, strength and quietness in use. They must not have tested them for spray patterns when riding through puddles! 

 I prefer lighter shoes for higher pedalling revs. [Cadence] My taller Sorel boots provide the most protection but tend to lift off if I pedal faster. This really is noticeable and must be due to their greater weight. My lightweight [Energetics] trainers allow me to pedal above 100rpm. The Sorel more like 80rpm. The difference is 500g to 300g. Quite a margin!  My Scarpa leather, walking shoes, with Vibram soles weigh 450g. The soles are slightly too rough for sure pedalling. Which is why I started searching for smooth soled trainers.

 I chose my cycling footwear to have smooth sole patterns for grip on the spiked, flat pedals. An intermediary fur lined Puma was a very poor choice. Pitiful grip in the wet and 535g. They slide all over the pedals and on many wet road surfaces. Unfortunately the lightest Energetics shoes provide poor protection from the wet or the cold. So are reserved for warmer, dry weather. They provide excellent grip.

 9.50 It is brightening up! I ought to stop waffling and get moving if I am going for a ride! There is a charity shop 30km away. With another a little nearer. Which I missed because of Friday closure. Both are open today. A ride I have done many times. Through beautiful countryside.  

 10.30 Finally ready.

 15.15 45F/7C. Returned form a 62km/40 mile ride. Mostly overcast and feeling cold. Though with occasional watery sunshine. Despite the mild temperatures. Lots of birds of prey were perched, flying and calling. I ate two Corny micro bars and drank one micro carton of organic apple juice. The SW wind seemed to get stronger and colder on the way back. 20% battery charge left after 89% in Sport mode. With a bit of Turbo for effortless hill climbing.  The B67 Brooks became progressively more uncomfortable after 40km. Though not too badly. I just kept moving about on the saddle. Or lifting off for a moment. Wandering around the charity shops was a useful break and helped to relieve the pain temporarily. 

 I wore padded racing shorts, long-john thermal tights and stretchy trousers. A long sleeved, thermal vest, racing jersey and cardigan under the Endura rain jacket. I took a thin jumper as a warm reserve but couldn't be bothered to get any colder. By removing the jacket to put the jumper on. There was very little shelter from the wind to be found. So I pressed on. My shoulders and chest felt slightly cold for most of the return journey. I am feeling cold now as I finish a very late lunch at 16.10. 

 16.30 61F/16C in the the room. Lit the stove. I have almost run out of kindling. Time for a nap. As soon as the stove is going well.

 Dinner was mackerel on toast with cherry tomatoes.

  ~o~

19.02.2024 What a disaster!

 ~o~

  Monday 19th 39F/4C. A dry day is promised after yesterday's deluge. I need to fetch more logs. Which means starting and extracting the old car. The Morris Minor can't manage a heavy trailer. The constant rain has turned the parking area into mush. Which doesn't help at all.  

 Up at 6am. 63F/17C in the room. I am warmer in the long, thermal underwear. Always in modest black. Just in case you imagined a Hollywood cowboy. Heading for the frontier town bath for his annual dip. In his hideously stained, off-white underwear. With buttoned, rear trapdoor.

 13.00 I have spent the morning in the village waiting to be rescued. The car started without a problem and reached the village before it misfired, stopped and wouldn't start again. After waiting for an hour the rescue chap arrived and boosted the battery enough to start. He then followed me the five km home. Just to be sure I reached my destination. It was touch and go at times. The engine ran very rough and wouldn't pick up.

 I drove the car into the 200m long, shared drive and it immediately died again. So I needed the sack truck to bring the new battery to the car. It spins the engine over but it still won't start. Now the car is 100m from home but  not blocking the drive. I am now trying to get the rescue service to deliver the car to the garage in the next village. They are presently consulting with each other on the problem. 

  13.30 47F/8C. Mild and mostly dry but overcast. Even some brief, sunny periods. The rescue service is coming later to pick up the car. For delivery to the garage workshop. I need the car to fetch more logs in the trailer. Which is where I was supposed to be going this morning. At least I am safely home now and can have some lunch. I spoke to the mechanics and they are happy to have a look at it. Luckily I have been going there for years to get through the Syn. The periodic, Danish MOT.

 14.45 The car was stuck in his usual turning space. So I helped the pleasant young dustbin man reverse his big truck out. On the very dangerous exit on a sharp corner. Luckily there was a lull in the traffic. My first time being near the truck while it was tipping my bin. A pretty violent exercise to ensure the bins were fully emptied. 

 The poor old car has now been picked up and will be carried to the workshop. Had a nice chat, in English, with the young driver. He spent some time in the USA and spoke excellent Eglish. It must be quite an interesting job moving between call-outs on a car rescue service. He must cover most of Fyn in a fairly short time.

 Diner was fried chicken, chips and cherry tomatoes.

   ~o~