Today's Ride

[26er]

Looks like home to me... I think I need to move somewhere else when I think of it.

 

[Mike Muz]

Re:

Well, yesterday's ride actually, but I couldn't sort pictures out before today :roll:
T'was a dry, fresh, sunny start to the day, but knowing the trails were muddier than a Fox, thought I'd give the RatFish an off-road outing.

So, a couple of miles uphill on the road, followed by some false flat off road, all into a chilly headwind, this was the view I was looking for ^^^^.
One on the ridge, a crosswind was very welcome as I headed west on the South Downs Way, as were the views,

Dropped down to and across the road, across a waterlogged field, before climbing up to a cafe, for a quick, warming cup of tea and to check out the map for return route possibilities.
Spotted a bridleway new to me, so decided I'd take it.
So, once warmed up again - I'm only skinny you know - I headed off down to the new track. Photo taken on way down to it,

It ran alongside - and sometimes very close to - a main local river. The track way very rooty and wet, so possibilities of losing it and ending up in the drink were keeping me focussed :shock: :shock:
I had spotted some very narrow tyre tracks as I was going along, possibly from a CX bike, I'd liked to have seen how it's rider had coped with the bridleway, as I was struggling.
Then a sudden steep bit, too late for granny ring :facepalm: , chain under constant pressure so I didn't want to risk changing onto it. Just keep it rolling Mike, and I got so far, then run out of puff and had to stop Walked the rest. Then carried on when it flattened out. Onto some boring tarmac to finish the ride, banging along, just to really knacker me out, back to home.

And then a cleaning session for me and the bike. But not before tea and CAKE !


Mike

 

[NeilM]

Re:

Nice ride Mike.

Love that bike, hard to see where the mud stops and the rust starts.

Cake, the perfect recovery food.

 

[Mike Muz]

Re:

Thanks mate,

Pity I forgot to take the light battery off before the ride. Ruins the clean lines, don't you think?
Took it off before blasting mud off with the hose though !
Now clean rust :? and oiled, ready for more of the same

Mike

 

[coomber]

Re:

Ah the mud clogging abilities of retro in a pic. Lovely.

Nice score on a new bridleway. Looks nice for summer at least..

 

[Mike Muz]

Re:

Yes, good for summer, wish I'd taken a picture of it now, but I was shaking too much in fear !
The brakes were still working as well as when they were clean, I'll leave it at that

The gears still worked well though

Mike

 

[26er]

Not ridin today. Way too cold, as it was yesterday... and the day b4. So, this is someone else's unfortunate ride. Think I'll be having nightmares with deers jumpin into my front wheel for a while now. Snakes, big cats and now suicidal deers. Maybe Cali ain't the best place for cycling after all... scary. Takes a lot of force to make a stem fly off the steerer. Never seen that happen b4. Beware of the deer!

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z8uCeyUl_9U&feature=player_embedded[/youtube]

:facepalm:

 

[unit3]

First time posting here for me, but hope to add more through the year, as I miss the old thread


So the other half and I went for a short ride today, only down the river and around the playing field's, Quick shake down of the Bigfoot I put together for her stand in bike.

Through the woods...

Stop for a quick look in the little pond with massive jetty.....

Why do people spoil there environment? :x ........

One for Pat, a different rear shot.....

And inspiration from Mr Muz......

Ta. :xmas-big-grin:

 

[26er]

That looks like my favorite pair of ...wheels there. Very aero. Maybe too aero for a MTB.

 

[Mike Muz]

Re:

Cheers Unit 3 ,

I'm sure I've bought things from you, but can't recall what :roll: :facepalm:

So, today's ride, my last as a youthful 46 year old

Only had time for a short one today, around 1 1/2 hours, so I wasn't hanging around!
The frost that I'd expected had mostly thawed by the time I got on the Downs. Pesky low trees started getting in the way,, was pleased I didn't take my Camelbak, as I just made it under this one, before riding across a nice sodden field to the next main track. This is what awaited me, some frozen ground, some iced over puddles, and some very wet muddy ground, as I soon discovered. I spy with my little eye, something beginning with S. I've got it! Sh1t covered bike . Ok , now I get the single speed thing.
Nice to see the Sun show itself, just as the track started clearing,. In the horizon, above the saddle, is roughly where I was heading. But not before my favourite section of wet rooty singletrack. Taken the easier way, slightly more downhill.Then at the end, a sharp, right, steep section that could easily stop you in your tracks, should a pedal hit the side of the gulley you have to take. Had prepared early, into the 32 ring, and the 28 out back, made it easily through for once, then back into the Sun down a fast gravvely track, through a farm, where the electric gate opens for you if you slow down enough beforehand :xmas-cool: . Then onto the final bridleway before heading back, filthy,reluctantly, towards civilisation Aftermath to come next,

Mike