Today's Ride

The great weather streak continues, although there's still enough chill in the air most days to make it feel spring rather than summer. That said, I'm sufficiently tanned now, and when the northerly breeze switches to the east, summer arrives very quickly. Another busy week away from home meant a ride on Friday evening, and early doors Sunday. Now it's half term and almost June, I won't be travelling mid-week as much so more local riding and running 👍

Got on the boneshaker Friday evening, and she looked glorious in the sunshine. Happy-go-lucky green all the way.

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Sunday morning was deceptively chilly in bright sunshine. But the trails were spot on and once again, Bee was faultless. The amount of confidence it gives you is always surprising. Modern life isn't entirely rubbish.

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We're off up to Sydney on Thursday for the weekend so I couldn't be picky about which days this week to get some miles in. Today was beautifully bright and sunny with cold wind gusting up to 40kph but I ventured forth on a 38-k circuit of mixed tarmac and gravel, with 1,250 ft climbing.

I was keen to get the bike out because I'd just replaced the worn-out Mavic Cosmos wheels it came with in 2004 with some second-hand Ksyrium SLCs. Hard to tell in the wind how much of a difference they made but climbing and accelerating seemed a bit easier.

Here we've just forded the mighty Shoalhaven River via a causeway, trying unsuccessfully to keep my feet dry in about 6 ins of chilly water.

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Legs are a bit knackered now. The whole experience reminded me of this:

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Monday after work ride, getting in the last of the current run of sunshine. Now it's solid high grey clouds and back to 11-12 degrees if you squint hard. Yesterday evening, 17 degrees, a steady ENE breeze, pretty much everything to myself even though it's half term. I suspect folks burnt themselves out yesterday ;)

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This bike is immense, in case I haven't mentioned it before ;):LOL:
 
Steady ENE breeze, felt like 9, a touch warmer as the sun rose. Glorious blue skies and golden sunshine. Apparently it'll hit 19 later today. I remain sceptical!

My nemesis hill was almost conquered. I reckon it touches 15%, no big deal, it's the loose gravel that's the challenge. I was right near the top when I took the wrong line (again) and got bogged down in the rain rut. I need to keep it on the high line to the right (my left coming up) to the very end.

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The rest is easy out the top.

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Always elevation, which means, there's a downhill as the reward 👍

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Steady ENE breeze, felt like 9, a touch warmer as the sun rose. Glorious blue skies and golden sunshine. Apparently it'll hit 19 later today. I remain sceptical!

My nemesis hill was almost conquered. I reckon it touches 15%, no big deal, it's the loose gravel that's the challenge. I was right near the top when I took the wrong line (again) and got bogged down in the rain rut. I need to keep it on the high line to the right (my left coming up) to the very end.

usoX5n.jpg


The rest is easy out the top.

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Always elevation, which means, there's a downhill as the reward 👍

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I've made it up there in a oner on a couple of occasions, though haven't tried for quite some time now. One wrong move, weight distribution slightly off, or pedal too hard in the wrong gear and it's all over :LOL:
 
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