Today's Ride
- Thread starter FairfaxPat
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moonlite
Kona Fan
Yet another sunny but cold/windy spring day here. Nice ride, partly on hilly dirt roads and partly on rough tracks in a logged-out area outside town.
This ride distinguished by my first-ever birdstrike. It happened when descending at speed -- a Noisy Miner (Manorina melanocephala), so named because it 'mines' the nectar out of flowers -- it's not a misspelling of Mynah. These are common in this sunkissed land, regarded as pests in urban environments as they drive other birds away and are known to swoop on any encroachers on their turf.
They are a familiar sight along this route too, although not usually sitting somewhat cluelessly on the common highway. But this individual was a bit small and weedy -- a juvenile, I guessed as the distance closed rapidly. Predictably, junior took off on perceiving my rapid approach. Then, unpredictably, it changed direction -- and flew back into the line of fire, so to speak. There was no time for either of us to react: I felt a soft thump on my right shin and was grateful the bird didn't bounce into the spokes.
This ride distinguished by my first-ever birdstrike. It happened when descending at speed -- a Noisy Miner (Manorina melanocephala), so named because it 'mines' the nectar out of flowers -- it's not a misspelling of Mynah. These are common in this sunkissed land, regarded as pests in urban environments as they drive other birds away and are known to swoop on any encroachers on their turf.
They are a familiar sight along this route too, although not usually sitting somewhat cluelessly on the common highway. But this individual was a bit small and weedy -- a juvenile, I guessed as the distance closed rapidly. Predictably, junior took off on perceiving my rapid approach. Then, unpredictably, it changed direction -- and flew back into the line of fire, so to speak. There was no time for either of us to react: I felt a soft thump on my right shin and was grateful the bird didn't bounce into the spokes.
dorset boy
Senior Retro Guru
Today turned out very nice with lots of sunshine ! 30 miles with a big hill thrown in.
Great ride yesterday morning with, as folks have mentioned, much better weather than the forecast (trash as usual). Managed to catch the first glimpse of sunshine, much missed the past week.
PercyInglesFlyingCircus
Retro Guru
Day off from the circus and with a few delays (2hrs) managed a good 4/5ths of what I intended to ride today before the darkness comes after the weekend
Views from High pike were spectacular as always
Stopped for an adhoc picnic in a sheltered gateway before the last big ascent and just now sinking a pint in the valleys and putting the disco lights on for the last couple of hours back home
Views from High pike were spectacular as always
Stopped for an adhoc picnic in a sheltered gateway before the last big ascent and just now sinking a pint in the valleys and putting the disco lights on for the last couple of hours back home
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2manyoranges
Old School Grand Master
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Today's Ride wasn't actually today. It was yesterday. But I'd thought I'd post since I felt I had for a while been making the right Vital Choices. And we know what the Vital Choice in mountain biking is. It's '....and what shall I wear today so that I am not too cold/hot/wet/fed up/burnt/soaked/bruised?....'
So this weekend the Beeb said SUN! 14 deg!
But it was actually effing chilly at 7am albeit bright. And I knew under the dark canopy of the forest on the slip slidey rootiness and leaf mould that it would be dark and damp.
So....
Cyclogy thermal. Quite thick
I nearly always wear a mesh underlayer even in the Summer, which keeps me cool in summer and warm on cooler days, and move to those thicker stretch thermals around about now.
https://www.cycologygear.co.uk/coll...too-black-mens-long-sleeve-cycling-base-layer
Then a Loose Riders baggyish top. Quite thin.
This is the standard contemporary baggy DH sort of jersey. Far too cold by itself since breezy and baggy.
https://www.pedalz.co.uk/products/l...MInabGtOmMggMVjJSDBx3RDQXPEAQYAiABEgJ_vvD_BwE
Then over that, a PH insulated gilet. Lightly insulated front with thin rear.
I like supporting them since they manufacture locally in Italy, close to their design offices.
Ignore the punitive price, I got mine through the trade for 30gbp
https://www.phapparel.com/prodotto/power-man-padded-thermic-vest-military/
Some POC long finger gloves.
Endura 3/4 shorts.
Sam Hill 7IDP knee pads
Giro socks.
Five Ten Freeriders
Many puddles so lots of splashing...plenty chilly under the canopy even though pushing hard. And just the right body temperature when riding. Hurrah.
And Today's Ride on Friday was interesting clothing-wise too. Sun on the way in and I forgot that I had loaned my Ion very lightweight rain layer to a friend. So when it started raining - quite hard - just before leaving for the 18k ride home on the Rat I was cursing. I had the same Cyclolgy thermal base layer as above, plus a thermal training jacket - like this:
https://www.cycologygear.co.uk/coll...spot-me-mens-black-long-sleeve-cycling-jersey
Bought for 40.00 in their sale.
Neither is waterproof, being brushed polyester. But interestingly, I remained really dry even in quite heavy rain, since my body heat evaporated the water before it touched my skin, very much like the Paramo concept. The jacket was saturated and the thermal wet to touch on the outside, but I was toasty warm and dry. Now I thought that was interesting and will exploit the effect again. But also not forget my thin rain jacket again. I find thick waterproofs are boil in the bag and soaking with condensation after fifteen minutes but resort to them in the deep winter.
Rapha Loopback trousers were wet but warm.
Five Ten District leader shoes stayed dry on the inside.
https://bikerumor.com/five-ten-gets...cycling-shoes-plus-killer-new-approach-shoes/
There we go...finally some decent clothing decisions...
So this weekend the Beeb said SUN! 14 deg!
But it was actually effing chilly at 7am albeit bright. And I knew under the dark canopy of the forest on the slip slidey rootiness and leaf mould that it would be dark and damp.
So....
Cyclogy thermal. Quite thick
I nearly always wear a mesh underlayer even in the Summer, which keeps me cool in summer and warm on cooler days, and move to those thicker stretch thermals around about now.
https://www.cycologygear.co.uk/coll...too-black-mens-long-sleeve-cycling-base-layer
Then a Loose Riders baggyish top. Quite thin.
This is the standard contemporary baggy DH sort of jersey. Far too cold by itself since breezy and baggy.
https://www.pedalz.co.uk/products/l...MInabGtOmMggMVjJSDBx3RDQXPEAQYAiABEgJ_vvD_BwE
Then over that, a PH insulated gilet. Lightly insulated front with thin rear.
I like supporting them since they manufacture locally in Italy, close to their design offices.
Ignore the punitive price, I got mine through the trade for 30gbp
https://www.phapparel.com/prodotto/power-man-padded-thermic-vest-military/
Some POC long finger gloves.
Endura 3/4 shorts.
Sam Hill 7IDP knee pads
Giro socks.
Five Ten Freeriders
Many puddles so lots of splashing...plenty chilly under the canopy even though pushing hard. And just the right body temperature when riding. Hurrah.
And Today's Ride on Friday was interesting clothing-wise too. Sun on the way in and I forgot that I had loaned my Ion very lightweight rain layer to a friend. So when it started raining - quite hard - just before leaving for the 18k ride home on the Rat I was cursing. I had the same Cyclolgy thermal base layer as above, plus a thermal training jacket - like this:
https://www.cycologygear.co.uk/coll...spot-me-mens-black-long-sleeve-cycling-jersey
Bought for 40.00 in their sale.
Neither is waterproof, being brushed polyester. But interestingly, I remained really dry even in quite heavy rain, since my body heat evaporated the water before it touched my skin, very much like the Paramo concept. The jacket was saturated and the thermal wet to touch on the outside, but I was toasty warm and dry. Now I thought that was interesting and will exploit the effect again. But also not forget my thin rain jacket again. I find thick waterproofs are boil in the bag and soaking with condensation after fifteen minutes but resort to them in the deep winter.
Rapha Loopback trousers were wet but warm.
Five Ten District leader shoes stayed dry on the inside.
https://bikerumor.com/five-ten-gets...cycling-shoes-plus-killer-new-approach-shoes/
There we go...finally some decent clothing decisions...
Last edited:
10-11 degrees, felt like 8-9 with a 10-12 mph SW breeze. Damp roads but not as soggy as Sunday. High broken cloud giving way to clear skies. A thoroughly good early-doors scoot about with the lights doing a great job alerting me to kamikaze rabbits and small birds. Thankfully no strikes.
St Mounts bay still having a lie-in.
Time to shoot down to Madron
St Mounts bay still having a lie-in.
Time to shoot down to Madron
PercyInglesFlyingCircus
Retro Guru
Today is Flying Circus training day
finally a new to me second hand DHX rear shock on the DH after blowing up the van r
It’s made a world of difference feels like a new bike and the DHX being a shy shorter has slackened everything out nicely
finally a new to me second hand DHX rear shock on the DH after blowing up the van r
It’s made a world of difference feels like a new bike and the DHX being a shy shorter has slackened everything out nicely
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