Today's Ride

[Iwasgoodonce]

The only time my wheels leave the ground is when I lift the bike into the back of the car.

 

[2manyoranges]

The only time my wheels leave the ground is when I lift the bike into the back of the car.

I spent 40 years trying to keep my (26 then 27.5 then 29) wheels on the ground. Then when the Grom was ten he started jumping. He coaches me now. Ok says he ‘just stand up to the jump’ and in he goes and gapow…like an uncoiled spring he’s over a metre off the ground. Ok ok here I go … in fast … and flooopp …. Maybe 10cms. Ok he says … we’ll continue to work on that….

 

[2manyoranges]

Another ride today on a familiar route. It never gets boring as there's always something different to see. Plus I am lucky enough to be able to choose a different bike . Today - damselflies, loads of them, flying in front of me as I rode, battling with each other, I presume they were hoping other insects would take flight as I approached and they could eat them who knows?

Anyway, the park is always quiet around 6pm on a Sunday - it is a lovely place to be.
View attachment 873689View attachment 873690View attachment 873691

Boy what a gorgeous photo - should have some bucolic music playing - Vaughan Williams or Elgar

 

[Iwasgoodonce]

I spent 40 years trying to keep my (26 then 27.5 then 29) wheels on the ground. Then when the Grom was ten he started jumping. He coaches me now. Ok says he ‘just stand up to the jump’ and in he goes and gapow…like an uncoiled spring he’s over a metre off the ground. Ok ok here I go … in fast … and flooopp …. Maybe 10cms. Ok he says … we’ll continue to work on that….

Luckily my son is so fearful of bikes, he gripped the bars so hard he melted one of the grips! I have never understood the physics of jumping without being clipped into the pedals. I have tried it on flats and it felt horrible. Back to SPD/Time as quickly as I could.

 

[moonlite]

Finally a day where everything came together for a bit of a ride. It's still most definitely winter here, which means it tends to get dark before I get a chance to go out, so have been sitting on a turbo trainer in the shed three times a week, dreaming of sunny summer evenings.

Today was frosty to start -- minus 3C overnight -- but sunny and clear, reaching 15C at lunchtime. Decided on a whim to check out my routine ride up the hill outside town. Chose the '98 Explosif on the assumption that a reasonably light, sweet-riding bike would help with the unfitness in some way.

All went well -- the turbo trainer seems to have been reasonably effective and it was a comfortable ride -- right up until we encountered a massive tree across the way. There were gale-force winds a couple of weeks ago, so this old monster must have come down then. It had been dead for some years, so I guess they eventually lose their grip on the soil and keel over.

Anyway, there was no bunny-hopping this one and as I only had an hour's break from my desk, headed home again. Lovely to be doing this outdoors again!

 

[al-onestare]

What's this? Tarmac? Back on the road after the forced hiatus with the Esatto now stripped, tucked away for a reincarnation as a winter turbo trainer. Now on Simone, glory shots when the light is better and she's fully loaded. Last nights after work spin was a joy

 

[Stressed]

Waiting for the son!

 

[MattiThundrrr]

Morning gravel, found a moment of solitude at an empty beach.
Should have taken a minute to go in the water, but I hurried on. Appointments to keep with a snowy egret, ospreys on the hunt, and whitetail deer. Unfortunately, the insects couldn't make it too, didn't see a single one the whole ride

 

[Stressed]

Strange fruit!

 

[al-onestare]

Strange fruit!View attachment 874408

A swift race that took in a fight or two