I would say lucky mate, in that it wasn't worse and also if it helped your neck and back, just remember it's a fine line
Sounds like you were pinballing through the forest
Hopefully a couple of days and the shoulder will be fine.
Out today with my wingman Caleb. Weapon of choice was the Big Dummy (the bike, not me)
Out after lunch and the plan was to head towards John O'Groats on the top road and then east and a circular route to groats, meet Heather for a coffee and cake, then head back on a direct route and hopefully get in before dark. It was cold up here, maybe 2 or 3 degree and just a slight breeze, but it was cloudy and the breeze was cold. We set off and within about 1 kilometre we were stopped as there was a whistle type sound, only faint coming from either the front or rear tyre. Soon worked out it was only when we were moving but we could both hear it. Eventually traced it to a zip tie on the top rail touching the tyre :facepalm:
Back on the road and we slowly meandered along stopping now and again to look at anything that took the little mans interest. We stopped near Canisbay to let a car past as it's all single track road and as we stopped in the layby there was a metallic sound at the back and we both looked down to see the jockey wheel and cage from the Surly tensioner drop onto the road and fall apart :shock: Thankfully the bolt that holds it on was still on there so it was a case of taking my gloves off and putting it back on and then nipping it up with the allen key. It was something that missed my strip down and put back together, I am sure the guy who put it together never really rode it with the fat wheels and alfine as nothing was done up, setup or sorted, hence the strip down of most things.
Anyway, once back on the road and running smoothly, the weather had clouded over a bit more and the wind had picked up a bit, it had certainly cooled down a bit but I was sweating away so didn't notice too much and then Caleb said just as we got to Groats that his feet were frozen. He got of the bike and was really cold so we went into the café and he sat in front of the fire and he instantly looked frozen, his eyes went puffy and he was shivering. He said he was OK just cold but he looked very cold.
After a hot chocolate and a brownie he made the wise decision to go home with mum. I told him not too worry as dad could struggle home lonely and cold with no one to watch his back now that it was nearly dark, but not to worry, you just head inside with the sheilas. Only kidding, it was a relief really as he looked so frozen, he's only six so two hours out in the cold is long enough as don't want him to end up ill. This meant it was lights on for me and I could head down to the harbour and the shore before heading back home. A slight headwind for a part of the ride but this was compensated for with a beautiful sunset that I just couldn't get a picture of.
Anyway it was a good few hours out and while not too exciting riding it is always good to ride with the little man and the BD is a solid workout. Definitely building my new wheels by the end of February as running Fat on tarmac is extremely hard work, so it's back to 40mm rims and 2.5 tyres. No way we are heading back to Orkney in April on the fat wheels.
Hope everyone is having a good weekend whatever they are doing and hopefully get another ride tomorrow.
Out this afternoon on the LHT, it's come to be my go to winter randonneur frame, bags, lights, mudguards etc.
The afternoon, while cold, was definitely a bit nicer than yesterdays, by far. Though it was cold enough as the rain from last night was still sitting on most of the roads, the dirt or gravel sections of the ride being the most well drained. A bit of a ride for the sake of it as direction was determined on the approach to the junction .
Another nice ride and home just before dark.
Went to have a look at the bike in the photo below.
It's an Orange Mr "O".
Anyone know anything about them? (I'm not that knowledgeable on downhill type stuff).
Said I'd go back and collect it tomorrow as it's got some decent bits on it.
Sorry Jimo, don't know much about them but I always thought they were pretty decent downhill machines.
Are you going to use it or after it for the bits?
Was going to use it as a donor bike to kit my mrs's Zaskar frame out, but I'm going to take it for a ride first to see (although tbh I have no room for another bike, least of all a retro dh bike :facepalm: ).
That's an option. Shoulder is OK now thanks, it's this feckin cold that's stopping me getting out on a Bike (and I get very grumpy when I can't go for a bike ride, Mrs jimo will verify this )
Today was a slightly better day weather wise than it has been for a while.
It was also a day of two halves riding wise.
The snow was falling late last night so I was hoping it would still be lying for when we got up so we could have a ride in it before it went away. Last year we barely had a day of decent snow as we are too near to the coast. There was a bit on the ground when we got up and so we loaded the big Dummy with Calebs sled hooked up, and off we went for a relaxed few miles locally just playing around and with Heather and Spot joining us. It was a good two hours out with the family just rolling around enjoying the sunshine and snow, though it was very cold.
Then after returning home, doing a few chores, having some lunch while warming up, I thought seen as how any snow left was turning to slush, I had better get the Pugsley out for a few miles. It was getting even cooler and the sun was quickly heading away for the evening so a few miles out around the lanes near home was going to have to do. It was a bit more frozen by now and the slush was freezing quick but the tyres on the Pugsley just plow through and grip to anything. Thankfully there were a few nice miles where nothing had been on the road so it was still nice powder. Another nice ride, but to be honest it's pretty rare to have a bad ride these days. Thankful for each one, whether it's solo or with friends or family.
Once home and everything away we went into town for dinner of fish and chips and burgers. Nice way to end a lovely Saturday relaxing at home.
Hope everyone else had a good day where ever and what ever you were doing.
DSCN3216 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr
DSCN3219 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr
DSCN3226 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr
DSCN3227 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr
DSCN3233 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr
DSCN3244 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr
DSCN3245 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr
DSCN3251 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr
DSCN3252 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr
DSCN3258 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr
DSCN3267 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr
DSCN3268 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr
DSCN3300 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr
DSCN3279 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr
DSCN3302 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr
DSCN3288 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr
DSCN3309 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr
DSCN3329 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr
DSCN3323 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr
DSCN3330 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr
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