Weekend Baiku

Augustus

Retrobike Rider
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Mountain Baiku.

One of those 'over the top and into the gunfire' kind of days. You know you're gonna get soaked by the end of the road and no amount of Gore-Tex is gonna save you. So you go out all guns blazing. Hit the trails early, bigger tyres doing the best they can against the wet roots and chalk. They're not going down without a fight. It's horrible out here today. Traction, grip, clear sight - all absent. Just me, the machine and the force guiding us back round the miserable 18 miles of mistake that was leaving the sofa. 1/2 way now. Turn into the wind for home. Bitter cold sideways wet. Miserable. Painful to the skin actually. So soaked it's comical. Climb, climb, climb. See train pulling out. Seek asylum in a shop and eat flapjack. Next train home. Sense of achievement. Proud to have left the sofa and returned victorious. Best ride I ever did.
 

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didn't get off the sofa meself, but how's the other bike? long ride to work tomorrow instead. :)
 
tested turbo trainer today...terrific!

20 miles without leaving the house... best ride I never did!
 
Saturday: Having a 'need to ride' day...outside its pouring it down but I'm up for it...out with the Avalanche and hit the trail...with 50yds soaked to the skin...lots of standing water...very slippy...up the first climb...feel good and fresh...round the top bend and the wind and rain slap me in the face...through the woods and make it without crashing on the roots and rocks...1hr later and the light is fading fast...head home...get a 'What the ???' from my neighbour...hose and lube bike then head for the shower...Wetest ride of my life

Sunday: Better weather...grab the Avalanche and spin for a few miles on the road before hitting the trails...very slippy and lots of standing water...feeling good...through the woods...very slippy on the rocks and roots...along the dirt track and the bike is now covered in mud...down through the footpaths and back onto the road once more...couple of hours later back home again...nice to be dry at the end...Dryer ride of my life
 
I had a severe case of cabin fever this morning. 8am in was pouring down, 11am the rain stopped. I eluded myself it had stopped for the day, my girlfriend pointed out that the rolling views of the south downs you can see from the living room window was a view of black cloud. I pottered off on the Bonti’s 1st trip out. As I was climbing up the downs the heavens opened up.. but once I was wet I didn’t care too much. I’m well happy with my new toy and the mud tyres dig in and work well. In took a picture of the trail (river), in this case the picture does not speak a thousand words as it was pissing it down.

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Just come back from a night ride. No rain, but plenty of mud out there. Not as much as there was, though .. it's all over the bike and me!
 
Saturday morning biblical outside, so bad that allowed unrestricted kitchen fettling. Finish two bikes. Very happy but guilty. Ran in the afternoon, a hilly, muddy hour offroad. Less guilty. Drank beer.

Sunday morning, weather worse. Hit by flying branch when leaving back door. The Observer and bed. Lunchtime clearing. Adjusted brakes on Inbred so they work. Left house for a quick spin. Half mile up road meet lads drenched in mud. Return home to provide tea and cold sausages. Talk and look at bikes for an hour. Lads leave. Try to depart for ride but it appears that pass has expired. Decide to purposelessly fettle. Reminded that bikes live in the shed. A weekend with no riding, Sunday night, guilt descends.

Monday ride long, hilly way to work. Guilt lifts. Plan run this evening. Guilt almost gone.
 
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