Weekend Baiku

[Pickle]

Mountain Baiku:

Saturday: Look out of bedroom window...decide to be brave and wear 3/4 shorts...fill the Camelback, helmet on and head out...Avalanche out of shed, squeeze tyres and roll off...spin down the road and onto the trail...beautiful mist hangs over the fields...warmed up now so flick onto the big ring...feeling good and sprint up the first hill...blast the woods and jump a few of the rocks...splash through the stream...back end feeling a bit sketchy...stop and hear PPFFTTTT...hmmm, bugger....ah ha I think, I'm using slime tubes...gas cannister to the rescue...ride on....power the farmtrack...oh bugger, its nearly flat again...no more cannisters...turn around...quick...quick...road route...quick...home now...only managed 1hr...sulking...Mrs GT allows a ride tomorrow...result...average ride of my life :roll:

Sunday: White blanket outside ...freezing fog...still fancy a big ride today...nip out to put new tube in and change tyres to 2.1's...Mike arrives...tyre change takes a while...snap 3 levers...curse...drink coffee for warmth...finally head off...spin on the road for a few miles...Mike flicks a 'birdy' to an idiot in a 4x4...hit the farm track...crack through the puddles...so cold...mist hanging over the fields is beautiful...stop for a photo...frost forming on my arms and legs...Mikes brakes freeze on :shock: ...spin through Bardney village and into the woods...the frost is still hanging on the spiders webs...quick photo stop...wind the pace up some more...over some slippy 'North Shore' style sections...dodge a family out walking...forgot how good these woods are...out the other side and onto the farm track...take the cycle path back home...wind the pace up again...flying now...Mike peels off home...couple of minutes and I'm now home...awesome...best ride of my life

 

[ededwards]

Foggy. Freezing. Head out wrapped up warm. Too warm on first climb. Fog thickens. hands warm up. Wet roots? Pah. Slimy leaves? Easy. Muddy off camber? No challenge. Roots, leaves and muddy camber? Simple. I am a god. A riding god. Oh, world looks different from this angle. Get up. Inspect large gash on shin. Feel as delicate as Natalie Portman's beauty. Continue on. Feel a bit better. Confidence as robust as Angelina Jolie. Realise may have concussion. Mud, slidy, greasy, fun. Chain snaps. No chain tool. Bugger. Must be as strong as Chris Hoy. Or a crap mechanic. Decide I am like Chris. Hobby horse and run 4 miles home. Arrive home. Forced to undress outside. Blonde 17 year old neighbour not around, thankfully. Crack a beer (well it's Christmas). Best 'freezing, foggy, muddy, chain snapping ride on the last Saturday before Christmas' ride ever.

 

[orange71]

you entering it for dirty BOTY?

 

[ededwards]

An Inbred's a bit modern I think

 

[tintin40]

I just love Surrey Mud even i have no rear brake. And the front mech is playing up :x

 

[Pickle]

An Inbred's a bit modern I think

Put it in Ed, dont forget its my 2007 Avalanche that started all this Dirty BOTY fun!!

As I've said in the thread, its for those hardcore riders who are still out there in the December mud - not what they're riding

 

[Augustus]

Cross Baiku:

Faff. Faffing. Faffness. Take too long and my 8am start morphs into a try and get back for a late lunch reality. Cold. Freeaing fog. Merino sealskins and overshoes are barely adequate. This bike is wonderful. It really is all I need from an mtb. Ride the route for Joe. Tell the 1st forest Ents he'll return one day. Tyres converse and break the ice for me at Highland Lakes. Slip and slide 32c skinny's through the muck of the 2nd woods. Slime one minute and frozen track the next. Nature's having trouble making her mind up in here. The bike reminds me what it used to be like 20 yrs ago riding 28/38/48 and 12-26 through these woods. Lots of standing and carful traction gain and a bit of walking and slipping thrown in. Spin back. Drop wheels bound for Ed off at Steve's supercharged workshop. Lots of cool cars there. Home for rumbledethumps and a hotttttttt shower. Best ride of my life.

 

[Joe]

Bah - here I am seporated from my bikes

Glad you're having fun out there!

 

[Pickle]

Sunday fun added. Mike should be posting some great photos later today. Amazing freezing fog out there today :shock:

 

[ededwards]

Sunday

Woke early. Freezing fog again. Ate cereal. Friend arrives for a run. Into woods. Numb fingers. Climb. Climb. Climb. Break out into sunshine - temperature inversion! Stunning views down onto fog. descend back into fog. home for lunch with friends. Soup. Pasta. Pizza. Cheesecake. Bloated. Do washing up for 8. Earn freedom pass. Head back to woods on bike. Some ground frozen, other places soft. Same route as yesterday. Feels like new. Put foot in icy puddle. Foot numb. Frost still everywhere. Head for home as sun sets. Bath. The Observer. Ace day