Weekend Baiku

[Iwasgoodonce]

Again, probably not in the true spirit of this thread, but here it is.
In an attempt to reduce the carbon footprint, which despite my best efforts is probably about the same size as Lake Windermere, today is another car free day. Off to Sainsburys. At least this time the distance is sufficient to warrant wearing the SPD shoes. Attach the panniers and sling the climbing day pack on the shoulders and off we go.
Its icy and with the as usual very average at best rear Wild Slipper living up to its name I slither up the untreated cul-de-sac. A couple of miles in and fitness, (or lack of) has become an issue.
Pedal somewhat smugly past the line of cars waiting to gain access to the car park and lock the bike to something solid. Fight my way past people seemingly in the last stages of panic stocking up seemingly for WW III. Calm down people its only two days!!
Spend at least ten minutes loading up and off we go. Damn its heavy! The rear tyre is flat and I'm in the small ring every time the road rises. Arrive home in time to meet Cherrybomb (go on you know you want to be at Cannock!) Weigh the bike with it's load and the scales stop at 85lb!!

 

[Augustus]

Let down by Vodafone and Specialized Baiku:

Cross bike chosen. Off on the early train. Must get back for the butcher's and xmas dinner source and retreval mission. Fast into the Woods, Beautiful out here today. Nature plays a tune on my skinny steel top tube with melting ice from the tree canopy. Fast today. Spin spin spin. This gear ratio'll make ya strong or kill you. Er, feels like the latter might be about to happen up this forever long hill. See full sussers. I nod, they ignore. Such is the way. F*ck you and your five inches...ha ha. Down the South Downs Way. bad chalk. Thump. That's a pinch for sure. Yup. Fix flat in the freezing fog. Pump do your thing. DO YOUR THING! Pleeeeaasssseeee....! Sh*t. That's it, had enough of these cheap Spesh pumps. CB'ers stop and offer help, lift, phone. Nice chaps. Got a phone. Off they go. Well, got a phone, but no reception. Thanks Vodafone. 1 mile walk to cafe that gives lunch on tick and offers a pump. Their pump broken. Bless them though. Give up and return by train. Was on course to be the best ride of my life too. Tomorrow then.

 

[Pickle]

Beautiful looking woods there Gus, maybe we'll ride there in February??

 

[Augustus]

Beautiful looking woods there Gus, maybe we'll ride there in February??

yup, them's my local woods.

 

[Pickle]

I'm slightly jealous!


You should make your way down to Lincoln after the Sussex ride, and do one of mine and Mike's loops.

The one we did today took us 2 1/2 hrs. We haven't ridden it in a while; forgot how good it is!

There are some photo's to come, if Mike ever gets his butt in gear and loads them up. I want to update my even muddier Avalanche to Dirty BOTY!

 

[Augustus]

just washed the cross bike and realised afterwards that it was a contender. But no match for the bike at MM. That was bad.

Yeah Lincoln sounds good.

 

[Augustus]

Another day another crosstain bike ride. Pick up the last pump standing and go. Road ride planned changes within a mile as the xmas traffic will clearly be the death of me. Get on train. Get off train. Get onto the trails and into my mojo. All is clear, this is why. See no-one. Hear no-one. Beautiful. Invisible squirrel whizzes across my path. Heard him, saw the aftermath of leaves settling but was never going to see him - he's invisible. Slip on roots and so nearly hit a tree. Out into the open and the landscape is still and like a model railway. Feel like I'm in the alps. The Mini Alps at least. Lots of climbing home and the feeling of 2hrs or perfect flows through my system. Happy. Smile. Flapjack. Happy. Perfect. Best ride of my life.

 

[Bear-Chan]

dont think ill be very good at writing baiku stuff... but just got back in and feeling very happy.
heavy rain from 10 mins of leaving the house. puncture at the back. klein drop-outs. skin loss. cursing. sodden tube changing and crap mini-pump. slippy rocks and roots. fat me wobbling along. pedal hits back of shin. carry on. klein press in bb starts making the occasional clunk noise. groan. eventually start to head home. nearly back, super-tram full of pissed up office folk tries to kill me. people laugh at grinning and very mucky person on flourescent pink bike. cables and chain totally full of water and making NASTY noises.
get home, deposit soaking bike in the lounge, shower then fill the house with the smell of gt85 and fresh coffee.
first proper day off and ride for about 3 months. BRILLIANT.
HAPPY XMAS!

 

[Pickle]

Jealous of the pair of you

No bikes in sight baiku:
My day consisted of dragging the car out the garage at silly o'clock this morning, flying down the A15/17/47 to Norfolk, saying 'hello Dad, Mum, Nan, happy Christmas, here are your pressies, thank you for ours, bye', and flying back on the A47/17/15 to Lincoln again. 180 mile round trip, and my car is now two-tone. 90% brown and 10% silver

Mum and Dad did want a guided tour 'to see what Retrobike is all about'.

My Mum has a carbon Gary Fisher in the shed, and my Dad a Diamondback :shock:

 

[monsterfatuk]

:? what`s a baiku :?: :?: