Weekend Baiku

[Augustus]

Cross Baiku. No, Mountain Baiku. No, Cross Baiku.

Can't run, won't run. Did run. And for a bloody train. Tuesday eve. Buggered me knee. Golden rule ignored - don't run for a train. Hope I can ride at w/e. W/e comes. Knee still hurts. Ride anyway. Decide and un decide on bike with more comfort, or terrain with more ease. Cross bike wins. 3 cars try to die me within 6 miles. Head offroad to relative safety. Start thinking about the amazing bloke on the tv the night before who walked round teh world to find enlightenment in Dartmoor! Beautiful programme, amazing guy and philosphies. Find inner calm and spin home 50/12. Best ride of my life.

Until tomorrow.

Cross Baiku.

Knee ok, but not great. Ride. Long, longer, longest. Double yesterday's ride. Faster too. Happy head. Clear thoughts, clean brakes, good gears. This is harmony. On road, off road, on road. Home. Eat Rumbledethumps and drink tea. Smile. Peace. Best ride of my life.

 

[orange71]

splash.splash.splash-splash.splaaaaaaaaaash.splash.splash.splash.

bit of water en route today

 

[Pickle]

Sunday Mountain Baiku

No playtime on Saturday...I need to ride...up early Sunday…glance outside to see its finally stopped raining…Avalanche out and onto the trail…spin along the footpath to a ‘sssppplllaaasshhh’ soundtrack…my back is now cold and wet…trail opens to fields and most are underwater…up the first climb in up the pace…meet a dog walker ‘morning’ I say and nothing back…meet a jogger ‘morning’ I say and nothing back…why do I flamin’ bother I think…spin along the empty roads now for a mile or so…I love this time of day…into the woods and slip-slide over the ‘rock garden’…out the other side and take it easy through the swollen water splash…‘sssppplllaaasshhh’ again along the farm track…glance at my watch…damn it my playtime needs to end soon…few more miles of mud and I’m back on the road…strange looks thrown at me from pedestrians and drivers…have they never seen a muddy MTBer before?...best ride of my life

 

[REKIBorter]

Sunday ... Windy ... take normal circular road route in opposite direction so wind will be on my back for the long exposed climbs ... Fly up the long first hill with the wind behind me. Turn a corner and WHAM the wind almost knocks me off sideways. Decide to make a change of route at the 12 mile marker, take the Sustrans path, never done it before on a road bike, a bit squirelly in parts riding sodden cinder track on skinny slicks. Ride 8 miles into the wind turn around 8 miles with the wind on my back ... flying. Get wolf whistled by an attractive looking lady out for a ride 'nice arse' I hear as I overtake ... makes it worthwhile. Head for home ... 35 miles in 2 1/4 hrs. Cracking ride.

 

[orange71]

Cracking ride.

no wonder she said 'nice arse'