So Christmas has been and gone, but
we're still in Crimbo Limbo, or Twixtmas as I think it is actually
called – the odd period between Christmas and the New Year. Nobody
ever seems to quite know what to do with themselves at Twixtmas. Some
are working, others not. The transport networks seem undecided as to
what level of service to operate and the TV schedules are all to cock
too. You switch on the magic lantern expecting to see the news and
find talking cartoon animals instead. There seems to be a mood among
most folk that they feel that something should be happening, that
they should be doing something, but don't know quite what.
I did have one mission to complete
though before 2016 starts – I needed one more ride to hit the
century for rides this year, and with the forecast looking good ahead
of yesterday, I knew I had to get out on a bike, even if it was only
up the road and back. Besides, I've got large quantities of Sausage
Rolls, Pork Pies and of course, lots of luscious Mince Pies to shift from around my
waist, so burning off a few calories wouldn't go amiss either.
I don't know if it's just me, but
sometimes just moving, or holding one of my bikes, stirs up so many
emotions. Just looking at a bike seldom does it, it seems to have to
involve the laying on of hands, but thinking about it, when riding, a
bike is in the hands all the time, hopefully. But it's when you take
hold of a bike and move it that it comes, well, alive. My word that
sounds like arty farty romantic twaddle, (just what exactly, was in those Mince Pies?) but that's how it feels.
Monday afternoon saw me going into the
shed for something, can't remember what now, and having to move the
Jamis out of the way. Ah yes, the Jamis, the black 29er that was my first
new bike in a couple of decades. Only a cheap entry level jobbie, and
fitted with a lamentably poor excuse for a suspension fork, but
despite the pogo stick front end, the bike rides smoothly and
comfortably and most crucially, very enjoyably. But for a variety of
reasons I suppose, I hadn't ridden it much this year, about 200 miles
worth, that's all. So I looked it over to check everything was still
tickety boo and it wasn't corroding or mice hadn't eaten the seat or
anything daft. Then, satisfied all was peachy, I grabbed it to wheel
it out of the way and all those thoughts and emotions were
immediately triggered. Taking hold of it instantly reminded me of how
it feels, how it rides and responds, the pace lurking in the big
wheels and the comfort of the roomy frame. On a ride, we're either,
well, riding, or handling the bike while off it, moving it about,
walking it, parking it and posing it for photos and so on, so that's
why I think actually holding the bike triggers the feelings I'm
prattling on about, it acts as a physical reminder of good times I
suppose. Memories of actual rides and places are also instantly
rekindled of course, and it was quickly decided, if I was going to
have my 100th bimble of 2015, it was going to be on the Jamis.
Bike for the ride decided on,
preparations made (no big dinner the night before – don't want
stomach cramps on a ride, or having to jump over any hedges due to
sudden bowel related urges... most undignified that would be...) it
just left the weather to be as promised and my ride would be in the
bag.
Yesterday morning turned out as the
forecasts said it would – sunny, and still a bit windy, but it was
still hard wrenching myself out of a warm bed, as it was also
slightly chillier than of late.
Climbing on the Jamis again felt very
weird after my three rides so far on the Fat Bike. My word those
tyres looked skinny... and setting off was odd too, it all felt a bit
twitchy, balancey and tall. That feeling soon fizzled out as the
Jamis (I call it Battersby sometimes, after the soap character Janice
Battersby...) and I got pedaling and knees hit the breeze.
I did get slightly wet though, so it wasn't
a 100% success for the forecast, but rather than the wind blown
downpour I suffered on my previous ride that soaked parts of me that
really shouldn't be soaked, this was just a light shower, and
delightful it was too. Under trees at the time, I actually paused
just to listen to the rain pitter – pattering through the leaves,
just like on those relaxation videos on youtube where you can play
all sorts of calming noises to yourself. It was all rather splendid
to be out in the rain for a change, I must admit.
As I was fannying about taking this photo, two young women came flying down this hill on bikes. The first of many fellow cyclists I saw out and about yesterday.
The lanes of course, were still a mess,
with plenty of mud and rain washed gravel to negotiate, as well as
all the streams of muddy water flowing across the tarmac off the
fields. But all was very peaceful and quiet, just the occasional car
encountered here and there, and they were vastly outnumbered by the
usual unruly and hap hazard Pheasants blundering about, and also by
the Grey Squirrels I encountered. Squirrels were everywhere it
seemed, darting here and there, and on one occasion, right across my
front wheel. How he didn't end up getting knobblied I don't know, as
I was surprised, not to mention relieved, to see him dart across to
the other side of the road when I had thought he was a gonner for
sure just a nano second previously.
I just love riding the lanes. Peace, tranquility and the road - all to myself. Well... and the chaotic Pheasants, and Squirrels. Lots of Squirrels.
Unusually for me, I didn't take many
photos, preferring instead to just carry on plodding my way round the
lanes rather than stopping every few minutes to look around for a
photo opportunity as I normally do. I did take some though,
obviously, so the century ride didn't go entirely unrecorded.
So that was my last ride of 2015, at
least it looks that way, as I doubt I'll get out again now before the
New Year starts, and a very enjoyable 15 miles of going nowhere much
it turned out to be too.
Climbing the hill out of Mitchell I passed several roadies coming the other way, and all but the leader waved, smiled, nodded or shouted 'mornin!'. This was the chap running 'Lantern Rouge', or tail end Charlie, just before we exchanged waves. Despite showing a healthy (by my standards) 8 mph on the computer, I was blowing out of my ears at this point. It's not the hill you're on necessarily that is the problem, but the hills that came before it... That's my excuse anyway and I'm sticking to it! I'd just slogged my way up one hill side, and now was plodding and gasping my way straight up another, with little flat road or Jelly Babies, in between to recharge the legs and lungs.
I have to be pleased with managing 100
rides, though I still feel that I didn't get out half as
much as I wanted to, or get as far from home as I planned, in 2015.
But, we start again in a couple of days, so hopefully I can carry on
riding in 2016 as much, and more, because it really helps with all the health crap I've got going on. Riding, photographing, and
thinking about riding is what keeps me going at times, and the mental
and physical benefits really do make one heck of a difference to me,
so I fully intend to make the most of riding my bikes while I still
can – roll on 2016, as it were!
Edit - Thanks to Dave Miles for the idea of using maps to illustrate my potterings, I have come up with this (I don't have a Smart Phone or fancy GPS type bike computer so can't do Strava).
Edit - Thanks to Dave Miles for the idea of using maps to illustrate my potterings, I have come up with this (I don't have a Smart Phone or fancy GPS type bike computer so can't do Strava).
It's not very detailed, but will give an idea. Start and finish point on the map is the financial and retailing district of Trispen (The Post Office) which is close to home but without giving it away. This ride was 15.3 miles.
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