Wednesday 18 November 2009

4 Drowned Rats (A Yorkshire Dales Trip Report)

The Yorkshire Dales? In November? It really shouldn't have come as a surprise that it was more than a touch damp.

The drive up from from Leicester was more than a little nervy with rediculous amounts of water on the motorway and floods on the roads leading into the Dales. The high winds chucked the van about a bit too.

However once we got to the Dales Bike Centre, got bikes tucked away in the Bike Lock Up with the crazy loud alarm, and had a beer we were feeling knackered.

On Saturday Morning the weather was looking up and the Dales were looking good in a golden glow.

Dales Bike Centre morning glow

Swaledale AM1

After a fine bacony breakfast we got our shit together and heading out and up the side of the valley.
Our Saturday route took us around the Northern side of Swaledale.
Saturday Route 21.5 miles 3088ft of climbing.

There was enough wind to make you think about launching drop offs as you got blown 2 foot to the left or right as the wind caught you.
The climbs were all scenic enough to take your mind off the pain and the descents were grin inducing even though you had to keep pedaling hard to keep your speed up due to the wind.

The weather was fine in the Morning but got very wet in the afternoon.
A few mediocre photos:

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Just before it got really wet.

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The last road drag back to the centre was proper grim, with gloves being squeezed out every five minutes and a spontaneously cramping quad coming through Reeth.

Back at the centre, hot showers and coffee warmed us up though.

After a few beers the night before I was a little slower out of bed on Sunday morning, however another ace breakfast courtesy of Stu sorted me out though.

Today we were going to do a smaller loop around the Southern side of the valley.
Linky for Sunday route 13.4 miles 2100ft of climbing
We started out with a reasonably long, steep but scenic road climb up the valley.

The weather was much nicer today and we had sunshine and blue skies for lots of the ride. The route was similar in character as the day before just more sunny and shorter.

A few more mediocre photos:
Obligatory my bike was here shot.

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After the ride we grabbed more coffee, food and some really excellent cake at the Cafe at the Centre.

If you are heading to the Dales for riding or even walking, to be perfectly frank, you'd be daft not to stay at Dales Bike Centre, they have everything you need sorted.
Great accomodation, awesome food and coffee, well stocked bikeshop, hire bikes, bike lock up. It's just really well sorted and run by great people.

We'll be back in the spring!

Sunday 8 November 2009

Ride Log 08/11/09

Distance: 22 miles
Time:2hrs ish
Bike: Singlespeed
Tunes: Alkaline Trio

Went out for a ride cough be damned.
Wasn't as bad as I'd thought, only coughed when stopped. Felt alright to be honest.
Did the same loop as last weekend but with an extra bit. Lots of horses out, all very nice and friendly. Bike was fine, maybe square taper cranks and BB's are the future on the singlespeed?

In Moustache News:
Movember day 8

Not coming along badly at all. My lighter fuzz takes longer to be noticeable though.
3 more weeks to grow a good 'un!

Wednesday 4 November 2009

Magnificent Moustache Inspiration

This year I am growing a Mo for Movember.
It's for a worthy cause see here: http://uk.movember.com

In order to decide what style to go for I have looked to the Stars of music and sport.

I give to you my Magnificent Moustachy Inspiration!

Nice Cave:
Derek Smalls:

Tony Iommi:


James Hetfield:

Mark Weir:
Hulk Hogan:

The Other reason why you won't ride as much if you have kids...

There are some well worn reasons why you won't ride as much when/if you decide to have kids.

1) You will have less time available.
2) You will have less cash available. Fewer weekends away, fewer dayrides in the nearest hilly area due to cost of fuel, fewer shiny bike parts.
3) You will want to ride less, you'll want to spend time with your kids as they really are super.

However what no one told me is that you will get ill ALL THE TIME as soon as you have kids in Nursery or School. Those places are germ factories.

Add in abit of stress and lack of sleep screwing your immune system and you have a recipe for illness.

And guess what? I am currently coughing like a good 'un due to my asthma and a cold.
I need to get better before my trip the The Dales in 10 days time.
I have a plan to get over it fast and it involves Whisky and sleeping lots and lots.

I'm sure it'll work great...

Monday 2 November 2009

Ride log 1/11/2009

Distance: 17 miles
Time: 1.5 hours
Bike: Singlespeed
Tunes: Rancid

Second proper wet ride of the Autumn.
Can't see the trails for leaves, wind was ridiculous, WTB Mutanoraptors were a poor tyre choice in the woods but rock on the gravelly bits.



Slop and Grime Singlespeed ride