Young Companion

This morning my son – the Nursery Graduate – and I headed to Netherwood Bridge. 

We parked at ‘Penny’s Arch’ ans made our way not too slowly (he likes to talk and stops pedaling) towards the bridge, whereupon we met up with a lovely lady escorting her dog up for a paddle.

Bikes resting against the field gate, we hopped up and over some corner stones and enjoyed fruit bars and Purdeys whilst examining a cloudless sky – save for an aeroplane chem-trail.  Bliss. Plenty of walkers, horse-riders, fellow cyclists (chunky and thin-tyred) – plenty of smiles and affirmations concerning our fortune with this weather. 

The return towards the ‘Arch’ was uphill and was accompanied by me pushing one and a half bikes.

Home for 10.45 and my pedalling companion and I are continuing to enjoy the sun.  It was a thrill to ride alongside my little boy, listening to his narration whilst keeping a close eye on his stablizers, poise and traffic in either direction.

The bike was given a treat, too.  Washed and lubed and bathed in the warmth…

Beer Goggles

Leaving your wife and neighbours is easy – really.  Freshly uncorked bottles de rouge, sunglasses, sun-shade…

My ersatz camelback was 3/4 filled and the only real similarity was that I was also wearing shades.

A blue, cloud-free sky continuously distracted me; I was completely in awe (and plenty of pictures to prove it!).  

A Friday evening ride is a great preparation for the weekend, unwrapped and lying before you: this Saturday saw my 4-year-old’s nursery celebrate a ‘graduation’.

But I wasn’t enjoying even though is had hydrated beforehand; I also had plenty on-board behind me (a little too much, if truth be told!) The energy levels were low; even the Chapel Farm proved arduous.

Only that pristine celestial sphere overhead with the merest slither of moon pulled me homeward at a decent rate. And at least that strange burning orb that had made his appearance – hat sunglasses and caricatured diamond mane – had hoovered much of the standing water in the Tyre troughs that populate Devol Road.

The Eye Spa

Remind me never, NEVER to go out (unless it’s -20) without my glasses!

My left eye (and why this particular one) became some sort of spa area for the airborne among us wiggling upon two wheels.

At least six sorry little messes were rubbed, thumbed and levered out of that bottom rim of the eye socket which feels very bonelike and unmistakably to close to the skull area to contemplate further!

Still… what a beautiful evening and halfway up the short climb to Killochries I realised that I hadn’t posted a celebratory comment about my first anniversary with my Hardrock! Nor did I post the slightly baffling proposal from Cyclescheme:

You now have 3 options:

1. Under a separate agreement with Cyclescheme, you pay a small, one-off refundable deposit (3% or 7% including VAT of the equipment value*) and continue to use the bicycle for up to 3 years. The monthly payments are zero. At the end of this period, Cyclescheme refund the deposit if you do not wish to keep the equipment.? This option will cost you £10.17.

2. Take ownership of the equipment by paying Cyclescheme a much higher valuation (e.g., for a one year old bicycle this would be 18% or 25%* of the certificate value in accordance with HMRC requirements).? This option will cost you £61.02.

3. Return the bicycle to Cyclescheme, at your own cost.

Cyclescheme’s recommended option, to ensure savings are in line with previous expectations, is for you to select option 1. You can participate in another scheme during this period, as the agreement is between Cyclescheme and you.

*The lower figure is for a certificate value of less than £500 and the higher one for a certificate value of £500 or more. These figures include VAT.

Of course, I – still baffled – chose option 3. I’ve been delighted at the quality of experience for 17 pounds per month; even the most Scroogiest (OK, ignoring the cost of apparel, cleaning, etc) of us would have to agree.

Cassiopeia

INVMTB numbers increased by 100% today: met Rob at the Greenock Waterfront car park.  He wanted “Some hills.”  So I obliged.

Heading up through Greenock’s West Blackhall Street, Orangefield we headed for ‘The Cut’: waterways leading onto the Loch Thom and providing spectacular views of the Clyde and Gourock on your right.

I was sniffling and stripped to a single layer mid-climb and soon peaking and troughing narrow channels of rock, slate and miscellany.

We opted to head up through the woods leading past Gryffe Reservoirs 1 and 2 after circumnavigating Loch Thom: plenty of cyclists (road) and walkers.

After emerging from The Gryffe we decided that we had enough time to head over past Auchenfoyle and quickly crunch up into Chapel Farm; Devol Road was always the target, with golfers already out on the tees.

Like some sunny glade the cycle path was aglow with motes of gold and green, and shortly before I bid Rob a farewell and directed him towards the underpass that would lead to the Greenock main dual carriageway, we checked ‘MyTracks’: a very respectable 29k by 11.30 am, great company and some new routes from The Cut.

The day lay before us.

Click Here For Route 14.

One small step…

One of the chain link pairs decided to hide yesterday (Saturday). Furthermore -  and bravely – I removed one of the rear derailer wheels, which was immaculate when replaced (I only hope the right way round).

So, as I ready myself to run my nephew to Queen Street Station (to commence 6 weeks’ basic training) I already have the twin-clouds of expense and availability grumbling over my head – a head already fugged with a lack of sleep since my neighbours party displayed a little altercation midway between our garden and his; and at 4 am.

So, will Halfords have what I need and at a reasonable cost?  I just want to be out this evening – tired or not.

*

Halfords were out, but had a 5-8 speed ying-yang shaped alternative … but after much thought, I ordered a replacement KMC from Amazon.

So, I have to ensure that I limit calorie intake an maintain the weights until the missing link appears in the post.

De-Hy-Dra-Ted

Schoolboy error last evening: no pre-hydration, no filled camelback. Zero energy. Aching initial climb.

At least I was out (as were many people) and I headed over to Balrossie, and when I emerged onto the B788 – after checking with the two road workers – I zipped up a freshly tarmaced road, opting not to pick my way up through Chapel Farm but to visit an old friend and head up the long stretch lying between Auchenfoyle Farm and the Harelaw Reservoirs.

The journey was as tough as that last sentence.

News: the Sunday morning of the 20th looks like the inauguration of INVMTB, since 2 other riders will be joking me as early as possible; one other is in the process of obtaining their ‘CycleToWorkScheme’.

I just hope that we last the pace…

Anyway, night off and the stop is treating me to plenty of pasta – hopefully this energy will remain to be exploited tomorrow evening (I fancy off-track).

An Act of Contrition

I did debate heading out at 7 this evening. (Soft front tyre turned out to be a result of two nicks, from which my son enjoyed seeing the bubbles and feeling then upon his cheek.)

Kitted out in three top layers, two bottom and Gore overshoes, I headed out under the steam of an ‘eleven’ choice tunes from a Hospital Records double CD.  It certainly provided the fuel but I kept rising and rubber-necking to check on my squashed rear, which seemed to be suffering as a result of weekend binges on Purdey’s (65p in B&M; 1.00 elsewhere) ans my last remaining Easter egg and Buttons-based contents. So, castigation ensues and I lowered my head into the frequent showers and told myself that my wobbling core needed this outing.
However, I hate paying the sums we do for garments that fail to deliver. I stopped – Knockbuckle Road presented an alternative to the usual route up past Balrossie – at the Kilmacolm child’s park next to a gym, welcoming the dry sheds. My Specialized Rain Cape was sticking to the NB second layer via a wet film; I checked my backpack – soaking from rear spray, so I’ll have to keep an eye on that.
I think if it wasn’t for the excellent In Our Time (Radio 4) podcast on Voltaire’a Candide then I’d have short-circuited this excursion. (Thanks, Mr Bragg and guests!)

Surprisingly, heading up to Killochries and then opting for the Chapel Farm climb was delightful – I impressed myself with the speed with which I took this special little singletrack.

The real ‘soaking’ came between High Mathernock and the Harelaw Reservoirs: clenching my fists released the pools that were collecting in each fingertip.

The closer – yes, the more antagonised I became, desiring the steaming tea and perhaps a bath. Picture my face entering the cul-de-sac leading to the finish line and a line of plastic wheelie bins reminded be if one last duty that night.

My O’Neil ‘skin’ showed large dark patches, evincing failure on the part if Specialized SL rain cape.

Two cuppas helped welcome me home. And my layers have been relegated to hang in shame outside in the lean-to.

Biggest surprise of the evening? The Gore overshoes kept my toes toasty!

25K Route to follow.