Tuesday 21st June.
Cycled from Hawarden to Mold then headed for Ruthin but ended up in....Mold. Big fat two hour circle.
Set off at half nine, following a lovely eve with the Family-B, great chinwag with Mrs B and half a bottle o wine.
Anyway. Tues am the weather was grand, bike was ready and raring and I was dressed... best I can say for myself. I'd had a couple of late nights, had some booze (I am a light weight) and had sore knees. Set off though, with my Cyclestreets map directions clutched in my grubby mitt.
Cyclestreets are an online mapping service for cyclists. They give you a choice of three routes, busy, less busy and quiet (red, amber, green), will plan any journey in the UK and have a great logo.
I left Mrs B's. Oh, what a sap I was that morning. The wind was against me, my legs didn't want to work. Everything felt heavy: me, bike, panniers. I was pathetic!
In a nutshell (I won't draw it out) Cyclestreets sent me on a back road route around Mold towards Ruthin. I went down some very pretty, quiet areas which I had never seen before. Places I'd never been to in my life, despite the fact its only about 15 miles from where I grew up!
Following Cyclestreets, I got to the top of a hill outside Mold when the rain and mist descended. Couldn't see a thing, but I carried on following the directions. Two hours later I found myself in.....Mold.
Quite exasperating. Hmm.
No punctures though!
Not really had much time over the last couple of days to write blog, been catching up with family and friends. Hopefully will get more down this week. In the meantime, post Isle of Man visit I have added a link to a great song about motorcycles.
Enjoy!
Motorcycle song - Arlo Guthrie
Wednesday 22 June 2011
Punctures - the new speed dating!
Monday - got the early morning ferry from the Isla Man and decided to cycle to Mrs B's in Hawarden.
Didn't want to cycle all the way aroouuunnnnnd the Mersey or under it so I got another ferry to Seacombe. £3.70 one way - bargain! Not as much of a bargain as the 1 euro crossing from Lisbon to t'other side, but hey. So, on we got - me and bike - and off we got on the other side.
Met a man in lycra and an illuminous top on the boat. Another nutter doing the Land's End to John o Groats. He was 'between contracts' and had decided to cycle North to South. We had a good chat about puctures and routes, luggage and blogs, visibility and sun glasses. It's amazing how many people are actually not working, redundant, between jobs or post-studies are cycling around the country. Next time you see someone on a bicycle take a careful look. They could be an out of work subversive!
Had a good cycle from Seacombe, all was going well until I put the brakes on and my back end started wiggling around. Puncture! My first real puncture of the trip - not too bad to have one in five weeks - so I set about fixing it. Grumpily (I couldn't be bothered) I grunted at bike and half heartedly aim a pathetic exploratory kick at the tyre.
'Are you ok?' A voice asked. I looked up to see blokeonabike.
'Yeah, puncture' I grumbled.
Blokeonabike leapt into action. Was I ok, did I have a pump, could I manage, did I have an inner tube, did I want help?????
'Bravely' (ha) I replied that yes, yes, yes, yes and no...I would be ok, thank you.
What a kind thing to do, I thought. He cycled on, I loosened the back brakes, flipped bike over and started.
'Are you ok?' A voice asked. I looked up to see Blokeonanbike2.
Same conversation, same drill.
I continued.
'Are you ok?' A voice asked. I looked up to see Blokeonabike too!
By the time I had finished no less than five kind blokesonbikes had stopped to offer help. So there you go ladies, if you're considering speed dating, forget it. All you need to do is stand next to an upside down bicyclette with a pump in your hand and men will be drawn to you. Instantly!
Didn't want to cycle all the way aroouuunnnnnd the Mersey or under it so I got another ferry to Seacombe. £3.70 one way - bargain! Not as much of a bargain as the 1 euro crossing from Lisbon to t'other side, but hey. So, on we got - me and bike - and off we got on the other side.
Met a man in lycra and an illuminous top on the boat. Another nutter doing the Land's End to John o Groats. He was 'between contracts' and had decided to cycle North to South. We had a good chat about puctures and routes, luggage and blogs, visibility and sun glasses. It's amazing how many people are actually not working, redundant, between jobs or post-studies are cycling around the country. Next time you see someone on a bicycle take a careful look. They could be an out of work subversive!
Had a good cycle from Seacombe, all was going well until I put the brakes on and my back end started wiggling around. Puncture! My first real puncture of the trip - not too bad to have one in five weeks - so I set about fixing it. Grumpily (I couldn't be bothered) I grunted at bike and half heartedly aim a pathetic exploratory kick at the tyre.
'Are you ok?' A voice asked. I looked up to see blokeonabike.
'Yeah, puncture' I grumbled.
Blokeonabike leapt into action. Was I ok, did I have a pump, could I manage, did I have an inner tube, did I want help?????
'Bravely' (ha) I replied that yes, yes, yes, yes and no...I would be ok, thank you.
What a kind thing to do, I thought. He cycled on, I loosened the back brakes, flipped bike over and started.
'Are you ok?' A voice asked. I looked up to see Blokeonanbike2.
Same conversation, same drill.
I continued.
'Are you ok?' A voice asked. I looked up to see Blokeonabike too!
By the time I had finished no less than five kind blokesonbikes had stopped to offer help. So there you go ladies, if you're considering speed dating, forget it. All you need to do is stand next to an upside down bicyclette with a pump in your hand and men will be drawn to you. Instantly!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)