Weather Hits Back

I ordered a handlebar bag from Spa Cycles on Monday. I had spent all Tuesday morning finishing off a couple of jobs and organising paperwork and there it was at mid-day. I fitted it, together with a little extender bracket thingy, which keeps it away from other stuff on the handlebars and brake cables etc. It took a while but I think it will do the trick and I think I can now do without the front bags and racks which weigh quite a bit themselves and don't hold a great deal. I then ventured out and did 11 miles or so in the cold wind, proper spring weather, just like I am used to.

A bit more paperwork and organisation this morning, or was it Test Match Cricket, and I was off to see Robin the bike man in Newburgh on the way to my mum's this afternoon. He had sorted out numerous spare parts and helpful items which will certainly come in handy on the ride and for which I am very grateful. Robin is not in the best of health at the moment so it was great of him to go out of his way to help me and I sincerely hope things improve for him over the next few weeks.

I received an email this morning from the Hungarian Cycling Federation. I had informed them of my visit to their country a few weeks ago. Along with their good wishes they have supplied me with contact details and I will certainly look them up when I reach Budapest.

Six days and counting.

Lessons Learned

I've had a couple of days off the bike now, OK three, and I need to finalise my plans regarding overnight stays and the amount of luggage or equipment I'll be taking which are both interconnected in a way.

A few people have said not to camp. I would not need a tent, mattress or sleeping bag and there are plenty of hostels around, they say. The problem with not camping is that even the cheapest hostels cost more than campsites and there are less hostels and guest houses the further I go East and South. Also, I hope to have at least my next night's stay organised in advance and there is a lot less information on the internet about places to stay in Eastern Europe. I would hate to be stuck without a place to stay as darkness closes in and the tent and stuff give me that insurance. I have been careful in buying lightweight camping stuff and for now camping is still the chosen overnight stay.

The load I carried up to Cumbria was just too much and I am thinking of ways to get the weight down. I took a pair of jeans, a couple of polo shirts and other clothing items which I won't need and a lot of toiletries I can do without. Just don't get downwind. I also think I could do without the hair dryer and travel iron. Getting silly now. The plan would then be to do away with the front bags and racks and use a handlebar bag. I will give it a bit more thought over the next few days.

I've been figuring out the training I've done and these are the main bits that make me feel good.

Denby Dale         79km   892m total ascent      inc Saddleworth   320m in 5km (1 in 16 ave)
Guiseley there    104km   862m
Guiseley back    116km    830m
Oxenholme         96km    460m
Brampton            86km    714m                        inc Shap Fell       370m in 14km

I've compared these with my intended route and there are only two stages where the total ascent is more than the 892m I did on the first stage to Denby Dale. The obvious solution is to make these stages shorter which I can organise en route depending how I feel. So the cycling shouldn't be a problem. I can't see any other problems but will keep looking.

Finally, I received my first two bits of sponsorship the other day so a big thanks to "Our Pat" and to Cliff and Caroline.

Four Day Trial (2)

On Wednesday, I managed Shap Fell with a short pause near the top where it did get very steep. George was waiting for me up there and we had a pleasant, generally downhill, ride on the other side into Shap village and then on to Penrith where I enjoyed a baked potato with chili con carne filling for lunch from a street vendor - tremendous!

The weather continued to be really nice and we made it to Irthington near Brampton in Cumbria just before 5.00pm. Our hosts, John and Yvonne, really looked after us and we had a great evening in their company, catching up with what we were all up to and the kids etc. It is worth recording that this is a very special location because Hadrian's Wall actually runs, or ran, through their back garden and they have had to sign declarations about what they can and can't do.

John pointing to Hadrian's wall
under the grass in his back garden

We had a lovely meal with a couple of beers and some nice wine. George and John were both in high spirits because their team had won that night and reached the FA Cup semi-final. I was pleased for them and toasted their victory with some Black Bottle Whisky, an excellent blend of Islay malts. Predictably, I slept well and we left just after 9.00 the next morning in great spirits. We decided to return a different way via the Eden Valley which certainly was beautiful, but for me there were too many sharp ups and downs and my heavy load was taking its toll. After passing through numerous tiny villages we sort of lost our way and found ourselves heading to Penrith which wasn't really a bad thing because after Penrith there was Shap Fell the easy way, if there is such a thing. I had been aware for a while that I was slowing George down and at Shap village we agreed he could nearly make it home if I left him to it. He had to be back for appointments on Thursday morning anyway and had planned to take the train from Oxenholme back to Ormskirk on Wednesday night. We shook hands village and I watched him hurtling away. I continued at my own pace and made it over Shap Fell again and on to Kendal. I gave the duff "campsite" at Oxenholme a miss and continued South until I started to feel really tired after Milnthorpe. There were no campsites around so I stayed at the Kings' Arms at Burton-in-Kendal. I freshened up there and had the Wednesday curry special with a couple of pints and after a decent night's sleep and full breakfast, I left for home on Thursday morning thinking "it's only 50 miles or so". There was a time 50 miles would have been a real challenge. Those days are gone. I made it home early afternoon and got sorted and well rested for the Thursday session which was a good one, even though there were no scratchings. I didn't make a fuss.

Four Day Trial (1)

I arrived home this afternoon in one piece after completing my four day trial ride. I vaguely remember blogging from the tent on Monday night and I am pleased to see it here. I suppose it is on the abrupt side but I had had a few pints and it was composed on a kindle which is a bit awkward to negotiate at the best of times. It does tell the tale though. It had been a fairly easy day on flat roads until near the end. We did 60 odd miles in all and were settled at the Station Inn in Oxenholme, George in his palatial suite and me in the tent. We had planned to call there on the way home but those plans were shelved, shall we say. It wasn't the friendliest place and there were other issues as described on the previous blog.

There was a very pleasant little interlude though. I pitched the tent, fly sheet first, and then wrestled with myself inside the tent to attach the inner bit to the fly sheet. When I emerged these lads were waiting outside in the next field. They were all just standing there staring at me, very welcoming it was too.

I didn't sleep very well in the tent for a couple of reasons, both avoidable and both my own fault. One was that I hadn't inflated the mattress sufficiently, or I should say, I had inflated it but allowed it to deflate by not closing the nozzle - campers will understand. The other was quite simply that I was sure I would be warm enough, not believing that the temperature could possibly fall to 3 degrees during the night. I surfaced eventually, feeling a bit tired, and we set off towards Kendal with Shap Fell awaiting us on the other side.....(to be continued - off out now for some full pints of real ale and the much missed pork scratching.)

Oxenholme

Made it here about 445. £8 for camping and no showers is outrageous. Also 3.10 a pint and short measures. The tent is great. Easy to put up and spacious. Ready for bed now. Blogging by kindle in sleeping bag. Hard day tomorrow starting with Shap. Good night.