Cycle Touring USA

Yes. I will be off touring around Las Vegas in a few weeks time. :-)

Unfortunately I will be doing this in an RV and not on my bike :-(

Just five weeks in the USA - four around the South West and one in Florida. Me, the wifey and the Golden Child. Celebrating the Tenth Wedding Anniversary don't you know.

Now I am telling all you loyal followers this news to prepare you as this blog will pretty much go into hibernation for the duration. However, I have started a new blog  - Anniversary Big Trip - just for this family  adventure. And while it is not really a cycling blog, it may, perhaps, have a slight cycling bias at times.

Now, back to two wheeled self propulsion proper. Here is a great video of cycle touring around the US South West. The minimal narrative is not in English but it is worth watching just for the visual inspiration IMO. Enjoy.

Coast and Castles: Video and Report

On day one I had an early start to catch the 06.03 hrs train from Manchester to Edinburgh. Rain started on the way up and stayed for most of the first day. I did a detour from the official Coast and Castles route to go to Penicuik to collect a BCQ checkpoint. I was glad to get out of the Edinburgh suburbs at last as the route goes through housing estates, disused car parks and over stepped rail bridges - not the greatest cycling.

I did the biggest climb of the route and, cycling wise, only met an elderly Norwegian couple going the same way all day. The rain stopped by late afternoon, the Sun came out, the scenery grew better by the mile, the campsite at Melrose was nice and the local pub did a great steak. 74 miles in all. Slept very well.

Day two started with a mist which quickly burned off and the rest of the day was sunny but not too hot. I got an early start about 07.30 hrs and had a great day cycling with frequent stops to film. The cycling was easy and, after Berwick, I started to see many more cyclists although most were going the other way. 

I stopped to say hello to a couple riding Surly Long Haul Truckers and would have loved to stay and chat longer but had made arrangements to camp at The Barn at Beal just near Holy Island. I had about an hour to get there and 10 miles of coastal path to cover so couldn't hang around. The campsite was lovely and quiet and I was in time for a cooked meal and drinks before they shut so had no need of the noodles! 61 miles. Slept well again.

Day three found me lying in till 09.15 hrs! No problem though as I could not cross to Holy Island till 10.30 hrs. It was overcast and there were spots of rain in the air. Lots of cars and a fair few cyclists on the island. It would have been more beautiful there if it wasn't for all the visitors. I would like to go back and stay on the island in between tides when most tourists have departed. Just had an hour there before retracing my route through Beal to the A1 and over.

I cycled a little bit with another couple who were heading to Alnmouth by days end. I was hoping to get a few miles further on to Amble before meeting my wife. I was surprised they chose to cycle down the A1 rather than take the cycle route. My way was certainly hillier but I wasn't rushing. The rain started to pour and did so for frequent spells over the rest of the day. After Bamburgh I knew a fair bit of the route as I've driven around these parts a fair bit.

I was soaked to the skin but warm and having a great time. I knew I wasn't going to make Amble by the time I'd arranged to meet my wife so decided on a rendevous at Alnmouth. I never saw the couple who took the A1 but did find the Red Lion pub. I dried off and managed two pints of Black Sheep before my wife turned up - an hour late. Held up by traffic on the A1 she said! 49 miles today and 184 miles in total. A great little break.

Coast and Castles

My week long Summer cycling tour 2011 has been dealt a fatal blow. First put back from June to August it has now been ruled out completely. Family commitments, work schedule and the fact we have limited annual leave to juggle with (because we are having a 5 week tour of the USA early next year!) means I just cannot fit it in. However, I am managing a three day tour elsewhere and it starts...in two days.

I'm catching a train to Edinburgh on Tuesday morning and will then cycle the Coast and Castle route towards Newcastle before veering off to family at Morpeth. I am going in fully loaded mode with the tent, Trangia, headtorch, noodles, etc. Hope the weather stays nice.

Brotherly Love Tour Preparation

Well the panniers are packed and I'm ready to go. Will be staying at my brother's house tonight and we will catch the train at 07.30hrs up to Oxenholme tomorrow.

I'm lending my smaller (front) pair of panniers to the bro and just using my rear panniers and a bar bag. No camping/cooking gear but I am going to take a couple of extra camera lenses along as I have the space and will also have the time to use them.

For location use I am going to try out the new phone with GPS and google maps. I'm hopeful it will be give better detail in towns/built areas where I need it. The SatMap is great but the 1:50,000 OS map is really best suited to hill walking than road navigation. If it works out then that will be one less item to carry and charge in future.

I will also be using the phone to update the blog as I go courtesy of a Twitter widget and may even post a proper blog entry with pic/s if I can.

The weather forecast is looking OK(ish) for Thursday but not nice at all for Friday. Ah well, we'll just have to see what comes our way and dress accordingly. Hope to get some more video footage than the last trip though!

Brotherly Love Mini Cycle Tour

Will be on a 2 day tour on Thursday and Friday this week. Catching the train to Oxenholme (south of Kendal) and then cycling back to Manchester collecting 2 BCQ checkpoints on the way. Two differences on this tour; I will be joined by my brother and I will be updating the blog as I go courtesy of my new Android powered phone.

Should be fun. We have a great little B&B booked near to a good pub and will only be covering about 40 miles per day. Hope the weather is kind!

100+ Miles Mini Cycle Tour

Missus and Golden child are away with family for a few days while I have to work. Had two consecutive days off so decided on a two day cycle-camping trip. It's a hard life. 

Day one from Manchester to Hebden Bridge, mainly along the the Rochdale Canal and then the climb up o'er moors to Haworth. Wild camping that night at Wuthering Heights.

Day Two an earlier start with an absolutely gorgeous morning. First an off road route to Wycoller and then on to Colne for a surprise visit to my Aunty. After this nice little interlude I climbed up to Newchurch in Pendle before dropping back to the Leeds-Liverpool canal for a winding, bumpy route to Chorley where I gained speed but also traffic on the A6 back to Manchester. 

109 miles in all and not a drop of rain. Lovely!

Cycle Touring Club Fun

British Rail, cafeteria cars, guards vans, traffic free roads, hundred of cyclists, no helmets or lycra. Ahh the good old days!

A great film best watched in full screen if you can. Thanks Morgan Fletcher.

Destination Foulridge

Went for a training ride with full touring kit the other day. Didn't quite manage the 40 miles as I'd hoped because the route took me to a relatives house where I stopped for tea and cakes and met the wife and child for the return car journey.

Some of the ride was very steep and I did have to get off and push a couple of sections between Hebden Bridge and Heptonstall which obviously brought the average speed down a bit. Still, although I was passed by some roadies going up the hill towards Blackstone Edge they didn't open up a huge gap and I was happy with the progress I was able to make.  

The bike feels great and just as importantly I felt fine at the end as well. I could easily have managed another 15-20 miles that day and have stopped with loads of time to make camp. The next day didn't bring any aches and pains either. All bodes well for 03 July!

Total distance 36 miles

Total height gained 3269 feet

Average speed 10.2 mph

Amble About

Warkworth Castle from Amble Harbour

My planned ride to Peel Tower had to be cut short as I had other more pressing commitments landed on me that day (and the weather was horrible). I still managed a 10 mile ride but felt disappointed with myself if truth be told. So I was determined to have a long ride at the weekend.

We got to the in-laws on late Friday evening and I woke fresh and raring to go on Saturday. I already had a cycle route map and a GPS route planned on my SatMap, the bike was checked over and the weather was dry. I set off at about 10.30 hrs and suggested to family they could meet me in Amble around 12.30 hrs for fish and chips before I set off for the return leg.

Getting there I reckoned was going to be 22.5 miles of mainly road/cycle lane with a smaller proportion of traffic free Bridleway/old railway path. I arrived in Amble after 95 mins having covered 24 miles and only having stopped at junctions/lights or to open/close gates. The route was generally good although the cycle paths through Ashington are designed for the benefit of cars on the whole and I was a bit put out cycling the coast section (on tarmac) to suddenly find I had to cross a three gated muddy fields sans cows before being able to return to firmer ground.

Arriving at Amble I felt fine and looked forward to meeting the family. Unfortunately the family had other ideas and were still pottering around at home (I made better time than they expected they explained!!) so I had my repast while I waited for them to arrive. When they made an appearance after an hour we headed to the beach to let the Golden Child have a play in the sand then retired to the cafe while I had a cup of tea and they had lunch. At 14.30 hrs I left them and retraced my tyre marks into the now sinking sun. I wanted to complete the coastal, unlit section while there was still some natural light - most of the inland section being navigable by street lights.

The ride back was harder. There was a slight head wind along the coast, the inland section had a distinct overall ascent and I was cold (note to self: must get some waterproof cycling socks). Still, I got back in 110 mins. I had done 48 miles of cycling and apart from cold feet and a bit of a neck ache didn't feel too bad at all. Even the next day didn't present any stiffness and I could easily have done it all over again.

I know my charity ride is still seven months away but I feel really excited by the prospect of a week of cycle touring. I plan to get some longer training rides before it and will even try for a two or three day fully kitted up/camping out trip if time allows.

Saddle Options

Since my recent saddle problem and the borrowed saddle/seat post, i have really noticed the benefit of a saddle that, well...fits! My old saddle is fine for comfort but is starting to come apart at the seams and i was thinking of getting a new one anyway.

Since starting this blog i have been reading some of the great cycle touring blogs, such as Mark Beaumont's,  and have been impressed by the number of times the Brooks B17 leather touring saddle gets mentioned.

I think i will get one. Just need to justify the cost to my wife. On the other hand maybe i will not mention it to her. I don't have many vices and i did agree not to buy a motorbike when we got married!