Slightly hungover

Ride 61 of 100

Slow start to the day, unusually no fried breakfast to kick start the recovery process, lots of coffee did the trick though, another ride at CyB, this time with a few more folks, mash up trails, trying to link the best descents and miss the dragging climbs, more speed, more thrills, more fun than a man my age has a right too !

Stood in the forest with camera in hand my mind went back ten years to that time in Downieville when I was stood in a similar position waiting with camera in hand and I heard a bear growl, back to Wales and this time I could hear a woodpecker er pecking, kind of sums up the trail centre vibe :-)

Stag ride

Ride 60 of 100

Coed Y Brenin, first time since last years fall and injuries, first off road ride proper on new full suspension bike, nemesis descent conquered, riding down hill far too fast my my skills. I'd forgotten what adrenelin tastes like until today.

Man made trail centres can be a good thing, sometimes following trail markers is fun, today was both a good thing and lots of fun.

and wet

Ride 59 of 100

Wet ride home, shock pressure sorted.

Dry

Ride 58 of 100

Dry ride to work trying to sort the shock pressure out.

New bike ride No 2

Ride 57 of 100

Suspension tweaked (thanks Travis)

Tyres pumped up

Seat post secured

Bars tipped just right

and away we go...

oh, its raining :-(

New bike day

Ride 56 of 100

Full suspension

First time in 6 years

Its strange

and good

and its gonna hurt

You're only happy when your dancing

Ride 55 of 100

Retraced this morning route and added a bit on top, another lovely evening, the trails are bone dry now, even that bit under the trees that never dries out, must be the trees sucking it all up.

Rufus Wainwright in the headphones, birds singing their hearts out, grey wagtails roosting, dogs all over the bloody place.

Mr Positive

Ride 54 of 100

Set off at 7, nice warm(ish) morning, slightly hung over from last nights red wine but nothing that wont shift after a few head clearing spit and snots.

Over the canal and look down to see two dudes on cross bikes and baggies pedaling to work, next a mtb'r coming towards me, through the woods and over the motorway and two more lads on mtb's pass by me.

Up the river towards hanging bridge and a girl on a mtb, WTF is going on, normally I only see dead people on this route !, over the bridge and out towards Northenden, a couple of older guys on work bikes, a guy on a fixie complete with uniform of rolled up jeans and white T shirt, big grin as he passes me.

Turn to head for work and over the next 10 miles I must pass at least another dozen folks on bikes.

Sat at work now with toasted peanut buttur filled muffins, big glas of OJ and large mug of tea, best of all I have nowt to do all day and I get to leave early to do all that again.

:-)

Evens

Ride 53 of 100

Headed out into the headwind, a fast ten miles making my arse ache, then back with the wind for another 12 or so, trying to beat the darkness, a nod towards a future evening ten.

Early sunshine

Ride 52 of 100

Early start to get to work for an important meeting, warm enough for summer gloves and sleeves, still got there sweating despite an easy pace.

Assos top and baggy bottoms on a cross bike, black socks for those who might take an interest in such things.

Bump

Ride 51 of 100

I knew Mike was back riding

I knew sooner or later I'd bump into him

I knew it would be tonight

It was

Echolon

Ride 50 of 100

30 road miles with pub stop, newbie road rider in baggies, uphill, downhill, trying to make some sense before he rides the Etape, I give him 20k's before a Frenchman puts him in a ditch :-)

Imperial century - tick

Ride 49 of 100

A day off, a big ride planned and done, almost bailed out a few times but stuck with it.

Happy that its the first proper century I've ridden for at least 5 years.

More to come.

Back

Ride 48 of 100

To home

utility

Out

Ride 47 of 100

To Work

futility

Kingfisher, fox and a Jay

Ride 46 of 100

Out of work bang on the bell, heading west into the sun.

Turned at Warrington and headed back east.

Lights on, clear skies meant darkness soon came.

3 hours worth, legs pooped now.

Pizza and tea.

Happy.

Chilly

Ride 45 of 100

-7c

straight to work, no dawdling

trails in great condition, tempting to carry straight on past the gates

had stuff to do, have to wait til tonight

Change of plan

Ride 44 of 100

The planned road ride turned into a mud festival, down to the sea (not the seaside, just the sea) grinding through trails made into porridge filled with weetabix, gears clicking and clacking away, surprised I didn't snap the chain, got to Spike Island and the rain came.

Looking up at the sky and wondering where the others were by now, probably having tea and crumpets by now.... stuffed a gel down, starting to finally be able to swallow these things and feel the benefit, turned around and headed back, 50 miles of notalotofpleasure done.

Squishy under tyre

Ride 43 of 100

The mud has come back, although the trails are already been sucked up by the trees, retraced this morning steps through the woods but didn't hang about as I took the underpants hanging from the trees as a warning !.

All through the ride all I could think about was tonights curry and tomorrows road ride.

Frosty under tyre

Ride 42 of 100

Long way to work, crunchy trails rocked, weak sun peeping over the trees, Gooseanders courting, new Singletrack jersey makes me smile all the way there.

The evening sun

Ride 41 of 100

The long way home, in the fading sunlight, so pleasant to feel the warm rays on your face.

Joe Strummer and the Mescaleros on repeat

Spin, spin spin

each pedal stroke making me stronger

Cocteau Twins

Ride 40 of 100

Bluebeard, couldn't get the tune out of my head all ride, foggy, sunny foggy, muddy.

Are there some signs of spring happening ?