The Retirement Thread

[oldwheels]

6.8 mile hilly trail walk done. It was hard going. As a cyclist, it pains me to say that I think mountain bikes are ruining the trail using it in the winter months. All the muddy sections are deep channels and high ridges where their wheels have been and they are currently frozen so it's incredibly hard even to walk without going over on your ankle. Running would be impossible I think.

Very cold so definitely porridge this morning and a nice hot cuppa.

Some of the small trails we created in Ardmore were discovered by horse riders. They really churned thing up much worse than our bike wheels.

 

[oldwheels]

Bright sunny day but temp -4C still. I doubt I will be going far until it warms up.
There were remarks about "shouty " areas of CC. Try the A82 Roadwatch regarding idiots parking on the main A82 to feed deer. Now that gets really shouty.

 

[Mo1959]

Some of the small trails we created in Ardmore were discovered by horse riders. They really churned thing up much worse than our bike wheels.

Shame there's not the money to create separate trails for different use, but no chance of that happening anytime soon in the current climate.

 

[screenman]

Not something I ever divulge but sometime between 1930 and 1940.

735, was that am or pm?

 

[Flick of the Elbow]

Sleeting now. Very wet and horrible.

 

[pawl]

Honestly think it would be better if they could keep off them at this time of year and maybe just use them April to October when it's firmer and drier.
[/

Gravel bikes Commuter bikes Sportive bikes I got my first bike in 1955a Dawes Clasman3 speed Benelux Gears Single chain ring Now there’s a novelty) Twenty seven one and a half Dunlop tyres,Joined the local section of the CTC That bike fulfilled the functions of the above

Off road rides through most of the Derbyshire Dales Ok no knobbly tyres to cut up the trails These rides were a summer only activity Sixteen mile commute to work Winter reliability trials Hostel weekends.Rode my first 25 mile time trial on that bike in one hour eight minutes

By today’s standards I would need at least four bikes to fullfill all those functions

My current stable is a summer bike a Planet X carbon eleven speed Ultegra My winter wet weather bike isa 2003 Campag triple Giant with clip on guards

If I was considering replacing those bikes I would probably go for a so called gravel bike with a set road wheels and a set for off road wheels A frame that I could attach mud guards and gearing compatible with
Both functions
Fortunately my two bikes are enough for my current needs I did rid the Monsal trail on the Planet X on 700c 23 tyres with no problems

It must be quite confusing to people new to cycling to see bikes advertised for a specific type of cycling

They can always get good advice on Cycle Chat better than the current crop of cycling magazines

 

[oldwheels]

Shame there's not the money to create separate trails for different use, but no chance of that happening anytime soon in the current climate.

We created these trails ourselves with permission from Forest Enterprise. No public money was involved. This was behind locked gates to prevent vehicle access but we had our own keys to take vehicles down with tools and also in case of any accident.

 

[rustybolts]

Anyone for skating View attachment 567032

Skating away on the thin ice of a new day ( Jethro Tull if anyone remembers )

 

[oldwheels]

This pony has appeared in a field opposite my house along with another larger one but difficult to get them together. It looks quite distinctive but I know nothing about horses really.
Any experts on here identify it further? Mo?

 

[Mo1959]

We created these trails ourselves with permission from Forest Enterprise. No public money was involved. This was behind locked gates to prevent vehicle access but we had our own keys to take vehicles down with tools and also in case of any accident.

Couple of local lads got permission to create a little trail here but it’s too technical for me with jumps and stuff! Lol.

The problem with the trail I walked earlier is it was always predominantly walkers and occasional runners that used it for years, but this last couple of years seems to have seen a rapid increase in mountain bikes and the amount of erosion and muddy rutting has got really bad now. Don’t actually know whether it is classed as a footpath or just a shared use path. I know it’s part of the core paths network but hasn’t had much maintenance lately with the way things have been.

 

[screenman]

Skating away on the thin ice of a new day ( Jethro Tull if anyone remembers )

I did security for him in 1978.

 

[Mo1959]

This pony has appeared in a field opposite my house along with another larger one but difficult to get them together. It looks quite distinctive but I know nothing about horses really.
Any experts on here identify it further? Mo? View attachment 567043

Hard to tell from a pic. Is it not just a Shetland? Get them is chestnut too.

 

[welsh dragon]

Hard to tell from a pic. Is it not just a Shetland? Get them is chestnut too.

I thought it was a Shetland as well.

 

[oldwheels]

Hard to tell from a pic. Is it not just a Shetland? Get them is chestnut too.

A bit big for a Shetland perhaps and not quite the right shape. Shetlands tend to be a big bigger in the belly as I remember. I saw lots of Shetlands obviously when I was there but my last visit was 6 years ago. I had hoped to get there again last year but mebbe this coming year as I have family there. I could not face going on my own for a while hence the gap.

 

[Mo1959]

Time for lunch I suppose. Can’t decide between soup or beans on toast.