Tiny rides of 2023

[a.twiddler]

6/12/24
Tiny ride
Shopping on the Linear

After the short trips on the Grasshopper and the Brompton over the last couple of days I decided to dust off the Linear to get the items on the list left by Mrs T. I was going to make a leisurely morning of it. However as I was getting its length out through the gate my phone pinged repeatedly and it seemed that there was a delivery due sometime between 11:30 and 1:30 so I would have to be back by 11:30. This was a pain, as I was already running late.

I leaned the bike against the fence, got on, and after checking it out set off to the right. What surprised me was how much I could see with my peripheral vision when looking to right to left compared with the rather claustrophobic recline of the Grasshopper. I felt so at home on this. The seat enveloped me, the pedalling was so direct. It felt so stable and comfortable. It’s easy to forget just how good this bike is, in the constant quest for the greener grass, something better.

I got to the end of the road before realising that in my rush to get out I’d left my list behind. I turned round in a gateway and went back to collect it. Once I got going again, I just felt that my pedalling effort was pushing me along on this bike, rather than being swallowed up somewhere mysteriously as on the Grasshopper.

I reached Swanlow Lane and the uphill traffic lights. The light was red but there was no traffic about, so I turned on to a lowered pavement on the right and followed it round to the corner. Despite this being such a long beast it felt so easy. With the road clear of traffic, I crossed over again and went with the flow.

Turning left I freewheeled down the long hill to the town centre, braking slightly to pass through a mini roundabout. There were a couple of cars stopped at the next lights and I eased alongside them on the left where there was a painted bike lane. The first car had stopped at the cyclists’ advance stop line and as I prepared to stop I wondered how many drivers really knew what they were doing. Fortunately the lights changed so I carried on through. Both cars behind turned right so I had a clear run to the next junction on the right where, by arranging my speed to match gaps in oncoming traffic, I was able to turn without having to stop or put my feet down.

When I think about it, I realise that I adjust my speed without thinking about it very much, probably having an aversion to putting my feet down, cultivated through many years of motorcycling, before taking up recumbent riding. No fear of heel strike on this beastie, even at 0.001 mph.

I rode through a car park, keeping an eye out for distracted reversers, before reaching the new square where the old war memorials now live. Turning right along a narrow access hemmed in by boarding and fencing, someone said to their companion, “cool bike”. Well, of course.

I dismounted when the crowds thickened, smoothly coming to a halt alongside a fence and hopping off almost in one flowing movement. Then I wheeled it one handed into the precinct, to lock up at a pillar outside a chemists.

Being aware of my time constraints, when confronted by a humungous queue for the pharmacy counter I did a u turn and headed for the exit. I would come back later. I took a photo on the way out.

I unlocked the bike, and waited for a gap in the ebb and flow of pedestrians then got on and headed for an exit. A lazy roll downhill, avoiding other people, lining up well ahead to stop alongside my usual supermarket barrier and lock up.

I went in, aware of time ticking away. Some more had ticked by before I reappeared, and I still had a couple of items to find, but I didn’t have time for another stop.

Unlocked, then down the hill alongside the car park, following a couple of pedestrians until they turned off, then right down to the road and right along a pavement. Ahead was a distracted old chap glued to his phone, pottering along. I slowed right down to let him keep ahead which fortunately is something the Linear excels at. There was a couple pushing a pushchair in the other direction and I wanted him to get clear before I passed them. Once they’d gone, the pavement widened and I was able to get on to the “official” cycle path which took me round the corner at a traffic lighted junction.

A little further on there was a crossing where I crossed over on to the road and turned right. Further on I turned left on to a pavement which led round the corner up a long leaf strewn hill.

It had been easy going so far, but here was an uphill test to see how the Linear compared with the Grasshopper in getting up here. I can report that I was able to pedal steadily at 1 -2mph faster than I did the day before yesterday on the Grasshopper. It involved about the same amount of out-of-breath-ness by the time I reached the top but my efforts seemed to been very obviously more efficiently used, and it seemed easier.

I carried the same tools, pump and lock that I did the day before yesterday. I also had a fair bit of shopping with me today. I am really quite surprised that there’s such an obvious difference: I can really only relate it to the seat recline, which had a similar effect on my Sinner trike. I was able to make that a lot more upright. Even with an extra spacer the Grasshopper seat is still quite reclined, which doesn’t really work for me.

Once on to Swanlow Lane the difference was even more pronounced. For what seemed to be the same amount of effort I was rolling along respectably by my standards, and was encouraged to get it rolling in top after the Townfields Road traffic lights to run at my uphill turn off. Whether the 21.1 mph was from freewheeling downhill to the town centre or from pedalling at that point, it felt like worthwhile effort.

My main feeling is that I’m glad it definitely isn’t me just suffering from lack of go following my health issues. I’m just as fast, or slow, as I was before. Out of the three bikes that I’ve ridden over the last three days, the Grasshopper came 3rd in terms of results from effort put in, at least for me. One of them was a folder, though it was a Brompton. Gonna have to have a long think about this Grasshopper.

Getting up the hump just after my turn off was just as slow as ever, but the freewheel through the lanes from there to my back gate was just as enjoyable as on any of my bikes.

Distance 3.8 miles. Max 21.1 mph. Average 7.5 mph. According to Garmin.
Ascent 105 ft. According to Bikehike.

 

[All uphill]

The last couple of weeks have seen me riding my two bikes with mudguards and wide tyres, for obvious reasons.

This morning was grey but dry and the wind had dropped so I pulled out the singlespeed and headed to Tesco then on to a cafe to meet a friend and play backgammon.

Riding through town on a 9kg bike with drop bars felt great! Nimble and quick, I felt alive.

About 3 miles. Big smiles.

 

[a.twiddler]

13/12/24
Tiny Ride Today
A Lazy Meander Through Paths and Lanes on the Linear, then Shopping.

Awaiting a delivery this am, otherwise I’d have gone out earlier. It’s usually more pleasant in the morning. Traffic builds up during the afternoon.

A mild damp day, everything mysteriously slightly wet even though there wasn’t any actual rainfall most of the time. I didn’t need to put any extra clothes on apart from a cap and mitts, clipped the Garmin on to its mount, and headed out through the back gate. Across the road and off to the right. I stopped a little way down the road to adjust my mirror, then away to Swanlow Lane and the uphill traffic lights. I didn’t need to stop, straight on today and steadily rolling through the lights.

If I pedalled harder, I went a bit faster, If I eased off, I didn’t lose much speed. The Linear has a lazy character that lets you do a lot of leisurely miles if you want to. After struggling with the Grasshopper for the last three months it would be nice to be able to compare like with like, to be able to fit it with a mesh seat of comparable recline to see if that gave a comparable ride. At the moment the biomechanics of the seat recline make the Grasshopper feel like hard work in comparison.

It was nice just to go for a ride on this, my original recumbent bike, and not have to worry about all that stuff. I carried on along Swanlow Lane to the A54 roundabout, stopped at the lights, then carried on along Delamere St and the old Chester Rd. Eventually I arrived at a roundabout where if I’d turned right I would be on the road to Chester.

I turned left, across the next roundabout, and carried on along Oakmere Rd. Before long I came to the crossroads with Littler Lane where I turned left. Almost immediately there was a queue of traffic stopped at roadworks with a red traffic light. I hopped up a lowered kerb on the left and looped round through some estate roads to the other side of the roadworks and back on to the road. A little further on there was another set of lights, but no traffic. I gingerly approached them and just as I was about to put my foot down they changed to green, so I rolled on. A little further on I turned left, through a street of houses and up a lowered kerb on to a path over a green. Left up another path and I was confronted with a metal fence, a pole in the middle of the path and an A frame barrier in the middle. Someone was certainly determined to stop any random vehicle from coming through. I wriggled past the pole, through the barrier and on to the path beyond.

I started off uphill. This section of path was hemmed in on both sides by metal fencing. A woman walking the other way stepped aside to let me pass. “Thank you,” I said. “Nice bike,” she said. “Thank you,” I said, carrying on. The path was clear to a point where it came to an unmade lane. There seemed to be a path across the lane but it turned out to be part of a long drive to what looked to be an abandoned house. I managed a 300 point turn and went back the way I’d come. I turned right on to the unmade lane and eventually found myself on Chester Road where I turned left.

Soon afterwards I turned right on to an estate road and enjoyed a downhill trundle to where the lane to the sports complex branches off left. A wet, leafy downhill followed where I slowed right down to let some dog walkers get through the barrier ahead. I stopped by the A frame barrier and leaned the bike on a gate for a photo. It had started drizzling slightly.

It can't be denied that the Linear has a certain presence.

A woman came through the barrier with her dog. “I’d been puzzling to make out what that was from the other side of the gate” she said. “It’s a long wheelbase bike” I replied. “Is it comfortable?” she asked. “It’s very comfortable” I said, “though you have to make allowances for its length. It doesn’t like tight turns -I’d have to back it up a bit to get it through that barrier from there”.

She went on her way with the dog and I wheeled the bike round and through the barrier. With the Spirit or the Grasshopper I would have got on and paddled round through the barrier. I put the stand down once on the other side, held the back brake and got back on. I wondered if I would have managed to mount the Grasshopper on this slippery downhill slope. It’s a little more tricky than the Linear.

I hooked up the side stand and rolled merrily downhill between the sports fields and across the car park to Grange Lane. A right turn, and before I knew it I was approaching the town centre traffic lights.

I had two choices here. Green light -turn left and continue on the road. Red light -turn left over a lowered pavement and follow a pavement cycle path. The light was red so I enjoyed the leisurely trundle along the bike path to the next lights. Here I turned left on to the road, did a large radius u turn once the coast was clear and came to the lights again, where I stopped. I saw a police car stop behind in my mirror so no doubt everyone was on their best behaviour. The lights changed so across I went. Right at the next two mini roundabouts to cross a rather busy supermarket car park and chain up to a barrier.

Out again with my shopping, I’d considered setting off across the car park but it was choc a bloc with waiting cars. The pavement was busy, too, but it came in waves. I trundled slowly to a narrow spot where someone had dumped a trolley, paddled through then got pedalling again. It had been my intention to turn left on to the road at a point where there was a lowered kerb but blow me down if someone didn’t drive along the pavement and park at that very spot as I approached it, blocking part of the pavement and all of the cycle path. I rode left along the pavement and down to the cycle path at a lowered kerb further along.

Straight on at the next roundabout, right at the following one, and into Dingle Lane. Steady progress to the end, barely noticing the speed humps. Right across the pavement into Queensway then a short cut through an estate road, out to turn right uphill on to Gladstone St and Townfields Road, left at the traffic lights on Swanlow lane, then a run downhill for my uphill turn off. A freewheel through the lanes to unwind before reaching my back gate.

Distance 7.48 miles, Max speed 17.2mph, Average 7.2 mph. According to Garmin.

Ascent 173 ft. According to Bikehike.

 

[a.twiddler]

16/12/24
Tiny Ride today
Linear Shopping Run the Long Way Round.

I was a bit annoyed that I hadn’t taken more photos on my ride of 13/12/24 so I thought I’d include part of that route to extend my shopping trip today. As usual, I’d left it a bit late setting off but no problemo. A mild day with clouds promising rain later. Out through the back gate, right on to the road, soon at the uphill traffic lights on Swanlow Lane where I stopped briefly on red before continuing. As I’d observed previously, the light doesn’t stay green for long in this direction since some recent road works and was red by the time I’d got to the other side. Someone ought to lend the person who plans these things a bike, and see how they get on. Of course it could be that it’s Sprinty McSprintleton, the champion sprint cyclist, but that doesn’t help a granny (or grandad like me) in getting across in time.

Anyway, riding along at an easy pace, perhaps my only pace, to the A54 roundabout. Gingerly adjusting my speed as I arrived, I reached the tail of the traffic as the lights changed and went straight across.

Along Delamere St, weaving round the traffic calming squares, past various side turnings, I came to the turn off on the left to Littler Lane. Time was a bit tight, so as I remembered a path and short cut through one of the closes I turned left soon afterwards. I came to a path with a couple of nadgery staggered barriers which were a bit tight for the Linear’s length, though I wriggled through, and another where the path came out onto another close. Right downhill to turn left at a T junction, through some road works then left into a street of houses. At the end, across a lowered kerb on to a path across a green, left again where ahead an old chap was walking a dog. I stopped to let him get ahead, and through a barrier came someone on a mobility scooter. The dog walker turned off on to another path, the mobility scooter rider branched off on to a different path.

I carried on, the path sloped upwards then I came to a pole in the middle of the path, a row of concrete bollards and an A frame barrier in the middle of a steel fence. I took some pictures as I approached it.

It was like a gateway to something forbidden. I took some more pictures as I went along. Steel fencing, wooden fencing, shrubbery.

The path wound about a bit. I came to the end of rhe uphill stretch and stopped.

A harassed looking mum with a fat baby in a buggy pushed uphill towards me trailed by a whining toddler on a balance bike. I let them get past before getting going again
A bit further on a woman in a red dressing gown walked past. I've seen people in supermarkets in dressing gowns, pyjamas and slippers, but never on a path like this.
Not far from the end of the path there were tyre tracks as if something had driven up here and got stuck.

The other end of the path had no barriers as it came out on to an unmade lane. On to a tarmac surface then right on to Delamere St. At the end, left on to the A54 and downhill on the dual carriageway. I stopped at a shop on the way, up a lowered kerb then locked up outside.

Back out. Waiting for a gap then across two lanes, into the right turn filter lane then a wait for the traffic light to turn green. Right, then right again into a supermarket car park. I locked up to a guard rail by the entrance. I was soon back out.

As I was unlocking again a passer by showed an interest. Passer by to husband: I’ve seen that bike before when I went to the Estate Agent. Me: Could be. It gets about a bit. (I try to be polite without encouraging onlookers too much as you could be answering questions all day if you weren’t careful).

I wheeled the bike out between two parked cars then leaned it on an outdoor display of bagged firewood. I climbed on then got under way. I’d intended to get on the pavement at a lowered kerb by the T junction but another cyclist came the other way. I carried on to the road, turned left and was just in time to stop behind a queue of traffic at the lights. Annoying. Once we got moving I was able to use another lowered kerb to get on to the pavement, go left and climb the hill alongside the dual carriageway. Once more I was surprised how easily this bike got up the hill. Certainly not effortless, but not life threateningly difficult, either.

I got back on to the road at Swanlow Lane and got up to cruising speed. Soon I was at the Townfields Road lights ready to go downhill to get some momentum for my uphill turn off. Then a leisurely trundle through the lanes to my back gate. It had been mild today, and the rain had held off. A short, but pleasant ride.

Distance 5.15 miles. Max speed 22.6 mph. Average 7.0mph. According to Garmin.

Ascent 128ft. According to Bikehike.

 

[a.twiddler]

18/12/24
Tiny Ride Today
Trip to the Library on the Grasshopper

I’d spent some time trimming some resilient foam material to size to see if I could get the seat back more vertical than by adjustment alone. Today was a chance for a test ride. I’d been enjoying the relative easy riding of the Linear recently. I’d been hoping to set the Grasshopper up to give the same experience. Feeling a bit better about it than I have been recently, I parked it on the pavement outside my back gate, and made myself comfortable, adjusted the mirror, etc. Once the traffic had eased, I set off to the right. It certainly felt better, and I noted that the boom might benefit from coming out a fraction.

I was soon at the uphill traffic lights turning right, then downhill towards the town centre. Straight across a mini roundabout. Right at a set of lights without having to stop. Then flowing with the traffic over a series of speed humps, straight on over a mini roundabout and left at the next one. Just before the next set of lights I went left over a lowered kerb to follow a wide pavement past the still scaffolded Library, left beyond it, and left again to a light pole where I locked up.

I went in, and spent more time in there than I’d intended. I unlocked, went into the precinct to pick up a parcel, then made my way to Dingle Lane. There’s a slight uphill as you approach the speed humps but it seemed like harder work here than it should have been. A bit better once past here. Across the pavement on to Queensway. I became aware of a cyclist in club gear coming up behind at speed. He passed, and soon disappeared. I turned left, then right on to an estate road. Uphill, and harder work than it should be. I climbed slowly to a T junction on the level, and gratefully changed up while turning left, then right uphill on Gladstone St. I was in the lowest gear range on the rear hub by now, in second on the derailleur. As I came on to Townfields Road I got fed up and stopped for a breather. An old woman on the other side of the road asked, “are you all right, love?” I replied, “it’s not me, it’s the bike!” I was so fed up with it at this point that I got off and checked the wheels. Both spun freely. I pushed it uphill easily with one hand on the back of the seat. There’s something about my geometry that doesn’t work with this bike.

Once the road was level I got on and pedalled towards the lights and stopped behind a car which was waiting at red. I went straight on at green rather than grapple with the traffic which I would have had to do if I’d gone left.

Eventually I came to my back gate, unlocked it and took the bike in. I was so irritated with the bike that I took the Linear out of the garage and put the Grasshopper at the back, making it easier to get the Linear out in future. It doesn’t look as if messing with the seat recline or any amount of foam padding is going to improve my performance with this bike. I’ve spent plenty of time trying to make this bike suit me in the short time I’ve had it. Fortunately it’s all reversible. I had high hopes of it when I bought it, but I just don’t find it rewarding to ride at the moment. I’ll have to have a good think about things, and whether its future will lie with someone else who might be better suited to it.

It’s annoying, because I can ride it fine in traffic, starting off and stopping, manoevreing in awkward spaces etc. I just can’t develop any power. Maybe it’s the boom height relative to the seat, though it feels OK, or a combination of that and the seat recline. Who knows? Certainly not me. It just seems a lot of effort for not much forward motion compared with my other bikes.

It’s a pity, as it’s such a neat, well finished bike.

One thing that I can report that works better than I’d hoped is the remote side stand extender.

Distance 3.32 miles. Max speed 21.0 mph. Average 6.2 mph. According to Garmin.
Ascent 145 ft. According to Bikehike.

 

[a.twiddler]

19/12/24
Tiny Ride Today
Spirit Showery Shopping Trip

When I’d bought the Arkel panniers which are currently attached to the Grasshopper they were intended for the HP Velo Spirit. I’d previously hijacked them for the Grasshopper due to using it for shopping trips. This morning I transferred them over. Their long low shape is well suited for underseat pannier frames such as those on the Spirit. I adjusted the fittings so that I could get them on and go out shopping. They will need some fine tuning for longer trips. I put some air in the tyres, swapped the tools, pump, lock and jacket from the Linear, got my stuff together and headed for the back gate.

Once outside its immediate familiarity was reassuring. I reset the mirror and set off to the right. It has the same SRAM Dualdrive setup as the Grasshopper, even the same ratios now I’ve geared down the Grasshopper with a matching 38T chain ring. I’d intended to take the direct route to the town centre, but as it felt so pleasant with the sunshine replacing the squally showers of earlier on, I went straight on at the uphill traffic lights on Swanlow Lane.

I could feel that the short travel front suspension on this bike wasn’t as compliant as the longer travel set up on the Grasshopper, but once I relaxed my grip on the bars a little, it was fine. It rolled along easily, and I could see that I was making better progress than I did here on the Grasshopper.

One of the advantages of swopping the same Garmin unit between bikes is that there’s no doubt about the readings not being exactly comparable, which might not be the case if each bike had a wired bike computer.

I soon reached the A54 roundabout and waited at a red light. The light changed, and I went round to the right, got into top, and pedalled downhill. I’d hoped to have a clear run through the town centre traffic lights but someone activated a pedestrian crossing light so I had to slow down, though they got across and the light went green as I arrived there.

Then the town centre lights were red. I stopped in the cyclists’ advance stop box, and then got going again. By the time I needed to go right to get into the filter lane to turn right at the next lights everyone had gone past, so there was no conflict. After waiting at the end of the queue the green light came and off I went. There’s something pleasant about taking wide bends on this swept back yellow bike. I went right at the next two mini roundabouts into a supermarket car park and locked up at my usual barrier. It was starting to rain as I went in.

When I came out again the rain had stopped. I took a photo, then put my shopping away, two panniers full, evenly balanced. As I was zipping up it started to rain again. I put my camera in the seat back bag, took out my jacket and retreated to the cover of a trolley shelter where several others had had the same idea. While I was putting my jacket on, the rain rattled down, flinging in a few hailstones for good effect. I heaved out my phone and took a picture of the bike, rather low -res compared with my camera.

I thought the black and yellow of the panniers went well with the yellow of the bike.

The rain started to ease off so I wheeled the bike under the shelter of the supermarket entrance. I dried off the seat and sat on it. The rain reduced to a trickle and people started moving about again so I set off down the path alongside the car park to the road. I slowly followed a woman with shopping bags until she turned off to her car, then rolled down to the road.

I turned left here, to follow the route I took with the Grasshopper yesterday. Straight across a mini roundabout, right at the next into Dingle Lane, over some speed humps. This bike was going well, certainly better than yesterday’s effort. I came to the end of Dingle Lane, turned right across the pavement into Queensway, then left and right into an estate road. I was in the middle ratio of the hub gear, maybe 4th on the derailleur as I started to climb.



I came to a T junction on the level, turned left and changed up, then right uphill on to Gladstone St. I went down to 2nd gear on the derailleur, plenty of lower gears left but didn’t need to change down any further. I had more shopping than I had yesterday, too.

As I came on to Townfields Road there was a minute or so while hailstones started pinging off my features. I was looking about for some shelter when it stopped again. I kept on rolling to the flat and gained speed towards the Swanlow Lane traffic lights. They turned red, I freewheeled to a stop behind a car. When they changed, I went left and got into top downhill to get speed up for my uphill turn off. I kept the speed up quite well before the freewheel through the lanes to my back gate.

Despite the rain, today’s ride felt so much better than yesterday’s.

Miles 3.46. Max 24.5 mph. Average 7.6mph. According to Garmin.
Ascent 123 ft. According to Bikehike

 

[a.twiddler]

23/12/24
Tiny Ride Today
Christmas Spirit Shopping Trip.

Mrs T had gone out in the car to get the bulk of the food shopping for Christmas leaving me to sort out some items that I could get locally. A good excuse to cycle to town. The pump, tools and lock were still on the Spirit from the last trip, so the Spirit it was.

Cloudy, cool and little wind.

Out through the gate, right onto the road and soon approaching the uphill traffic lights on Swanlow Lane. Straight on through the lights, running very well so soon at the A54 roundabout and round to the right downhill. Steadily to the town centre lights, right to the filter lane then right, a left turn through a car park, a quick photo by the war memorials

then into the precinct. First stop, pharmacy then downhill to my usual supermarket where I locked up to a barrier. The crowd was humungous inside, particularly the queue at the checkouts. I wondered if the bike would still be there after the long delay in getting back out. Happily enough, there it was. No photos here, due to the crowds.

Back through the precinct, out by the war memorials, across a car park. Right at a main road, then onto the pavement just before some lights. Then up the long, now leaf free hill to Over roundabout.

Just before reaching the top a skip wagon reversed into a driveway ahead. I got off and waited for a gap in the traffic so I could get round. Another cyclist had walked across the dual carriageway ahead with a small wheeled bike and had to do the same thing to get past downhill.

I soon came to Swanlow Lane and got back on the road again. Another easy trundle to Townfields Road lights, downhill to my uphill turn off, up the hump and a freewheel through the lanes to my back gate. In the absence of longer rides due to being tied up with Christmas stuff, these shorter rides are pleasant enough while the weather holds.

Distance 3.52 miles. Max 23.2 mph. Average 7.2mph. According to Garmin.
Ascent 109ft. According to Bikehike.

 

[a.twiddler]

27/12/24
Tiny Ride Today.
Misty Morning Ride to the Shops on the Spirit.

It was mild though a little misty this am. After a couple of days of gluttony and sloth I decided to cycle to the shops to blow the cobwebs away. So it was along the usual route, right out of the gate, right at the uphill traffic lights, then left downhill.

There was a surprising amount of traffic about, but there were no hold ups, despite there being a queue to turn right at the final set of lights. I was soon on a painted on-road cycle path, then left up a pavement to gingerly negotiate the crowds and lock up at my usual barrier.

I was soon out again, despite a queue at the check out, and didn’t need to call in anywhere else, having got what I wanted in one stop.

Since the coast was clear I set off downhill alongside the car park and turned right on to a pavement cycle path. At a set of lights the road was clear so I got on to the road heading for the town centre lights, on to a pavement and round the corner to climb the long hill to the Over roundabout.

I stopped to take what I hoped might be an atmospheric photo in the mist on the way up.

Once at the top I took some photos of the bike at a bench before rejoining the road.

Hard to believe that just behind where I was standing was the busy traffic on Over roundabout.

I found myself rolling well along Swanlow Lane, through the Townfields Road lights and soon rushing downhill to get speed up for my uphill turn off, followed by a leisurely freewheel to my back gate. Despite the aforementioned gluttony and sloth, I felt quite good when I arrived home.

Distance 3.09 miles. Max Speed 19.9 mph. Average 6.9 mph. According to Garmin.
Ascent 103 ft. According to Bikehike.

 

[a.twiddler]

27/12/24
Tiny Ride Today
Misty Ride 2 on the Spirit

Following my Christmas Day ride I’d looked up the Long Stone which gave Longstone Lane its name and thought that as it was still mild I might go for a ride to see if I could find it. However, once out of the back gate I found that the morning mist had become a thick afternoon fog. Where is that Rudolf when you need him?

I turned in the direction of Swanlow Lane and found that not only was there quite a lot of traffic but it wasn’t making much allowance for the poor visibility. Even though the limit is 30 hereabouts the traffic seemed to be travelling faster than that, in the fog. I turned right on Swanlow Lane and saw several vehicles with no lights and many who were depending on their position lights only. What many drivers aren't aware of is that the rear lights remain unlit even if you have bright LEDs on in the front, until you actually put your lights on. With modern cars the front position lights come on with the ignition, but the rears don't. I was better illuminated than many of them, with the excellent output of the SON hub dynamo and Supernova headlight.

Still no protection from a couple of tons of metal controlled by an uncomprehending oaf, so I turned into a minor road as soon as possible.

My intended archaeological expedition had turned into a pootle round the block. Ah well, maybe tomorrow. I took a few foggy photos to make the outing worthwhile, then warily wended my way home.

Distance 1.71 miles. Max Speed 15.5 mph. Average speed 8.4mph. According to Garmin.
Ascent 41ft. According to Bikehike.

 

[All uphill]

I wanted horticultural grit for some houseplants and knew someone who would let me have a couple of kilos.

This was a job for the utility Marin.
One pannier, with a bin liner, on the Tubus rack and I was off. For some reason I had a need for (relative) speed and loved the journey out there. Stopped to look at a huge tree that must have come down in the storms.

The kind person didn't give me 2kg of grit, they filled the pannier! I cycled home very gently steering about 3 degrees to the left. Fortunately Carradice, Tubus and steel Marin was up to the job. Turns out I brought 25kg of grit home hanging off the side of the bike.

About 4 miles round trip.

 

[a.twiddler]

Tiny Ride Today
29/12/24
Shopping trip on the Linear

I’d been itching to get out to have a ride since the weather was still dry and mild. This was the chance to do ride number 72, to get my annual number of rides to match my age rather than my shoe size. I’d already planned a leisurely route but the appearance of a tiny shopping list gave me the excuse to do a ride with a purpose. I’d already swapped the tools, pump, lock and rain jacket over to the Linear last night after the ride on the Spirit. Today’s ride was going to be a bit more mundane than yesterday’s.

Out through the gate, on to the road and away to the left. Once settled in and rolling, this bike just feels so good. Gathering speed downhill, passing the turn off for Hall Lane, continuing on the level and then uphill. I came across a girl on a horse going in the same direction. I tinged the bell at a distance then called out quietly, “A man on a bike! Coming by.” The horse seemed unsettled but remained under control, and I heard the rider talking to it after I’d gone by.

I carried on uphill and saw another horse and rider in the distance. I used the same routine again. This horse seemed much more chilled. I came to a T junction with Swanlow Lane and turned left. Traffic was light, and I rolled along unmolested. I soon came to a small crest before the uphill traffic lights. I got speed up into the dip before the lights but was stopped by a red. I got going again down Swanlow Lane to the A54 roundabout and then right downhill on the dual carriageway. The town centre lights were green as I reached them so I steamed through them to turn right at the next set. Right at the next roundabout, right at the next into a supermarket car park to lock up.

In to fulfil my tiny shopping list, out again, unlocked and waiting for a clear exit for launch when a boy said, “Phwoar, sick bike mister! Is it fast?” I said, “No, but it’s comfortable,” and he continued to look suitably impressed. He called to some of his friends to see this cool bike, as I got going to what was possibly the sound of several youthful heads imploding.

Away from the scene of the crime I turned right to a pavement cycle path, right on to the road at a set of traffic lights then left before the town centre traffic lights to climb the hill to Over. Climbing this hill seemed even easier on this bike than on the Spirit, if that’s possible.

Back on the road at Swanlow Lane for an easy ride to the Townfields Road lights, down the dip and up my uphill turn off. Then a leisurely trundle downhill through the lanes to my back gate.

Distance 4.66 miles. Max speed 24.0 mph. Average 8.7 mph. According to Garmin.
Ascent 145 ft. According to Bikehike.

 

[a.twiddler]

31/12/24
Tiny Ride Today.
The Linear -Reaching the parts that other Vehicles Cannot Reach.

Having earlier tried to park the car at a local supermarket and failed, after a trip to arrange to get some work done on it, the thought processes were thus, as the leetle grey cells wheezed into action. Come back on the old Honda? No trouble parking that. As the weather was likely to become ‘orrible later, and tomorrow even worse, why not cycle, maybe the last chance for several days? Oh all right then.

So it was that I wheeled the extravagant length of the Linear out of my back gate, stopping to let a surprised looking lady jogger go by, and across the road to launch in the direction of Swanlow Lane and the uphill traffic lights. After turning right I stopped at a barber shop to see if they could squeeze me in for a haircut later today. Sadly fully booked, would have to be Friday. I’m sure I can live with a little hairyness until then.

After launching, downhill to the town centre, rolling smoothly and well. No need to pedal, no need to touch the brakes even across a mini roundabout and right through a set of lights. Over some speed humps, along an on road cycle lane, then just where I intended to turn left up a lowered kerb, a white van was parked wholly on the pavement with hazard lights flashing.

I went beyond it, bumped up the kerb then stopped for an oncoming pedestrian. He stepped back and waved me on. I think he just wanted to watch me go past.

I rolled on, locked up at a barrier and went in to the supermarket. Soon I was back out again.

I waited for some clear space between waves of passers by, wheeled the bike through 180 degrees and lined up for the car park between two bollards. I got on and followed a rather hesitant motorist out of the car park. Left at the exit roundabout, left at the next one to a set of lights. Straight across a dual carriageway then left on to an on-pavement cycle lane.

It was noticeably windy now, with random gusts threatening the integrity of my cap.

I carried on to the town centre traffic lights. I turned right down Grange Lane feeling battered by the wind. Sure enough, a mile or so down the road the peak fluttered and off went my cap. I turned into a close, leaned the bike on the kerb, got off and went back to retrieve my headgear. I stuffed it into my pocket, feeling irritated, climbed aboard again and carried on.

It didn’t take long to come to the sports complex car park where I went through, got on to a path between the playing fields and got the full effect of the wind in this open area. As the path came towards the climb there was some shelter. There was someone standing in the middle of the path totally oblivious to his surroundings looking at his phone. I tinged my bell and he moved aside.

I paddled through the barrier and slowly got going allowing someone further uphill with a walking stick to get ahead. I stopped near the top to let him come to the end of the lane and follow the pavement. I came to the road, turned uphill in the wind again, and carried on to Delamere St where I turned left. Wind or no wind, I was able to roll along with the traffic here, into a gap at the A54 roundabout and then some not too strenuous pedalling to get me through to the Townfields Road traffic lights.

Again I noticed the short time on green, finding myself halfway across the junction with the light turning red. It’s not helped by the stop line being set well back from the junction here perhaps to let buses and other long vehicles turn without encroaching on waiting traffic.

Anyhow, down the dip I went to get up some speed though when I turned into my uphill turnoff the wind was in my face and rapidly sucked away my momentum. I trundled over the top to pedal languidly to my back gate.

Next dilemma: According to my diary, week 1 of the business year started yesterday though today is the 31st. Last January there was no such conflict as January 1st was a Monday. Since I’d already hit my target number of rides by Sunday I’ll just include today’s ride in 2025’s total. Nothing like getting a head start, especially as the weather doesn’t look good for the next week.

Distance 4.69 miles. Max speed 22.6 mph. Average 7.2 mph. According to Garmin
Ascent 131 ft. According to Bikehike.

 

[a.twiddler]

2/1/24
Tiny Ride Today
Shopping trip on the Grasshopper.

Last night I fitted the 34T chainring and 160mm crank which came with the Spirit before I raised its gearing, to the Grasshopper. It was a last gasp attempt to make the Grasshopper more suited to myself and the local hills.

I was requested to go to the town centre for some shopping so took the Grasshopper. I slung one pannier on it before wheeling it across the road and launching in the direction of Swanlow Lane uphill traffic lights. I turned right here, then left downhill to the town centre. The lights where I’m usually stopped went green as I reached them, so I easily turned right then on to a painted cycle path, left up the pavement alongside a car park and had enough clear space to do a U turn to a barrier where I locked up. This was the only occasion today when I was aware of my heel contacting the front mudguard.

The ride to the town centre was mostly downhill and quite pleasant. Had my changes to the gearing and cranks been enough to make the Grasshopper more in harmony with my requirements? I pondered this and other things as I went in and did my shopping.

I came out and put a few items in the pannier, then took a stroll around the precinct in pursuit of some other items.

Coming back to the bike, I unlocked it, lined up with the car park between two bollards, and launched. I initially thought I’d come back via the long uphill to Over, and went across the car park, turned left at the exit roundabout, left at the next one then left along a wide pavement which went past the library then to a pedestrian crossing at the town centre lights.

I’d just missed the green so I turned left, intending to go into the next side road, turn round, and come out on to the road and turn right. There was some work going on and the road was barriered off so I followed a nice green cycle path

back to the library, to a service road and back the way I’d just come. I thought I might as well go back the way I’d gone the last time I went shopping on the Grasshopper, to get a direct comparison.

So I got on to Dingle Lane, straight through a roundabout, over the speed humps and then slowed right down as an old lady was walking through the gap ahead where I intended to hop across the pavement. Now that I’d ridden the Grasshopper a few miles today my confidence in its stability had returned and I found it easy to ride at a slow walking pace, do U turns and ride it almost to a standstill. Also I didn’t want to alarm the lady so gave her loads of room before crossing over.

I got on to Queensway, then left on to an estate road. Right on to another road where the road gradually steepened, feeling harder than it ought to be. I kept changing down but didn’t run out of gears on the middle range of the hub gear.

I came to a T junction, turned left on the level and changed up a few gears, then right uphill on Gladstone St and changed back down again. On to Townfields Road, up the last steep bit which still felt like unnecessarily hard work, where I had to change down again. On the bottom gear of the middle range, wondering if I might have to stop, breathing hard, which doesn’t happen here on the other two bikes.

Puffing along as the road levelled, and rolling towards a red light breather at the Swanlow Lane lights. There was the thump thump of a stereo from a car behind me. The lights changed and I dived to the left to gain speed for my uphill turn off. Of course the thump thump overtook me as I was signalling before the junction. I gave them the benefit of a couple of fingers as I turned off.

I got over the hump then took it easy through the lanes to my back gate.

The Grasshopper is definitely harder work on uphills than the other two recumbents, and so far its average speed on the flat is slower too. It’s surprising, as the other two bikes are not noted for speed, and climbing is not fast but is relatively easy on them.

Apart from any of that, all routes from the town centre are uphill, and it’s up and down to get across town. The Grasshopper is sub optimal for this sort of riding. Unless some major revelation occurs soon, It might have to go. I found the Spirit a bit awkward when I first had it then one day, it just clicked, and it’s been good since. It was never a problem on hills for me though, as the Grasshopper has been.

Distance 3.2 miles. Max 19.2 mph. Average 6.4 mph. According to Garmin.
Ascent 136 ft. According to Bikehike.

 

[Punkawallah]

Jumped on the Galaxy for an hour this morning, got to the end of the street and sacked it off as too greasy underfoot (tyre?) - once out of town the shaded stretches would be well dodgy. A ‘tiny ride’ indeed.

 

[wafter]

Awoke tired and jaded to a lovely sunny day.

Needed eggs but didn't fancy the roads given the frost. Briefly entertained the idea of taking the MTB across the fields (figuring the hard, frozen ground might minimise mess) but thought better of it.

Ended up walking; the locally-slushy bits and many broken, frozen puddles reassuring me that I made the right choice to leave the MTB at home.

No eggs at the farm, nor the coop. Sheer panic descended at the though that the world might be on the cusp of a drought of the precious and I elected to chance my arm at the next village's egg-peddler on the bike; this seeming more viable thanks to the warmth from the walk and the sun.

Since the Brompton's buggered the obvious choice was the Fuji; although before I could leave I thought I'd have a quick look at the BB due to some noises recently.. both caps are apparently up to maximim torque, and once I had the crank off I was reminded of the corrosion inside the axle that's still not been addressed; so that remains soaking in vinegar in the kitchen....

Fuji now also broken I elected to give the Genesis an outing as that was the least-worst solution remaining. After donning the silly, slippy, clippity-cloppity shoes I headed out (after nearly breaking my sodding neck on the now-ice-slick dining room floor); very conscious of both the need to contort my legs the interface with the pedals after the wide-Q luxury of the Fuji, as well as the offensively shouty freewheel.

These aside it was nice to give the bike a run - it feeling solid and composed; the STIs a luxury. Funnily enough the hydraulic discs didn't impress as much as I recall thanks to a bit of brake judder, and perhaps because they seem less feather-light in the face of the over-leveraged Vs on the Fuji.

Mercifully, eggs were found in abundance, with a couple of boxes just about going in my tiny rucksack.

Anyway, out and back for all of about 4 miles; and I feel immeasurably better for a morning of sun and modest exertion