Vantage
Carbon fibre... LMAO!!!
- Location
- Behind everyone else, Bolton
Yesterday I discovered that the reason my Pendle was hanging lopsided (a long time niggle of mine) was because the B17's rails were also lopsided. Ugh. How do Brooks even stay in business??? So the Nidd was fitted and a short spin on the turbo was had to ensure I had the height and position ok.
This mornings plan was to ride into Cheshire to Great Budworth and have a stop for ice cream at the farm. Sandwiches and tea made up I got outside the front door and switched on the etrex. No Budworth track. Wtf? Did someone steal it? Did Garmin sell it on the black market?? Was going south deemed a crime against bicycleanity by the northern Spa??? Argh. North it was then up to Bretherton. Still a longish ride for me.
First port of call was Boot Lane where I decided it was too warm for the ls jersey. So first stop was had within 5 mins of getting out.
It was a slow climb up Old Kiln Lane and then more climbing up Chorley Old Road before descending at quite a pace into Horwich. Through the usual sidestreets onto Rivington Lane then through the bridleways
onto 'the lane' where a really annoying rubbing noise somewhere on the front of the bike was doing my head in. I'd already stopped a couple times to try locate it. Leftover moulding residue on the tyre was hitting the mudguard. Nothing I could do about it till I got home. Meh.
Back Lane was taken at a slower pace than usual as it's quite heavily shaded in parts and I was still getting used to the Spa's handling...plus I didn't want to park it in the front of someones car if one came speeding round the corners...it's too nice a bike
From Limbrick past Chorley Hosptal and Euxton it was 5 and a bit miles of boring urban drearydom.
A couple miles after crossing over the M6 I turned left into Unes Walton where I proceeded to flip my stem over by the side of the road as my neck was hurting, through Barbers Moor and then right into Bretherton via a nice little narrow lane. Onto Eyes Lane and a rest stop at the steel planked bridge that crosses the River Douglas. I like it here as it's quiet and sometimes the horseys come over and say hello, or threaten to nibble on the bike.
Corned beef sarnies scoffed and a couple mugs of tea slurped I headed off again into Sollom.
A left turn onto the A581 then a couple narrow paths took me into Croston via the church. Missed a photo opportunity here. Next time! Another narrow path took me out again and I've since decided I was actually on a footpath. Naughty me.
Another brew was drank at the Grape Lane/River Yarrow crossing and I was more than halfway through my water bottle. Time to start thinking.
Tannersmith Lane and Halfpenny Lane were enjoyed as always due to their single lane width and nice views and a short bimble along Barmsmith Lane before heading along Town Lane which was a bit soggy in places as usual. Another brew stop was in order but no sooner had I sat on the bench I was crawling with greenfly! The little green arsed bugs!
I didn't hang around long and was soon on the move again.
Preston Road was up next and I was glad to leave it behind as I turned left onto Coppull Moor Lane with nice views of Winter Hill in the distance. I was too focused on finding a water supply to bother taking a pic. I was running really low by now and still had a good 10 miles or so to do. One bottle cage sitting empty...what a dufus. Coppull Hall Lane was the last bit of tarmac sanctuary before the hell that is Wigan Road. Thankfully theres a nice little offroad track that cuts through the farmland towards Heath Charnock.
I left Chorley Road at Anderton to climb towards Rivington and did a bit of forest riding before the monotony of the main roads home. A bloke on an Mtb and myself had issues with a dog that was seemingly trying to get mangled in our wheels and at one point due to my brakes locking on loose gravel, I actually hit the bugger side on. First time ever. The owner needs stringing up.
On Chorley New Road I was getting desperate for some water and finally gave in to my fears of losing the bike from theft. Front wheel was removed and the bike was 'locked' to a drain pipe with a toe strap. I've never moved so quickly through a shop. The Spa was still where I left it thankfully and I guzzled all the water I could guzzle. Had a Cornetto too. A lightweight lock has now been ordered in case of emergency again.
Refreshed I was off again and a few miles later I checked the rear view mirror. WTF???
I had caught a wheel sucker in my bike net and he/she was sitting inches from my back tyre. No "Hello" or "Do you mind if I sit here for a bit?" Nothing. Cheeky effing Barend steward. My bike probably weighs twice that of a road bike and I'm sure as s**t no power rider. I kept to my dawdling pace for a while and slowed even more than usual on the inclines to see if they'd overtake. Nope. Still using muggins as a wind block. Pfft! Screw this! I slowly pulled over to the side and she passed me. Looking up the road I swear I could see her tuck in behind another rider. Some people eh?
Victoria Road was crawled up in non sexist, non ageist granny gear and Boot Lane again was conquered before dragging myself through the estate and home. 26" wheels don't go up the steps as easily as 700c wheels. Shame really.
49.7 miles and an increase in my average speeds lately....12mph. Oooooooh. Again, another longest ride to date since Oct last year. Quite proud of myself
View: https://ridewithgps.com/trips/23645698
This mornings plan was to ride into Cheshire to Great Budworth and have a stop for ice cream at the farm. Sandwiches and tea made up I got outside the front door and switched on the etrex. No Budworth track. Wtf? Did someone steal it? Did Garmin sell it on the black market?? Was going south deemed a crime against bicycleanity by the northern Spa??? Argh. North it was then up to Bretherton. Still a longish ride for me.
First port of call was Boot Lane where I decided it was too warm for the ls jersey. So first stop was had within 5 mins of getting out.
It was a slow climb up Old Kiln Lane and then more climbing up Chorley Old Road before descending at quite a pace into Horwich. Through the usual sidestreets onto Rivington Lane then through the bridleways
Back Lane was taken at a slower pace than usual as it's quite heavily shaded in parts and I was still getting used to the Spa's handling...plus I didn't want to park it in the front of someones car if one came speeding round the corners...it's too nice a bike
From Limbrick past Chorley Hosptal and Euxton it was 5 and a bit miles of boring urban drearydom.
A couple miles after crossing over the M6 I turned left into Unes Walton where I proceeded to flip my stem over by the side of the road as my neck was hurting, through Barbers Moor and then right into Bretherton via a nice little narrow lane. Onto Eyes Lane and a rest stop at the steel planked bridge that crosses the River Douglas. I like it here as it's quiet and sometimes the horseys come over and say hello, or threaten to nibble on the bike.
Corned beef sarnies scoffed and a couple mugs of tea slurped I headed off again into Sollom.
A left turn onto the A581 then a couple narrow paths took me into Croston via the church. Missed a photo opportunity here. Next time! Another narrow path took me out again and I've since decided I was actually on a footpath. Naughty me.
Another brew was drank at the Grape Lane/River Yarrow crossing and I was more than halfway through my water bottle. Time to start thinking.
Tannersmith Lane and Halfpenny Lane were enjoyed as always due to their single lane width and nice views and a short bimble along Barmsmith Lane before heading along Town Lane which was a bit soggy in places as usual. Another brew stop was in order but no sooner had I sat on the bench I was crawling with greenfly! The little green arsed bugs!
I didn't hang around long and was soon on the move again.
Preston Road was up next and I was glad to leave it behind as I turned left onto Coppull Moor Lane with nice views of Winter Hill in the distance. I was too focused on finding a water supply to bother taking a pic. I was running really low by now and still had a good 10 miles or so to do. One bottle cage sitting empty...what a dufus. Coppull Hall Lane was the last bit of tarmac sanctuary before the hell that is Wigan Road. Thankfully theres a nice little offroad track that cuts through the farmland towards Heath Charnock.
I left Chorley Road at Anderton to climb towards Rivington and did a bit of forest riding before the monotony of the main roads home. A bloke on an Mtb and myself had issues with a dog that was seemingly trying to get mangled in our wheels and at one point due to my brakes locking on loose gravel, I actually hit the bugger side on. First time ever. The owner needs stringing up.
On Chorley New Road I was getting desperate for some water and finally gave in to my fears of losing the bike from theft. Front wheel was removed and the bike was 'locked' to a drain pipe with a toe strap. I've never moved so quickly through a shop. The Spa was still where I left it thankfully and I guzzled all the water I could guzzle. Had a Cornetto too. A lightweight lock has now been ordered in case of emergency again.
Refreshed I was off again and a few miles later I checked the rear view mirror. WTF???
I had caught a wheel sucker in my bike net and he/she was sitting inches from my back tyre. No "Hello" or "Do you mind if I sit here for a bit?" Nothing. Cheeky effing Barend steward. My bike probably weighs twice that of a road bike and I'm sure as s**t no power rider. I kept to my dawdling pace for a while and slowed even more than usual on the inclines to see if they'd overtake. Nope. Still using muggins as a wind block. Pfft! Screw this! I slowly pulled over to the side and she passed me. Looking up the road I swear I could see her tuck in behind another rider. Some people eh?
Victoria Road was crawled up in non sexist, non ageist granny gear and Boot Lane again was conquered before dragging myself through the estate and home. 26" wheels don't go up the steps as easily as 700c wheels. Shame really.
49.7 miles and an increase in my average speeds lately....12mph. Oooooooh. Again, another longest ride to date since Oct last year. Quite proud of myself
View: https://ridewithgps.com/trips/23645698
Somewhere along the lanes I'd managed to take a left instead of a right and had come out on the correct road but the wrong side of Kinnerley and facing in the wrong direction. Oops.
. As I wasn't far from home I thought I'd risk pumping it up and seeing if it would last but two miles down the road it was flat again. I thought I might make it with one more pump up so tried again but this time it only lasted just over a mile and the long wait for a gap in the traffic on the A49 didn't help. Once I felt the rim hit the ground over a bump I pulled over, tripped on the kerb and fell on my back into the undergrowth in front of a stream of motorists. I'm sure it gave them a good laugh but I wasn't a happy bunny by now.
I pumped up the tyre again and hoped it would make it back this time, but it wasn't to be. I got half a mile. By now I was proper fed up and got off to push the last bit - disconnecting the speedo as I didn't think there was much point recording that.
So I did a bit of research and now I've started tinkering. First up, turn the stem over and that should raise the bars ~¾". Now take it out for a test ride.
