Bedding in Ice Spikers and discussing some Strathpuffer kit

Ice Spikers require bedding in.  In my case, not just to ensure the spikes are properly inserted, but to try and get the tubeless to seal.  Steve had kindly changed the tyres over, but they were sat there flat, sealant leaking out of the all-too-porous sidewalls. Amazing bits of kit though, those little lightweight studs are pretty high tech, especially when you consider the alternative of cut down screws. 

 

I should mention, for my vegan readers, that I contacted Schwable to confirm their current stance on animal products in their tyres. For many a long year it was most difficult to get decent tyres that didn't contain slaughterhouse by-products.  However, times are changing and Schwable confirmed they had removed all animal products from their processing. 


Here they are on the bike, inflated again.  I think they look pretty formidable. 

 

The other issue I had been struggling with was finding decent winter weather flat pedal shoes.  Not so much because of the leather issue, but also because there just aren't any out there.  Five Ten shoes, Shimano, many of the other flat-pedal options all hold water and are no where near as warm as people like to think when your feet are soaked the temperature drops sub-zero.  The Northwave Celsius boots are great, but only come in SPD format.  I don't want to return to SPD pedals.  I like riding flats, even for the long distances, and definitely in ice and snow. 

After a lot of research, failed trials with cheaper snow boots I settled for some Adidas Libria Pearl waterproof winter boots.  Primaloft insulated, thus warm when wet and very light.  I was so impressed when they arrived through the post from Germany they went straight off to Feet First to be resoled with Five Ten rubber.  I won't go into detail about Five Ten, sticky soles and flat pedals here.  If you want to know more ask in the comments section and I will happily elaborate. 

I had spoken to Feet First beforehand, to confirm they would be able to just resole the mid section of the boot, leaving me some spikes to the front and rear, hopefully adding a modicum of grip.  Anyone who has tried to walk in Five Ten soles will confirm, it's no easy feat (pun intended) trying to stay upright on mud or ice.  There was also the choice of Dotty Stealth rubber, or Mi6 (yes, developed for those Tom Cruise films) to chose from.  It was all getting a bit technical, but research showed Mi6 was softer, stickier and only a little more expensive.  I know I am not the only one to find ordinary Dotty Stealth a problem as the weather turns cold and it stiffens making it much harder for the pedal pins to insert into the rubber and much harder for them to release.  So I went with the Mi6 option.

A few weeks later and the boots were returned with a perfectly placed mid-sole of Dotty Stealth....argh!  Well, actually, to be fair Feet First were brilliant, they phoned in advance to let me know they had made a mistake and put on the Dotty rubber, gave me the option of trying it with a discount on the price and assured me the Dotty would be better anyway as it was much harder wearing than the liquorice-soft Mi6.

When the boots arrived, I rode them a couple of times but found my feet skittering around on the pedals.  The pins just weren't digging in, maybe because there isn't a lot of leeway with pedal space and maybe because it was actually quite cold.  So I phoned Feet First and, again with brilliant customer service, the boots were resoled with Mi6 and returned in no time.  Now they are perfect.  They are my first choice for footwear at the moment.  So comfy, grippy and light!  Fully waterproof too, although obviously if the rain gets in from the top, they hold the water inside. However, even when soaked inside, they are still so warm. I have been riding around in little trainer socks and have toasty warm feet at 5 degrees.  I'll be getting gaiters or similar sorted before Strathpuffer, in case of torrential downpours. 



 

So, other kit notes.  I got a new helmet.  It's about time, I've been uber-naughty and riding around in an old Fox Flux I have crashed in numerous times and with an outer shell that is badly delaminating.  We visited our new bike shop in town over Christmas - UK Cycle Centre.  They are a web based selling company, that deals in both new and secondhand parts, but they also have a little shop front and really friendly staff we know through local riding.  It's nice to see these small companies trying to compete with the likes of the world-dominating CRC and Wiggle.  Malvern now has four independent bike shops which is great for all the local riders. 

Anyway, whilst in there I thought I'd try on one of these 7iDP helmets but they didn't have my size, which is, to be honest, stupidly small.  However, they did get an XS for me to try a few days later and it was a perfect fit.  So comfy, cheap as chips and (despite being a bit Mario Mushroom in the selfie below) actually looked pretty good. 

I figured, as I was having to ride around on studs, I may as well stick a bottle on the bike to get used to taking it in and out of the cage rather than using the faithful hydration pack.  I have pretty broken hands, two old injuries has left me without decent grip and I am forever dropping things, not least water bottles, but it is still better than riding round for 24 hours wearing a rucksack. There is just enough room for a 500 ml bottle on this Rumor.



 

It's safe to say, if everyone had to ride around on ice tyres, the words "You need to get a bell, I never heard you coming" would never be spoken again.  Blimy almighty. They are LOUD.  Like riding relentlessly over shell gravel. People turn and look from 30 meters away.  It's a good job the lanes were mostly deserted.



The tyres actually roll pretty fast when inflated, and at the start I was pleased there wasn't that much effort involved in bedding the studs in.  Gradually though, it started to feel a bit harder and the noise was getting a little too much.  So I stopped to get some photos of an awesome looking tree and propped the bike up against it, half in a puddle.  Didn't take long to realise the effort was increasing as the inflation was decreasing, watching bubbles pour out of the sidewalls into the water.

Few snaps later and I was on a mission to get home before they went totally flat as, despite knowing they weren't sealing, I had come out without either a pump, or CO2.  Go me.  It's amazing how far you can get on 5 PSI. 

Tiny lanes, big floods.

It was that time of the month again. No, not that time!  Randonneur Round the Year (RRTY) and Audax Altitude Award Round the Year (AAARTY) time.  Currently two months into a third consecutive year of these challenges, and, due to the time constraints with mountain biking, I am making do with fitting in one very hilly road ride a month to cover both.


This month, a more concentrated loop, weaving in and out of yet-to-be-ridden hilly Herefordshire lanes, was the choice.  It was a slow one, really slow.  Partly from my own lack of oopmf.  The legs and lungs were OK, but I was tired after very little sleep and had no motivation to do anything other than get round steadily.  It was easy enough to plod round, 200 km, 3382 m climbing on the Etrex and there was no struggle on the climbs.  A couple of off-road sections through muddy footpaths and gravelled common-roads added interest, but mostly the views made the ride.  Views I see only at this time of year, when the hedges are short and bare.  Sweeping new growth of winter wheat glows green against the browns of the empty trees and scrub.   Distant hills come and go beyond the veil of rain and the ruby red lights of Marcle Mast stand out intensely against the grey skies.


Mostly, the lack of speed was due to the state of the lanes.  The new DIY mandatory routing option is great, it allows submission of a pre-planned GPX route and means routes can be designed to stay well away from any main roads, town centres, or the vicinity of psychotic stalkers (I don't have one, but it's good to know, for future reference).  I love the lanes, tiny little lanes that run along valley lines, looking across flood plains, surge upwards through high hedges and cross ridges perpendicularly.  With this, of course, comes the lack of maintenance, poor drainage, gravel strewn corners, big floods at the bottom of plummets where bike control is already a struggle, aggressive drivers that don't want to wait 10 seconds for you to get to the next layby, horses (for which I always stop and wait), and junctions at the start of a steep hill.  Tough riding, but rewarding non-the-less. 


These 200s always leave me with lasting memories. This time, the mix of the potent scent of brassicas partially rotting with their roots in water, and a farmhouse venting perfumed tumble dryer emissions will not be forgotten. Neither will a short diversion through a small-scale suburban housing estate, which was such a contrast to the rural repetition of narrow lanes.  Preened front lawns, stand alone garages and Stepford wives.  My only real stop of the day was at a garage, cemented in the 1980s, with the friendly owner writing down all sales by hand in a ledger, and helping people fill their tanks.  Cheap coffee it may have been, but the conversation over a packet of ready-salted crisps was priceless and left me smiling for the big descent that followed. 


Our winter hasn't really started, we are in limbo with yet more 7 degree days.  A grey morning and copious rainfall in the afternoon.  The dynamo went back on at 1:30 pm, when the skies blackened to apocalyptic proportions and dusk came several hours too soon.  A relentless soaking, summer gloves and too much laziness to stop and retrieve the Paramo from the saddlebag meant an uncomfortable few hours....but were they really?  Thank goodness it seems I still have the ability to just switch off to discomfort, even if I don't seem to have the ability to drag myself out of Zone 2.  I remember a time where I would smash round a winter 200 as hard as possible.  Those days are long gone.  I probably still have the ability, but not the want.

Thursday Steady Social Ride

The club social ride went well again Thursday. The empty bus shelter at 19:25 pm was suggesting a rare poor turnout, but, by 19:35 the late arrivals filled the group to 14. It was a wonderful evening, trundling along under clear skies with such an eclectic mix of folk. So many interesting stories, life events and conversations each week.

Lights twinkling as we regroup and ensure everyone is ready for the descent.

Alienesque descending

The local hotel, lit up like a fire

Toward the end of the ride I found Andy at the side of the trail. A burped tubeless tyre wouldn't be a problem for most folks as we were 2 minutes from the pub. However, Andy had a 10 mile ride home. We got it sorted with a few blasts of CO2 from this handy gadget which put in enough pressure to reseal the tyre. Quite frankly the single most exciting tyre-related gadget I have seen since the advent of decorative dust caps. A valved CO2 adapter that gives you control over the canister, is easy to use, and helps prevent freezing fingers from the dry ice effect. Whilst Jenny and I cooed over this magnificent treasure, everyone else stood around pointing out they already had one, or had known about them for ages. Sigh. Always last to the picnic.

A Visit to Scotland

Monday saw the start of a new work year, and another roadtrip to Scotland, via Merseyside, Edinburgh, Dunfermline and Elgin.  It had been good fortune that a regular client of ours requested urgent work so far North. I grabbed the opportunity with both hands knowing I would be able, with a bit of careful planning, get in a visit to Strathpeffer to ride the Strathpuffer course with a friend experienced at the event.


The morning drive from Dunfermline to Elgin was just stunning, with snow-dusted hills just visible beneath the cloud off the A9

Work in Elgin was testing, but rewarding and I finished in plenty of time to get to Strathpeffer and meet Devs.  I like Devs, he's great, and he tolerates my tourist yaddering the entire ride.  I couldn't help it, Scotland is exciting! Beautiful trees, fabulous views, great people and really fun riding. 


The course is really enjoyable and I liked it a lot.  The climbs are steady spins which is perfect for a 24 hour race.  I'm not a big fan of technical climbing at the best of times, but when absolutely shattered it is a deal breaker.  The descents were 'blue' level mostly, but with the occasional feature that will catch people out.  I am very grateful to Devs for talking me through the course on the first lap, warning of anything which may be a problem, such as the bridge crossings and places that ice up badly.  Oh and scary skeletons in the woods. 

We did a second lap and I went up front for some of it, although I was totally lost in no time.  Trail memory is clearly not a strong point.  I did find most of the 'must avoid' features with my front wheel. Survived without any over-the-bars moments though. Yay for 29ers! Hopefully a few laps into the 'puffer and I may actually remember to 'take the left line'.

No doubt it'll be totally different when covered in snow and ice, with team racers flying past shouting 'ON YOUR LEFT' or 'ON YOUR RIGHT'. Which I'll just ignore.  Not to get in their way, or be awkward, but because I have a completely inability to tell left from right without thinking about it in depth.  I'd forgotten about that joy of racing until now.  Heh.


That's enough about the future.  It's easy to get distracted by thinking about things that have yet to happen, rather than spending time in the here and now.  Much better to just appreciate being amongst the lichen covered trees, looking far more ancient than they actually are, lit up by our lights.  Wonderful.

The visit was perfect.  I am very excited about the event now.  Excited to ride the course again and just experience it. More than that, it was a fabulous evening ride with great company in a beautiful woodland.  The trip itself was worth it for that alone.

Flooded fields

Sunday. Last day of being a free spirit before return to the daily grind.  It rained, all day, again.  Bucketed it down.  Thrashed it down.  Poured it down.  Tropical style, without the warmth.  I hid in the gym, pretending my legs weren't all that sore whilst avoiding the squat cage like the plague.


Then, at 3, the skies calmed and, for the briefest of times the sun came out.  A steady, slow turn of the pedals, to loosen the legs and make the very most of the last evening of the holiday.  It was one of those rides where you think, "well, if this is the last one I ever do, it's been perfect".  Goodness knows why, it was just riding roads on a mountain bike through floodwater.  Goes to show, you never can tell where you'll find peace.

I adore this photo, it's reminiscent of the dead marshes. Something special about a blue evening sky reflecting in the water.

The water was tumultuous though, spilling out of drainage ditches across the lanes. Hub deep in places and cold on the toes, although air temperatures didn't drop until the sun went down and I could finally see my breath. 

More of that reflected sky. The mirror effect stronger in the darkest of lanes, lighting up the way as the light fell.

My favourite road. After a stiff climb, Raycombe lane rolls sheltered for a brief time, until you pop out the hedgeline and the sweeping panorama opens out across Bosbury. 

Leafless trees get drowned roots as water pours across the fields from Wellington hillsides.  A passing van created a wake which lapped up around my wheels and toes as I stood taking photos. Not that it mattered, they were already soaked.

This was deep, cold and no doubt the reason hub bearings have started to give up the ghost. Worth it though, for smiles, just because and for no other reason.

Penance

Friday was spend prepping, packing and preening the road bike with full winter 200 Audax kit for the Blacksheep 'January Sale 200 km' the following day.  Third year in a row participants were due for a soaking on flooded roads, but no matter what, the beautiful Cotswold section always makes the pain worthwhile.  I really needed to complete the ride for Strathpuffer training purposes as well, because, as you all know by now, everything has gone to pot since October.  I felt fit, ready and well-fuelled. 


Unfortunately, it didn't happen. I was woken in the early hours by the significant other in agony with a swollen knee, and when my alarm went off at 5:30 am there was no improvement.  I decided to DNS (did not start).  For a few reasons.  Firstly, and most importantly, I figured the knee was likely to be infected due to the speed of the swelling and the intense heat in the joint and we probably should try and get some medical advice.  Secondly, I was concerned that, in the event of an irreparable mechanical or crash on the Audax, my roadside rescue (aka the significant other) would not be in a fit state to drive. Finally, it was still thrashing it down with rain.  I hate to admit it, but that was the straw that broke the camel's back.


A morning spent phoning NHS direct followed by a trip to A&E confirmed infected bursitis and we were sorted by lunch.  I pondered heading out on a 200 DIY Audax, knowing it would likely be around midnight by my return, but again, the issue with requiring assistance would still be there.  So I settled for something closer to home.  Much closer.  Less than a mile in fact.  20 hill reps on the nearest hill.  An arbitrary number really, pulled out the air, but why not? I've done seven before, although thinking about it now, that nearly killed me.....


The roads had turned to tarmac-lined rivers, torrents of water gushing in from over-spilling drainage ditches, converging between the hedges, leaving sticks and gravel in their wake.  I rolled round the easy way to the bottom of the hill, to warm up the legs, but instead I was immediately soaked to the core and cold.  Climbing has a good way of curing the shivers though, and before long I was pedalling steadily upward.  At the second junction the road begins to steepen, and steepen, with 3 or 4 steep kicks of around 16-22% toward the top. 


One down, 19 to go. Wooooooossssshhhhhhh............all the way back through puddles, dodging precarious pot holes and drainage covers, praying around blind bends and finally to the junction. To turn round and do it all again.


The first 7 reps were a grinder. The lower road has such a shallow gradient that I was chilling off before the climb proper started on each rep.  My back wheel minor buckle was apparently not as minor as I thought. Executive decisions had to be made.  Decision 1: unhitch the brake to stop the chush-chush-chush rubbing of blocks on the rim.  Decision 2: turn at the second junction and save on wasted flat sections. Despite my happiness to pedal for hours at a time, I am not a 'miles for miles sake' rider. Increasing the intensity by loosing the flat was sensible.  I'd stay warm. The time on the bike would be less but I know I can sit on a bike for hours. In a training sense I needed work, not the rolling....and to remember to put the brake back on for the descent.

3 hours later and it was dark and I had 5 climbs left. I'd removed the dynamo front wheel to save unnecessary wear on an expensive hub before I started, but hadn't expected the time to pass so quick. My headlight was still bright but would fade before my legs gave out and I needed a bar light to stop whiteout in the increasing fog on the hairyscary descent.

Of course Steve saved the day when he arrived on the quad to check I was OK. "Could you please get my mountain bike light babe"?  Safe riding for the last few reps, thank goodness.

That arbitrary 20? Well, it was probably a perfect number. 64.1 km, 2,528 m done.  By the last rep my speed was dropping, the fog was pea-soup and my rear wheel was well-wobbly. I was good though, in myself, I was good mentally and physically. Working at about 70% effort left me capable of sitting and spinning the entire climb right to the end. There was a time, not so long ago, I was barely able to finish one ascent of this particular hill, and that would have been grinding out of the saddle. I suspect, if someone had a gun to my head, I could have done another 20, 40 even. Although at half speed, I could have kept going for a very long time. 

New Year's Eve 2015

It's been quite a year, with big miles, bigger smiles, some tears and tantrums, epic vistas, peace and solitude, chaos and chatter, and an awful lot of time on two wheels.


What better a way to finish that riding with friends in Malvern on some of the nicest flowing trails, and high paths, with great views across the crystal clear skies.

Trees were down from the strong gales the day before, but the dismount and clamber was appreciated in the middle of a tough climb. A little respite from the gruelling gradient! It's the kind of climb we always avoid on the Thursday ride, tougher than you remember, and once a year is decidedly often enough to undertake it.  That tree can stay there until December 2016, we won't mind. 


Use of the 29er had been enforced by my inability to acquire a chain for the Enduro bike at short notice, but it was such a blessing. A cheeky confidence boost.  Suddenly, I felt fit, rolling fast and having to consciously ease off on pace.  It doesn't matter what people say, it is all about the bike....but it's good to know with the right bike, effortless pedalling remains possible. 


It's always great to swoop and follow folks down trails, and it's great to see the lights dance as riders fly over open terrain.  It's also great seeing the younger riders come into their own, and our youngest rider was in demon form bouncing rocks and keeping up with the faster guys in front.


A couple of hours later we were at the pub.  The Wyche Inn, a wonderful establishment with great owners who tolerate the mud, water and bikes with a smile.  I sat there drinking tea whilst everyone else was on pints, recounting the year's crashes and big riding events, talking over potential 2016 plans and loosing track of time until we realised it was getting on and we were to brave the cold again. 

Heading back out in sub-zero temperatures was a bit of a shock to systems more acclimatized to unseasonable double-figure temperatures.  The big ol' climb back up to the Worcestershire Beacon soon unstiffened the legs and warmed our cores and we arrived in perfect time to settle for midnight and watch the fireworks over the Severn Valley. 

Such a treat, with other friends also having made the effort to brave the cold and numerous strangers to share the celebrations.

We stayed there until our hands began to freeze and the grass turned white, before wishing each other the best and descending through the crowds with numb fingers trying desperately to control the brakes.  2 minutes later, and the shelter of the van was much appreciated, as was that wonderful warm feel of rushing blood and burning fingers. 


2015.  Done, just like that.