Hot & Hilly!

Cor, what a scorcher today. Don't know what the temperature has been but it must have been in the high 20's at least. Sunny all day too. Well, that's a perfect excuse to do some miles in Espana mode.

At Lindley Wood before the big climb

To cut a long story short I put all the bags on and set off to go out through Pool towards Pately Bridge. There is a good climb across the Washburn Valley up from Lindley Wood. From there around to Knaresboro, Wetherby and then home. It clocked 50.08 miles and I reckon I've guzzled about 5 litres of liquid during the ride.

The road climbing away from Lindley Wood is in the region of 20/25% for about half a mile before it drops to just plain steep. Being hot I got rid of the crash hat for the climb as it's heat building up that causes climbing problems more often than not. I dropped down to tractor gear and down to 3 and then 2 at the back to go steady away. Coped well with the climb despite the heat. Towards the top there is a cyclist rocketing down the other side of the road, and said cyclist turns out to be my old mate Mr Mee. So it's a stop and a chinwag to catch up. Then off again to the top. According to bikehike.co.uk the distance from bottom to top is 1.2 miles with a height gain of about 570 feet. That's near enough Pyrenean for me, except the climbs there go on for 20 or so miles!

Random acts of kindness too. I took a break by the riverside at Knaresboro and ended up talking to a couple about cycling (as you do) and they gave me a fiver to put into the sponsorship pot. Big Society is made up of small acts like that.

After sitting at Knaresboro for a while the energy was being baked out of me by the sun. Despite that I opted for the hilly way back from Wetherby through Collingham and East Keswick.

A hard 50 miles but very enjoyable.

Tractor Gear Tested!

Whoa - a 22tooth chainring really does add something. I went out looking for a hill to give it a run at. I wasn't sure which one but I ended up running out through Wetherby, Spofforth and Kearby so the obvious route home was through Harewood Bridge and then up Weardley Bank. This little beauty goes up Harewood Bank but further down Wharfedale. It's got a longish approach, all uphill, and then two particularly steep sections on the climb proper.

It was well worth while and the steep sections proved no bother at all; in fact I didn't use bottom gear at all. I did realise as I was climbing up that, with panniers and bags on the back, the front end might have a tendency to lift off the ground in low gears. So the next job is to go out with a full load and see how that goes. Somebody has to do it.......

Dawes Karakum on Holy Island

This week has been busy but I've still managed to get out a bit. Ricky is away next week too, so we had a ride out to Denby Dale yesterday which was good. Not an area where I have ever thought of cycling but although it was all on busy A roads, there was some good long draggy climbs. All good practice! I took the touring bike on this, fully loaded and just back from having s service so it did give me some aches. In fact, my cramp levels when I went to bed were pretty bad! How we suffer.....

I also managed an evening ride over to York the day before too, so that gave me 90 miles in 24 hours which I was quite chuffed with. The trip to York was on the best road bike and after riding a mountain bike on holiday this was great fun. It was still a good work out as we were crusing along for parts of the ride at 20 mph+.

Anyway, the Dawes Karakum is now selected as the bike for the Camino. It's been to Edinburgh Cycles for a service and this included changing the inner chain ring from 26 teeth to 22 teeth. My bottom gear is now very low and that's given me some comfort about climbing some of the hills. We didn't have any really steep hills on the Denby Dale run but a couple got steep enough to drop down onto the inner ring (now known as tractor gear!). It worked perfectly. I never got anywhere near bottom gear as it pulled up very comfortably is the middle of the cassette.

I've also started to push the publicity a bit more. I wonder how soon before I start to lose friends!

Just back from a break in sunny Scotland, and very nice it was too. Managed 153 miles of cycling but not a great deal was climbing. To make up for it I was riding the mountain bike (nice and heavy) along with panniers which included a double barrelled foot pump, just for the extra weight! Note below are from some of the days out.

4^th May

A bit of cycling in sunny Scotland! After what seems like several weeks of rain going up to what turns out to be a sunny and warm Oban is a real treat. I’ve brought the mountain bike along so I’ve had a few miles trundling along but today (day three) has given me some good training. A simple 20 mile circuit from our camp site going up the A828 (but finding Sustrans route 78 along the way) and turning right onto the B845 to Bonawe saw some nice climbing up and over a mountain pass.

The first section was undulating and steep, the gradient ever changing for a couple of miles. The climb was through forest so I had the pleasure of hearing streams rushing down the hill and the wind blowing through the tree tops.  Sounds idyllic and it was. Strange then that I should meet Mr Grumpy walking down the road with his staff and clearly focused on his intention not to acknowledge my presence let alone return my cheerful (if breathless) greeting.

About to descend to Loch Etive

The first part of the climb was standing on the pedals steep. The only respite came as I stopped to let a truck pass on the single track road. Strange that even though the road is just one car wide there is a constant flow of 8 wheeled monsters running backwards and forwards to the local quarry. After a couple of miles I thought that I was probably at the top but it turned out to be short descent before a long steady rise up a steeply sided valley for another mile or so. From there it was a tremendous and twisty 40 mph descent towards Loch Etive and the turning back to North Connell.

A good ride and a good workout. Riding single track roads is great especially where there is so little traffic.

Doing the ride the other way around could be equally fun and challenging. The climb up from Inveresragan (the 40 mph descent) looks a cracking climb.

6^th May



Mountain bike waiting for the off in Oban



NCN78 is a stunner! It looks as though it is very recently constructed but like all NCN routes in Scotland it is brilliant. Having cycle track wider than a single track road is a real luxury and today I’ve clocked just over 40 miles following the above from North Ledaig to Port Appin and doing the loop around Loch  Crerran. A fair bit of the NCN route is old railway line so has very gentle gradients but interspersed between all this is the odd bit that links the old track together and that has a few steady climbs. Following the NCN route is probably slower than going along the road but it is far more pleasant. In places the road is running below the level of the cycle track which gives for wide panoramas showing the scenery at its best.  Added to that I took the long way around to Port Appin and this had a few short climbs too.

The scenery around Loch Crerran was stunning. I saw two cars during the whole 6 mile loop. Talk about peaceful. The loch occupies a steeply sided valley and has few houses. One newly constructed house was down by the waterside. It had been constructed over three storeys; the top storey being fully glass with roof overhanging to such an extent that rain on the windows would never obscure the view. Further along I noticed some steps down to the loch side. They seemed out of place as I rode towards them but curiosity aroused, I stopped. This must have been the most photogenic point of the whole loop and the peace was palpable. A good spot to park up with the camper van.

Bike & Bridge over Loch Etive

Again everyone I met on the road was friendly and cheerful. Every other cyclist shared some form of greeting from simple wave to a cheery "Morning". I've realised that the Yorkshire greeting of "'Ow Do?" just doesn't work up here! Drivers too were considerate giving a wave either as I pulled over to let them pass or vice versa. Only once did I meet a motorist who was intent on exerting his superior rights when I had to pull off the road between passing places, but even then I got a wave of thanks. I reckon I didn’t look miffed enough to show my displeasure!

The worst bit of the trip was that I forgot to take any money so could not visit the very nice looking cake stop by the ferry at Port Appin. Worse still was walking down the jetty wondering why my shorts were getting lower. I forgot to take my belt too! Luckily I found piece of discarded blue twine that was pressed into service. Waste not want not!

11^th May

Finished off the holiday with a 25 mile run to Oban. I have managed to cycle 153 miles over the holiday. Not a great deal of climbing but all on the heavy mountain bike and all carrying two panniers with dead weight on board.

Every little helps!!

Lots of activity all of a sudden!

First of all, the fundraising and awareness raising has now started. Yesterday evening saw several hours pass by as I put a flyer together and then emailed just about everyone in my address book. Hopefully, I haven't lost too many friends.

Second, the weather has stayed pretty poor but not bad enough to stop a 40 mile wet and windy ride out to Knaresborough. After being confined to barracks for a week being wet and blown about was not a concern. Strangely, there were loads of other cyclists out too with much cheery hailing to each other, that despite everyone being pretty wet. Even stranger was seeing a party of young ladies going into the Marigold Cafe down by the river as one of said young ladies had a duck shaped flotation aid wrapped around her head. We didn't ask, but we would loved to have known!

Thirdly, having a bike type day, I went to Edinburgh cycles to book the Dawes in for a service. Whilst there the attentive staff relieved me of over £50 but in return gave me a rack top bag that will be handy for the Camino, I did get a few other things too but the Yorkshireman in me was humming and harring about getting the bag. It's on the bike now so that's sorted. Perhaps more important was the chat about the possibility of putting a smaller front inner ring on the transmission to help with the climbs. Although also had quite a long chat with another customer who was telling me about riding up Alp D'huez and Col De Telegraph. His view was take it steady and you get up ok.

April has almost passed by. The weather of late has been horrible and the bike hasn't been out for a week. Miles cycled is far lower than I would like it to be but it has to improve sometime.

We have managed to cycle out togther once and that was a trip to Bolton Bridge. Not without incident both technical and physical! Two riders dismounted either over handlebars or simply falling off sideways, plus one broken spoke. Still, it will be alright on the night, as the saying goes.

Other preparation has included more background reading. The book of the moment is "To the Field of Stars". Very enjoyable too although the refuges providing the overnight accommodation get a mixed review; some quite good and some not that welcoming. It seems that the local wisdom is to set off each day around 6 in the morning and to finish by midday. This avoids the heat of the day and gives ample time to relax and immerse the traveller in the local culture. Quite looking forwards to that! Note to self - must also try to learn some Spanish before we go!

Also been out and bought sheet sleeping bag, light sleeping bag and a survival bag. All the reading suggests that snoring rules in the refuge dormitories so getting prepared to sleep in the great outdoors if need be. Now that I'm not looking forwards to at all! Ugh.

Preparation continues

April already. Since the last post we've met up to look at routes and climbing again. Don't think the climbs are within our experience at all. I've kept going out to get some miles in and tried some new routes. These include climbing up and over Ilkely Moor from Menston but whatever I look at the climbing is nothing compared to what is to come. That said, I had a good run to Knaresborough on Saturday; felt really good and was pulling topside of 20mph much of the way back. Went out today and felt flat from the word go on a short 15 mile loop. Had a few busy days and I've put it down to incorrect feeding!

Weather has also not helped. After brilliant sunshine last week we've had snow and cold this week. Now added to that I'm reading about a chap who walked the Camino and had snow on day 2, so even that is a possibility.

Just telling myself to keep putting the miles in and it will all sort itself out.

We've also done quite a bit of route planning using the guide book to create some more detailed maps via bikehike.co.uk. Using that we are aiming to arrive in Santiago on Tuesday 3rd July which will give us a few days to relax and to make the journey back to Bayonne to get picked up on 8th July. The information from bikehike give us 543 miles of cycling and just under 47000 feet of climbing. There are two big climbing days with the ascent rate running at over 200 feet per mile; the worst of the two is 251 feet per mile. The two section are 19 miles and 23 miles long so not only is it steep but constantly so.

Despite the fear can't wait to get going!