Seven Deadly Spins

I’ve just got back from my second training ride on the Pennine Bridleway which, this time around, was based around the southern end of the trail. After finding myself a good campsite at the midpoint of the lolly stick (the bridleway consists of long trail running approx from south to north and a circular trail, which I rode last week, at the nothern end) I decided to head south on an out-and-back mission. The idea was to see the trail in both directions and to record the route on Satmap for future reference and for film and/or photographer to use for following the route when I go for 7ds3.

The southern end of the trail is much softer than the Mary Townley Loop that I rode at the northern end last week. So much so that the variation in trails is quite stark and throws into question all sorts of equipment choices. The first half of the lolly stick section that I rode today could be tackled on a cross bike and would be a lot faster. Once you get out to the MTL a full suss is gonna be quicker, or rather I should say that I’ll be quicker on a full-sus than on a crosser! Then you have the return leg, combined with fatigue from the length of the ride and sleep deprivation…

I’ve still got about 35 miles of the lolly stick to see yet so no equipment choices made yet apart from knowing that I’ll not be going singlespeed as the first (and last) bits of the ride would be tedious without the luxury of a big fat gear mmm…

7ds3 is looming large on my personal horizon and I’m half itching to get on with it and half filled with trepidation at the task ahead. Having ridden just over a quarter of the route to prepare last Wednesday I can say that the terrain is certainly at least a step up from the South Downs Way (7ds1 - the Double) and the 7Stanes (7ds2) and that combined with a very similar distance and climbing count will make this a good progression on from those two challenges.

The trails I’ve checked out so far are very sweet and change as you head through from one section to another. So far it makes for a great adventure and I’m hoping that the rest of the route lives upto the promise of the Mary Townley Loop, which is the section I’ve ridden so far. I’ll find out this Wednesday as I’ll be back up there to ride another big section of the route.

The thing that really does set this one apart from the previous two in the series is just how remote some of the sections are. This is a serious undertaking and riding flat-out in order to set an unbreakable pb time really wouldn’t be a wise strategy. Tyre choice and reliable equipment will also be a major consideration; the sort of skimpy tyres that some have used for record attempts on the South Downs for instance would land you in a very sticky situation out in the wild hills this particular challenge takes you.

I’m really looking forward to riding some more of the route this Wednesday and I’ll report back again with my discoveries later in the week.

What a week and weekend I have just had.

Recovering from my snot monster impersonations, I waited until Thursday and Friday to do my efforts. Recovery and endurance rides were the order of the day so that I didn’t stress my lungs and cause another bronchospasm attack– They ain’t nice.

So I did my efforts, and didn’t feel too shabby. The work done was quality, and I realised that my core work has paid off. (Functional movement training- I hate the term “Core” as it’s sooo last year now). It’s now easy to maintain a motionless upper body even at 100% effort on a hill climb with your legs, glutes and stomach muscles screaming at you to stop.

I love it.

Friday night, and I drove up to Morpeth to provide transport and last minute mental diversion for Julio. He was doing his English Coast to Coast attempt on the Saturday. (7DS5)

Like mine, this was unsupported and Alpine.

The poor little entertainer only weighs about 2stone wet through, and he had to carry all his kit on his back and in the crevices of his bike.

So, Charlotte (his suffering wife) and I dropped him off in St. Bees head.

The wind was Howling, and it was in his face.

I would have thrown the teddies then, but he didn’t.

Off he sets at 12pm, with his back tyre on back to front: I didn’t tell him, because that would have messed with his head.

Into the headwind, and gathering cloud.

We then started my computer to allow us to navigate using my mapping software…

…Broken computer, wouldn’t start.

Uh Oh!

Charlotte and I swore at it for a while and then I realised that she was quite a devious Lady.

She knew Rich’s log in for his hotmail account.

So we downloaded the attachment he had sent to me: his coast to coast file. We then scouted around the net for a program to allow us to view the file on a mappy thing.

It sounds simple, but it took ages to figure it out, but before doing this we had to pop to Rich’s Dad’s house to borrow his laptop.

Sheesh.

So we were now able to see where he was going to ride. This would enable us to take gnarly photo’s of him for posterity. Well, it would have done, if we could keep up with him.

We saw him once in Shap, and again in the Dales. That was it.

The weather was horrible. He had to push his bike for miles, and carry it up and down some of the Lakeland hills because they are so gnarly.

And wet.

Nutter.

He did it!

With the 10-15mph head wind which was gusty, and the almost permanent rain- he did it in 28 and a half hours.

He still had his teddies when he finished too.

Idiot.

So I dropped them off at home (2hrs away from Robin Hoods Bay) then ate some food and shut my eyes for about 30 min.

6hr drive home.

5hrs sleep all weekend, I think.

Jo had to come and rescue me at Leeds. I couldn’t make it home, so she jumped on a train and came to get me.

It was at this point that I was actually losing my faculties, so she saved my life and my sanity.

Monday and Tuesday were a waste of time. But at least coach Chris understood. He’s a top coach and affable fella.

Back to full time training now: back into endurance mode after an extensive period of breathing out of my ears on the bike.

I think my mental endurance had a good bit of acclimation this weekend mind you!