Tag: 365daysofbiking

March 16th – As I noted last week, something stirs in the damper parts of the hedgerow.  With every shower, more and more amphibians are on the move. In the dark, on a dry night, this common toad was crossing Netherstowe Lane. These misunderstood creatures are seeking water to mate for spring. Their ribbons of spawn are distinct from the clumps left by frogs. Utterly devoid of road sense, they are killed in their thousands at this time of year as sadly, they blend into the tarmac rather too well to see. Being a soft old sod, I stop, and help Mr. Toad to the other side of the road by nudging him gently on the backside with my foot. Best that way, they’ll occasionally let out a startling scream, but at least they won’t wee all over you, a defensive gesture that often shocks the unwary…

March 16th – A 115 mile day ride. Up with the birds, an on the train to Cromford, Derbyshire, at 7:00am. Arriving at 8:20, I had breakfast, then hit the High Peak Trail, which starts with a 300m climb out of the Derwent Valley. Transferring to the Tissington trail and Penine Bridalway, I shot down into Chee Dale via the A6 at Topley Pike, before undertaking the Monsal Trail in the downhill direction. Back on the A6 at Bakewell, into Derby, back out via Mackworth, Etwall, Egginton and the joys of cycle route 68. Homewards via Burton and Lichfield, a great ride.
As readers can probably tell, this week I’ve had some time to myself away from work to get back in condition to undertake some longer, summer rides. Easier than I thought, my pace wasn’t keen, but my stamina was good. A great, if not terribly photogenic day. 

March 15th – No tyres are completely puncture proof (well, that anyone would want to ride) and today, I flatted. Just on Meerash Hill, near the abandoned farm at Hammerwich, as it happened. My tyres of choice are Schwalbe Marathon Plus and they’re damned fine rubber, with all kinds of protection inside. However, hawthorn spines are the work of the devil (or rather a master of evolution) and very, very tough. This one pushed clean through a 4mm band of rubber, kevlar and anti-thorn braid. Such is life.
Time for a pro-tip. I always carry disposable gloves in the toolkit. Weigh nothing, can be used several times, and stop the bars getting grubby from the oily fingers post-repair. They’re also excellent for picking up sharps inside the tyre; they snag on anything foreign, without hurting your fingers.  A quick patch up and I was on my way in no time.

March 14th – A run up the Trent valley to Walton-on-Trent, then back via Barton and Alrewas. A gorgeous afternoon, chilly, but with a wonderful, golden mist. Here at Whitemore Haye, I noticed the swans had descended, and were loafing in the fields. I’ve mentioned it before, but these birds are the bane of farmers lives – beautiful as they are, they’ll decimate fields of young crops, and are breeding at an incredible rate. I pity the poor person who eventually moots the idea of a cull, but I can’t see the current population of birds being sustainable with clutches of 6 or more being the norm. 

March 13th – Coming back up Brownhills High Street I encountered more than the usual share of morons. It was clearly drive like an idiot day, and yet again I appear to have missed the memo. This vehicle – operating as part of Walsall’s Ring and Ride service, the transport provider for people with limited mobility. Is the driver trying to increase the customer base? Note they’re already indicating left when they overtake. Idiot. And yes, my lights were on…

DX10GXS, 6:20pm, March 13th 2011.

March 13th – Chasewater was great tonight. It was slightly chilly, but there was a lovely, hazy softness to the sunset that was really captivating. I swung round the dam works via the bypass path and headed over the boardwalk to Fly Bay. The really great thing about this place is that I keep finding bits of it that I didn’t know existed. Halfway over the bay, I found this boardwalk bridge and steps, leading to the bench and fingerpost overlooking the north shore. I hoped to see some deer on my return over the heath and down the railway causeway, but sadly even the cows were in hiding. A lovely end to the day.

March 13th – Not far today, as I had other things to do, but I did get in a circuit of Chasewater and Brownhills at sundown. I optimistically approached via the canal, hoping the barriers had not been replaced, but sadly, they had. I did notice something interesting, however. Bob the boat, which reader Roger ‘Ziksby’ Jones had noted a few weeks ago up by Longwood Junction was now at Anglesey Basin. I’m sure I’ve seen the narrowboat at Hopwas and maybe Shugborough too. It certainly gets about a bit.