Month: December 2024

I was determined to do a fondo today. The forecast claimed that a morning fog would have burned off by 1030-ish, leaving a dry day in its place.

Well, the fog hadn’t cleared by 1100, and I set off anyway at about 1125. I wanted to pay my old house a visit at Markfield, about 15km away, by the route I chose. I’m drawn to do that this time of year, probably because I moved into it with my partner at the time just before Christmas 1989. So I did that. I went along Ellistown Lane this time, don’t think I’d been along there before.

After that I sort of made it up as I went along, meandering through Thornton, Newtown Unthank and Desford to Kirkby Mallory. From there I had the idea of going over to Sutton Cheney and down Fenn Lanes. I went all the way down to the A5, then followed it all the way to the Atherstone Bypass. Wouldn’t normally do that, but it was quiet today.

Followed a sign to Sheepy from there. That took me along a road called Holly Lane. Not particularly interesting but I hadn’t been along there before either. As far as I can remember.

I’d given up on the fog clearing by this time, and on doing a fondo. It was foggy and wet all day, with a thin film of moisture forming on my clothing and on the bike. The roads were very wet. But I did at least want to do 70km, because that would give me the distinction of having completed 80,000 km since January 2015.

I came back a familiar way from Sheepy, as if doing the latter part of a Twycrosser.

Stopped to put lights on in front of a house at Newton Burgoland, and was startled to notice Nigel Farage pointing at me from their kitchen window. Would have stopped for a chat about the national interest but I wanted to get home for a coffee and some trifle.

The fog started to grow thicker just before sunset. One thing that makes a big difference when cycling in fog or a mist, or indeed drizzle or rain is wearing contact lenses instead of cycling glasses. Glad I did that today.

Listened to LBC, then football coverage on 5 Live. Unaccountably, although it was cold and wet all day I really enjoyed that one.

Back on 79.51km, which takes me to 712 this month, 10548 this year and 80009 since Jan ’15. I think 2024 has one more ride left in it, possibly two.

https://www.strava.com/activities/13195271578

I really fancied a run over to Markfield today. I like to do that this time of year. But the wind was coming fairly directly from the west, so it wasn’t the best idea. So – I thought I’d do some of the Dad’s Army route. As it happens I watched the Christmas 1974 episode of the BBC’s celebrated sitcom for which the route is named last night.

Ideally I wanted to do about 75 km. I set off early enough, and the BBC forecast assured me there was no risk of rain until about 1600. I went up to Ashby first, down to Twycross, did the detour to Orton, down through Sheepy and west along Grendon Road. However .. I decided on a whim to take a right along Warton Lane and just to busk it for a bit, rather than following the usual route down to the A5. At the junction with Orton Road I kept on, rather than taking a familiar turn left or right. This took me along a road called Linden Lane, which I don’t think I’ve ever been along.

By this time I was putting up with drizzle and light rain, despite the BBC’s promises. I took a right turn along a road called Polesworth Lane, leading eventually to a village called Newton Regis. Definitely hadn’t been along there before. Took the pic there. I consulted Google Maps, plotted a route to No Man’s Heath and came home a familiar way from there.

Listened to LBC mostly; Iain Dale was sitting in for James O’Brien, making the discourse about 800% more sensible than usual.

Back on 59.59km, not quite the distance I wanted but then again I wouldn’t have gone out at all if I’d known the weather was going to be so dismal after the first hour. Nice to do something a bit different just before Christmas.

https://www.strava.com/activities/13174461332

Three days of rain and drizzle coming up, so although I did 40km yesterday, I wanted to clock up a few more today. The BBC promised 0% risk of rain all day, and yet as soon as I’d put on my cycling clothes, I noticed that it was raining. I waited ten minutes and it passed.

As is so often the case, I set off without a clear idea of where I was going to go, but I intended to start by going up through Coleorton then up Top Brand.

I didn’t do that. At the bottom of Top Brand I turned right along Ashby Road instead, along to Belton, then up past Tonge. If I recall correctly I had a vague idea that I might go through Donington and west through Shardlow. However, I didn’t do that either. I took a left down through Breedon and down through Lount. I knew that this road led eventually to a brutal multi-lane roundabout near Ashby which I don’t particularly like negotiating even in a car, but I hoped I’d find a left turn first. I didn’t, so I did have to cope with the roundabout.

After that – down to Packington to join the Twycrosser route. I cut it short by taking the short cut through Little Twycross and Bilstone, but I was surprised to find the road flooded after Shackerstone. Never seen that bit of road flooded before. I saw a couple of cars turn back but as you can see from the pic, a brave bus driver attempted it coming the other way. I wasn’t going to though, so I rerouted via Derby Lane and Swepstone.

I hadn’t been along Derby Lane for at least five years, mainly because it’s a bit lumpy and muddy. It wasn’t too bad. At least I was on the optimal bike for it.

The driver’s door of a parked car opened suddenly as I was passing it along Moor Lane, fortunately I managed to swerve round it. I do know someone on another forum I frequent who suffered a punctured lung after being impaled on the sharp corner of a car door, so it could have been very nasty. I did issue a profanity, but at least the driver was gracious enough to shout a cheery “sorry pal!” as he emerged from the car.

I see that Wikipedia has a page dedicated to this phenomenon.

Do car doors have to have those sharp corners?

Anyway – back on 57.44km. I did intend to do more than that to be honest, but it’s more than enough really. Actually I felt a bit weary after only 15km or so. Hadn’t fed myself properly, probably. A small pork pie and a flapjack seemed to fix it.

The weather forecast seems very changeable at the moment but right now it looks there are a few decent cycling days left in the year.

https://www.strava.com/activities/13148829902

Wasn’t going to go cycling today. But I went out to the garage to do a bit of bike maintenance in the early afternoon, and I decided to do an impromptu short ride. Wasn’t wearing cycling clothing. No padding to protect my nether regions from the ravages of a bike saddle. But I was only going to do a short one. Enough to get me over 10321 km for 2024, to set a new personal annual distance record. A mere 10km would do it, but I wanted to do about 40.

I also wanted to test the new rear tyre on the Tricross, a Continental Ride 700×32 acquired from Amazon at a cost of £20.69.

I set off at about 1325. Rain was due over some time after 1500. I decided to do some of a Twycrosser, but to come back the same way, so I could easily do a set distance. Didn’t want to get rained on unnecessarily by overextending it. So I went down to Twycross, had a brief excursion along Burton Road then came back the same way. Back on 40.46km.

I did have to put up with light rain for the last few km, but I couldn’t say I hadn’t been warned! Actually it helps to keep the bike clean. A Dettol bathroom wipe on a pre-dampened bike frame scrubs up a bike very nicely. I finish off with a rag moistened with GT-85.

The new tyre seems to work nicely. I’m a bit disconcerted that it looks a bit narrower than the front tyre despite being ostensibly the same size. But I didn’t notice a difference in the ride.

So that’s 10352 km done this year, a new personal best. Still want to do another 120 or so if I can.

https://www.strava.com/activities/13143333867

I was determined to get a fondo in today, having been foiled in my effort to do so yesterday by a flat tyre. The wind was coming from the west again (allegedly) and I thought I’d do the Lower Westbound route. I set off at about 1020.

Since both my usual winter bikes have had new tyres, and in one case a new inner tube fitted since last time they were used, I took Boardman II. I don’t test new equipment on a fondo. It hadn’t had a run out since October. I knew it was due a lube though, so to save time I just hosed round the chain with a spray can of 3 in 1 and gave it a good wipe. I’ll lube it properly at the weekend. Probably.

I turned for home after a bit more than 50k, at Bagot Wood. Came back the same way except that at King’s Bromley, instead of taking the right turn toward home, I kept going toward Yoxall. Just in pursuit of a few flat, well-surfaced, low effort additional kilometres. My intention was to turn back to King’s Bromley, but I saw a road signposted to Barton-under-Needwood. From there I could come home via Walton-on-Trent .. might have made a nice change. But I remembered that it involves some steep climbing and I stuck to Plan A, a U turn back to King’s Bromley and back the usual way from there.

Although the wind was supposed to be westerly, I seemed to have more of a headwind on the way back. But it wasn’t bad. I was warm enough in the morning but the temperature seemed to drop sharply after about 1300. But it rose again, or seemed to, an hour later. I had a bit of drizzle to contend with as well early in the afternoon but nothing troubling.

I took plenty of food with me but oddly, although I’d only had toast and a banana for breakfast, I didn’t feel hungry at all on the outward leg and I didn’t stop to eat until I was coming homeward. Testament perhaps to the benefit of a large sunday dinner the previous evening.

Back on 107.52km. Another 10km will take me past the 2023 distance total, which is currently a personal record. Another 167km will mean I’ve fulfilled my aspiration, expressed earlier in the year, before I succumbed to metrication, to have done at least 400 miles in each month of 2024. And another 228km, which I think is doable, will mean I’ve done 80,000km in the last ten years exactly.

I listened to 5 Live and The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars.

https://www.strava.com/activities/13128629424

Well fuck.

A rain-free, mild day was forecast. It was a bit gloomy out there with a stiff wind from the west (supposedly), but I wanted to do at least 60km. Maybe even 100. I decided on the Lower Westbound route. I elongated it a bit by going out through Packington. Took advantage of the petrol station at Measham to get a pasty and a sandwich, as I felt a bit low on energy. Had only had a small breakfast and hadn’t brought much with me.

I stopped at a bench at Netherseal after 17km to refuel. A nice location next to the church in a sleepy village. Very pleasant.

But as I set off following my impromptu early lunch, I noticed that the front tyre was very soft. Not again! Well – I was in an ideal spot to swap in a new inner tube. I could use the bench as a sort of work surface for an inverted bicycle, and I’d be able to wrestle with the tyre levers while seated. However – I thought I’d see if I could get away with reinflating the old inner tube first. I did that. Then, of course, I reluctantly turned for home. I wasn’t going to be able to get enough pressure in the tyre, even if I replaced the inner, for another 80km with my mini pump.

This was surprisingly successful – I moderated my posture to take as much weight off the front as possible, rode carefully and when I stopped after 3.5km to check the front tyre, it hadn’t lost much pressure. I stopped another couple of times to put a bit more air back in and made it home without changing the inner tube. I came back the shortest way through Heather.

Conditions brightened a bit on the way back and I hadn’t noticed much of a headwind on the way out. I might well have done a fondo if not for the flat. I had to make do with 31.82km.

So, the Boardman front wheel strikes again. It’s only five weeks since the last time it hosted a flat. This time I will change the tyre as well as the inner tube, and I’ll check the rim very carefully.

Anyway – 368k this month which is OK for half the month gone, but the weather looks iffy for the remaining half.

https://www.strava.com/activities/13120729349

A dry but overcast day was promised. Unusually light winds. I got up earlier than I expected and set off on my usual eastbound fondo route at about 0915. After about 30km though I decided to take a left signposted to Upper Broughton. I’d passed it many times, but didn’t think I’d ever been along there. I thought it might be fun to explore, get lost slightly and orienteer my way back to known territory.

However I realised after a couple of km that I had been along there before, but coming the other way (ie on the way back). I was back on the usual route a few km later.

Went as far as Eastwell, stopped there for lunch at the bench (pictured), came back via Wymeswold and Rempstone to avoid possible flooding near Burton on the Wolds. And took the slightly longer route home via Diseworth once back in Leicestershire.

Although it didn’t rain exactly I did have to put up with very light drizzle intermittently. It was cold, but I wrapped up warm. Some of the lesser roads were liberally coated with a thin film of wet mud. But it was an enjoyable run out.

Listened to Gil Scott-Heron’s Minister of Information and 5 Live.

Back on 104.89km, 13 minutes before 2024’s earliest sunset. The sun will set four seconds later tomorrow.

336 this month now.

https://www.strava.com/activities/13107854073

I had every intention of doing a fondo today. However I didn’t get up until 0950, and when I glanced out of the window to assess the conditions, I decided that they weren’t really conducive to doing more than 50 km or so. Looked a bit gloomy and damp out there, and I knew that there was an immoderate wind coming from the north-east. Additionally, it was cold.

I didn’t have a definite route in mind. I headed up through Coleorton, up Top Brand, up to Isley Walton then hung a left toward Swarkestone Bridge. I didn’t want to go west along the Beloved A Road though, so I came back down toward Ticknall. Tried to think where to go from there that would give me a reasonable distance without also giving me a prolonged headwind.

So from Ticknall I went down through Hartshorne, Woodville and Boundary, as I have quite a few times before, but at Boundary I took a right signposted to Blackfordby. Didn’t really know what I was doing, just thought I’d explore and hopefully rack up a few additional kilometres. I would have sworn I’d never taken that turn before in my life, but Strava tells me that I now have a PR for a segment along there – which I believe means I’d done it at least once before.

I stopped at a convenience store at Blackfordby for a pasty and some Munchies. Didn’t really want to leave my bike outside it, as Blackfordby – or at least its main drag – is one of those places characterised by vape shops, Turkish barbers and run-down terraced housing. But the bike was still there when I came back out.

Quite an interesting stretch of road though, it led me to Ashby Road where I took a right to Moira. Then I came upon a village called Shortheath, which, as you can see from the delapidated and DIY-looking sign in the photo, purports to be the centre of England. This surprised me, because received wisdom has it that Fenny Drayton, some 18km to the north is England’s centre.

I’ve obscured the licence plate in the image. Is that proper etiquette?

Anyway I found my way to Measham, pootled up to Packington from there, flirted with Ashby and came home. Back about 10 mins after sunset so I didn’t stop to put lights on.

Glad to have clocked up another 59.67km. 231 done this month, I want to do 645 if I can, so I’m a little bit ahead of the game – although of course commitments over Christmas might prove a bit compromising.

https://www.strava.com/activities/13086664673

Rain was threatened for the late afternoon, with a storm coming later on. But I only wanted to do about 60km, enough to take me past 10,000km for 2024. The wind was coming from the south. I did a Twycross Bypasser.

I took a bit of a deviation down the Dad’s Army route as far as Old Grendon. I wanted to go down to Witherley then along Atterton Lane, but the Anker had burst its banks and flooded the road. I haven’t seen that for a couple of years. So I tracked back and came up via Sibson instead.

Passed the 10,000km mark just north of Odstone, 7km from home. I would have stopped to take a pic to mark the occasion, but I forgot to take a phone!

Mostly sunny. It was a nice, bright wintery day. Cold, about 3C. I listened to 5 Live. Back on 63.74km.

So that’s 10007km done in ’24 now. My next target is to match my ’23 total (10321).

https://www.strava.com/activities/13059140212

A cold day, and I wouldn’t normally have bothered with a 100km ride. But I was very keen to get the December fondo in, to complete my annual aspiration of completing one in each of the calendar months.

The other half and I visited a restaurant in Swithland at the weekend, about ten miles from here, to the east. As we drove there I was reminded how pleasant the countryside is in that part of Leicestershire, to the south of Loughborough. Except for a very few occasions, I’ve avoided it because it’s too hilly. So when I go eastwards, I take a route that passes Loughborough to the north.

But I decided I’d have another go. I tried to plot a route that would keep the climbing to a minimum, and eventually track northward to join the usual route.

So I wrapped up warm, set off at about 1035, and I revisited the challenging terrain between Loughborough and Leicester. I don’t regret it, but it certainly was a bit of a slog in parts, and I probably won’t do it again for a long time. One nice thing though is that it took me through Thrussington, where there’s a lovely, quaint village shop, tea shop and deli. I visited it en route to Rutland a couple of weeks ago (albeit I think I claimed it was in Seagrave). I went in and was surrounded by all kinds of enticing products and delicacies, completely alone for a couple of minutes until I went in search of someone at the back of the tea shop. Can’t imagine that in South London or Nottingham. I bought a sausage roll and some sort of pastry confection called a “blondie”. I sat outside and watched the world not pass by. Delightful.

I rejoined the usual route at Six Hills, continued eastward until a few miles short of Eastwell, then turned for home. Came back the usual way (or one of them). Pretty cold after the sun went down, but it had been a sunny afternoon mostly, and conditions were very tolerable. Back on 107.52k.

Listened mostly to 5 Live.

Happy to have completed the set of monthly fondos for 2024. But equally happy to have taken a decent bite out of the remaining distance requirement. 9943km done this year now. Another 378 and I’ll have beaten my yearly distance record.

https://www.strava.com/activities/13039066031