tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-336076762012-01-21T23:01:29.496ZThe long, winding and mainly uphill road from normality to seven days mountain biking across the rockies.Stewarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04089398749587376925noreply@blogger.comBlogger521100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33607676.post-50001533595442774212007-08-19T12:04:00.000+01:002007-08-19T17:48:12.622+01:00

After a week working away from home, I decided a night at home and an early start was a better idea than a night in a tent - especially since this event was part of "The Outsider" festival. Promoted as an outdoors/music fest, most of the promo I saw was very much music festival oriented so I was a bit pensive that the dominating theme would be crusty, muddy, insanitary etc.Arriving at 8am it

Stewarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04089398749587376925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33607676.post-73545304153232157662007-07-14T15:30:00.000+01:002007-07-14T15:48:29.120+01:00

I'm too mean to pay the money for sports drinks in liquid or powder form, and it didn't take too much research to confirm that the core ingredients and composition of these products isn't that special. Granted, they make have some extra finesse in terms of proportions, ingredients etc at the margin, but it seems possible to get at least 80% of the benefit for less than 20% of the price (I do like

Stewarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04089398749587376925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33607676.post-17689094614488923932007-07-14T14:44:00.000+01:002007-07-14T15:47:05.912+01:00

I've had cramp a couple of times after rides - usually driving into the outskirts of Edinburgh after a Glentress trip is the timescale for it kicking in.But it hasn't affected a ride like it did at the Penrith Merida MTB Marathon where it was a serious limiting factor. Reading up on cramp, it seems it isn't fully understood exactly why it happens, but there are a number of contributory factors:

Stewarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04089398749587376925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33607676.post-4186206262977784742007-06-25T19:55:00.001+01:002007-07-14T16:23:48.490+01:00

Is 5+ weeks enough perspective for your first mountain bike marathon?I'm not sure. Or maybe I'm just a vv lazeee blogger.Penrith, May 2007 - first ever MTB marathon to be held in Engerland.Main lesson 2B learned: 7Stanes, tarmac, "mountain bike centres" ... none of them are adequate preparation for real, natural trails. No human being would create roads, tracks or trails with the terrain,

Stewarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04089398749587376925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33607676.post-66243809558382642682007-06-25T19:33:00.000+01:002007-07-14T14:42:41.333+01:00

Having now done my first two Merida MTB Marathon events, I realise that not only am I not "special" I may not even be ordinary or average, so this blog (such as it is, and with the usual apologies for infrequent updates etc etc ) now takes a bit of a twist and acknowledges that this kwest is a real tough challenge. Not a "look at me I'm doing the TransRockies" but more of a "holy shit I can't

Stewarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04089398749587376925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33607676.post-21440724867043145792007-04-23T17:51:00.000+01:002007-07-14T14:34:16.485+01:00

I visited Blairadam about a year ago and although it was fun enough a) I knew I'd hardly found any of the half-secret singletrack and b) I wasn't sure just how much there was that was rideable.So, interested in heading off from home in a new direction, I took the car and parked at Lochore Meadows country park. Over time I hope I can find some tracks and paths that might let me ride most of this

Stewarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04089398749587376925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33607676.post-23386881949167554632007-04-23T17:46:00.000+01:002007-07-14T14:34:59.997+01:00

Started off early morning with the intention of trying to connect some wooded sections with public footpaths, but the fog was so thick I decided I should minimise any time spent on the road.Instead, I restricted myself to the three closest woods/forest areas in my local loop and worked on exploring anything I saw that looked remotely trail-like. this did reveal some nice little sections of

Stewarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04089398749587376925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33607676.post-56209508611984807722007-04-23T17:35:00.000+01:002007-04-23T17:46:13.212+01:00

Return visit to Glentress Red Run with Neal and a couple of MTB newbies from the extended family.This meant we spent some time in the morning in the skills loop which was quite useful - working up to bigger and bigger things to climb up and fall down. Picnic lunch at the Buzzard's Nest car park then Neal and I took the car down to the bottom to do the Red run.... and what a grand time we had :)

Stewarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04089398749587376925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33607676.post-81380525051037348142007-04-23T15:03:00.000+01:002007-04-23T16:02:16.325+01:00

I'm crap at this blogging business. It doesn't seem like a big thing at first; I don't blog a ride or something when it happens. Then the next ride is over and I still haven't done the first one, and before I know where I am I'm so far behind that even if I have time to blog something, I don't have the time to do the catchup posts, so it doesn't get done and it just gets worse and worse. I was

Stewarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04089398749587376925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33607676.post-90250522533540376132007-01-27T21:15:00.000Z2007-01-27T21:41:53.595Z

Long story short (under "Villains") - Neal's brand new Giant XTC SX got dented to b*ggery by a drugged ned whacking it with a metal bar to try and break the U lock.He fought the law and the law won.Unfortunately that leaves us with a ruined frame and no practical recourse.[fanfare] Step up the good people at MTB-Distribution who we were starting to talk to about sponsorship ... and The Bike Chain

Stewarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04089398749587376925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33607676.post-5241073810681645062007-01-27T21:08:00.000Z2007-01-27T21:15:07.599Z

Went in to Aldi to see if they had any car seat covers left from last week (thinking ahead to next muddy trip to the Borders). They didn't - but they did have a few HRMs left @ £12.99.Seem like a bargain - wireless chest strap, preset and custom training zones, time in/out zone reporting, out of training zone alarms, stopwatch, clock, fitness calcs, etc etc - most of the stuff that quite

Stewarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04089398749587376925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33607676.post-14807395760733377352007-01-27T20:56:00.000Z2007-01-27T21:06:36.933Z

A long week in London at a trade show caused an enforced break from training.Looking for ways to a) extend my longer weekend ride and b) add in more off-road, I looked for a link between Clatto Reservoir (which I can get to from pretty much the furthest away point of my road route) and Clatto Den, which in turn would link into my series of woodland hops. This just reminded me me of a Burt

Stewarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04089398749587376925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33607676.post-81198067372824463842007-01-06T13:15:00.000Z2007-01-06T13:20:21.577Z

Now we're in 2007, we start to have some real objectives, dates to work towards that are measurable in weeks rather than months or years.The first mtb marathon we plan to do is 13th May - so we're talking about making a decent fist of 100km off road in 5 months. Sounds like a long time, but with 2 or (rarely) 3 training opps a week it doesn't feel like long.Right now, a long ride for me is 40km -

Stewarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04089398749587376925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33607676.post-9560730274575421922007-01-06T13:13:00.000Z2007-07-14T15:29:07.228+01:00

The lowest I got pre-Xmas was 12st 9lb.Highest at the end of the festive period was 13st.Turns out that 5lb is the most common weight gain for the period.I guess it's not too bad - I'm back down to 12st 13lb today so hopefully it will be all off in the next few weeks - though being away in London at a trade exhibition won't help.

Stewarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04089398749587376925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33607676.post-48844800975236582652007-01-04T22:03:00.000Z2007-01-04T22:12:25.463Z

It was my Mum's birthday today so I came up with the genius idea of takig her present by bike - and to avoid the main road by going round the north side of the Lomond hills to get to Kinross via Falkland and Strathmiglo.Most of this was pleasant enough, except for the long, long climb from Strathmiglo round West Lomond. Did I mention it was long? And into a very, very strong wind with gusts that

Stewarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04089398749587376925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33607676.post-67166376409989923962007-01-04T21:53:00.000Z2007-01-04T22:03:32.720Z

Down to Glentress with Neal for an end-of-year ride.It was very cold, windy and raining so we decided to do the red route (usually we mix and match different parts of Glentress) and just meet back up at the Hub, rather than have Neal keep waiting for me.It's great how you can keep going back to places like Glentress and make it new. This time we started at the Hub rather then going up to the

Stewarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04089398749587376925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33607676.post-64336033862931187012007-01-04T21:42:00.000Z2007-01-04T21:52:48.375Z

Taking the chance for a last pre-Xmas ride meant a 7.30am start.Dark, freezing temperature and dense fog.Intention was to do something like the familiar 40km route but after a short way it was clearly not safe to be on the road in such dense freezing fog so I played around in the first lot of woods for a couple of hours. It was a chance to explore some of the side tracks that have been too soggy

Stewarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04089398749587376925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33607676.post-24399877813038883622006-12-11T14:21:00.000Z2006-12-11T14:29:21.144Z

When I did this route last week the computer sensor slipped for a while and I had to estimate the distance.I repeated the route today under similarly harsh conditions (except that I started out in the dark at 7am) and discovered it had only been 34km, not the 36 or so that I had rounded up anecdotally to "nearly 40km". So I felt I had to do the honourable thing and added on an extra loop (with a

Stewarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04089398749587376925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33607676.post-6536433052101406982006-12-11T14:14:00.000Z2006-12-11T14:21:42.079Z

Part of me thinks there should be no excuses for not maintaining training momentum for an undertaking of this magnitude ...But life has conspired this last week or so to stop me getting out.This was my first experience cycling in very bad weather, and it seemed mad to do it, but I reckon I have to experience and train in all kinds of weather. It's the only way to find out how stuff (including me)

Stewarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04089398749587376925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33607676.post-85760678494822454622006-11-11T15:14:00.000Z2006-11-11T15:19:52.259Z

Since the clocks changed it has been difficult to get out sharpish on weekends due to the darkness. I'm not keen to ride in the dark, but it would be handy to get out in the gloom so I'm well under way when the sun comes up. And I do need to try some off road at night to see if I'd want to attempt the night sections of the TransUK events.After a good deal of searching around, I have just sniped a

Stewarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04089398749587376925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33607676.post-41790995734993783782006-11-11T15:12:00.000Z2006-11-11T15:13:17.223Z

Registration for the 2007 TransRockies Challenge opened on 1st Nov, is already 80% full.

Stewarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04089398749587376925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33607676.post-78630641477175143452006-11-11T15:04:00.000Z2006-11-11T15:11:52.486Z

Late posting this, but today's riding plans got mashed so it's a chance to catch up.Another trip round this route including the recent Clatto extra.Ground a bit drier and firmer than before and I felt I was quite "attacking" the course. Ended up back in 2hr 30 min for the 30km which is the same as last time - except that I stopped for a few minutes to help a guy on a hybrid who had tried to pump

Stewarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04089398749587376925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33607676.post-54999225329891619662006-10-28T17:22:00.001+01:002007-07-14T15:29:07.228+01:00

12st 12lb

Stewarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04089398749587376925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33607676.post-11840981682780226552006-10-28T17:16:00.000+01:002006-10-28T17:21:32.102+01:00

Extended this to take in an extra bit of forest - all the way up to Clatto. This added in a long moderate uphill on the return on an unused forest track. There is also another loop of forest beyond this that can be used to extend the route further.Very wet, lots of mud and bits of badly drained track pretending to be streams.Felt good all the way round, rode pretty much continuously except for

Stewarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04089398749587376925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33607676.post-24856428355501895772006-10-27T19:44:00.000+01:002006-10-27T19:46:09.325+01:00

No chance to go out since Sunday, back home late every night. Eventualy climbed on the exercise bike about 9.45pm.13.8 miles, 1 hour.

Stewarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04089398749587376925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33607676.post-25657090110234576482006-10-23T15:42:00.000+01:002006-10-27T19:47:57.519+01:00

The killer loop from MBR magazine, but following the higher resolution Harvey's map (thank goodness - my map reading skills are soooooooo bad, we even managed to take in a whole extra hill).Quite muddy in many places, all tough going.23km, 5 hours.

Stewarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04089398749587376925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33607676.post-48882669780928794772006-10-20T10:09:00.000+01:002007-07-14T14:34:45.995+01:00

Looks like there will be decisions to be made in May next year.Just read at BikeMagic that there will be an English Merida event in 2007 for the first time. In Penrith, during the Cumbria Bike Fest which runs 7-13 May. The location suits us, but its the same month they're talking about doing a TransScotland. I see they've also dropped the "100" from the series name to put as much emphasis on the

Stewarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04089398749587376925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33607676.post-87717913640781077032006-10-15T22:00:00.000+01:002006-10-15T22:04:28.308+01:00

I have been hearing that following the success of the TransWales 7-day event in August, they were looking at a TransScotland equivalent for 2007. At least that explained why their website was called "TransUK".Assuming this would be in August, Neal and I reckoned it would be to good a chance to miss and that we should aim for this rather than postponing our first multi-day event until 2008.I have

Stewarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04089398749587376925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33607676.post-68256126580019631572006-10-15T21:37:00.000+01:002006-10-15T21:54:12.109+01:00

Keen to try this route again without the downtime for mapreading and the one short dead end.Accurate stats messed up by the computer sensor not being on for the first few minutes (presumably got knocked a mm off when the bike got washed) and then again during the trip. This time I can only think that a rocky trail section vibrated the sensor out of range.Anyway, with a little guesstimating ...

Stewarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04089398749587376925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33607676.post-30260930299516666722006-10-15T11:51:00.001+01:002007-07-14T15:29:07.228+01:00

WooHoo - 13st :)This is going very slowly, but among other excuses I have to try and actually fuel my training. That means making sure I take on enough calories to perform as well as I can on longer rides, and replenishing stores afterwards. Not quite the same as pure "eat less, do more" weight loss program.

Stewarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04089398749587376925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33607676.post-8487584978848728282006-10-15T11:46:00.000+01:002006-10-15T11:50:51.486+01:00

I see the official 2006 TransRockies DVD is now available from the TransRockies store.Was surprised to see the Canadian Dollar:GBP exhange rate is now about 2:1 - thought it was much more favourable than that. Need to factor that into budgeting.

Stewarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04089398749587376925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33607676.post-75346191238085023302006-10-12T22:04:00.000+01:002006-10-15T11:46:19.441+01:00

As per previous blog, I realised on the way home last night that there is a reasonably flat area to the East of here that I haven't explored - mainly because there are no decent sized areas of woodland etc within it, and no major towns that have given reason to travel into it.On the map however, it is littered with several small areas of woodland linked together by back roads and lanes.In

Stewarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04089398749587376925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33607676.post-30940568436923948142006-10-11T08:58:00.000+01:002007-07-14T15:29:07.228+01:00

Delayed posting Saturdays weigh-in.Hoped it would be a landmark, but 13st 0.25lb. Where are those diuretics :)

Stewarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04089398749587376925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33607676.post-32321092784789373732006-10-11T08:51:00.000+01:002006-10-11T08:58:48.668+01:00

The extended loop inc Gilven fields warmup, up to the relay station, across to Craigmead and home via Leslie.17km, 118minutes.Upsides - faster to the relay station, faster overall.Downsides - though technical uphill is important (and tough for me so needs work) I'm not sure this route is going to be right as a regulr "long" ride even if I extend it. I need to find a way to spend more hours in the

Stewarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04089398749587376925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33607676.post-48649545715062118182006-10-04T09:46:00.000+01:002006-10-04T09:52:02.364+01:00

82min, 6.1km very disappointing performance.Still tired and sore from Sunday football and Monday kendo, but dragged myself out early as its nearly a week since I've been on the bike.In contrast to Kirroughtree (dry trails after torrential rain) this was very wet and muddy after no real recent rain to talk about. Amazing - and depressing - just what a difference mud makes. I'm not even talking

Stewarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04089398749587376925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33607676.post-5755734113014281522006-09-30T12:03:00.000+01:002007-07-14T15:29:07.229+01:00

13st 1.25lb

Stewarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04089398749587376925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33607676.post-83004129719872626512006-09-30T11:52:00.000+01:002006-09-30T12:03:13.493+01:00

Another 7 Stanes location ticked off the list.A happy juxtaposition of work commitments allowed me to stay overnight in Dumfries & Galloway (stayed overnight at the Ellangowan Hotel, the "Green Man" in the original The Wicker Man movie) and have an early morning session round Kirroughtree.Kirroughtree is very nice - more mixed woodlands than is typical in our forests and although there had been

Stewarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04089398749587376925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33607676.post-41006489150230579502006-09-24T20:36:00.000+01:002006-09-24T20:43:12.962+01:00

Neil and I on the 7 Stanes XC course at Traquair, near Innerleithen20km, 600m climbing, graded mainly red with some black.5 hours total.Upsides - 5 hour session is a good endurance build.We're closer in fitness than the last time we did this route. That time I hardly saw Neal at all, this time he still climbs faster (higher gear) and longer than I do, but not so markedly ... and I do the

Stewarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04089398749587376925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33607676.post-53090500235749994522006-09-17T10:04:00.000+01:002007-07-14T15:29:07.229+01:00

13st 2.75lbsThank goodness for scales that don't round up :)

Stewarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04089398749587376925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33607676.post-63828221090461465592006-09-17T09:50:00.000+01:002006-09-17T10:03:13.252+01:00

Gradually extending this course.Added a few minutes flat warmup through GilvenBank Fields, then up to Coul and through the edge of the woods to Pitcairn. Turned right at the top of the forest and picked up the path to the relay station.Aha - technical uphill. Bad combination, much work needed in this area.Before hitting this section, I was something like 45min elapsed time, 39min actual pedalling

Stewarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04089398749587376925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33607676.post-82219944707309635982006-09-14T11:32:00.000+01:002006-09-14T11:42:38.746+01:00

Now that I've had time to fit/use my birthday presents:Track Pump. Excellent. Had a 40psi target in mind but based on previous use of mini pump with no guauge (at the limit of its/my abilities) turns out rear was 30psi and front only 25! Handful of up-downs and they're both up to spec.Computer. Mmmh - not very happy with my pals at Specialized right now. Asked for and was given the "Turbo Elite"

Stewarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04089398749587376925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33607676.post-32705438219976254202006-09-14T11:24:00.000+01:002006-09-14T11:31:17.609+01:00

Another one of my "marker" routes. Also a test of spirit as it's a boring slog. Let's see if I'm still doing this one in a year (month ...)It has the advantage of being a circuit round our part of town, so it can be done with minimal prep. Ideal for those early morning (yawn) mid week sessions.There are two aspects to this circuit. First, 90% of it is on grass which even on the level seems to be

Stewarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04089398749587376925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33607676.post-28160246277789061312006-09-09T23:00:00.000+01:002006-09-09T23:04:31.811+01:00

Just remembered I should say for the record that this is now an official attempt :)Spoke to Neal yesterday and he said outloud he was committed to it - so we're doing the TransRockies in 2009. We have acknowledged that life's events may get in the way so we're not going to fall out if something stops us at some point over the 3 years - but we are approaching this with the firm commitment to do it

Stewarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04089398749587376925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33607676.post-29280224504173741782006-09-09T22:52:00.000+01:002006-09-09T23:00:00.088+01:00

2 hours, 11km.One of the MTB mags recently did the whole coastal path from dalgety Bay to Tayport over two days. Gave the impression the whole thing was eminently bikeable.Drove to Leven to pick up the path as I thought that would give me a more picturesque section to try.The main problem is that the signage disappears at points, so you often don't know if you're on the right route. It might seem

Stewarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04089398749587376925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33607676.post-6301308659221559422006-09-09T22:47:00.000+01:002006-09-09T22:52:08.777+01:00

This will be one of my progress "marker" routes as the months go by, as basically it's out the front door and climb the hill. Mix of tarmac path, singletrack and forest track with about 300m nett climb by the time (if ever) I get to the top.First time out, 45 minutes took me 4.5km to the top of the forest below the radio masts but I'd gone left when I should have gone right so came to a dead end.

Stewarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04089398749587376925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33607676.post-78089383445085766852006-09-06T18:12:00.000+01:002006-09-06T18:14:30.467+01:00

Frustrated by working into the evening, did an hour on the exercise bike at 9pm while watching the TransRockies documentary DVD to remind myself what it's all about. Trying to concentrate on pedalling circles. Then shower with lots of stretching.

Stewarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04089398749587376925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33607676.post-70078798144172482532006-09-03T20:33:00.000+01:002007-07-14T15:29:07.229+01:00

It's easy to get obsessed about weight with mountain bikes, shaving 5g here and there. The difference between bikes described as "cumbersome tanks" or "racing whippets" seems to be about 5lbs, so I reckon it will be easier to lose (say) 14lbs from me than from the bike and components I use.Need to get a better fix on my ideal weight, but I'm sure I can afford to lose that stone at least. Maybe

Stewarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04089398749587376925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33607676.post-35224211092378315242006-09-03T20:03:00.000+01:002007-08-19T17:55:32.482+01:00

Today was my 46th birthday - the impending (now arrived) landmark that triggered this whole idea.My wish list was pretty much MTB centric and so the gear collection has a few new additions:Track Pump. I want to experiment with getting those bigger tyres up to higher pressures. Looking down when I ride, seems to me my back tyre is quite squished even when pumped as much as I can get it with my

Stewarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04089398749587376925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33607676.post-9652824332825248782006-09-03T19:52:00.000+01:002006-09-03T20:02:37.145+01:00

Things took a big step forward yesterday when I mooted the idea to my son Neal. It was he who first told me about the TransRockies and he who first talked about (him) doing it. Although we've referred to it several times it had kinda taken on a running joke quality and I wasn't at all sure how he would respond when i made a more serious suggestion.I didn't doubt he would "fancy" it, but the

Stewarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04089398749587376925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33607676.post-1157053722674397952006-08-31T20:22:00.000+01:002006-08-31T20:48:42.813+01:00

I've been riding a fully rigid Specialized HardRock Sport since something like 1994 ... yes, the same one. I guess I secretly enjoyed being old skool hardcore - certainly it was the only rigid I ever saw at the trail centres over recent years - but mainly I was caught in the catch 22 of not riding enough to justify a new bike, or was I not riding as much because of the old bike?Finally bit the

Stewarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04089398749587376925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33607676.post-1156969843044095332006-08-30T21:26:00.000+01:002006-08-30T21:30:43.046+01:00

"Quick" meaning squeezed into a working day rather then being especially rapid.However, it was fairly satisfying. First visited Carron Valley about a month ago, when I did the whole thing (four feature trails plus links) twice - first time round took 90 minutes including map reading stops, second time 75 min.Today, it was an hour exactly. Fewer rest stops, more commitment to speed on the

Stewarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04089398749587376925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33607676.post-1156969489587208682006-08-30T21:21:00.000+01:002006-08-30T21:26:16.320+01:00

I have this idea that before I'm 50 I'll do the TransRockies Challenge.That gives me a bit under 4 years.So, having decided that much "in principle", all I need to do now is get a partner to make a team, raise the money, get fit and skilled enough to do it ...

Stewarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04089398749587376925noreply@blogger.com0