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Thursday 30 June 2011

31 mile loop (14 miles on-road/ 17miles off-road)

31 mile loop along the golf course at Hazlehead (off-road), over Countesswells Woods (off-road), short ride to bottom of Brimmond Hill (on-road), up and over Brimmond Hill (off-road - a walk up), up Elrick Hill via a carry up some steps, lots of lovely singletrack over Elrick Hill and then up and over Kirkhill Forest via the fire road. After a lovely, fast decent down the rocky landrover tracks it tarmac all the way back through Dyce, Seaton, along the beach, through Ferryhill and back.



Friday 24 June 2011

Aberdeen to Stonehaven

48 miles, mainly on roads. I know I need to get out into the hills properly but I think this was fair training considering I could do it from home and be back in time to pick up the little one from Nursery. A lovely ride, pity about the occasional torrential showers!

This is about the same distance as Day 1 of the route, which is also all on road. The only difference is that today I didn't climb 3600ft with a trailer attached :-/

Aberdeen To Stonehaven


Tuesday 21 June 2011

My first experience of SPDs

Up until now I have always ridden flats. I've tried a few cheapies and even invested in some Crank Bros 50/50s a few years back. When it came to SPDs, I always had 'the fear' of falling off and corkscrewing my legs off my body or else be a commuter-clown toppling over at the lights, much to everyone's amusement. I'm sure these things might still greet me in my future but since receiving my Shimano SH-MT41G shoes at half price I've only experienced good things.

Oh, what a difference it makes. Admittedly I changed my tyres from 26x2.35 to 26x1.95 and inflated them to 60psi but I still found that the climbs both on and off road were so much easier and I really did feel that my energy was focused on pedalling rather than staying on the pedals and adjusting my stance.

Coming down Elrick Hill was wet, rooty, rocky and technical and it was uncomfortable not being able to quickly dab a foot down but actually, when it was really necessary, I found I automatically released my foot to dab down before coming a cropper. My fear or being clipped in is waning. Here's today's route.

Tuesday 7 June 2011

A friendly welcome to Sven

Up until now I've accepted that while people have offered to join me on parts of this ride, I would have to do much of it solo. However, as of yesterday, all that has changed and I now have a bike buddy for the whole trip. Sven is a friend of the family and an expert in all things outdoors. Although we've not met yet, he has a great deal of enthusiasm for the trip and shares my sense of adventure and passion for two wheels. I'm really pleased to have a companion to share the sights and 'discuss' map interpretations. Sven will be coming over from Norway a few days before the trip so hopefully we can squeeze in a few fun rides before the adventure begins.

So this now becomes Charlie and Sven's Big Adventure.