Saturday 13 March 2010

simple pleasures once again


An invitation, a dry day, the slower pace of a Friday lunchtime - all the ingredients for a simple, pleasurable ride.

Throw in some new roads and tracks, some cobbles ( it's nearly Ronde time) and a good natter and you have the essence of bike riding, at least for me.

Dave Haygarth extended the invitation and we checked out some woodland paths, some farm tracks up and over the hills, some queit lanes and of course some pave. All on road tires, albeit with cross frames. Dave is somewhat more talented than me, so my conversational skills were slightly hampered by an acute shortage of breath, but it was great to be riding in quick minded company and in terms of a training exercise, quick legged company too. It's good to push yourself with faster riders once in a while - now I am older, my ego can take it without long term damage.......

Dave got snappy with his i-phone with good results above and below:




4 comments:

Paul in York said...

Nice cobbles. Where are they ?

crossjunkie said...

That particluar stretch is heading up the hill toward Holcombe Village, near Ramsbottom (Bury). It's a sharp little climb and then continues into a long draggy section (still cobbled) for a mile or so further. Overall, quite hard.......... and the longest section of cobbles I have found in this country :-)

Paul in York said...

So as a 'cobble-spotter' have you considered a clickable map with photos ( and perhaps gradient profiles - now i'm sounding like a spotter! ) so the rest of us could share you enjoyment/experience your suffering ? I'm building up to Water Bag Lane in Knaresborough ( 25% cobbles ) but I think it'll have to wait until after Chapel St on your Ronde.

crossjunkie said...

Paul, I'm working on my magnum opus as we speak - a fully interactive guide to every cobbled surface in Lancashire....

Well not quite, but I hear your request and will try to do something for folks to find their own rides and routes.

Hope to see you on the 3rd :-)

Alan