Words – Page 12 – R O T H A R . C O M

Cross Gone

Independent Fabrication Planet Cross

After several happy years of ownership the Planet Cross has passed into new ownership. It’s been a blast…

Headed up to the Gisburn Forest in the Forest of Bowland for some riding. It was a first time trip there for me and finding the place is a bit of a mission, but managed it in the end. Having taken in the black, the red and the blue routes I have to say that there is some great riding to be had and that made it well worth the trip. The black run down the gully is a bit of a giggle and flows well but I suspect many are put off by the step down at the entrance. I’ll be going back for more.

Gisburn Forest

Penmachno Again

It’s four and a half years since I last rode Penmachno in North Wales. Then I was fitter and riding more regularly than now. I some how managed both loops on the Singlespeed. Today I returned with the Trek Remedy and vague memories of the trails. Still ended up getting simultaneous cramp in both quads again!

Penmachno

Rode the whole trail without seeing a soul taking in the beautiful scenery. Sunshine and dusty trails gave way to some very waterlogged and wet sections, which made me think as I cruised round in my IMBA shirt that some trail maintenance is probably now needed. My arms now bear the marks of the over grown undergrowth lining the trails with brambles having grown a lot this summer.

My view having ridden this a few times now is that although there are some good bits this is a very rough trail and not that much fun. The rationale for this rather critical view is that there are big chunks of trail where you’re contouring slightly up or down and that this is just a bit dull. The slight downhill sections are so rough that they don’t flow and that you don’t really roll very well.

I was really tired by the end and had a very near miss clipping the bars on the penultimate singletrack section rounding a hairpin and grazing into the hillside bank. This led to me getting very out of shape whilst riding one handed at high speed. I’m going to put that down to honed natural instincts and baseline skill… still a bit of a moment because the consequences would have involved an inappropriate descent of a steeply sloping wooded hillside…

Occasionally Riding

I’m still here, not riding much other than with the family and the kids. Trailer is on its limits with the two boys now both in terms of their size and their weight. I did a 15 miler a few weeks ago and it was a bit of a mission but still do-able with the singlespeed.

Last weekend we were down in the Forest of Dean. I managed to put aside my memories of the 1990s and EMF and took the Singlespeed. Our friend Stuart is the local expert and showed my the trails, no wild boar sightings but plenty of evidence of them tearing the place up. There was also plenty of automotive interest too what with his now V8 powered ex-RAF Lightweight Land Rover. Getting to the trails in style…

Snow on the Hills

It’s nearly the end of April, but there’s still snow on the tops in the Lake District. It’s warming up but still chilly in the North of England. I’d like to be up there riding, but there’s too much hacking around the country on four wheels rather than two at the moment.

Lake District

Off-road in Durham

Last night was a first. An off-road ride in Durham on the cross bike. For months I’ve been looking at various tracks and trails as I walk around the city, but this was the night to explore them.

60 seconds from the office

Of course it was far from smooth. My heart rate monitor was not working (probably dead battery), I forgot my biking shoes (in a bag in Formby) so I was mincing about on trainers on SPDs, one trail was closed due to landslides, there was some insane steep stuff, I found some bermed descents and Wahoo stopped recording when I took the photo.

It was great.

Peak District Biking

Had a weekend away in Buxton so threw the Singlespeed in the car and planned for a ride. Saturday morning rode up towards Long Hill out of town taking the Midshires Way. I caught up with a local fella near the top of the climb and we rode around together.

The steep climb out of the Goyt valley by Taxal defeated me but I managed most of the ride on a 32:16 without hiking. By the time we reached Derbyshire Bridge I was hanging on and the descent down into Burbage which is rapid on the Remedy was a bit of a disappointment.

Good ride all in all. Need some new shoes as the grips on the soles are pretty shot on mine these days.

Super Singlespeed

The Independent Fabrication Deluxe Singlespeed turns 11 this year, the bike’s evolved over the years but the heart is still strong and it’s aged well. I had to give the Chris King rear hub a mini service this week as the ring drive was all gummed up, but it should be back on the trails again this weekend.

2004
Deluxe Singlespeed rear view

2008
Not that clean

2009
Deluxe Singlespeed

2012
Untitled

2015
Independent Fabrication Deluxe Singlespeed 2015

Independent Fabrication Deluxe Singlespeed 2015

To the Beach

Had the boys out on their own bikes this morning for the first time this year. It was a bright clear day and cooler than in past weeks. I wanted to try and taking the stabilisers off the big bike but that didn’t happen. Given progress on the balance bike we’ll probably need another bike with pedals in the summer. There’s nothing plenty of time to get the eldest independent on the bike, but I was inspired seeing a three year old competing last weekend at the CX race.

To the Beach!

This afternoon took the lads out exploring. Found some boggy bridleways that were not suitable for towing on so I’ll avoid them, but in the end did find a good route with off road options most of the way to the red squirrel sanctuary in the pine woods which was a result for me (plus found loads more to explore) and the boys had a January ice cream.