In May cycled across the English landmass from the Ouse to the Mersey along the Aire & Calder canal and the Leeds and Liverpool canal tow paths. About 180 miles all together (not in one day though). Saddle sore and a puncture did not diminish an excellent pedalling adventure. Must get more timely with my blog though!

Trying out some new cleats today out on a ride during what is currently a mini-May heatwave, just doing it you know, just riding. Anyway I had not compensated for the concentration level involved in extracting my foot from the pedal and so I just fell to the left and hit the dirt when considering a scenic stop. Luckily I did not fall into traffic, luckily for my pride there was no traffic and hopefully no witnesses. Maybe I’ll check YouTube though later just in case. 

It’s official in these parts – cycling is the new golf. Out today doing my regular route – but in reverse – variety being the spice of life. On the route I passed a variety and overwhelming male majority of cyclists – all sleek astride graphite frames and lyrca’d up to the chin. None of them looked like they were actually enjoying their ride though which is a great shame given the landscape and the weather. I’m still following in the footsteps of my cycling guru Grant Petersen and just riding. Out today in my decorating shorts as I took a break from my current springtime regime of DIY. Not sure what the cycling frat pack made of that.

NB Out last Saturday as well – surveying NCN Route 67 on the 5 Pits Trail for Sustrans as part of my volunteering.

Over towards Chatsworth

Chesterfield spied from a windy ridge.

I’ve been reading ‘Just Ride’ by Grant Petersen and so today I did just that. Set out with no particular plan and just turned left and right as roads, path, and twitchells appeared ahead of the handlebars. I found myself towards the end of my ride pedalling along the Chesterfield Canal in warm March sunshine. Very pleasant all round and infinitely relaxing not to have target destination or mileage chattering in the back of my consciousness. Thanks Grant it is all about the ride.

I’ve made myself a promise that while ever it’s in my gift I’m never going to work on a Leap day again. So a day off work today and what better way to spend it than a trip on two wheels to Hassop Station. Out on my touring bike today after doing some work on it yesterday. The bike is a Ridgeback. Once in an Evans cycle store in Manchester I mentioned I rode a Ridgeback and an employee hipster/ cycle snob let out a loud snort from behind the counter. His derisory ‘comment’ as you can see has stayed with me as an example of exemplary customer service. However in spite of his verbal review it’s a bike that does for me what it needs to – and does it well – today being no exception. I recall that Anna Hughes of ‘Eat, Sleep, Cycle’ rode a similar bike around the coast of England, Scotland, and Wales. So what better endorsement?

This week ‘Ibiza Rocks’ seems to have fallen foul of the country road music critics. Why they end up face up on the verge remains a mystery. I hope whoever is organising the local effort for ‘Clean for the Queen’ is bearing Peak District roadside verges in mind. Supposedly the biggest litterers are young, urban, and white which may explain the music selections I spy. But it may require more research on my part.

I’ve cycled parts of today’s route a lot but I realised today that the majority of these trips have been at the weekend or on summers evenings. I have not ridden these routes on a Monday with a variety of heavy goods vehicle and delivery vans barrelling against the clock up and down the tarmac. When the rumbling behind you becomes a roar as a 12 wheeler passes by I found myself tensing up each time the air around me came under unrelenting pressure. I guess you would call it a leap of faith that you’ll still be upright and cycling after it’s passed and you’ve anticipated the slight passing vacuum well enough. If the driver was to stretch to the left to grab that just out of reach Yorkie on the passenger seat and unconsciously slightly turn the steering wheel it’d be game over – no question – no debate. Two wheeled warriors are no match for twelve wheel wagons. To be fair the majority of drivers are very considerate and give you a good and wide berth. Some don’t though with their speed and trajectory altering little as they overtake.Overall not a winning experience and something for me to bear in mind in four years time!

Out tonight after dark on my urban circuit. I’m still trying to get out more in preparation for this years cycling adventures. Plus if I can shed a few pounds along the way all to the good – innit. 

Out today trying to shake the lead out as I am planning some cycling adventures this year and so I need to keep up my reasonable level of fitness. So up and out to the edge of the Peak District through Old Brampton dodging light snow showers and a bit of hailstoning to boot. Speaking of boots in today’s litany of roadside discarded items were a pair or workmans rigger boots. Maybe the new local ‘Screwfix’ is having an environmental impact already in less obvious ways. I also encountered a Robbie Williams ‘Swings both ways’ CD disc and case on route both landing conveniently title side up. Flung with gusto seemingly by a passing motorist and music critic, or critical passenger. Sometimes I wonder whether I should be doing my bit for the environment and the local aesthetics by picking up the litter that I spy as I go. There’s so much crap loitering along the way though that I’d never be on the bike and where would I dispose of the bin bags? The amount of litter is a sad indictment however of today’s thoughtless road user. I say road user as I suppose I can’t single out ‘the motorist’ as the only culprit. Though it’s unlikely Robbie hit the dirt from horseback.

Out today on one of my regular local training routes – lots of ups to get the heart pumping with some downs to get up some speed. A little lethargic today at times maybe as a result of recent cold. Lovely crisp sunny weather today. A proper winter’s day. Some ice on the road as I approached the Peak’s so I took it steady, and very steady, in places. The ice did not seem to be worrying several MAMIL’s though who were in the main cheerless astride carbon frames as they passed me in their all in one catsuits on their downward descent. I’m not going to post any photographs of ice today though as those who follow Dave Keenan from Stoke on Trent via Facebook will readily appreciate anyone in England who goes outside at the moment will know what ice looks like!

When out pedalling and not lost in saddle based mindfulness I often take note of what lies on the verge as I pass. It’s a bit like virtual beach combing, virtual as you never touch the stuff and you certainly don’t take it home. Usually it’s pop bottles and sandwich wrappers and packaging from the food cult that’s identified by it’s Golden Arches. Interestingly fag packets have decreased over the years that I’ve been pedalling. Today of particular note were two discarded items. One was an unopened can of Kronenberg 1664 which struck me as very mysterious. Had it been tossed out of a speeding car by a driver under the influence who suddenly made a snap decision to quit drinking with one can to go in his stash? The second was a man’s very colourful tie. Had a driver enraged by his working day thrown the symbol of his servitude out the car window as an act of defiance? Or had daddy mistakenly left his favourite tie on the back seat and it had been mischievously posted out by a child still miffed after not getting that bike for Christmas? We’ll never know.

Buzzed by two cars today, what is it about boys and their secondhand motors which creates a need to drive past a cyclist minding his own businesses at an unsafe speed?