When I was growing up in the Borders, I had an idea, even back then as a teenager with no concept of mortality, that the Borders had a higher than average distribution of car-related insanity. Two of my school peers died in completely pointless high speed crashes, and it felt like it was built into … Continue reading Darwin Awards Season
Rides
Double Dutch
It's been a good weekend's cycling the past couple of days. On Saturday I got in a three hour endurance ramp ride down via Selkirk into the Yarrow valley and then back up to Innerleithen and round over the Granites to Stow. I survived the two miles of unbelievably rough chipseal in the Yarrow valley … Continue reading Double Dutch
Back to Reality
Yesterday I took a day off work to do a recon of the Tour de Lauder route on the M5. It was below freezing when I woke up so I waited until around 11 a.m. before setting off. Even at that time it was still pretty cold! It was one of those days where all … Continue reading Back to Reality
Crashed Again :(
I commuted in to work by bike today - early start at 4.40 am to get to work for 6.30. All was going just lovely until I came round the roundabout outside Newtongrange just before you go under the viaduct - the bike fishtailed out from under me and I hit the deck at speed … Continue reading Crashed Again 😦
Reacquainting with an old friend
This week I had the mighty Fuego in for some TLC at the Bicycle Works after a winter sitting neglected and collecting dust in the garage. The trike has been the number one ride over the past few months, but now it feels like time to get back onto two wheels. The gears were skipping … Continue reading Reacquainting with an old friend
Things to do when you can’t sleep
I had terrible insomnia on Friday night - something I periodically suffer from. I gave up at 3.30 am and got up. So what to do? Well, by 5 I had drunk about a gallon of coffee, had plenty breakfast and was on my way round the 65 mile Ettrick Loop! I was physically quite … Continue reading Things to do when you can’t sleep
Night Ride
We got out for a 2 hour blast on the tandem last night after work. The weather has been incredibly mild for February - about 10 degrees when we left. Very windy though! Up the back road to Heriot and hang a left up to the Granites. It was getting dark by the time we … Continue reading Night Ride
Keep your mouth shut!
We got out for the first tandem ride of 2019 today - round the usual 40 mile Innerleithen loop. The weather was gorgeous when we were preparing to go. When asked if I thought we'd need overshoes, I immediately said nah, spring is here, we'll be fine without. 1.5 hours later, it's bloody freezing again, … Continue reading Keep your mouth shut!
First commute of the year
Yesterday I took the trike to work and back - a round trip of 65 miles. Up at 4 a.m. for a 2 hour ride to work and nearly 3 hours home again. I tend to take a detour on the way home to avoid rush hour traffic on the A7 - there's some nice … Continue reading First commute of the year
Breaking out the big guns
Had a nice weekend of cycling last week - took the Tarmac out for a 2 hour blast on Saturday (puncture and 50mph winds - 'interesting' conditions!), and then got my first ride of 2019 on the M5 CHR on Sunday. I've been doing a few more updates to the CHR which I will hopefully … Continue reading Breaking out the big guns
