The Sea is Calling

One last training push... that's what I needed. One last trip to test my gear and test my legs. Well I am now back home (several days later and several pints of cider in the sun at the cricket later while I type this as it happens) and 284 miles of fully laden biking are clocked up on the trip computer, including one (for me) massive 80 mile day. That said it was 80 miserable miles pretty much all in the rain, not to mention through Hull. Frankly it was not the best part of the trip, Hull is not my favourite place anyway, but with the rain pouring down and the worst sign posting on all the Trans Pennine Trail constantly trying to lead you onto a ferry to Zeebrugge I am glad that day is over. But all in all the trip was fun and certainly gave me some long days in the saddle as intended. My route took me up the Trans Pennine Trail (TPT) to York, with a quick stop to see my sister there. Then on down the Path of the Roses to Bridlington, fish and chips, and the sea. From there, sea air inhaled by the litre, a quick dash down the coast to soggy Hornsea and then home to Sheffield on the TPT.

My only kit issue on the whole trip was a cracked rack (fnar!) not discovered until I was home and replacing all the drive train on the bike for the big off. Bit of a disaster, but good to catch it now, and hopefully the super tough replacement will arrive before my flight out of here! Here are a few pics from the trip:
      
                                    
I loved this little old boat on the river. I got talking to the owner, a proper Captain Haddock type with pipe an all. It was an old lifeboat and everything above the ribbing he built on top.

                                                  Many fields of Moo Cows were passed!

                        I have a secret passion for old boaty rope type stuff... just think it looks cool.

I always think the golden yellow stonework of York is so vibrant and beautiful, and all over the place within the walls.

                Cool bar I went to last time I was in York with the my bro and sis (and da Fox)

        Don't ask, I don't know why, but it made me chuckle seeing him just wandering round York.

                                                            My sisters second home

                                          Bubble Tea... Weird... but worth experiencing once!

                                              Saw some amazing poppy fields, so dramatic.

How many level crossings in East Yorkshire!? Still the ones where you have to operate the gates yourself I found strangely exciting.

                                                            Made it to the sea at last :)

                                        And Bridlington Beach can be real pretty in the evening.

                                                         Four legged dudes out having fun!

           The Humber Bridge is so impressive, but I was too soggy to care enough to get a good photo.

                                                            Chilling at the final camp site

                          

Dead Weight

Hello. A friend asked if I could post some photos of what kit I will be taking with me out on the trail. As I am heading out on one last training adventure tomorrow I got all my kit together and took a few photos to detail it all. This is one for kit nerds only... but the first photo shows pretty much everything I will be carrying.

But here is the detail:

1: Two Ortlieb panniers to carry most of my kit, so far these things have proved pretty tough, which is the reputation they came with, and are so watertight I am certain they would just float.
2: Handlebar bag, again waterproof if not watertight and has been up to the mud and rain of the peak district this summer.
3: A couple of spare waterproof sacks.
4: An Alpkit Pipedream sleeping bag, squished into a watertight sack, wet down sleeping bags are a nightmare best avoided.
5: Alpkit 2/3 length sleeping mat.
6: Thermo sleeping bag liner in case of any seriously cold nights.
7: Spare cycling leggings, 1 short, 1 long.
8: Spare waterproof socks.
9: Camping Towel.
10: Spare merino wool base layer, I have gone with Merino wool to try and avoid the dead tramp smell for as long as possible!
11: Lightweight tent with a bungee net to attach it direct to the bike rack.
12: A fleece as part of a base layer when necessary and has been doubling up as a pillow.
13: Rab Down Jacket for cold weather at altitude, which i have put in my sleeping bags compression sack.
14: Spare lightweight Trousers/Shorts. Handy for going into towns/restaurants etc. I should think.
15: Chargers for camera and phone.
16: Cooking Pot.
17: Gas Canister.
18: Super mini screw on stove and flint lighter.
19: Food, although what I will be able to find stateside is mystery to solve once I am there.
20: A folding sporky knifey type thingamajig.
21: An ancient penknife I found, cleaned, sharpened and oiled, we will see how it goes.

22: My old and trusty Dakine Helipack.
23: Medkit.
24: Berghaus Paclite Gore-Tex Trousers.
25: Berghaus Paclite Gore-Tex Jacket.
26: Waterproof winter riding gloves for cold days.
27: Pump.
28: Innertube (I may also take a spare tyre to the states).
29: 3 Litre water reservoir, extra water carrying solutions will probably be needed for the likes of New Mexico though, but I will worry about that when I get there.
30: Bike Lock.
31: Waterproof GPS handlebar mount, with headphones in as I have been rocking the tunes whilst out training.
32: Tool bag (with spare chain, wrenches, puncture kits etc.) mounted under the saddle.
33: Some suncream and ibuprofen gel.
34: High Vis leg strips, good for stopping waterproof trousers getting caught on the chainrings when riding.
35: Ductape... the single most amazing thing in the world that can fix anything!
36: Solar Battery.
37: Compass
38: Phone/GPS Unit

Of course one thing I couldn't get in the photo was my camera itself, now fitted with it's large focal range lens and a UV and Polarising filter

Two things I will get when I arrive in Banff are a water filter for stream water, and Bear Spray. This is like a concentrated pepper spray for bears. Apparently it also works on cougars, but they are so sneaky they will already be picking bits of you out of their teeth with your own pen knife before you have time to reach for it!

In terms of carrying all this stuff i have fitted a rack to my bike, pictured below:

On the cockpit I have fitted a mount for the GPS case, Klickfix for the handlebar bag, and a cycle computer as the maps I will be following require you to keep track of distance to follow route instructions:

The cycle computer works on a magnet going past a sensor, the first Sigma one I bought was crap off road, so hopefully this Cateye one is a bit more sturdy and will do the job:

And I think that should be about enough geekiness for today :)

Showing off for the Camera

Out for yet more training in the glorious British summer today.  Decided to try out my mini rocket stove, and it has to be said there is something perversely satisfying about sitting in the rain, covered up by your waterproof, eating hot food. Especially watching other sodden people trudge miserably by.

 I also got a new lens for my camera (I only want to have to take one so a reasonable range of focal length seemed necessary) I wanted to try out. So I took it with me to the cable ski. I think one of the boarders was aware I was taking a few shots and wanted to show off.  But when he tried some kind of flip thing it all went horribly wrong with a juicy face plant into the water. I think his face of impending doom in the pic says it all :)

Hopefully he shut his mouth before splashdown!

For 'Charidee'

I am not going to be posting this every five seconds so don't worry, but i have decided to raise some money for charity with this attempt. The cause is one that for me is personal and gives me a reason to do the ride other than just for my own selfish reasons. So if you would like to donate to the Oral Cancer Foundation on my just giving page click through!

Going Live!

Well now seems a good time to officially tell everyone what I am up to. In exactly a months time from now I will be getting on a plane to Calgary with my bike and attempting the GDMBR (short for Great Divide Mountain Bike Route) solo. This essentially means cycling through the Rocky Mountains Off Road from Canada to Mexico. 2754 miles give or take... Should be a challenge! Anyway whenever I get the chance and some wi-fi I can use on my phone I will try to update this blog, so if you want to know how i'm getting on... follow this Blog :)

And if you want to know a little more about the GDMBR you can read about it on Wikipedia

And here is a little pic of the route!

Bike Tinkering Goodness

 Made a few alterations to the bike recently. Put on some mechanical disc brakes. Less power than hydraulic but easier to fix and adjust, and no chance of boiling the fluid on a long Rocky Mountain Range descent (of course my own internal fluid will be boiled many times on the ascents i imagine). That said the mahoosive 203mm rotor on the front has more than compensated for the loss of hydraulic power :)  Also i have now fitted some long distance off road touring tyres, good for 10k miles!

Muddy day :-)

Well today provided a very muddy day out in the peak district. But it was nice to be back out on some technical trails with no panniers. Highlights being the rocky rooty descending through blackamoor and seeing some wild deer on the moors above Totley (apologies for crap photo but only had my phone with me).