So I've been out on the MTB a fair bit lately, but having signed up for
Mayhem (in a moment of madness, way to close to the deadline to have fully considered what saying yes really entailed), I'm kinda in training and want to clock up some miles so my little legs have a fighting chance
of getting me round the course at least twice! So, time to get on the
road bike.
Since the Manchester 100K last year one of my post-study missions for
this year was to build up the road miles, so it was a real treat to get
out on Friday (sorry Wills and Kate) and enjoy the quiet roads. To make
my life a little easier, I took the rack (and basket) off the back, and
boy, what a different bike it is without that monster rack on it.
Because of the disc brakes, I had to get a "special" rack, which cost
more than a regular rack and weighs about four times more, so taking it
off means I actually have quite a light road bike. Who'd have thought
it? I was thinking I needed a lighter bike, but all along I just needed
to remove the rack off the back. Genius.
The wind made it tough going, and my first ever climb of Monks Road out
of Charlesworth gave my lungs a run for their money, but that was the
worst of it. The road bike is such a joy to ride; a totally different
day out to a day on the MTB. Not that MTBing isn't joyous -- just that
it's a different buzz. Anyway, 28 miles, one ice-cream, two cups of tea,
and a cheese sandwich later I was back home with a big grin on my face
and some v.tired leggies. A hot bath later and all was well. Not a bad
start, and now I'm really looking forward to my next ride.
