For driving from the South Wiltshire to Inverness for the Etape in four weeks I’d prefer to use a waterproof cycle cover, any suggestions?
Haven’t ever used a cover, only ever put my bikes in the back of a van or estate car. Are you carrying on roof rack or rear bike rack?
Finally after starting my journey to Japan o1 April we are at our start position in Kagoshima. Hotel picture £20 each for 1 room. Start point was Heathrow at 9 am 1 April flying to Hong Kong then to Tokyo Narita airport at 12:20 to 18 hours later, at least that was the schedule. Flight delayed 3 hours due to a technical issue with the plane. Didn’t land in time for my connection which meant a further 3 delay for the next available flight. Landed in Narita at 20:30 which started the unraveling of our plan to meet up. Son was now in Osaka in our booked for hotel. I caught the last train to Tokyo Shinagawa station at 21:47 arrived around 23:30pm, no more trains running left me with an overnight in Tokyo to meet up the following day. Took the first available 06:00 Shinkansen to Kyoto with my Son travelling from Osaka. Went to the bike shop to pick up his bike then it was off to Kagashima for an overnight stay. Blossoms still out in Kyoto. Set our bikes up in the room ready to ride to a local bike shop to buy all the racks and bags that my Son would need Tried a few chain type shops before finding a little cycle shop that had what we needed. Spent the balance of the day fitting the bikes out ready for 5 April start.
Lucky escape today, last summer I hurt myself and my road bike when a dodgy Shimano chain snapped in five places. I had noticed a bit of occasional clicking at the start of today’s ride, I even had a puncture on a steep hill so had to impart some power. Then towards the end of the 30 miler the gravel bike wouldn’t stay in the top two gears so I was spinning hard for probably five miles. Luckily i keep a spare chain ! Just ordered a KMC for stock.
First day of actual riding. Set off from Kagashima cycling to Izumi, distance 50 miles from our hotel. We both carry 3 bottles each luggage weighs in at 24 kilo. That is the barest minimum of clothing and spares we carry, maybe 2 pairs of boxer shorts , 2 T shirts, 3 pairs of socks and a pair of trousers is too much. We started climbing almost straight away gradients weren’t that steep but a range of 4-15% takes it out of you. We stopped 3 times to fuel up on a diet of rice balls and trail mix, we don’t do gels. 1 stop was a large grocery store where a middle aged gentleman insisted on buying us a drink from the vending machine which are everywhere in Japan. There was a little respite from climbing when we hit a decent that gave us approximately a 30mph speed for a oh too short distance. Back to climbing….. and a terrifying tunnel to negotiate, we elected to ride the service footpath which was very narrow. Once over the climbing sections came the flood plains which eased our pain. The landscape is stunning. Tomorrow’s rote is 60 miles along the coastal plain……interesting tit bit iJapan is 75% mountain ranges.
I’d be more a plastic bag over the bars and saddle unless I could find a very large plastic bag. Enjoy the etape
A knight’s tale. One of my regular loops includes the village of Quenington. In the older part of the village there's what remains for an old Knights Templar, then later Hospitaller keep. The small door was for pedestrians, the larger for those on horseback. Next to the Keep is the small village church, it's been resorted and extended a few times but does still retain the original Norman doorway, apparently very rare and this is one of the best remaining in the UK. This is just a duck...
I rode to work today, it’s 3.5 miles each way, I left home at 0830 in my new lake shoes, bib shorts and short sleeved jersey. It was far too cold, obviously on the way home it was glorious. Very pleased with the shoes and the LeCol bib shorts, which I bought at the end of last summer.
Glorious day for it yesterday. 55 miles, furthest this year so far. School holidays certainly reduce the traffic and the pressure to be home pre school run! Bloody love the spring! Soon be Easter!
Todays ride 57.5 miles, 2112 metres of climbing on varying gradients max was 25%.Fastest recorded speed was 36mph whilst being followed by a truck , longest tunnel which are pretty terrifying was 5.2kilometres. Time now to shower and refuel ready for tomorrow and possibly a 70 miler. Picture below is the from above the start of the steeper grades for climbing. Some pictures of motorcycles seen today.
80 miles today some of which was taken up cycling the Shimanami Kaido route. As every other day the scenery is stunning.
First 40+ mile ride since December, rode with youngest daughter & her boyfriend. Shaftesbury for coffee & cake, all good except the knob in the jaguar SUV that nearly had me off. Only two weeks until Loch Ness Etape, I might get the wife to drop me off at Cheddar next week, ride up through the gorge and home, it’s about 60 miles.
A spare hanger is on the mandatory parts list for the Loch Ness Etape. Does Shimano Ultegra Di2 derailleur hanger identify a specific part or could there be variants ? Can I buy one on line with confidence as I don’t really have time to visit my LBS. It’s for a Cervelo S5. Who sells them ? thanks
