and i'm having more than i can deal with atm!

This isn't grade A shit like i was going through last summer, its borderline B/C i guess, no one died, i still have a roof and my health is, well, about 8.5/10. But its still shit that i can do without.

So on Monday, as i mentioned last time, it was bike fettling time. First job, sort the tyre issue, so wheels out, clean, remove bgrd tyre, swap front to rear, fit spare to front. It was only as i finished this last that i found a new issue, a broken spoke nipple, shit 1, so everything back off to sort that. I ended up fitting a slightly short new spoke as the broken nipple wouldn't unscrew but fortunately i didn't need to get out the wheel jig as it tightened up true without.

Next job was new brake pads, a fiddly job but i've done it often enough for it to be straightforward, then a quick wipe down before refitting the wheels - all ready for Tuesdays ride. Well i did discover that i was out of replacement tubes so that will need to be addressed before the ride. A short walk restocked the groceries, a pretty bleh pizza ended the day, but not before Aunty Bev set up a motor assist bike trip for the following day!

So yesterday morning we set off for Aldermaston in Berkshire, Aunty B had a plan for her ride, i'd put together my own route around an area i'd never ridden in until this year, a quick visit to Halfords secured a couple of tubes to set my mind at rest. I have to say that the ride was pretty good, the lanes were quiet but the highlight was @ 19km of The Ridgeway, prehistoric 'road' along the northern edge of the Wessex Downs. It's a restricted byway, no motorised traffic allowed which does mean that its mostly in very good repair for the little more than sheep track that makes up long stretches of the route.

The weather was warm without being hot with enough wind to keep it comfortable. The views north over the Thames valley are expansive, the road gently rolling with little need to change gear and i only saw a handful of walkers/runners until my lunch stop at Segsbury Camp, At a mere 2500 years old, it's much newer than the road, the size and 'design' suggesting a refuge for livestock rather than a living place. Of course, at this point i discovered shit 2, a split/leak in one of my water bottles - i can't really complain, its been in regular use for @ 10 years so i've had my moneys worth - still annoying tho! From there it was only a couple of kilometres to the Lambourn road where i started my return journey on tarmac.

The drop to Lambourn was fast, almost entirely downhill on pretty good asphalt, a brief stop at the market cross to check my onward route, then more downhill towards Newbury. But too much downhill can be boring so i turned off to make the 90m climb up to the old Roman road of Ermin Street which gave me another downhill run into the Kennet valley where i picked up the canal towpath. This took me through Newbury all the way to Thatcham, 12km more of off road riding, before i rejoined the tarmac roads for the final 8km back to the start point where Aunty Bev arrived literally seconds behind me.

A good days ride, 86km of new roads with just 637m of up, Aunty B treated us to food at the Hind's Head then it was the return along the M4 to Cabotville. It was only as i put my bike away that i discovered shit 3, all that off tarmac riding, 30+km on the chalky, flinty tracks/paths had done a number on my 'new' front tyre. Yep, a similar injury and result so that's two tyres killed in two rides. Looks like i'll need to stick to safer surfaces until i can fund some more robust tyres.

So shit happens, it's not necessarily a full on disaster, no one died, nothing (significant) broke terminally but it all costs money which i presently have very little of.

Anyhoo, today is a bit grey and some wet has fallen from the heavens, todays exercise surely can't attract more shit? I'm looking forward to cooking tonight's spag bol, i always find that quite restorative, there's just something about cooking with minced beef! As for the rest of the week, well nothing is set in stone, more (road) riding, more walking and zero spending will all feature.

Sunday will see the next Gaby chapter posted, but for now,
Wiedersehn,
Madeline Anafrid