Post by Deleted on Jul 16, 2015 18:11:03 GMT
The last 2 months are the worst times I've had so far on a mountain bike. I know that makes me sound like a soft purring furry thing (don't say a word Neil, we all know..! 
and most of you will have had far worse injuries. I know I got off very lightly, and that was the point. It made me realise just how suddenly life could become very shitty indeed. And was this activity really worth it? After all I'd far rather be behind the controls of a sailplane, if I could afford it, or the harness of a hang-glider, if I hadn't badly broken my ankle doing that 30 years ago...
So, I nearly bought a road bike...
But naaaaaa, we all know that tight lycra with my fat belly is just wrong wrong wrong. However, seeing the value of retail therapy as a curative, I bought some new blue Freeriders (flats), a pair of blue Endura ST Lite gloves, and a baggy blue Flux shirt (size L) on Tuesday and went out for a fabulous evening ride with Russell last night (flat pedals obviously) 21 miles around Slaley, Blanchland and Edmundbyers on a mix of well loved and very familiar trails and some brand new bits thanks to Russell's local knowledge. The weather was perfect, pure clear sky and red-gold sunset with not a breath of wind, which on these high fells is a very rare thing. The perfect peace and tranquility were only eclipsed by watching a short-eared owl quartering the fell in front of us and a flock of golden plover giving us a low level flypast. The whisky and 2 half-pints in the Punch Bowl 3/4 of the way round was also a high point... and meant that we rode off literally into the afterglow of sunset around the shore of the reservoir and across some unofficial rough field climbs, getting back to the car way past bedtime for farmers. Thanks Russell, great night, just the ticket.
Reminded me why I do this, just in time...
Tahnks to everyone for their support, encouragement and, in some cases, the honest p-taking! See ya soon for more acrobatics.
and most of you will have had far worse injuries. I know I got off very lightly, and that was the point. It made me realise just how suddenly life could become very shitty indeed. And was this activity really worth it? After all I'd far rather be behind the controls of a sailplane, if I could afford it, or the harness of a hang-glider, if I hadn't badly broken my ankle doing that 30 years ago...So, I nearly bought a road bike...
But naaaaaa, we all know that tight lycra with my fat belly is just wrong wrong wrong. However, seeing the value of retail therapy as a curative, I bought some new blue Freeriders (flats), a pair of blue Endura ST Lite gloves, and a baggy blue Flux shirt (size L) on Tuesday and went out for a fabulous evening ride with Russell last night (flat pedals obviously) 21 miles around Slaley, Blanchland and Edmundbyers on a mix of well loved and very familiar trails and some brand new bits thanks to Russell's local knowledge. The weather was perfect, pure clear sky and red-gold sunset with not a breath of wind, which on these high fells is a very rare thing. The perfect peace and tranquility were only eclipsed by watching a short-eared owl quartering the fell in front of us and a flock of golden plover giving us a low level flypast. The whisky and 2 half-pints in the Punch Bowl 3/4 of the way round was also a high point... and meant that we rode off literally into the afterglow of sunset around the shore of the reservoir and across some unofficial rough field climbs, getting back to the car way past bedtime for farmers. Thanks Russell, great night, just the ticket.
Reminded me why I do this, just in time...
Tahnks to everyone for their support, encouragement and, in some cases, the honest p-taking! See ya soon for more acrobatics.
