![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
Things That Are Right, One of N: Cycling
Hola! I am cold, my legs ache, but boy am I happy.
Woke up at 8 this morning, went back to sleep and woke up at 11.
I happen to know that there's a train for Oban and Mallaig which leaves Glasgow at 12.20, so I had a quick breakfast and cycled down to Queen Street Station. My plan was to get off at Arrochar and Tarbert, and use the A82 to get me back into Glasgow, with a possibly bale out at Balloch Central if the weather turned bad or I got bike trouble. Or lazy.
But the weather was looking cold and clear on the way up, so I stayed on the train for an extra ten miles and cycled the 25-30 miles to Balloch, then got the train back from there (light would have been an issue, otherwise, and I don't have lights on my road bike).
I took the Bianchi because I wanted to log up some road miles on it. My plan was to keep on the fast modern A82 from Tarbert, and the quick 9 miles from Ardlui to my bacon buttie stop at Tarbert didn't put me off that idea. A mile on the road past there did - the A83 joins up with the A82 at that point, and instead of being on a narrow road where cars were overtaking me doing 40-50, I was on a slightly wider one where they were overtaking me at 70-80. Taking the cycle path slowed me down, though not as much as I expected, maybe only a couple of MPH.
I also had the advantage of cycling right along the loch shore. The path was covered in some places in fallen leaves - if it had been a wet day then it would have been very dicey on skinny tyres, but as it was they were crisp, and I enjoyed the shhhhhh-ing sound they made under my wheels.
Loch Lomond was gorgeous - I scared a couple of grouse (grice?) and trespassed on a couple of fancy golf courses. Top speed was just under 30, average around half that.
I made it to Balloch Central just as the train pulled in, and had a relaxing journey back to the Exhibition Centre station, and then a mile or so back to the flat. Where I'm enjoying the feeling of heat coming back into my body, and thinking of going to the gym for a hot tub and sauna.
You know what? I think I'll do just that.
Woke up at 8 this morning, went back to sleep and woke up at 11.
I happen to know that there's a train for Oban and Mallaig which leaves Glasgow at 12.20, so I had a quick breakfast and cycled down to Queen Street Station. My plan was to get off at Arrochar and Tarbert, and use the A82 to get me back into Glasgow, with a possibly bale out at Balloch Central if the weather turned bad or I got bike trouble. Or lazy.
But the weather was looking cold and clear on the way up, so I stayed on the train for an extra ten miles and cycled the 25-30 miles to Balloch, then got the train back from there (light would have been an issue, otherwise, and I don't have lights on my road bike).
I took the Bianchi because I wanted to log up some road miles on it. My plan was to keep on the fast modern A82 from Tarbert, and the quick 9 miles from Ardlui to my bacon buttie stop at Tarbert didn't put me off that idea. A mile on the road past there did - the A83 joins up with the A82 at that point, and instead of being on a narrow road where cars were overtaking me doing 40-50, I was on a slightly wider one where they were overtaking me at 70-80. Taking the cycle path slowed me down, though not as much as I expected, maybe only a couple of MPH.
I also had the advantage of cycling right along the loch shore. The path was covered in some places in fallen leaves - if it had been a wet day then it would have been very dicey on skinny tyres, but as it was they were crisp, and I enjoyed the shhhhhh-ing sound they made under my wheels.
Loch Lomond was gorgeous - I scared a couple of grouse (grice?) and trespassed on a couple of fancy golf courses. Top speed was just under 30, average around half that.
I made it to Balloch Central just as the train pulled in, and had a relaxing journey back to the Exhibition Centre station, and then a mile or so back to the flat. Where I'm enjoying the feeling of heat coming back into my body, and thinking of going to the gym for a hot tub and sauna.
You know what? I think I'll do just that.
no subject
I'm looking forward to buying the Captain a bike when he is just a little bit older.
no subject
http://www.edinburghbicycle.com/products/specialized-hotwalk-13
no subject
I’m in two minds about getting him a balance bike or going straight to one with pedals and stabilisers. Not sure what the pros and cons are.
no subject
"Specialised Hotrock 12. Built in 2011. For sale. Excellent condition. Cost £150 new. £75 Ono. Grab yourself a Christmas bargain" Age 3-6 years.
no subject