.....just try your best, try everything you can.......

Common sense should dictate that I should stay in today, I have a touch of man flu and have not slept well and my lungs didn't feel on top form. This may sound odd but as an asthmatic I've sort of trained myself to breathe through my nose and keep my gob shut, your nose acts as an air warmer for your lungs. Being bunged up doesn't let me do this of course and being a man the effect is ten times worse ;) 

It was sunny, it was dry a little breezy but nothing too bad, you have to ride when the opportunity allows and I'm sure it would make me feel better. For the first time this year I actually wore sunglasses as I headed off into the morning sunshine, I was a bit hot, must of been my man flu fever but once into the shade of the trees on the roads either side of Dunster the heat seemed to have regulated itself. I was heading up to Wheddon Cross, a nice steady climb but the air was a bit cold on the lungs. The legs seemed to be working though as I slowly made progress but I was puffing a bit when I reached the bus shelter. Wheddon Cross was busy with visitors heading off to see the snowdrops in the valley, I headed to Dunkery Hill.

As ever, the views where beautiful and it was peaceful as I made my way up and over the hill. I could really feel the cold wind when I stopped to take some pics once on top so didn't hang around. 

The descent off the hill is quite steep in places and the first time I'd done it on the new bike. I think I need to adjust the reach to my brake levers as it was a bit of a stretch which led to some cautious descending. A quick spin around the pretty villages to add some miles and then onto home, into the headwind, the legs feeling it a bit now, ah well.

I did feel better when I got back and the lungs feel a bit clearer. I know I said I wouldn't get too wrapped up in stats but my time for getting up to Wheddon Cross wasn't too bad which also made me feel better.

Here's the Strava bit.....

....'Till things are brighter, I'm the Man In Black.....

I don't know about anyone else but being British and all you have to moan about the weather and queueing. I ventured out with eldest on the mountain bikes on Sunday, we didn't go far and although it was good fun slipping and sliding down tracks with sheer drops to one side it was too wet. The water is just sitting on the trails now and it's like riding along rivers which means mud glorious mud and made us not very popular with 'er indoors when we got back.

Today though a gap, a breather a lull before the next front or depression sets in, chilly, with light winds blowing from somewhere and it was dry! Layers applied including my new DHB softshell which is very warm but a bit short, I was the man in black, not Johnny Cash, I don't think his outfits had reflective trim and it wasn't lycra.

Does black make me look less chunky ?

I didn't want to venture out into the wilds of Exmoor too far, if it's chilly down at sea level it will no doubt be a degree or so chillier up on top of the moors. I hadn't attempted a ride up Porlock Toll road for a while and now I've got a new bike with different gearing today seemed a good day to give it a go. As usual the Toll road was its peaceful self, the odd car and just the sound of me huffing and puffing my way up, pick a gear and spin. It felt like hard work which it always is for me but again I felt good even the cold air didn't seem to be effecting my lungs that much.

A quick breather at the top and I turned around and headed back down, rather chilly but I broke up the descent to take some pics. The recent weather has had quite an effect with lots of trees down and damaged opening up the canopy in places.

I took the scenic route home to make sure I complied with the two hour rule and to take in some smaller hills, just for the fun of it ;) On checking my stats when I got back it appears I did my quickest time up the toll road which I'm quite pleased with, is it about the bike ?

Here's the Strava bit.....

.....what's that coming over the hill......

Not done many miles on the road bike lately, I wouldn't say I'm a fair weather cyclist but snow, impassable roads followed by floods does put you off a bit. I went out on the mtb the other day which turned out to be very wet and found trails blocked by trees.

At least I still got views like this though.

Today I was sort of invited to go for a ride with the Axbridge cycling group which meant a trip out to the Mendips. The group is made up of people I've got know through the blog, amongst others and I was slightly worried, new bike, new pedals, old me, and they are all far more accomplished cyclists than I. After meeting up with the Mayor(Jennifer) and the Rouleur(Guy) we made out way to the square and met up with Martyn who I met at the Cheddar sportive and two of his friends and  Dave and Mr Steep(Steve). Steve's shifter appeared to have broken on his way to meet up so he quickly left us to go home and sort things out and meet up with us later. Upon the bell ringing of the church we set off, heading for Cheddar Gorge which is apparently iconic, and the goats are sheep ? The signs did say road closed but that seemed to be being ignored by everyone, cyclists and motorists. As usual I had the feeling of going backwards as everyone else seemed to disappear into the distance. After a steep left hander things levelled off and Guy kindly towed me up to meet up with the others.

We continued along the top of the Mendips, slightly wet and the cloud seemed to be rolling in. We stopped at a junction to wait for Steve and right on cue through the mist he came over the hill. We were heading for Mells, which I thought was the proprietor of a cyclist friendly teashop and not a pretty Bath Stone village which it turned out to be. Martyn's friends left us at this point and the rest of us stopped at the Post office, shop, cafe for coffee and cake. After that it was back up to the Mendips which was even murkier than it was before we stopped for coffee. I was reliably informed you can see Exmoor on a good day, today wasn't a good day for views. After traversing some wet and muddy lanes which reminded me of West Somerset we got a bit strung out in the elements on the main road. Kindly everyone waited for me or towed me along as any incline had its usual affect on me. Guy and Steve went off in their own direction whilst I followed the rest back to Axbridge, at least we had a bit of downhill to finish.

It was a bit grey and miserable but had a thoroughly good ride with great company, fifty miles which is a bit longer than I usually do. I did feel good on the bike but a bit tired towards the end which was probably my own fault for not eating and relying on caffeine to get me round.

Here's the Strava bit.......

.....here is a tale of the trees in a wood......

Does riding your bike have to have a purpose or a meaning ? I read in a magazine once that Big Maggy only rides if a ride serves a training purpose of some kind. It may have been taken out of context and he's also a pro so cycling is his nine to five and we all get bored of that from time to time. I always seem to read about people doing taper rides or recovery rides, do we have to give a label to a ride ? If the weather is really bad I just don't ride but if it's too rough for the road there is always the mountain bike. I've said before I don't like gym's or static trainers but I know people who use them to help them with their overall fitness.The more I ride the fitter I'm getting so every ride could be classed as a training ride. I got too wrapped up in stats last year and took a step back, I wasn't enjoying the ride and that's the most important thing to me. I ride my bike to enjoy the freedom, the surroundings, the company and the sense of achievement if I do a big ride or get up that hill. So go and ride your bike and enjoy it !

Today I went for a quick blast with No1 son, no GPS, no Camelbaks(other water carrying bags are available) no strava just me him the bikes and the snow :)

....an endless road of breathtaking sights.....

I managed to drag my mate Bonus out of hibernation today to go for a blast on the mountain bikes. He suggested we do a reverse of a route I tried last week, so we did, sort of. The way out means a flattish spin along the cycle path to Carhampton and Bonus seemed to be pushing it a bit as we sped along. He seemed quite eager to get to the first hill of the day and then it dawned on me why when I stopped to de-layer. The menace of Strava, not many sad geeks must use it who ride up this hill because I currently stand as the king of the mountain. Up we went, it's a climb of two parts, a long slog followed by a steeper more technical bit with mud and rocks. I did think Bonus was going for it in one go but he did stop for a quick breather before we tackled the steep bit.

Bonus went for it on the steep bit leaving me in his wake to puff up and meet him at the top, I wasn't that far behind. Along Withycombe Hill then down and back up and a gentle ride along the edge of Black Hill offering great views down the coast.

After a quick breather we decided to go exploring the myriad of tracks in the forest rather than coast back down the boring fireroads, still wide forest tracks but a bit rockier and rougher. We had to check the map a couple of times but we managed to get where we wanted to, well near enough. A quick blast along the crunchy track for old times sake and then back home. Bonus was struggling a bit, he's been laid low with the flu for a couple of weeks, that and his Strava beating exploits seemed to be taking their toll so I had to nurse him towards home. It's not quite the same as draughting on a road bike but I was there more for moral encouragement ;)

Here's the Strava bit....

Nice to get out with company but I'm still the King.....for now ;)

...so let me go far....

I was a bit down this morning, speaking to my dad last night set my mind racing which led to little sleep. He's fine, a stubborn old boy who'll no doubt go on a lot longer. He's sorting things out before the inevitable, it's not something I like to think about after losing my mum two years ago but I guess it's something I'll have to deal with. He always makes light of it, preparing for his bonfire as he likes to call it, he always tells me not to worry but I guess I'm the worrying type. He also tells me to get out and enjoy myself, so I did.

I've had a bit of an urge to ride new routes lately especially on the mountain bike, explore the fantastic surroundings of where I live even more. The aim for today was to head for Dunkery Beacon, I know where it is but how to get there off road was a different matter. I scanned the map and headed off, up the hill and over the ridge and down to Wootton Courtenay, some of the woodland was a bit more ancient today.

Old....

Young....

Once off the tarmac the tracks were a bit more interesting today, green lanes I think they like to call them but muddy and rocky was the theme today. As I got closer to Dunkery the cloud started to shroud my surroundings and the track I was on turned into a great big field. I had ridden this way on the Explorer once but I still had the overwhelming feeling of being lost, but I didn't cry. I couldn't ride across the field it was that wet and just sunk but I finally found the edge and signs, signs are great.

Up I went into the murk, and up and a bit more, the visibility wasn't very far but I finally made it to the road that goes over Dunkery, nearly at the top of it, I wasn't expecting to be quite here. Instead of riding up and down the same track I went down the road and up the track to the beacon. A rocky ascent and it felt farther than it looks when I've seen it on a good day but I got up it.

view from the beacon...

Downhill now for about two miles, a technical rocky descent which needs full concentration, glad my bike as ample clearance for precious bits ! I've ridden this bit on my full suspension bike but never on a hardtail bike so line choice was important. Once heading down the hill the cloud lifted though which made the views a bit better :)

A view....

technical....

Just a last hill to negotiate before heading down to home, there are easier ways to get back but where's the fun in that ? It's been titled "killer hill" on strava, just over a mile at an average gradient of 9%, see I said it was fun. Still couldn't quite make it in one go, the legs were willing but my back needed a quick break. After that, straight back down to home, great ride.

Here's the Strava bit....

said it was muddy.....

.....hey mister, where you headed?..........

So it's the new year, will I make resolutions, join a gym, go on the wagon or just plod on as usual ? I think I've mentioned before what I think of gym's and the amount I drink is minimal especially compared to others (you know who you are). Resolution, Noun : A firm decision to do or not to do something.

I was feeling a little bunged up and did offer to take the missus out for a coffee but she positively encouraged me to go out on my bike, slightly worrying ? I thought I'd try a route I'd been thinking about doing for sometime it's in a cycling guide book I have and I also took a map, quite the explorer. Out to the forests and along the fire roads for the first couple of miles. The surface was a little grippy and to be honest a bit boring slogging upwards but it was quiet heading through the forests and the views over the hedge were fantastic as always.

Dunkery looming.....

I didn't see a soul spinning along, the odd squirrel and a buzzard and it was quite eerie looking through the trees, I was expecting to see a hobbit at any moment whilst I rode along on my precious. I had to stop a couple of times just to check the route but I managed to stay on track but at least it broke up the monotony of the fireroads. 

I can see work from here...

just been up there....

Once at the edge of the forest it was downhill for a bit which skirted around Black Hill and then down and back up to Withycombe Hill. Back on familiar ground now and in the hills above Dunster and a very wet descent down to Dunster. 

Dunkery again...

a hobbit might of made it.....

A thoroughly good ride overall, good to sweat out the festive indulgences and find new trails to add to the personal book of rides. Here's the Strava bit....