Views on wheels

All this started with a simple question for Google.  "What's the fastest anyone has gone from Leeds to Liverpool?"  And the search engine giant spat out this.  Way back in 2010 a local Yorkshire man did the route there and back.  Cycling at what he calls a “steady pace” with five minute rests every 30 minutes and 30 minutes for lunch, he arrived in Liverpool with a total cycling time of 11 hours 15 minutes, averaging just over 11mph. On the return trip he took fewer rests and made use of the tail wind to increase his speed. “I only took one five-minute break every hour and had 10 minutes for lunch and completed the 127 and a quarter miles in 11 hours and 23 minutes.”  To which my jaw dropped and I couldn't believe that someone can be so insane.  Here we are 3 years later after the initial Google search.  I stood outside in drizzling rain at the first locks on Leeds - Liverpool canal. It was 5am.  I was filming my self saying that I am about to beg...

7th of July.  Early morning.  24h before the ride.  Me and my mate finally have got the days off. Bikes are fixed. Some equipment is added and some is taken away due to Leeds - Liverpool experiences.  Overall we feel confident that we are ready to tackle the new challenge. Both of us are excited and at the same time clueless of what we both have done by signing up for the famous C2C bike route.  It's a 140 mile long journey from Whitehaven to Sunderland. All the way across UK, trough and over Pennines with highest peak at Hartside which is 1903 ft. We took the train from Leeds to Whitehaven and stayed at the nicest hotel I have been in my life. Lismore Guest House ( I haven't been paid to say that)  It was pretty good day and we arrived around dinner time so we wondered around. Walked up and down the place. Lots of history around it. And we met an old man that was happy to talk Whitehaven for days. So we listened for a bit. We had few uncomfortable pints in...

Do you like big diggers?  Then you are in for a treat. This big rig is located just on the edge of the St Aidens ponds. Not functional but it's a pretty big piece of machinery.  We are sort of running ahead of the whole ride and why I thought to put this down in writing.  The season for cycling is sort of nearing the end where it's still pleasant and enjoyable. So I picked fairly warm +15 degree Sunday to get away from home and my four walls.  Put some air in the wheels. Stuck my headphones in. And I chose some Spotify playlist with American country music.  Yeah I know. Weird. But to be honest I love it sometimes. It's all about ford 150 trucks, corn, my baby, gun racks and kicking ass. The music goes well with the nature and fresh air for sure.  I decided to go to St Aidens because the wind blew from there and it's always nice to be pushed back home by it.  The ride trough city goes by fast. It's Sunday so there is almost no traffic and on...

It was mid July 2020.  Early morning around 7 am both of us sleepy but anxious and excited were packing our last things in our rucksacks. They kept getting heavier and heavier.  We had never taken on such a long distance trip so we had no idea what we really need.  As much as we read other descriptions and suggestions the more things we were thinking to take along.  But the rucksacks had only that much space.  We both ended up having rucksacks that weighed around as much as healthy Labrador or around 20-30kg if not more.  Change of clothes and shoes, tools, batteries, parts, snacks, and stupid amount of water.. as if we are heading in to desert.  First 30 miles.  This was fairly easy. We soon realized that one of the bags is heavier than the other. So we kept swapping them every hour or so to relive the other rider.  Skipton is the 30 mile marker. And we had another 40 to do on that day.  The weather was good. Was...

Now then!  This ride here is for someone that has the whole day to them selves.  Or they has this cyclist friend who says " you'll be just fine." But be careful.. if this is the one you have decided to tackle just after you cleaned off the cob webs from your face while pulling the bike out of your shed then maybe you want to pick something easier. Not here to discourage.. just make sure you have someone that will come pick you up, just in case. When I did it the first time then my idea was to do 100km or 60 miles in local currency..  I did it 2-3 years ago. I still had my silver bike. Which was one of the best second hand bikes I bought.  Side note .  If you don't want to spend a lot of money on a bike that you aren't really sure you will even ride that much but want to give it a go then try "The Bikes college" here in Leeds.  Not an advertisement but they do have cheap refurbished bikes for sale there. It's not new but is professionally ...

What one does on +28 degree Sunday afternoon?  Any sane person would be looking in the freezer for some ice to add in their drink. Or just chilling in shadow.  I on the other hand decided to grab big bottle of water. Few bananas and my sunglasses. Jumped on my bike and headed towards where wind blows from. It's a thing that I learned not too long ago.   The idea is to pick your route that faces the wind. So when you'll be coming back then the wind will help you get home easier.  This time I had to go towards Leeds Bradford airport. Not my first choice but what can I do .. I have an itch and I have to ride and let the mother nature dictate the way.  Ride starts pretty simple. I live in Bramley so that's where I set of from .. headed towards canal path and then rode it up to Kirkstall forge.  They have recently built a train station there so all the paths and stuff is pretty new. From the Kirkstall forge I joined the Abbey road all the way to Rawd...