One nights practise camp

Being the start of May and the Bank Holiday, guess? Yep dull, and a little drizzly. Hey-ho, need to get out there and have a go at camping. So with an email to a friend I had permission to camp on his land, only 8 miles away but the point was to practice and not break any records.

Saturday lunch time, all packed and eager to go I cycled around the block to make sure everything was going to be ok, but the gears all 27 had vanished. Into the garage for some investigation, I found the rear cable had got under twined with the bipod stand. Without messing about the stand was quickly removed for another day, the cable was now fully functioning to keep the derailleur happy once again.
The weight of the bike (though unconfirmed) I think was around 60 kilos, However I did manage to keep the distribution to 40-60 front and rear. While seemingly shaky from the front after a little practice this did not seem a problem. The rear being made up of: tent, sleeping mat and ground sheet was a lot more securely fixed than previous rides as all was enclosed within a sail bag which I purchased from eBay (the idea I pinched from Mark Beamont).
The previous evening I had used my latest purchase on pumping the tires. Topeak Morph Turbo Mini Pump from Chain Reaction Cycles at £29 for me was a sound investiture to make. The 90 PSI of pressure was soon reached without any effort (some what better than my track pump).
Happily on the road I made a steady 12-14 mph with a headwind, however, as soon as I reached any incline the gears started to slip upon changing, consequently, out popped the multi-tool and small Gerber pliers’ to retention the gear cable. After which selection was achieved, with no slip.
Progress was good and after a around about way, I achieved my goal of 30 miles for the day. Nonetheless, I was half an hour early of my allotted time of 16:00 to arrive at Peter’s house, with an attractive pub looming I parked the bike and soon had a cool pint of Fosters to savor.
Not wanting to drink any more than one pint, I made the small incline whereupon Peter was helping his neighbor to fix drainage foundations. Not being an expert on pipes that lay above or below ground Peter gave me the grand tour of his well spread out four acres of field. The pasture of land was more than I could have hoped; with mounds, tracks, and ponds with out-of-the-way would be pitches for any tent put-a-upper this was a perfect practice camp site.
I found my pitch at the very bottom of Peters territory, to one side was a large knoll and to the other a line of trees (later to be informed with a residing woodpecker) to gain shelter from the ever circling wind direction. Having items such as the tent, roll mat and ground sheet at hand placed readily upon the rear carrier was a good choice.

The tent (Wild Country Duolite Tourer) is most simple to erect, with my lack of tent expertise (apart from big, olive drab army shelters) this is most welcoming. All the poles attach to the outside skin without the need of threading poles through small eyelets (which for me seem to get pole and hole caught together), makes the pitching simple. With the large pouch area I would recommend this tent for cycle tours.
What I did however buy extra, was a 6 by 6ft. ground sheet from Halfords, to place within the porch. This, not being the most essential equipment to be carried on a bike but for me worth the £6 purchase price, as the extra protection it provides is worth the minimal additional weight. But without noticing the tent pegs I added were too big for the eyelets. Consequently, I will replace with smaller pegs, but this is the whole point of the practice camp.
As the camp established a near looking organized well structured site as possible, I dug out my vastly expensive gas stove, all of £4 from eBay (via Japan), and set to putting a brew on. The gas canisters are somewhat heavy but easily purchased and screw onto the stove easily. Although not having a wind break the flame had the water boiled joining the tea bag within the mug in no time at all. Some home cooked stew was warmed through to make I may add tasty meal.
Accompanied by the Archers my second mug of tea was nicely rounding the evening off, when Peter turned up with a can of larger, it would have been rude to say no. After a brief chat, he left me to settle down for the night.
I was quite pleased with how the camp was turning out, everything was cleaned and packed away, inside the sleeping bag looked cozy with its newly acquired matching silk liner, and the gentleness of it all was very satisfyingly tranquil.
Sleep was effortlessly sought and was not hard to find. That was up till around 4 am, were nature forced me to eject myself from my cocooned little world to venture outside. No, mistaking, it was cold, my breath was clearly visible upon the frosty night. With the aided guide of a head torch, I wandered around for a while smoking the cigarette that I had promised myself to give up six months previous. There is something eerie fulfilling in these small hours, not the cold but the unusual surroundings that grip you, in a strange but contented way. Perhaps it’s just the strange sounds, I don’t know, nevertheless, the sensations felt like freedom not to be missed.
The following morning I had to force myself to get up, my body was saying stay there but my mind kept saying up and up. My breakfast cereal (which I thought would be the easiest to carry) was enough nutrition for the time. The stove again proved its magic by supplying me with a hot cup of tea.
A little later I walked the few minutes to the house, were finding Peter and retrieving my bike from his garage I apply started to pack up camp. This is where I could have been more methodical, if I had thought of packing as I went about the morning’s activities this process could have been so much quicker.
Nonetheless, there were no major mishaps, and the bike was soon ready for departure. I did have plans to ride north up to Longrige. This being a round trip of 30 miles or so, as it was getting late I decided not to and cycle the direct route home through Rufford.
I did know however, at Rufford within the new marina, there is a nice little tea shop that just needed me to visit. Hence overlooking the canal boats eating a chocolate gateau, I wandered as I have often have, were did all the boats moor before the marina was built?
With that, it was of home. A most enjoyable night and a lot learned for the not too distant future.

Sunday afternoon ride

Had the bike packed, all panniers, handle bar bag and tent. An afternoons gentle ride to get use to the touring weight.
The new saddle needed a little of adjustment again, but I was expecting this.
Pleased with the performance of the loaded bike, just taking thins, especially the corners somewhat more slowly and precisely.
Thanks again to Thorn for their after sales service, outstanding and second to none.

New saddle and stem

I rang Thorn and spoke to a sales man called Dan.
After explainnning the saddle fitted was giving me problems and that the stem was slightly to long as this was causing my back to ache, he aggreed to swap them for me. New items were dipatched and i received them both in very good time.
The new saddle was a little fidly to fit, for getting my fingre under the sadle to hold the retainning bolt to the pair shaped bracket was nearly impossible. In the end a little dab of super glue did the job of a third hand and then went together very well.
The job i had reservations was replacing the stem, however, this was no problem. Making sure i did not over tighten, it wall back together very well.
So donning the cycle gear i went around and around the block, played, releast, retightend the saddle until the postion was right (i rekon another small adjustment make take place).
So far so good the new saddle seems very good, being some what more cushioned, i think it will be ok. The commute to uni in the morning will prove this to be correct i hope.
Thank-you Thorn, with speal thanks to Dan, outstanding aftersales service, you old stem and seat have been packed and will be with you shortly.

Slipery ice!!!!

The day after I had my new bike delivered the The Thorn Club Tour, 14th January. I was trying to place the large carbourd transit box out with the rubish. Ice was sheeted accross the pavements and the wind was blowing a hooley, as the box came lose evry time I walked away. On the last try, I turned, slipped and banged to the floor. My pavement clad left shoulder was somewhat hurting my shocked system, as the dance that followed showed.
Me being me, I have kept on cycling. With some anti in flamitrys to keep me company to boot.
Enough was enough, so last week I trotteted back to the doctors (well cycled), were I was handed a note and imformed to have an x-ray at the local hospital in Southport.
Haveing had this done, I now wait for the for the results. So in the morning I shall be ringing the doctors to try and get answer.
Also, being the day The British Heart Foundation opend its doors to the Londaon to Brighton cycle ride, whom some of my school freinds are taking part this comming June. I need to borrow the small fee (well big fee) of £31 to enter. So as well as the talking nicely to the docs, its also talking more nicely to my dad (please may I borrow some money).

I rang the doctors this morning and got told it can take up to 3 weeks to get the results back. And only if they find a problem. So meanwhile, I will have to put up with the 3 week resulting shoulder. But I am booked in for some phiso on it, but how will I know the 3 week waiting shoulder is not a 12 week broken one?

Maps for the trip?

Thinking about maps. In an ideal world 1:50.000 ordance survey are the best choice. However a few disadvangtes to this. Very expensive and as there will be a lot of them, far to bulky.
I do have a copy of them all of Great Britain copied from a torrent site on my net book. As I have decided to carry this along, the odd look will be ok, although not ideal.
Thinking I might purchace the Sustrains maps, i think there a around five of them in all. Ok the detail will not be there, but with the help of the computer and the illeagal copy of the Landranger series it just might work.
Another idear is to print the Landranger maps i need, they will be much thinner than the actual maps, but i havent come over the problem of printing while zoomed in on one. I will ask for some advise on this.

Slow trainning

I havent been out for a long ride for two weeks now. Just been ryding the commute to uni, though only around 80 miles a week. The daily trip is 22 miles return which takes me about 50 minuets averaging around 12 mph.
I think I am going to invest in a new saddle as the one which came with the Thoen Club Tour is very hard and very plastic, i am surprised the bike never came with a more substantial rear end surport!
Ime thinking of a days cycle to Liverpool for the weekend following the beging of the Trans Pennine Way. And comming back past the docks through Bootle. Will be about 60-70 miles in all. But I will load the bike with all the panniers and tent for more practise.
Not eBays fault but ime still waiting for my new stove to show up, it was ordered and paid for over three weeks ago now, I shall have to do some investigations.
Keep pedaling.
On the commute to uni today I have had the saddle in just about every postion posible, it still hasent made it any more comfy. So I will ring Thorn up to see if they will swap for a more cushioned bum surport.
I was a blaze with delight this morning, a loud knock on the front door to find the Post Man with a neat looking parcel, all for me. After a frantic opening the contents proved to be my ellusive stove, all with Honkong stanps.
At a first glance the engineering looked a little, well small and unsteady on its feet. However, after some thought, well I try, all the three legs opend out with surports to-boot. The stove is in fact very well made and very steady, not tried and tested but well done Slim City and all for £1.50, yes I say again, £1.50 of ebay.. The gas canisters I still need to purchace are a screw type of affair, not quite MSR standars but shouldent prove to hard to aquire. At this time, ime pleased with the design but will be imforming you of the workings when the time comes.