STW POSITIVITY THREAD!!

Left my phone on a picnic bench in the woods, included in the case was my card, driving licence and a £20 note. When I returned it had gone but there was a note with a phone number. Called the number and collected my phone from a lovely woman and her 2 dogs. I wasn’t too worried as I generally find people are decent and honest but her kindness didn’t half avoided a whole lot of faff and stress. Took her some flowers and cake+dog treats the next day

At the cafe stop on todays club ride there was a little lad, maybe 2 years old, absolutely fascinated by the very well behaved labrador and King Charles Spaniel. The dog owner asked the lads mum if it would be alright for the lad to approach the dogs, and they all – mum, lad, owner, 2 dogs – ended up sat on the floor in their corner of the cafe gently fussing the dogs. The lad and the dogs just looked so happy!

After a couple of **** cancer posts recently I found youngest’s enthusiasm for getting out on his bike was uplifting.

He’s been at me for ages to put pedals on his bike. I said I would when he used his brakes, the boys is determined and has been using them religiously.

We went out Sunday morning him scooting around following his big brother and watching tractors.

After lunch I put his pedals on and 30mins later he was pedaling successfully if somewhat wobbly.

Out again today and he’s getting better and absolutely buzzing.

He now wants to jump his bike like Danny Mac, but over a volcano while his mum watches and claps.

Lol, almost looks like a fatbike he’s so small, wonderful stuff mate. 👍

After too long waiting, and many delays, the builders are finally coming round to clear and pave my little front garden.

They’ll be here at 9am tomorrow

😀

I’ll now be forced to sort out the workshop and make a small garden bench 🙁 and thats a job I’ve been putting off a lot longer 😳

The sun is out for the second day, it’s payday and tonight I shall be riding my new bike in 17 degrees and singletrack.

I cannot wait!

It was a couple of years a go now but I still like to recall it:

I was reccying part of the Joss Naylor challenge from Pooley Bridge and arranged to meet Mrs Surfer several hours later. I had my phone and a bum bag and was pretty prepared. As with most routes its the first 1/2 mile that needs attention and once you are on the fell proper everything falls into place. I pulled my phone out (which was in a waterproof bag) and studied it whilst jogging from the village along the path. Shoved it back into my jacket so it fell down to where my bum bag strap would stop it falling further, and was going to stash it in my bag a bit later. Jumped over a couple of stiles and was enjoying the climb. A mile later I realised I had lost it. Had to search and after an hour or so had to give up. Went back and found Mrs Surfer and eventually left for home. Fast forward a couple fo weeks and had to purchase a new phone. Few weeks further on and Mrs Surfer gets call from someone who found phone, charged it and was calling the number on the screen (we were calling it as we searched) I proved it was mine and he posted it to me and wouldn’t even accept even the postage charge. Turns out he was a cyclist 🙂 I know I would do exactly the same thing but really appreciated it.

A week on Friday i’m on a singing tour in Belgium with Rossendale Male Voice Choir.

Its been a year in the planning with 35 of us singing in Ghent and Burges Cathedrals as well as the Menin Gate in Ypres.

Four days away with an amazing group of men and a few “light ales” while we are at it.

That and dry trails starting to appear all is right in the world.

Over 30 riders out last night on the council Health Ride I support. Reformed the Newbies group who did a 5 mile pootle, 8 of us on the experienced group went on an 11 mile muddier route, including a couple of paths I’ve not been on in 20 years round here. Rest had a cleaner route round Shipley Park.

Choice of lemon or blueberry cakes at the start – “Health” is a variable concept.

The power of the forum, even though there’s some bickering and falling out on here occasionally, it’s usually a positive place. I needed a part for a “bin tipper truck” that we had bought secondhand for our grandson so put out an appeal on here. Thanks to @shortyj15 who scanned and provided files and @ajantom who printed some parts it’s now up and running and ready for some imaginative play. Thank you both!

A mate had just been advised by his cardiologist that he needs to stop riding anything more than short flat social rides, and has had to reluctantly sell his bikes.

As he’s been told to keep walking instead, he’s about to get a  rehomed 3 year old labrador, having lost his last one a couple of years ago.

I’m claiming that as positivity!

Bringing this back to the fore..

Went out for a ride yesterday afternoon,  felt really good about it,  first time for 2/3 years went out for a ride on the road.

Smiled through the shit I came home to. Had my time. ?

MrsRNP has taken 18 of her community kitchen patrons away for a long weekend. 3 underprivileged families that wouldn’t have gone away anywhere for a holiday and 3 asylum seekers that have been attending and grafting in the kitchen.

They all had a great weekend – I met up with them all today. Her WhatsApp group chat is buzzing tonight!

MrsRNP accessed local borough council funding coupled with a donation from a local company covered all the costs for everything.

Had a wonderful time at Brighton Pride. The city turns into one giant party. Happy, friendly, unique people fill the streets and it’s like being at a festival. Really cheered me up after feeling depressed about the riots and women’s boxing upset. All was forgotten for a night and much silliness and chatting shit was done. Suffering today though ?

Right then…

One of the guys at our club set up a Zwift group for novice women riders who who wanted to try Zwift racing. (It’s been a big success for the women who joined.)

Somehow through the Zwift world they were joined by a female roadie based in Croatia, who said she couldn’t find any female roadies to ride with locally which is why she was on Zwift.

Over the winter the Croatian lady became a regular part of the Zwift group, and invitations were issued both ways, “if you’re ever in the area” kind of thing.

Anyway, the Croatian lady has been over this week, staying with our Zwift guru and his wife. The Zwift guru pulled strings and called in favours – she’s had her first rides on a velodrome, had an evening seeing how we coach juniors at the academy,  done a local two up time trial, and done plenty of road and gravel riding round the area.

Just a brilliant example of riders sharing a love of riding across borders.

A few weeks ago I wandered down to our local river for some peace and a beer. It’s a popular spot on long summer nights and there was a group some way down the bank having a little fire and grilling some food. After a while one of them approached and offered me something to eat. I wasn’t hungry. It was a youngish guy and he clearly had something on his mind. Turned out he was concerned for me and wanted to make sure I was OK. Was really touched.

Two weeks ago I was volunteering with British rowing for Brit Champs. Most/ all of the volunteers were parents/ rowers/ British rowing except for two uni students who just wanted to do something a bit different. They were fab.

(Was hugely proud of ASRA who had crews in the five final races on the Saturday.)

I’ve had painful Achilles tendonitis for 9 weeks, it’s annoyingly persistent but managed to do a 50km gravel ride near Kielder yesterday.

?

I spent the weekend with my daughter and her partner in their new home in Bristol. On the drive down I was getting pretty depressed listening to the news.  I went armed with heavy duty garden power tools to attack the neglected jungle they’d inherited in their small garden.  Within a few hours of hard graft in the sunshine we’d cleared it which was very satisfying.

They have moved to a small mid terrace in a very vibrant, multicultural area and it’s great.  Restaurants of every ethnicity, awesome pubs and coffee shops and good cycling infrastructure. New neighbours were welcoming and offered help, people said hello on the street and there was a really nice vibe everywhere. I’m sure the nice weather helped.  This despite the awful news from across the country and right wing marches and counter marches elsewhere in Bristol.  It was in stark contrast to the news. People of every colour and ethnicity imaginable, living cheek by jowl in good humour and generally rubbing along pretty well.  It gave me a little hope.

To cap a great day, we all cycled out for food and a mini craft brewery tour.- me on my daughters ancient 26″ Saracen mtb with pink grips and a basket on the front!  I was feeling far more optimistic and less gloomy about life on my drive home yesterday!

Have booked 2 mid-August days at BPW with my son again!

Never thought this would happen. We started it as a sort of tradition when he was about 14 and using my old Yeti 575.

We both had some nasty crashes there, once, when I was in the middle of a bad time that the trip was supposed to cure me of, I broke a couple a ribs and we had to end the day short. I cried on the phone to my brother that night!

But we managed a few more years, then damn Covid stopped us. Then he went off to Uni in Exeter. Carried on MTBing with Uni club, getting a bit good!

Now he’s 21, finished Uni and said he wants to go with me again. Aw. I’ve hired a Trek Slash for me for a couple of days, see if it helps me keep up with a 21 year old nutter. Cannot **** wait!

Trying to regain my ride fitness. Had three good rides last week as ordered by my wife who had booked us in the snow hut at Dent for my birthday. The coal road (16%) led to part of the Pennine bridleway and the cracking descent of Arten Gill and then back up the coal road. Next day the part peat bog of Occupation road followed by the amazingly steep, boulder strewn Flintergill down into Dent. Last ride was on the road to Dent Head where I was caught by a roadie and had a good chat (heart rate 162), then over the Pennine Bridleway back to the Coal Road. Brilliant!

Today descended Hunger Hill for the first time in probably twenty years, nice and fast as it had been surfaced and cleaned the climb through the butterflies for the first time in my memory. Cleaned the next climb, again the first time I can remember, lungs bursting and legs aching but determined not to stop. The next bit was puzzling as should have been a wide fast descent but was eight foot vegetation. Stopped at the road to survey the damage, blood trickling down both legs from brambles and my healing scab from last week torn off. Oh well, I’ll give that path a miss until winter and putting off the inevitable, had a drink and a breather. Looked up the road, Loads Road if you’re familiar with North East Derbyshire, long and straight and up, approximately 700ft over a mile. Up I went, “ keep going, think of something else, don’t look up. Go on have a rest, no one will know, you’ll know and you don’t have to do it again until winter. I need to stop, legs, arms, lungs burning. Bugger heart rate still not too high, even though you don’t know what your maximum is, you dope! Ooh that little shack on the left has gone, hello horse, how are you doing? Well over half way now, shall I take my helmet off? Getting very hot, nearly there. Oh I’m not, that farm on the right? You look down on that from Syda Lane, it’s a false summit. Can’t stop now, you’ve done well, keep slurping that water, heart rate? lurking just over 160. Bit of a breeze now, welcome cooling but a headwind. Not far now, come on, shall I try for a sprint? Don’t be so fookin daft! Made it, go and sit behind the wall”.

All completed on a Fatbike that has re-ignited my enthusiasm for mountain biking, determined to keep healthy so I can bike with my grandson when he’s old enough (currently 2 1/2).
A now not drinking, 64 years old last week mountain biker!

Out on a club road ride yesterday,  was chatting to another rider who is a head teacher at a school in another deprived town,  who got funding for 20 bikes to teach kids to ride, do bike ability, they’ve had Go Ride in etc.

Guy at the next table joins in, asked if our club did anything for kids. Talked about our academy,  which takes them from balance bikes up to national riders.  The guy asked how we supported kids from poorer backgrounds, as bikes are expensive. Explained we had some loan bikes that can be used.

Guy then says he has a business in our town that supports a couple of local charity projects for young people and is looking for something new. Gave me his contact details to pass on to our committee to get in touch to see if he could help in some way. (I checked him and his business, all legit).

And if it doesn’t work out with the cycle club, I know a business we can approach for Scouts as well….

@desperatebicycle I’ve booked a BPW uplift with my son this Friday. Him mid 30s, skilled. Me 60, not so much! I always have fun there,  but always heave a sigh of relief after the last lift if I’m injury free. The odds are about 50:50. I don’t get to see my lad often enough so I’m really looking forward to a day on the bikes together. If you do happen to be there on that day and see a tragic old bloke on an ancient orange Giant Trance, say hi.

I’m trying to adopt a policy of ignoring poor service or if a product doesn’t live up to expectations, not pursuing the claim for ever as it can be quite soul destroying. Instead I email customer service departments if I’m really pleased with something and it performs as described! My months old Kona fatbike started creaking round the bottom bracket last Wednesday, on inspection the bearings were a bit notchy and had scored the axle. I contacted the distributor, sent pictures and by Friday I had a replacement. Unfortunately this was the wrong size as I’d not been clear that it was a fatbike. I had a special Saturday morning delivery of a replacement, a significant upgrade too and I’m back on the hills. So, thank you Mike and Chris at Silverfish for exceptional customer service! I’m still on target for improving and maintaining my fitness for when my grandson is old enough to ride with me.

I’m in a bit of a breakfast club, four of us take turns in cooking every now and then. One of the chaps, early 50s, had a stroke a few months back. He’s now recovered enough to be able to drive so it’s my place on Thursday. Yay! Plus the Tour of Britain goes past the end of the road at c11.05. WIN WIN

@blokeuptheroad – sorry, missed your post! Hope you had a great day too. Our first day was mostly spent in the centre getting jr’s bike sorted, but Friday was amazing. Great weather, few puddles and we rode all day without incident! Best thing was seeing what a smooth, skilled rider my son has become. At one point I said “I’m glad my teachings went well!” He laughed, and said “Is that what you think it is?” lol  Just happy to have got him into such a great sport, that he enjoys and is damn good at. What more could a father want eh!!

I’ve just decided on a whim, that as I’ve got nothing much planned for the next couple of days and the weather looks OK, I’m going on a mini motorcycle camping trip to mid wales. Load the bike this afternoon, a few chores in the morning  then off tomorrow afternoon for 2 nights.  I’ve clocked a nice little campsite on the banks of the Severn near Llandiloes about 90 minutes ride away.

Rough plan is riding in the morning (Snowdonia day 1, Elan valley day 2).    Chilling in the afternoons, phone switched off, a bit of walking, maybe swimming in the river, reading a book.  Pub food in the evening then beers by a riverside campfire.

Where did it all go wrong?

@blokeuptheroad – sorry, missed your post! Hope you had a great day too.

Hey no worries! Yep, we had a great day too. Incident free except my lad had a tubeless puncture that took several attempts to seal. Lovely warm day, a great vibe there and precious time spent with my son!

Feels like we need some positivity at the moment.

I’m heading home having all but confirmed a promotion at work, I’m going to be riding my bike somewhere and staying in the camper somewhere this weekend. And it’s forecast to be a sunny weekend in eastern Scotland….

Congratulations!

I’m helping marshall the village Remembrance parade on Sunday – we no longer have Legion, church or cadet unit support, but between the parish council, Scouts and Guides we manage a parade, a few short words, some silence, and a fundraising coffee and cake session in the village hall.

Despite the somber occasion, it is one of the events that brings the local community out together.

I’ve managed a medium pace walk up Grisedale from Patterdale Hall campsite. Despite being here for almost a week and good weather there were still some problems after my recent lung infection so I’ve been limited (and sensible). I’m encouraged with progress today so hoping to book for spring and do the planned routes then.