Black flag, the picture of his and hers was taken on the Duddon Estuary, Cumbria. Borwick Rails, near Million.

His and hers

IMG_20200602_103225_0 by N HERCBERG[/url], on Flickr

IMG_20201028_110153_4 by N HERCBERG[/url], on Flickr

Santa Cruz Stigmata with SKS All 56 guards. Maxxis Ravager 40mm tyres. No problems.Had to cut the rear guard behind the bottom bracket so it would fit the contours of the frame.

Toast toppers, lived on them at college in the 70’s. Can you still get them?

A vulture’s crutch.

Many moons ago when driving south in our Austin Allegro we went through a village called Throcking. Shortly afterwards we saw a sign for Cottered. Since then , when tired we say we’re Throcking Cottered! Coming from someone who lives a stone’s throw fro Po House.

Google lens is your friend. Take a picture, use google lens and it may identify your plants.

Robowns, yes, it’s a 56. I’m 6 ft tall so was between sizes. Went for the smaller because I wanted something more chuckable.

Bob Monkhouse

B139D22C-1D3A-424C-A125-125C29E9394C by N HERCBERG[/url], on Flickr

D33DEAEC-3F6B-4B35-968F-35EE7BE79964 by N HERCBERG[/url], on Flickr

C299C97F-69CF-4242-AEC6-B9DCF339EE88 by N HERCBERG[/url], on Flickr

I have a Stigmata in mustard yellow. It is a very comfortable and dependable bike. It is an expensive bike, even though I negotiated a discount and went for the Rival 1x build. The wheels let it down somewhat as I’ve found it difficult to mount tyres tubelessly on the asymmetric rims but performance wise, they just keep rolling along.

I’ve covered quite a distance on it so far on varied terrain, from smooth gravel tracks to eroded and gullied mountain descents.

It’s probably the best bike I’ve owned and I will buy a set of road wheels in the future. I did a comparison test with my road bike using power pedals and for a given power over a set distance it was only marginally slower. My wife was so jealous that she went out and bought a Juliana Quincy! It is a lovely bike to own and brings me much joy.

Torchy The Battery Boy – I loved it as a 6 year old in 1960!

I’m in the 200 but recent bouts off tachycardia mean I may choose to complete the 130 on the day. I’ll be wearing overshoes, bib tights, 2 LS base layers, gabba jacket and gilet. In my frame bag I’ll have an emergency waterproof. In the second edition of the DR I had a complete immersion in the river crossing, strangely enough I soon warmed up and by the end of the event my feet were dry. Last year I chose the sensible line at the crossing and stayed upright. The first year’s weather was epic, I think this year will be cool, but fine.

The observatory car park may be a possibility. The official timed start is by the car park.

IMG_20180318_111607 by Neil Hercberg[/url], on Flickr

After returning from an early spring in Portugal I was greeted by this!

VCUM0297 by Neil Hercberg[/url], on Flickr

Summer was different!

41229759_1827954157323281_3714801472978812928_n by Neil Hercberg[/url], on Flickr

Hill climb season was wet!

IMG_20180904_144854 by Neil Hercberg[/url], on Flickr

And then autumn was dry!

IMG_20180912_103528 by Neil Hercberg[/url], on Flickr

Lovely ride through local woods on the Kinesis Crosslight.

Just been and really enjoyed it. Only me there so couldn’t make a fool of myself. Disappointed that my tyres are now covered in dog shit and stink to high heaven.

64 here and still learning.

I ride regularly and compete in TT’s, I hate traffic and love bombing down descents.

I’ll carry on as long as my body’ll allow me to; and then I’ll get an e-bike 🙂

Riding, for me, is the best health insurance (but perhaps not the cheapest!)

I’ve done it 3 times using WTB Nano 40c wired tyres inflated to 40 psi. Never punctured.

A close pass was reported to South Yorkshire Police, this is what happened:-

Chris Boardman

I have tubes with WTB nano 40c wired tyres. Never had a puncture. That includes 3 x Dirty Reiver. Pump’m up hard, end of problem!

A couple of my flare max on a glorious day in the Duddon Valley.

32535008_10156380216137140_3047736805018304512_n by NeilH1954[/url], on Flickr

32413672_10156380215927140_2278139937578549248_n by NeilH1954[/url], on Flickr

Reliant Supervan, I was 21 and drove it, initially, on my motorbike license. Then moved onto 4 wheels in the shape of a Hillman Avenger.

Turner Hall Farm in the Duddon Valley is a very quiet site.

AQR do guided rides and coaching during the month of March in the Algarve. https://www.aquickrelease.com/bike-holidays-portugal

Could the memory be full?

Have you tried http://bikeaider.co.uk/

My daughter has a bike from juicy bikes, https://www.juicybike.co.uk/electric-bikes/roller it seems to have everything you would need in a general purpose bike. Comes out well in reviews and reasonably priced.

64 today, enjoying my Birthday in the warmth of Portugal.

“Lullaby” by Loudon Wainwright 3rd from the album “Attempted Moustache”

The results are on the ResultsBase website and photographs are on the Sport Sunday website.

Higginson’s of Grange over Sands deliver salt marsh lamb, http://www.higginsonsofgrange.co.uk/shop/product/37/Lamb–amp–Mutton/SALT-MARSH-LAMB-RACK-OF-LAMB/

Sophie’s Choice.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DZ9bht5H2p4

I completed this year’s event in 11:52 on a Kinesis Crosslight 5t. I bought some wire beaded WTB nano 40c tyres for the event and inflated them to 40 psi. I suffered no punctures and was reasonably comfortable throughout. There was one long very rattly descent where front suspension would have been welcome. The worst part for me was the endless, shallow climb by Kershope Burn. Some large machine had been up there and the track was corrugated. It is better now, as I discovered in the Kielder 101.

It is a great event, well organised and friendly. I rode most of it in solitude, occasionally catching and being caught by fellow competitors.

In the last 4 hours of riding I treated myself to 5 minutes off the bike every hour. I had a little snack and enjoyed the scenery.

Within a mile of the finish I followed some tyre tracks and went off course, a mistake which cost me about 10 minutes 🙁

I’ve entered again for next year and hope to improve my time.

The ford was cruel!

Those that hide in skirting boards and have long tails.

A great programme. My father and brother worked down Corton Wood mine, the mine where the strike started. The men knew there were plenty of workable reserves but Margaret Thatcher was determined to ruin the mining industry.

As could be seen from the programme, miners were a resourceful and hard working group, their problem solving skills were second to none, as was their attitude to getting the job done.

My father was very nearly killed down the pit, his boot became stuck in a chain running along the conveyor, he was being dragged into the shearer and one of the picks pierced his metal toe capped boot. He was a strong man and he was dragged through a gap of only 12 inches, suffering multiple lacerations to his body. Fortunately someone heard his desperate screams and hit the stop button. Just in time. The mine ambulance brought him home. I remember seeing him sitting in his favourite chair by the open fire, he was as white as a sheet, having suffered a terrible shock.

He went back to work the next day.

Because of my father’s daily routine of descending into the hot, dusty and dirty mine he really appreciated the outdoors. I am grateful that I didn’t have to work down the pit and am grateful that my mining father instilled in me a love of the outdoors.

After the strike my father never worked again, my brother, however, attempted various ventures and is quite a successful business man now.

The programme illustrated what a dirty and noisy job mining coal is, perhaps we are, after all, better off without it.

From my observations, former mining communities have suffered terribly with the loss of the pits.

March. Winter’s gone on too long, the days are getting longer but it’s still cold and windy.

Some interesting routes can be found here, http://www.pedalnorth.com/content/lake-district-mtb-routes

Don’t forget to grow a beard to go with the bike.