The Cycle Hub

Early morning mist in August

Have you noticed we’ve been having some very beautiful early morning mists lately?  I think this has happened in many parts of England.  I just wanted to highlight these mornings as being ideal for getting out there, on two feet or on two wheels.

It is very tempting for me to peer out of the window and see a grey “nothingness” with everything looking cold and grey – then it’s all too easy to slide back under the duvet.  And yet these can be the very mornings when the mists suddenly start to lift with the warmth of the rising morning sun.  I know it’s a matter of taste but I think there’s a real beauty to these mornings and can go for miles and miles without realising it.  Even over roads or trails that are well known to me, there is a new quality to them that makes them appear completely new to me.

If you visit my blog often you may have noticed I prefer to run, or perhaps cycle, early in the day.  This time of day is very special for me.  Sometimes they’re times of real inspiration and magic in feeling like the only person awake and wonder in the day ahead.  These misty mornings have simply added to that, deepening an already wonderful experience.

Near Dufton, Cumbria

Last week we were in Cumbria for a weeks holiday along with some friends, Paul & Steph and their kids.  Needless to say I took my bike and running shoes for some early morning inspiration.  We stayed just outside Appleby – as in Appleby-in-Westmorland – and the annual Appleby Horse Fair.

On Friday morning I peered out of the window at dawn and saw a misty field which looked inviting.  For a while I couldn’t make up my mind whether to run or cycle.  Mentally I tossed a coin and cycling won.  Although I was out for just an hour, I only covered 10 miles.  It seemed every few yards there was something to stop and marvel at.  Some of those things are photographed here (hope you like them) others are memories in my mind.

It’s hard, really hard, to sum it up.  It was beautiful, inspirational and magical.  I saw nobody, not one single car, just me, my bike and the road.

Appleby to Dufton Road, Cumbria

Appleby in the mist

Edge of Pennines, near Hilton, Cumbria

Caption competition?  Leave a comment below!

Yet again I had the opportunity of cycling to work today – in the rain!  That seemed a nice idea after yesterday’s oppressive heat; today things were cooler and fresh as I set off on my 13 mile ride.

What started as a bit of fine summer rain, quickly got heavier but that simply added to the enjoyment.  It made me feel ALIVE and invigorated and it seemed a bit of a challenge, in spite of have cycled this route so many times before.  It was nice having a feeling of independence in not needing my car no matter how bad the weather.

When I got to work, colleagues gave me that “polite because he’s utterly mad” smile as I dripped through the general office.  I grabbed my office clothes and went to change.  Stripped off in the toilets, even my Y-fronts were soaked through – my Hummvee baggy shorts had wicked water up.  Naturally my socks were soaked right through but I had a spare pair.  Just as well I have an office to myself as I had my socks draped over the radiator and as for my Y-Fronts, I pinned these to the wall behind my desk where no one would ever see them!

So, cycling in the rain today was great.  If you’re prepared it doesn’t matter if you get wet because getting wet all adds to the fun.  If you enjoy riding in the sunshine, you’ll enjoy it even more after riding in the rain.  In fact you might owe it to yourself to do it, go on, experience it!  In the right environment there is a real beauty in cycling in the rain, just like running, the spray from cars and the sense that no matter how awful it is, it’s a brilliant ride and you won’t be beaten by it.

Here’s a few practical considerations:

Clothing.  You need a water proof jacket, preferably a breathable one that is highly visible.  Shorts are good in all but the coldest of days – wet legs dry so much faster than wet jeans and don’t rub.  My Hummvee baggy shorts proved to be unsatisfactory by soaking up the rain, so maybe Lycra ones have some advantages.  My jacket is the Altura Night Vision jacket, in yellow, is fine.

Altura Night Vision jacket, supplied by Evans Cycles. Web price (August 2011) from £55.99

I used to have a Madison cape which had some advantages but was also very quaint and old fashioned.  It was like cycling in a snug, cosy mobile tent.  I managed to lose it in a house-move and I’ve always regretted that.  Very effective at keeping you completely dry but a liability if there’s a strong wind coming from the wrong direction.  Also a bit odd when worn off the bike.

Do not wear a hood.  If you must wear something on your head, make it a helmet and allow yourself to have wet hair.

Consider over shoes.  My Specialized cycling shoes are fine at keeping my feet cool but hopeless at keeping them dry.  So that’s something I’m going to think about now. Why do they make you look so strange (like something out of Captain Kirk’s star ship Enterprise)?

Bags need to be waterproof especially if you’re carrying dry clothes for work and papers.  BAgs need to be equally waterproof all over as the rain will otherwise find a way in.

Visibility is reduced for everyone in the rain.  This morning I made sure my rear light was on, flashing at full power for extra visibility.  Secondly I rode a little further out in the road and swung back in when I sensed I needed to from the sound of the traffic behind me.  Always good to develop strategies for managing or controlling other road users but it takes some experience and confidence.  My yellow jacket, as above was without doubt, very conspicuous.  It is also too large, so it flaps around a bit.  But then, I bought it weighing 2 stone heavier!  I need a medium or perhaps a small size.

Cycling technique – a few things to bear in mind.
Puddles – be wary of these and go around them if you can, especially if they’re big and you don’t know the road underneath.
Grip between the tyre and the road will be much less, especially when cornering hard or stopping.  There is a danger of skidding.
Breaking performance will be much less in the wet, unless you have disc brakes.  I find that my rim brakes are less effective but improve when they’ve skimmed any water off.

Have I convinced you yet?

Once more I cycled to work, had cramp in my right foot yet AGAIN (see previous post) and missed a new PB by just a few seconds – soon I will arrive in under 46 minutes.  It felt good and I was in need of a shower.  We don’t have showers in our part of the Ministry of Justice and so it is just as well I have an office for myself.

Through the day I was looking forward to my ride home.  I got loads done today, quite satisfying working through that To-do list and seeing plenty of things crossed off.

Called home, logged off, got changed and I was off.  The ride was notable for a few reasons and this is what this blog post is really about:

I was wearing a sort sleeve jersey and from time to time I found myself looking at my hands and arms as I pushed hard along an open A road in the countryside.  I was fascinated by watching my muscles working around my hands and forearms.  I then became aware of how cycling involves plenty of upper-body exercise and strength as I clocked then the way my shoulder muscles were working, not to mention my hand which still hurts following that fall in January!

I took a longer, hillier route coming home which added 3 miles.  That meant I could ride over the top of a hill with a tremendous view of perhaps 30+ miles.  The view was inspirational with magnificent clouds with some showers in the distance and some brooding stormy clouds too.

The weather forecast suggested I could expect a downpour which just did not happen.  At one point I could feel a few spots of rain and I was hoping for more – I just love being out in those summer downpours!

The important thing for this ride was the feeling of being in some kind of harmony where everything just felt good.  Physically it was fine, the conditions could not be better and the bike was running well.  My breathing and heart rate seemed fine being under a bit of load as I pushed myself; I could feel I was working hard and yet in almost complete harmony.  It just all came together.