And yes I wish I could write as well as Steinbeck… but I can’t… 😉
My plan to ride a imperial half century has been put on hold. I don’t have a great deal of support, I don’t drive and while I do have loved ones who do, they don’t typically like picking my steed and I up when we break down or run out off puff (either of us). So while I think I can manage to eek out a full fifty on my eBike, I don’t feel confidant enough to actually set off on the trip. I could of course cheat and a do a metric fifty instead… but simply put I have already done metric half centuries, while not exactly old hat they are pretty much nothing to write about. 31 Miles just isn’t that far anymore.
On top of which the last of the really nice weather coincided with my birthday, but my bike was still a few parts short of a perfect ride (TBH I think it might always imperfect), so I pushed the actual day of the ride off until the 13th, which looked like being wet, and then the 21st which also looked like being wet – then dry – then wet… and now hopefully dry again.
I finally made the leap to tubeless, which so far I am liking, got some new pedals (Crank Brothers – Stamp I think), replaced the Muc-Off tubeless valves with Schwalbe Clik valve cores, which means I no longer have to fiddle around with Presta valve adapters (most of my inflation devices were Schrader (car valve) which I had on most of my earlier bikes). And got a new electric pump, which was a birthday present (thanks Mum), sadly the coat that came with it went back as it was too short, I might try and find a different one, or just live with my existing adequate one, and get some new shoes (something that is at least semi waterproof would be nice, with a firmer sole/insole to try and get past the numb foot issues). And one or two other slight changes, caused by a large influx of cash (I was fifty, and I did get a little more than I was expecting).
Next on the list of perfection parts will be a new pair of tires, still not 100% dialled in on what to get, they need to be fit for tubeless, ideally be equally at home on the sort of semi-gravel off-road I ride, but also fast rolling on road, which especially over the winter I will be riding more of. I did find some Schwalbe Sensible/Speedy/Serious/(honestly I forget) Sams, which have a tread pattern that has a slightly raised centre line so they roll well on hard stuff, but still with big lugs down the outside for grip, but they aren’t tubeless compatible. And most of the other ones I have found are not really priced where I can buy them happily.
And then hopefully in the spring I will have more options, I’m over the half way point of paying off the bike, so it won’t be long before I can start saving properly again, £118/month on bike payment can go back into being £60/month savings instead and I can start looking at my next bike. Maybe. Before that I hope to do some more work over Christmas at the cheese shop, last year I earned in total enough that I lost benefit (which is the way the system works), this year I really hope I can spread what work I do out better so I can earn a little more in October and November and a little less in December. But hopefully still earn enough to either go the whole hog and afford a new battery (~£900) or a range extender (~£500). I’d love to know if the range extended battery can be replaced by the full fat version… the frame has space, though it’d need a new enclosure, and the bike weight would be a little high, a 1440wh bike would near enough have double my current range (the range extender option would take the battery up to 1080wh). So riding home from Appleby would not be at all worrisome. The full fat battery could be charged and carried separately in any case, and which ever I end up buying I’d need a connection kit and 2nd charger (for the full fat option) which would add another £1-300 to the cost.
A new bike is further off, I was always planning on getting another analogue (human powered) bike, originally a full suspension, but more and more I’m drawn toward a gravel bike – I mean a Pinion MGU (or other gearbox) style bike is almost certainly outside of any realistic future for me, we’re talking lottery win a film rights to my novels. So a HP bike will have to do, and as most of my riding is on gravel or road, getting a gravel bike seems the most sensible option. It would give me the fitness I am still trying to get from my eco and low assist modes, effectively infinite range, and dare I suggest it down the track bike packing options. All of which are things that interest me.
But for now I have to deal with getting through Christmas, I love the people I work with (most of them) and I love some of the work… but some of it is sheer drudgery that I quietly wish never to do again. I don’t pray – an uncaring universe doesn’t listen to prayers – but if I did I’d pray never to make another box, rack any more ice or wash any more trays. But the jobs help pay the bills and give me a sense of accomplishment that I lack often in the rest of my life, I still want to find another job, I still haven’t found anything that it’s even worth applying for – not being able to work on Sundays due to lack of travel options is a bastard (I can work in Settle, but can’t find anything to apply for) the places I can find to apply for I can’t work Sundays, Kirby Lonsdale is on paper at least doable by bike, but not in the winter on the A65. And certainly not at at best minimum wage, and I don’t have the qualifications to pick up a job much above minimum wage, the cheese shop pays above the minimum wage, but I’ve been there over five years now.
Anyway the plan if you can call it that is to go out for about 40 miles tomorrow, (looks at time) today with a former colleague from my days working in Leeds, taking in several villages and small towns and doing a mostly minor roads with only a little off road – it’s going to be very wet under-wheel – route. Hopefully I can get the whole thing done in time to come home and walk the dog in daylight, as the parents are away seeing my sister, so I’m in charge here. Quietly pleased with myself – I managed to plan and achieve some tidying in the kitchen, so it doesn’t look quite so much like a solo slob has been living in the alone for the last few days… I do need to clean the loo though, I expect my friend will want a shower when he gets back from the ride (before driving home). Going to go and make some stew/chilli this morning so there is something filling waiting for us to come back to too.