More fun on the shores of Lough Neagh, the largest freshwater lake in the UK. It was even larger (20 feet deeper) until the 1930's, when someone in govt decided to let more water down the Bann (or something like that).
New solution if your chain is too long. Don't bother removing links, which wastes time and requires a chain-splitter. Instead, why not try re-routing the chain around the seat-stay. Initial worrying friction will be minimised when the chain finally wears a deep trench in the steel.
Key to completing any cycle successfully is mastering the art of getting off the bike. Don't try this one at home without a trained professional present...
Meet Crazy Ken - any time we are down in the dumps with our worn out bikes, we can count on Ken to step up to the plate and make things alright again. We don't even need to say anything any more. We just drop the bike off, let him stroke the down-tube for a minute or so, and he knows what needs to be done to make us smile again. The big lad hasn't even any concept of money - payment is restricted to beer and raw steak! Receipts provided on request. See man and machine in perfect harmony.
Steve Turner first shot to fame in MBR with his effortless demonstration of classic mountain bike jump technique. Now we have the opportunity, through Steve's no-nonsense approach, to apply his lessons to our everyday riding. Hey, nobody says it like the king, so we'll let Steve take over in his own words...
The endurance sportsman needs a satisfied belly to excel at his craft. Following the example of the splendid Ernest Shackleton on his ship 'Endurance' (as previously referenced), we had initially embarked on a steady diet of seal blubber and melted ice for our sustenance. Recent advice, and the scarcity of seal flesh in Tesco, has challenged our approach here, and this is currently under review.
the moment consists of a couple of fairly tough blasts during the week for 1.5 hrs or 2.0 hrs each, a long ride on Saturday (4.0 hrs plus) to increase our endurance, and a slightly shorter ride on Sunday, just to seize the day! We will keep ramping up the duration of the long rides for another 8 weeks or so, before moving onto more intense stuff. And we have a spreadsheet to prove it! Pretty cool, huh? Aren't we hard!
Following our general web research on endurance training, the marvellous book 'Endurance' became useful reference material. The book charts the quite incredible story of the explorer Ernest Shackleton and his team in the Antarctic in 1914. Bloody awful time they had, but they all made it back home alive. Leaving aside the inspiring nature of the tale, Shackleton was a relatively inexperienced mountain-biker, so for our bike-specific training we have improvised a bit and looked for alternative strategies beyond letting our lives ebb slowly away in a frozen, deserted wasteland.
Outside of our continued quest for superhuman fitness, part of our ongoing drive will be towards improvement in general biking skills. Here we take a look at perfect technique for those long sweeping alpine corners. Remember not to lean over too far, just in case there is diesel on the road!!
Having served us well for many a year, our ailing beasts are starting to falter with all this use - regular multiple mechanical failure is now part of daily life. One minute they treat us like a loving mother, the next a jealous mistress.
Training has started in earnest, with both Tango and Cash practicing eating large quantities of Nutrigrain Elevenses, whilst wearing cycling helmets.
We are both in our 30's, we both have bikes, it is sunny in the Alps in July, the race starts at a lovely big castle in Germany and finishes on the shores of Lake Garda. So, why not?!
