Well, as some know and others don’t, I am one of those dodgy people who both walk the hills, and mountain bike. Many times I have chatted with people in both disciplines, and whilst the vast majority understand the others views and share a liking for outdoors, health etc, I have also seen examples of people with a great dislike for the others hobby. (more…)
Archive for November, 2009
Similarities between 'going lightweight' and single speed mountain biking
Saturday, November 28th, 2009Update on knee
Sunday, November 15th, 2009Well, phase 2 of my knee test started today.
Test methodology: attempt roughly half of the Edale skyline.
Hypothesis: my knee will work fine, no probs. Today the peaks, tomorrow the world, well several Wainwrights at least.
Observations: 1 nasty car crash, and early morning vista of clag covered tops, a beautiful day with bucket loads of sun and cooling winds at just the right time. Oh and some crazy remote control kite things. V. cool.
Write up: started from Castleton, and today chose my scarpa sl and gaiters. Had enough of fell running shoes until spring now.
My route started by popping over Hollins cross and back down to Edale. Then having had a chat with some mtbers, I started the scramble up Grindsbrook Clough. Maybe I was a little silly trying this kind of stuff, especially when I slipped on a slimy rock and ended up hugging a rock for dear life – I nearly ended up in the stream. At the top I turned left and had lunch on Crowden Tower. Nice M&S ham and cheese sarnies!
Now, with the bad weather of recent, my heart rate started to increase as I came to my peat bog nemesis – Brown Knoll. Recollections of being thick down in methane releasing bog and the sight of three lads with peat up to their knees didn’t help, and I did think several times about chickening out and descending Jacob’s Ladder.
But now, the plan was set and I continued over the knoll. It wasn’t too bad up to the trig point but the ground was bad thereafter. Especially dodgy was one horizontal grough that was deceiving – normally vegetation means safe ground, but this grough had much grass yet wouldn’t take my weight. Luckily, I had been cautious and only put one foot down. As soon as I realised, the foot was out, and I retreated. I succeeded in beating the grough via a little run up and 5ft jump. Again, maybe stupid with the knee but hell, I don’t like peat.
Once the knoll was complete, the simple but tiring walk over Rushup edge then down the broken road to Castleton concluded a great walking day.
Conclusion 1: I felt no knee pain despite my rough calculations of 13.5 miles and 775 metres of ascent. I think the knee might be on it’s way to classification of fit for purpose.
Conclusion 2: My scarpas didn’t rub my ankle despite the physio foam donuts i normally wear in them.
Conclusion 3: I love getting to the car 5 minutes before a heavy downpour. It means I planned the walk perfectly 
And the news is….
Sunday, November 8th, 2009The knee works! yah!! Well, I say works as i survived a 10 miler derwent edge circuit today. However, my feet didn’t. After using trail shoes solely this year from about February, with the recent wet weather and boggy ground on the edge, I knew it was a gamble to try them over my boots and gaiters. But I tried, and to be honest, my feet weren’t too cold, I had thick smartwool socks and the temperatue was about 5 – 6 degrees in the valley.
However, by the end of the walk, my feet ached a little more than from the mileage alown, so next week, I will be trying the scarpa sls again.
It's time to try the knee
Saturday, November 7th, 2009Well, after a month of osteopathy, my physician has mandated a decent hill walk to test the knee. Oh it’s a hard life. Well, tomorrow is the day, and Hope Valley is the destination. A quick walk up from Hope to Winhill Pike, some photos over Derwent Water and then back down the river Noe. Hopefully the knee won’t let me down. Just got to decide whether to wear my old SLs or trainers.. Wore the boots tonight to the Conkers firework display and they feel HEAVY!!!!