In my last session, my physio advised me to do some work on an exercise bike or real bike to build my leg muscles up without impact. I haven’t been on my bike for about 2 years, having been a keen mountain biker up until University days.
So I got the turbo trainer out last Sunday, and had a quick spin. Jeez, this trainer is loud. Well, thats what I though until I realised it was the knobbly tires. All I need to do is get some mtb slicks. Went to Leisure Lakes in Wolverhampton, who could only provide 1.2 inch (real thin!) slicks which I bought at £22.50 – ouch.
However, something happened in store that I was not expecting…. I fell in love with bikes again. Now maybe I am just shallow and materialistic, but I mean, come on!!! Loads of bikes, gleaming, metallic, em.. anodised aluminium. I was impressed with my strength to not just buy one there and then. However, I didn’t and whilst driving back home, fitting the new slick, and setting up the trainer, I was thinking about riding the old bike for real.
The final decision to start biking again occurred about 3.5 nanoseconds after I realised the slick tire / trainer combo wouldn’t work, and I would have to go out on the bike properly to do any leg work.
I spent much of Sunday and Monday thinking more about going out onto the hills and the walking / cycling choice. I have the following concerns:
1) Which pursuit is going to be best for my knee? Yeah, cycling can be bad, especially with clipped pedals, but there is little / no impact – well apart from unexpected face / tree impacts. Suppose, here the answer is there is NO choice. I do not have to choose either as I can choose BOTH.
2) Will my bike be a good enough platform to run for the next year or so? It was a real good bike 10 years ago, but time has moved on, it still has V-Brakes, and the front and rear shocks are getting tired and sloppy. I have already been told spare parts for the fork are no longer available. A new drivetrain will probably be necessary also.
3) Which pursuit is best for my hill ambitions. I want to see a lot of more of the Lakes, Wales and Scotland. You certainly see more (in terms of quantity) on a bike due to extra speed. However, access to many fells, Munros etc are by foot only. I also hate fuss and clutter in leisure time, and hate the prospect of driving up-to the lakes with both walking gear and biking gear filling the car. Having to truly secure the bike, toolbox etc when out walking and such like.
4) Cost. I have invested fairly heavily on walking and camping stuff this past year, I am not enjoying the idea of bike maintenance costs on top of these.
5) Anyone had experience of using panniers / rucksacks for carrying camping stuff whilst on a bike?
Anyhow, I will be going out for a little ride over Cannock Chase on sunday, weather permitting, and provided my bike rack comes. Neither my knee nor I am prepared for the 13 mile each way road ride the Cannock as I used to do back in my yuff.
You might want to check the backpackers club site for advice on bike camping -they have members who do that rather than walk judging by their quarterly mag reports.
My advice is about 30 years out of date by now!
Walking into Leisure Lakes is always like being in a sweet shop as a child, lots of shiny things to look at and everything looks good.
The wife has all but banned me from walking in bike shops on my own with a credit card in my pocket
Let me know when you want to go over the Chase and I’ll be there, except tomorrow as we’re in Prague at the mo
Next weekend ?