Well that was an eye opener. I relay enjoyed my 2 days out, and I have learned some new things too.
Ready for the off. I have had a few rids out, with a half and full loads, my circumstances have not allowed me much time or the ability to range too far home up until now, so this shake out tour was most important, the only opportunity I will have before my impending tour in September. Now fully loaded with all the obvious kit , tent stove food etc all the kit I will need for an extended tour. A lot of kit for just a few days but that was the whole point, to experiences a fully loaded bike on a variety of track & surfaces, over a longer distances than I have had chance to ride so far.
As I mounted my Sherpa and pushed off, there was an problem, a shimmy come wobble, and as the speed climbed stopped! strange not had that before, I continued on and put it down just to the way I had loaded the bike.
Making my way north to join the Trans Pennine Trail NCN62 at the New Junction canal and on to Selby to join NCN65.
One of the many swing bridges over the New Junction Canal, and a my first brake, a swig of juice and KitKat as I waited, before crossing over. I did not need to tack the tow path, could have used a quiet road close by.
Pushing on from the canal and back onto roads passing through sleepy little villages and on to off road tracks. This part was very enjoyable, hard rough tracks made for easy going, mainly because they were dry and dusty, witch led to the brakes binding on the front rim. Adjusted the front brake, it did help but did not clear the issue, an intermittent pad and rim rubbing noise. Just south of Selby NCN62 takes advantage of the perimeter track around what was
RAF Burn now home to Burn Gliding club. Lots of places to hide for a wild camp too.
Clearing Selby and a change of rout to NCN 65 brings you to the village of Riccall and the start of a 8 mile cycle track that takes you all the way to York. Mile 36 for me, and the wobble was back, and front brakes rubbing on the rim. The wobble was present from the start and at first put it down to the way I had packed and the extra weight I had in the bar bag. I did get use to it and became almost negligible up till this point! but this needed a second glance and to my horror I find that son skewer was lose! very lose!!
That was quickly tightened, the wobble had gone as had the intermittent brake rubbing. From hear to the camp site at Naburn was one of the most delightful rids I have ever had. Smooth straight path and no cars.
This is the old Railway Station at Naburn witch makes up the 8 miles of track to York, Camping and Hostel accommodation available, coffee, teas and cakes are there for you to help your self and pay into the honesty box. Free air and water, just like in the good old days. A very pleasant rest stop and one I now wish I had taken advantage off.
Not to be too disrespectful to the camp site just before hear, but the worst night sleep I have had on any camp site in the last 40 years. Boris the Porcine Casanova! He was in full rutting mode! and the metal gate on his sty made one hell of a racket from just after midnight up until 2.45 am
and the 7 or large 8 flood lights at York Marina just 200m away, provided a never ending twilight! I did dose off, but not for long. 3.30am and the rooster started crowing and strutting his stuff.
I was feeling exhorted and a lie in was needed, I did managed to get 40 winks in before I gave up on have any sleep at all. The kids were up and wanting their breakfast! just got to love the smell of coco-pops in the morning. The camp site felicity's are basic but adequate, free showers with hot water, but not that much water, the shower pack in mid lather
Semi showered, fed and watered, I struck camp, loaded up and headed in to York, and change on to NCN66 and head over as planed towards Stamford Bridge and Pocklington. Looking for a few hills to test my metal. I can shift through all the chain rings on the flat fully loaded but all of a sudden unable to change from mid to small chain ring on even a gentle slope! All of a sudden changing had become a bit crunchy. A slight adjustment got rid of the crunchy change now from mid to the big ring but still no joy from mid to small ring. Tied and fed up I turned about face and headed back to NCN65 and home. 53 miles with the last 20 into a strong head wind, which sapped what remaining strength I had.
On the whole I very much enjoyed this trip, even though I did not achieve everything I had set out to Ride. I still have a need to ride a hill fully loaded with a working bike. That's now not going to happen until I depart Glasgow Queens Street Station in September.
What I have learnt. Lots actually, after all, that was this trips was all about. The lose front skewer was a school boy error, and not being a school boy I should have know better. The problems with the front changer was a surprise! it had been working perfectly up till that point I have not had the chance to put in the long miles that I had hoped I could have done over the last year. It has had regular cleaning and maintenance in that time. It will have a full strip and re-lube before I head off for Scotland and a very close inspection to see what need adjusting to make the front changes smooth as silk.
When I had the Sherpa made, I did not see the need for an Thorn Accessory Bar to be fitted, a cost implication at the time. After two day riding I am not at all sure I like the extra weight that high on the handle bars with front bags fitted, I am not sure I will like the bar bag fitted to an accessory bar with the weight slightly lower and forward too. I will have to give that one some careful consideration for future tours. It posses no problem when I use it on my daily commute to carry odds and ends and a jacket.
The above photo was a bit of a shock, I did think it had snapped off until I put my glasses on. An Easy fix, make better checks before riding off!
After 40 plus years of living out of a bag and sleeping under the stars, all that side of life was sorted, well almost. Can I improve on it? and the answer is of course, yes. They will only be slight changers there nothing drastic just a neater solution to packing. One item that may well be changed is the addition of a Helinox Chair. My Exped down mat and chair kit is very comfortable but after a long day riding and at my age, 29 plus
, I think a better sitting position is needed.
E-werk. I fitted this only 3 weeks ago. It is not needed on my daily commute to keep my phone charged. My phone is connected to the external battery of my
Tigra Bikeconsole Plus wich acts as the buffer between the Son and phone. On the trip out this all worked very well keeping the phone topped up. At the moment I am using cycledroid to record speed and distance. On the way back was a different matter. I had to swap out the phone battery for the spare to keep thing going. The head wind on the way back did slow me down and the performances needed to keep the charging going was diminished. Pherhaps I will need ti invest in the E-werk battery too?
Well there we are warts and all account. It was a lot of fun, even after a poor nights sleep and a quick shower!. I have not written off stopping at Millbridge farm camp site off just yet. It is a nice camp site on the whole just hit it on the wrong night.
Andy.
