this is how it feels

Oldham? The Latics, The Inspiral Carpets , The Moors.

First day back in the UK today. 3 days “off”. Two days boozing in Tokyo. One day boozing on a flight to London. Just 3 hours sleep. Jet lag. I feel surprisingly good!

Open the garage door. Two mountain bikes in the corner. Last summer’s mud coated in a year of dust. Flat tyres all round.

Lift up the Diamondback, “Bloody ‘ell, that’s heavy!” Lift up the Raleigh, “That’s even heavier!”. Opt for the Diamondback as it has slick (but very chunky tyres) and mudguards.

Like my place in Kashiwazaki, from my parents’ house, I am in the countryside in no time. Hills, hills, hills. But these hills are shorter, often steeper.

First up the climb to The Puckersley. Steep but short. I’m using heart rate and time only. The heart reacts well.
Next up, Buckstones Road from Shaw to Grains Bar. It’s long and steep. Heart rate in the mid 170s.

Next, the long downhill from Grains Bar to Delph. I love this road. It’s so fast and the views are so fantastic.

If you are lucky, you can meet the GB team training on these roads from their base at Manchester Velodrome.

In Delph and I catch up with two cyclists with shirts of the “Manchester Velo” club. The biggest gear on the MTB is used a lot on the flats. To keep up with these guys on their road bikes, I really have to spin it in the big gear. Me on my bomber, trainers, toe straps, no helmet, they really wanted to drop me. That was the only motivation I needed.

We parted ways in Uppermill. I have bigger things on my mind.

Into Greenfiled. Next Dovestones Reservoir, the gateway to the Peak District.

From here the narrow gravel track up to Chew Reservoir. The highest reservoir in England. Into the smallest of the front three chain rings for the steepest parts. It’s sheep, not cars, you have to watch out for here.

I haven’t climbed this track by bike before. As a kid, I hiked up there with my dad who would tell me stories of plane crashes and ghost houses.

A fantastic climb. At the top, you really do feel on top of the world. A quick descent down to my sister’s place in Greenfield. New babies are greeted. A couple of beers drank.

Ride home, Uppermill, Delph, this time the lower Grains Bar Road. Between Denshaw and Milnrow is a really steep pass. Time to dig in here. So windy at the top. Purple heather rooted into the rocks trying to fight the wind.

Descend into Milnrow, Shaw, and back home.

Great ride. As the the pros say “I had good sensations in my legs today”. Feels good to be on old roads. On my old bike. Riding for fun.

Tuesday’s training: MTB on road / off road (2h30, HR 130 / 178, 850 m climbing)