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It's been a wee while...

The view is from Kirkstone Pass, Cumbria.

The last time I was in the area I was half way along from Snowdon to Fort William. This time I'm on a family holiday with my wife, son, and a bunch of similar people combinations. Everything is soft play cafés, swing parks and small talk.

I've only been back on a bike for a month or so, after about 18 months of attempting the care of a small person. Time, fitness and motivation are thin on the ground ...but I thought I'd better take a bike on holiday all the same. It's been nice to be a literal five minutes away from such a solid climb (Kirkstone is something of a favourite). I've not been any further than up it and down it once or twice each day, but given the current sitch, that's done me fine.

I also had a first ever go on a mountain bike (at Grizedale), which I found fucking frightening but ultimately very rewarding. Mebe I'll get one, mebe not.

Hope all's well and that everyone's riding more than me,

Turrah.

+1 to the loss of context and everything feeling a little bit large.

We've gone all Smashing Magazine, but I don't think our content is read in quite the same way as theirs.

The mobile site feels better to me, probably because with small screens there's always a slight loss of context - you just can't fit much into a small space.

Mebe there should be a greater distinction between small screen and large screen styles?

No one's ever seen this guy and Superman in the same place, just saying.

Isn't that David Byrne?

I just had a chainstay crimped by Matthew Sowter of Saffron Frameworks in Camberwell.

Nice guy, £35 repair, and I've no reason to suspect the work isn't sound.

Might be of use to someone in the future.

...I'd steer clear of Swain's lane...

Actually, I'd go for 2000m (if not more) around Highate, if you're not easily bored, you don't mind company, and you're not put off by Swain's slightly cack reputation.

Optimal training strategy? Prolly not, but it seemed to help me.

If a tedious day looping in North London doesn't appeal, go somewhere on a train. There are plenty of cracking places to climb in the UK and many of them are very easy to get to. A whizz around the Dales would be both excellent practice and great fun.

Okay, Plan B.

Pick a nice hill, and repeatedly cycle around it until you get up to a mountain's worth of meters.

Not very scientific (I also sell copper bracelets and snake wee), but if you can stomp through 2000m of stiff UK climb and not feel too bad, then you'll be okay on 2000m of comparatively steady mountain. This (unfortunately rather tedious) method comes with the advantage of knowing that you've previously hit whatever ascent you're aiming for on the day.

Don't fret and just enjoy the mountains.

This is great.

Moderate fitness, bit of patience, lots of steady pedaling.

Howdy,

Very recently were bought two orange Cycloc Solos.

However, while they would look dead snazzy on many a wall, upon inspection it was discovered that my house isn't really geared up for their brightly coloured urban stylee.

So these Cyclocs could be yours! They are effectively brand new, in mint condish and everything. In fact I'd try for a refund, but the packaging was destroyed by an overenthusiastic partner and her determination to separate bike and hallway floor, so that option's not a goer.

£45 each.

Collection from Forest Gate/ Stratford-ish, Old Street roundabout, or anywhere else that wouldn't be taking advantage of my good nature.

I've definitely been a bit less motivated over the latter part of this year. I started out with a couple of boxes to tick, I ticked them with time to spare, then I ran out of enthusiasm and bought a house. Cycling's since given way to learning how to plaster and buying saws.

At the minute I cycle a wee bit around Essex, and that's about it. I've no specific cycling agenda, it's just nice to get outside and people on telly say that it's good to exercise.

I dunno about next year. I might try some more hill walking.

I encountered a clump of familiar cyclists headed away from High Beech Tea Hut this morning. TV, Spyfideo, Laner, mebe Fox (signature grey jersey, white armband), and a few others in between.

^Good advice.

I've ridden this route a couple of times. The territory is fucking sublime.

Snacks in Hawes and Kettlewell, lungs inverted on Fleet Moss and Buttertubs.

Do it.

Everybody.

...FridayMarch26th.

Correct answer. Sorry for not shouting something trendier.

Muppet Mash | Pogo - YouTube

Rode up to Salford to see friends.

The route was a bit bland, but racking up some miles was pleasant enough. Today's weary wander around Manchester provides gentle restorative fun.

Hope all the LELers are returning to abnormal.

Top job Zanda, 60,000 calories well spent.

^Nicely done. Fleet Moss to Hawes is a first class stretch of road.

...it's easier that way psychologically... each ride is relatively short...

Trying to avoid catching sight of particular pieces of data while cycling through a Garmin's various views is a favourite distance riding game. "You've still got a shitload of miles to go" isn't always useful to know.

The very best of luck to anyone riding LEL, I've opted for plastering.

^^The section below the Peaks wasn't so bad. Wide roads, moderate traffic, not too many hairy junctions. A couple of stretches did make me little uncomfortable, but these never lasted for very long. Also, the homeward leg was also completed at night, and with no traffic around I thought the A road rattle home made for a reassuringly easy end to the day.

Lovely Peaks! It's a top route. Holme Moss made for a great half way marker.

Extra snacks are needed for the stretch after Glossop, I found nothing by way of food stops between there and the eventual popping out of the Peaks near Ashbourne, and even then it was a way to the nearest garage.

I had a go at the route for the Midland Super Grimpeur 300

, originally mentioned by Greenbank.

I liked the spread of difficulty through the day (easy start, tricky middle, easy end), with the toughest chunk being the 30 miles after Holmfirth. 4800m total ascent, suggests Garmin.

I'd recommend the route, it was great fun to ride.

Don't worry about threading your frame into your bag, or dismantling anything. Just stick your head through the frame's main triangle and rest one corner of it on your shoulder. It'll probably piss you off something chronic as you cycle along, but 6 miles is nothing and wearing your frame like a rucksack will make you appear pretty swish.

...I can lead.

Positive mental attitude! :)

460 on a bike, not sure about the walking bit. 16-18, possibly?

I'll have a dig around for a pics to post in a bit; though I was a bit disappointed by the photos I took.

The final day's overspill from the weekend's riding proved to be the most enjoyable of the three featuring the journey from Glasgow into the highlands, and then from the bottom of Ben Nevis to the top of it.

Best bits overall include the Snowdon Pyg track, any 24 hour garage with a Starbucks/ Costa vending machine, finding somewhere that sold jumpers at midnight, the final push from Glen Coe to Fort William, and having a view from the top of Ben Nevis (a rarity, apparently).

Low spots? Running out of comfortable ways to hold my handlebars, and a long spell without caffeine (often the only thing propping me up) during the wee small hours of yesterday morning.

All in this one took me 57 hours, and I was pleased that the plan came off as I'd intended.