Well I got round to putting the rack and the panniers on the bike ready for some serious training last weekend. I thought I had better get used to carrying a big lump of weight (11kg luggage) around with me. So I rode to Shrewsbury from Chesterfield (82miles) on Saturday and then back again on Sunday to see if I would be able to get on the bike OK after the hard Saturday ride.
I was a bit worried about the extra weight, the consecutive days, and getting up Farley Hill in Matlock after 70 miles of cycling on the second day.
Fortunately I found the weight was quite a burden to start with (I thought quite a lot about how I might manage on just one set of lightweight clothes for 12 days) but then I just got used to the weight being there and stopped thinking about it.
The second day was not uncomfortable at all (except for a slight twinge in my left knee). I did stop to raise the saddle a bit and that seemed to help.
Farley Hill is steep. I managed a chuncky KitKat in Matlock before the ascent. It seemed to work and I managed the whole climb from the river onto the moor without stopping. It took 15 minutes less to get back (14.35mph)than to go (13.63mph)so I was really pleased with the "test".
I've now fitted two new tyres, cleaned and oiled stuff, and trued up the back wheel, so the bike is now "good to go" on Saturday. We just need to find a way to get the bike, me, Roger (who was supposed to do the ride with me but is now taking me to Cornwall), and my 11kg of luggage to land's End in/on a Lotus Elise!!
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