Bivvy tastic

Having only camped a handful of times the concept of the bivvy was new to me and until I read about long distance bikepacking I thought it was something reserved for fishing allnighters.

This said I was intrigued and working with an ex-forces guy who raves about it I was keen to try.

I'm currently still recovering from a broken thumb and post op ligament damage so my racing is over for the year and my riding has been restricted to my single speed Inbred mtb on the flat pathways of Norfolk.

This is not all bad as its kept me motivated and I have been loving the simplicity of the single/rigid machine and how far it can take me in this brilliant summer weather.

So this week I planned to string together a few of the long distance cycle/walks that cover Norfolk. Starting from Norwich along Marriotts Way, Weavers Way, Norfolk Coastal Path and then down to Thetford on the Peddars way. Along with a few extra trails I know locally.

I had planned to set off on Saturday but rained stop played and I headed off Sunday AM. Within 8 miles I had a puncture in my only Tube so I had to try and ride nearby to a shop to find another thankfully the discount store of Roys of North Walsam held some for £2.99! bargain!

A rather large lunch was ingested and I was back on the remainder of the Weavers Way to Stalham and then I rode the Norfolk coastal path to Cromer. From Cromer did a few small trails in Weybourne and then back on the Coastal Route until a quick Fish & Chip stop at Salthouse.

Light was beginning to fade so on with the lights (In true shameless blog styley these were the awesome Hope R4 LED front light with the Hope District rear Light).

Enough of dicing with death against the cars on the Narrow coastal path I saw a Hostel/campsite open @ Brancaster. They appeared to have just closed, so I found a member of staff and asked in there was any room at the Inn was initially told no but they managed to squeeze me in on a unpopular pitch next to the toilet block. Given that I was only a bivvy bag I didn't need much room. 

This site is excellent and well worth a visit if camping out that way http://www.deepdalefarm.co.uk/.

Someone to kip found so a pint is was in order as I had just been cycling for 13hrs, just a couple of hundred yards was http://www.whitehorsebrancaster.co.uk/ and again very impressed and a amazing courtyard with the best patio heaters I had ever seen.

Couple of pints down and back to the camp-site and a wiggle into the bivvy and to fall asleep watching multiple shooting stars in the sky.

Everyone was up early, so up I got washed/packed and on the bike by 6:30am. The remainder of the coastal path beckoned until the start of the Peddars way just before Hunstanton.

This is a long straight 47mile roman road which ends just past thetford. This is well signposted and reasonably quick so just under 4hrs I was at the end and then cycled onto to Thetford.

Wimping out on 40miles on a singlespeed MTB on roads home I caught the train back to Norwich.

All in I rode approx 200miles and had a mini adventure to boot, Again? most definitely and in fact the the Ridgeway - Reading to Bristol and back is planned for September.

Fritton XC Sprint Duathlon a brief report

Due to the work commitments of the other half the local Thetford MTB series was off for me after doing every year for the 4years I have been racing.
I looked at alternatives to get my teeth into and Duathlons came on my radar, so I set about a short training schedule of just over 4 weeks and mostly involving 5km runs and a few shorter bike rides.
Enter.
I entered the http://www.activeoutdoorsport.co.uk/?p=4138 local sprint Duathlon series, and about 2 weeks before the event my knee started playing up no doubt due to the road running. however rested up and considering not competing the but in true rule #5 style I rocked up on Sunday to give it a go.
Off the mark my running was considerably slower than most but then probably expected given my experience. but after a pretty poor transition period I got on the bike, unfortunately the only bike I had handy was a steel rigid singlespeed inbred so despite the knee had to spin it out.
This was by far my best leg and finished with the 3rd best bike time overall, so only one run leg to go which again wasn't setting any records.

Ended up 8th overall and first in my age cat, but its important to note that there was some vets and Juniors ahead of me.
I was happy with my performance and will rest the knee up and attempt to get back out there and train before the next in January.
I'm no Mark Goodman but with a bit a focus I can improve on this im sure.
Any riders out there sticking their nose up at this Duathlon lark should get out the and give it a go as forget the distance its lung busting all the way.

One gear?

I have been threatening to build a single speed bike up for some time and when I spotted a Inbred "blue Waffle" with a headset fitted and both sets of swapouts for £99!!! I had to have it.

I guess given current trends it should be a 29er but hey im a short guy and that's means another set of wheels so will stick to the 26er.

A near new set of Nuke Proof forks were found on ebay, which I must say are rather nice but funds are hard at the moment as the missus is sapping them at the moment for a garden project :)

I haven't ridden a steel frame since my custom Fuquay back in 1992 and I am somewhat excited to get out there on it.

As for the rest of the build I will be actively scouring Ebay for some bargains in the next couple of months  and likely to use use a set of Hope XC-3 I have for the wheel set.