My Commute (and hopefully yours)

[redefined_cycles]

Right... so the Sheffield mtb commutes didn't happen as work dried out. Got myself a card for the lockers across the city for Nottingham parking. But after realising that the places of work there that I had booked in for, were just taking the wee... Booking your weeks/days in advance then cancelling at last minute coa they managed to get cover from elsewhere.

Anyway, so I'd conceded to just mtb duties and keeping the bike with me rather than going on it to work. But today I managed a commute to takeaway as my mate needed a hand for deliveries, so I volunteered even though it's one of the last jobs I'd want (past history of take-aways, a taxi office and more takeaways in between proper work at B&Q and First...

Took the bike and mounted the Quadlock hoping I'd get chance to do some deliveries by bike. That would have been cool but was overruled (probably rightly so). Took the road bike which I'd been contemplating selling (due to the commute-less issue as well as having gotten wheels for another road bike and one can't have 2 x road bikes can they) but on the ride back home I remembered why it was my dream bike. Smiles from ear to ear Alhamdulillah (all praise God), ao it might as well stay with me a little longer... Oh, it's steel and frame built by a bike cooperative. Got it second hand obviously.

[redefined_cycles]

Not sure if anyone recalls the Earnie goes paddling commute (reported above somewhere). That was probably the ultimate-daft commute so far... until this one! Somewhere in the Lakes...

So I popped the mtb in the bike as I'd managed to book an affordable-ish YHA at Patterdale. Work was somewhere near but past Hellvelyn and theost direct route was drawn via OS maps. Lovely little bridleway all the way across going south-west. Was I biting off more than I could chew!

Well, it was only 7 miles and despite the frantic contour lines of little and large tongues, I was confident I could make it across. The bridleway looked clean and non-green enough and the other option was a potential brake-fade down a dangerous mountain pass, with road closures. Much thinking during this very commute about whether I 'ride, to work' or 'work, to ride'.

Confidently I can say it's the former. I've been using the bike to commute ever since 20 or more years ago at B&Q. The commutes only got farther but that's what drew me into cycling (the excuse to buy that first bike and I do love riding) and my first ever mtb. 5am came and I miscalculated the timings. Due to be at work for around 8 and I gave myself only 1.5H.

Browsing the map and I noticed Dollywagon Pike. Oh, 'shizzle' but the plan had already been set. Could it be that I was going past some of them gnarly Hellvelyn trails that take an age to climb... Before I knew it I was at my first signpost with seemingly plenty of time to spare.


I had my lights and a seemingly appropriate mtb... So I pushed on.


Isn't it lovely when you ride through the dark, into the dawn. Thankfully the gnarl hadn't yet started and I was still in the 'honeymoon' period.


Absolutely gorgeous, Alhamdulillahi-RabbilaAlameen (All Praise God, Lord of all The Worlds) I thought and said. Plenty of time for before-dawn prayers; or so I'd thought!


The views got more epic, but thw trails got more, 'oh!'.


Then the seriousness of the task hit me. I was in Gian territory and I just needed to survive. Hopefully arriving for work a bit late but alive. No signal so unable to alert anyone of what an idiot I'd been. Too late to turn back, so I cracked on, still trying to ride...


The reality of being late for work had fully hit me but I'm sure they at work would appreciate the views. Maybe just me being an idiot and I've learnt my lesson!


Then the scrambling (almost for life) started and I realised I was beyond Dollywagon Pike teritory in some of these sections. Said my prayers quickly on an almost level bank and noted at least 4 tents in the distance. With a dog sat outside one of the triple pitches. Were they even alive in there. Dunno, I needed to ensure I made it out alive myself. Plus they seemed to be on the other (more dangerous) side of the mount/valley.


Grisdale Tarn came just after I'd met the fell runner. He obviously thought I was a little mad and was on his way up to Hellvelyn himself. Before the rain came he told me. After checking my velosquare it appears I've ridden down or up the trail he was following. But this other side of Grisdale was totally new and I was also on my own.

The words of the YHA Ollie rang in my head. I'd told him my plan and of riding back in the dark. I've got good lights I'd told him. He obviously thought/knew I was being an idiot abd reminded me to be careful. "Don't want another mountain rescue team out after you", to which I was slightly perplexed... 'But why?'... I was slowly beginning to discover the answer for myself and also dreading the way back... Lots of plans ticked over in my head...


That was the final view I'd shot before making it back to safety. The trails on the opposite side of Garsdale Tarn wet slippery and downright dangerous. It wss a good half hour or more before I risked riding. Even the gaps for the water to flow down were so wide that you risked slipping to your death each time you crossed the slimy rocks!

The decision that I wasn't up for a BB200 this year was made (not that Stu would include anything as gnarly ) and I got to work. Had managed to get signal and word out that I was running late because of a misjudgement of commute. Got to work and was told off then cancelled - it's slightly more complicated but I'll not go into it, though I accept full responsibility for my misjudgement and how it might look wreckless to the ouside world!

Way back to the YHA I decided against the most direct and shallower route. So went via Kirkstone and The Struggle. Poured it down enough to make it an epic in and of itself... Took a few pics but ensured I didn't risk the phone becoming clogged. Especially since I already have a HG failure going on...


Lesson learnt...

Epic views.

THE END

[whitestone]

Shaf - pretty well all the bridleways in the central part of the Lakes are hardcore and can be pretty full on.

[fatbikephil]

Good effort Shaff, quite the adventure commute

[redefined_cycles]

Thanks Bob and Phil. Yes, I think it might have been the rush I was in that made it seem even more full on. Dollywagon pike when I last attempted it was down from Hellvelyn I believe so this way makes sense to seem alot tougher.

Never again

[riderdown]

The decision that I wasn't up for a BB200 this year was made

I don't think the problem is the legs it's the head, you are doing 40 mile road commutes in 2 h20m you are more than strong enough

Misjudging the Lakeland bridleways isn't a cause for loosing hope, it's just a lesson we all learn (often repeatedly) not helped by a lot of the tyre tracks now belonging to Emtb.

I'd just ask if you could still do it, it's a balanced epic route

[redefined_cycles]

The decision that I wasn't up for a BB200 this year was made

I don't think the problem is the legs it's the head, you are doing 40 mile road commutes in 2 h20m you are more than strong enough

Misjudging the Lakeland bridleways isn't a cause for loosing hope, it's just a lesson we all learn (often repeatedly) not helped by a lot of the tyre tracks now belonging to Emtb.

I'd just ask if you could still do it, it's a balanced epic route

Very true Riderdown but sadly the estate car is still leaking (H gasket) and the new cheap car (21 year old v8 I'll have you know ) still needs paying off as I the 2k borrowed from a mate (it started life as a proper sentence). So sadly need to keep working hard and have booked myself in for a shift on the weekend.

Really appreciate the encouragement though and still slightly gutted that I didn't properly train etc. Bloomin cars

[redefined_cycles]

Works a bit tight at the moment (govt trying to scapegoat others again and this time they're at war with agency nurses) and there is a blood taking slot that always comes up. Only pays £20 and the company that has requested our agency have put a cap on of £2.50 for journey expenses.

After many months of looking I finally decided to pick one up. Only 20 minutes of work after all if you were close-by. So I made booked my shift and made my route. 95 mile loop

All I needed to do was ride at a sustainable pace and not spend anything out/enroute. So a request was put in to the missus and she favoured me with 2 tuna mayo sandwiches. The visit I'd arranged with the client to be there for between 1100 and 1215. Naturally I didn't tell him I was riding 45 miles to come do the job!!

This morning, like I always do when about to ask my body for alot, I needed some motivation. I needed to remind myself, 'the why'. So I opened the Quran onto whichever chapter came up from those I've memorised.


Quickly skimming through it and reciting the Arabic I found my motivation. Something I could focus on and help keep my head down. The silk garments of Paradise (for men in Islam, wearing/using silk or gold is forbidden and is reserved exclusively for the women to enjoy).

A few other niggles sorted by going to the loo more than once. Often happens to me and I call it the stress-response. Then I was off with a budget of exactly £0 to see me through. Three nice Veloforte bars though of various iterations!


I had half 'the gear' and the client the other half.


Bike packed but this 4.5L pack really doesn't 'cut the mustard' and I've been thinking about sizing up for a while now. After all I really don't want to knacker the zips by overfilling it.

After about 35 miles of riding, I was still 10 miles away. So a quick update to the nice gent and all was sorted. New arrival ETA of 1230 and hopefully all would be smooth. I also gave a '15 minutes either side' just to be sure.


Visit completed and the return leg. This lovely bridge I found after having ridden it was/is Sutton Bridge. Asked the toll-collector at the end and thankfully I owed nothing. Was just being sure but had the feeling they're still free for walkers/bikers. By this time I'd already eaten one of my sarnies and had about half a bar left.


70 miles or so in and this little hill. I noticed the nice chap walking up it couldn't make up his mind of whether to climb it on the left or the right. Mentioned it whilst getting past and he confirmed that he was doing the zig-zag thing. Funny as I thought it was only us cyclists that do that!!


Total expenditure thus far at 75 miles or so was still zero. Focusing on the silk garms was thankfully keeping my moving forward and not getting confused and lost in my own thoughts. Stopping time was also minimised thanks to a clear head.

But the water was obviously suffering. I'd topped up the bottle which had been under-diluted before I set off. So I did me well with just a simple top up of water. But now I was down to my last few drops.


Made it to Garforth which was a nice milestone. Since it's only 15 miles from home and I usually TT this first section on the 70 or so commutes I've done coming out this way.


Just the station and this lovely chap allowed me a free refill. Told him I was on a long commute and works only paying £22.50. He (jokingly) tried to charge me £0.50 for the water... proper Yorkshire




Then at the bottom or somewhere on this hill, my plan all started falling apart. Knee niggles (more on that later and why its not good) and a bonk (energy depletion to unsafe levels) coming on. I needed sugar so stopped at the CoOp and got myself £1.50 worth of vegan sweets. £22.50 - £1.50, 'oh dear' but it was needed and well worth it.

95 miles in and the next phlebotomy visit looming in just 2 more days on Wednesday. I really need a quick recovery. But, for the moment at least I might get some commuting in without going full time. Already thinking about trying to coordinate and book more than a couple of visits to slowly make it more realistic.

Hopefully I might be better prepared for any future challenging-rides. One thing is for certain, that the HT550 always get me reviewing my riding or lack of it. If anyone wants the stats and has Strava they're here https://strava.app.link/D5X0al90jKb

[redefined_cycles]

One thing I do find perplexing is heart rate and calorie count. Really not sure if the heart rate strap is a reliable tool to tell me that I've burnt through 5800 Kcalories.