Johnny 5 is Alive

So the Lone Biker is continuing the old cyclists equation for how many bikes you should own - N+1 where N represents the number you already have.
So number 5 is my brand new Kinesis Crosslight 5T.
Its my second cross bike as the other one is 5 years old and its on its last legs (wheels).
It is also my first foray into the world of disc brakes on the cross bike......it is also bright orange which is very cool!
So welcome number 5 and roll on CX Season 2015

Podium Podium Podium

On Tuesday I went along to take part in Glen Afton Mountain Bike Club's first crit at Woodroad Cumnock.
It was a good wee circuit and after being in the lead for the first few laps of the adult race I was able to hang on for 2nd place and a very rare spot on the podium.
It's nice to remember being a mountain biker and what it feels like to get a medal!

Tour of the 7 Ferries

I recently tried my hand at a bit of touring for the first time. I got some panniers and a rack for the winter bike and set off with my mate Tony.
Our intention was to reach Islay by ferry. We made by crossing from Ardrossan to Brodick, on to Lochranza to Clonaig where the lateness of the ferry made us have to catch a later ferry to Islay. This proved we could cycle/ferry to Islay. The change of Islay ferry however was a bit of a shame as the original ferry was the one to Port Askaig which would have allowed us to cycle through the island to Port Ellen. The later ferry went straight Port Ellen which meant little of the island was seen.
Our second day we headed to Rothesay, again with some ferry hopping. We sailed back to Kennacraig, cycled to the Tarbert- Portavadie ferry then through the Cowal Peninsula (including a tough climb out of Tignabruach) to the Colintraive- Rhubodach ferry onto Rothesay.
Day 3 was the last of our trip and we sailed from Rothesay to Wemyss Bay before cycling home.
It was a great idea and much more interesting than Tony and I's annual sportive which usually costs more than its worth to cycle on roads we could go on anyway.
We will definitely do another trip next year.
Check out the route below and some pictures.

Vuelta e Menorca

I haven't been blogging that much as I haven't been riding as much. Crap weather and a pretty tough year so far personally and professionally so the time has slipped away.
Thankfully though, holidays do arrive and this year I was off to Menorca. I rented a bike from
Tot Velo in Cuitedella (Carbon Trek Domane) and headed off to explore as much as I could.
As with Majorca the roads are fantastic and the respect for cyclists is excellent.
Being a smaller island with not coastal road there is fewer option for cycling a loop.
I did manage to keep it interesting by heading up to the highest point on the Island, Monte Toro. In the heat the 15% switchbacks were fun (!"$!) but the reception from the French tourists clapping and cheering at the top made it worth it. I also cycled to the most northerly point on the island Cap de Cavalleria which was an adventure into the wilds.
As cycling goes its a good place to go if you don't mind doubling back on yourself a lot but Majorca is still the best place to cycle in the Balearic's.

Lead Hills

I decided to do a route I had looked at for a while. I headed to Wanlockhead through Muirkirk and Abbington then home on the A76 via Cumnock.
To cut a long story short: A74 cycle path has a disgracefully bad surface, the road from Abbington through Wanlockhead to Sanquhar is great and the A76 is a terrible road with a lorry passing every 3 seconds.
good miles in the legs though!

Big Pedal 2015

So The Big Pedal is over for another year. My school New Farm came 49th in the UK and 7th in Scotland which isnt bad out of 1700 schools.
Anyway this year I challenged myself to do 300 miles over the course of the 3 weeks to raise money for the school funds. It included a mixture of commuting, weekend rides and some turbo training in the class!
Anyway, my final total was 340 miles for #300milesin3weeks and I raised £110.
There's a few of my instagram pics of the event below.

Bikamper

I purchased a tent with a difference for the summer, for a few overnight cycling adventures.
I now have the Topeak Bikamper which utilises the bike instead of poles to keep the tent up and the carrying weight down.
Cant wait to have a few overnighters over the next few months.