The darkness approaches

Went out for a quick local run on Wednesday night with Steve. Stunning sunset, alpenglow and everything on Brown Knoll (well peakenglow maybe.)


It's now pretty dark on my cycle in, and getting dark early in the evening.

I find commuting by bike helps alleviate the usual depression associated with it though. Maybe its because spending more time outside you get to see all the little nice phenonemon. Such as today when it rained all the way home whilst also being bright sunshine. It created beautiful lighting effects, that if i'd been in a car would have been totally missed. Saying that my shoes would be be a bit drier if i'd driven..

Anyway..slightly blurtastic brown knoll.

Our destination South Head in the background.

Lovely.

Alport Castles

Went for a longish run at the weekend around Alport Castles. never been there before, very nice. Really wild on the moors behind it - nearly stood on two separate hares. The weather was super hot which made the last bit rather hard.

A view from above the castles. Think it's fairbrook naze and seal edge in the background.

Frank the sheep admiring one of the castles (some wierdos say they are a landslip but clearly they are castles)

I said to Steve "pretend to run" for the photo, I think he needs to work on his pretending to run pose.

Return of the return of the mac

So after many months of not bothering to take my camera out or update my blog, I have sworn to return - and here I am! Here are some pictures of an evening run with Steve and Alex...


Clear kinder - it was windy and a bit nippy.

Nice clouds about.

The dragons back as someone once called it possibly inaccurately...

Maurice the sheep.

Looking back at famine and South head.. always impressive from this side.

Half skyline

Ah bank holiday monday, thank god it wasn't another day of rain. Did half of the Skyline route with Steve, it was tiring - the race must be hard!


Everything looking greener now.

Lots of people floating about,. There was some sort of competition going on. Not sure how they were marked though.. style?

Looking towards Grindslow Knoll/Ringing Roger where we eventually came down.

Steve descending from Ringing Roger.

MTB Construction part 2

So it turns out there wasn't much more to do on the mtb, had a frenzy of activity over the weekend and totally failed to take any photo's. But to sum up I bought a load more bits and put them on. Luckily i have managed to keep the whole drive-train from the old bike so some money saved there. Took it out for a very short ride on Saturday and the crank fell off in front of one of the ladies that serves in the local pub and her chap. That was a bit embarrassing. Turned out I'd put it on wrong, no bother tho it is now attached correctly.


I was waiting for some front derailleur bits, which arrived on monday. So I got them put on and took it out for a short loop this evening.

New new new, i really like the front suspension which has a lot more travel so ignores rocks better.

MADE IN BRITAIN ish kind of well designed in britain and made in Thailand i think but close enough eh!

Did i mention it's still quite hot?

Hotter than a... something hot

Well hasn't the weather been nice and hot, went for a roasting run on Tuesday round the reservoir..


Hot hot hot

A bit later on and its less hot

Lovely colours in the reservoir, not really captured by this photo. Erm also, hot.

MTB Construction Part 1

So I'm putting together a hardtail mountain bike at the moment, under the logic that taking individual parts into the bike shed won't be noticed. Firstly the headset cups needed to be installed. Apparently you can do it with a piece of wood and hammer or indeed pay someone to do it but I opted for buy the tool off wiggle.


Hm I wonder if this will work...

Yay seems to have done, took some force though - glad i didn't opt for the hammer and wood!

Next step is to cut the steerer to the right length, this is it half way through.

Possibly should have used a guide of some sort but managed to keep the cut fairly true. 

A bit later and the whole front kaboodle is on, plus the bottom bracket and cranks. Looks like the wheels won't take the new brake discs though so going to have to do something about that. Still, looking good so far! plenty of time for me to do something disastrous though like saw the frame in half or melt the handlebars...

Weather

Just a couple of photo's from last weeks run. Showing the variable weather conditions that seem to be persisting. The cold wind + sunshine combo is quite nice for running/cycling though so no complaints from me (although I'd quite like some summery weather now please)


Eccles pike, rain and sun.

Towards Brown Knoll and South Head, shower just passed.

Sunday Run

Firstly a picture of a turkeys arse from thursdays run:

Unfortunately that is the only picture from the run because I was lazy and didn't take any others. However below are some from todays run, which was a long one (for me) at 13 miles and 3200ft of ascent. Perfect running weather though.

Looking back towards swines back and South head.

The woolpacks - I've not been here much and should make a trip to explore rather than just running through.

The bog monster was out of retirement on Brown Knoll (although not too bad). Went in up to my knees a couple of times but managed not to get swallowed.

These lambs refused to pose properly and ran off.

Bleaklow

Just a couple of photos from Thursdays run on bleaklow. Saw two hare's still white from winter, another awesome evening.

Looking down from doctors gate.

Near yellowslacks somewhere.

Downfall Run

Nice run round the Western Edge of Kinder on Tuesday night, took loads of photos! I think picasa is going to let me upload more than four (it's previous limit) too so here goes..


Mr toad is warty

Future sunday roasts looking healthy

The downfall, hardly any water, and noone else (never see marauding sheep up here in the evening, they must know when rambler lunch time is)

View east

Running into the sun at this point, blinding!

Kinder resevoir and some gritstone

The stream on the opposite hillside is where we joined the edge.

So nice we went round to the top of william clough rather than the usual sandy heys descent

Maybe i have added too many photos, here is an orange hill

The sun setting and some planes going about their business