Globalti
Legendary Member
Went out for a nice easy solo ride yesterday taking in some stunning Ribble Valley and Bowland scenery, stopped for a coffee at Puddleducks cafe in Dunsop Bridge (best scones in the UK at the village in the centre of the UK) and met some interesting folk along the way:
- A South African from Durban with a broken gear cable. Chatted for a while but couldn't do anything to help him. (Note to self: must pack a gear cable in the tool kit)
- A gent on a tourer heading for the Clarion House for a cup of tea. Stayed chatting with him for a couple of miles.
- At the cafe a couple with a son the same age as my own, out on three really nice carbon bikes.
- A lady with a horse in its trailer (horsey equivalent of a bike rack?) who chatted about bridleways, rights of way, riding horses cross country, man v horse v bike, etc.
With each, the conversation was enjoyable but what I enjoy most about being out on the road bike is the feeling of self-sufficiency and being out with the bare minimum of kit, confident that I can deal with almost any eventuality and go anywhere I please, on a whim. No need for an engine, just me and my bike in perfect mechanical order, ready to face whatever life throws at me. I didn't used to get this feeling on the mountain bike where your ability to cover road miles is limited.
- A South African from Durban with a broken gear cable. Chatted for a while but couldn't do anything to help him. (Note to self: must pack a gear cable in the tool kit)
- A gent on a tourer heading for the Clarion House for a cup of tea. Stayed chatting with him for a couple of miles.
- At the cafe a couple with a son the same age as my own, out on three really nice carbon bikes.
- A lady with a horse in its trailer (horsey equivalent of a bike rack?) who chatted about bridleways, rights of way, riding horses cross country, man v horse v bike, etc.
With each, the conversation was enjoyable but what I enjoy most about being out on the road bike is the feeling of self-sufficiency and being out with the bare minimum of kit, confident that I can deal with almost any eventuality and go anywhere I please, on a whim. No need for an engine, just me and my bike in perfect mechanical order, ready to face whatever life throws at me. I didn't used to get this feeling on the mountain bike where your ability to cover road miles is limited.