The Bike is Back.

To be honest, I really should have strapped on my trainers and attempted a little run but since moving back, I have been deliberately trying to ignore the sheer about of "darn" hills that occur in every direction from the house - hence, I decided to mount the saddle and cheat my way up the hills through the use of leg power and gears.  

The first bit was great, flying down a mega stretch of main road, then on past The Bear Hotel whilst sounding like an army truck with my trusty old chunky tyres back on the rims.  I then hummed through town and onto the first upward stretch into the heavens towards Llangenny, where upon hearing the highly irritating grind of gears not sliding onto the smallest cog of the front derailleur, I realised I was stuck with limited means of easing up the hill.

Determined however to blast off the pesky Christmas calories, I pretended to be Lance Armstrong (depends on whether you believe the stories of doping or not!) and bobbed my way to the top and upon reaching it, took in some beautiful views of Llangattock and Herons Rest Marina.

I turned off onto a path and hit my first bit of dirt, mud and water and felt ridiculously overjoyed to be reliving my youth and pretending to be a first class mountain biker.  I sought my lines, swerved and curved through the stony bits and allowed my wheels to seek every conceivable amount of mud I could find.

Then.....braking hard and pulling up into the hedge -  had to stop for a rider on a horse and immediately felt like a child who has felt the loss of having their last sweet stolen!

I know that there will be some who feel that bikes should only be allowed on designated bike tracks but my response to that, is this......I only brake when needed, leave minimal indentation in the path compared to huge clomping hooves and what's more - I do not crap and leave the fresh remnants in the path for other users of said path to enjoy riding through.
That said, horse poop is far more forgiving to ones senses than the worst four-legged beast in the world......the domestic DOG.   I have a whole post I could write about THAT!

Anyway - here are some shots of my short jaunt out and the evidence of the mud I found.