A Cycling & bikes forum. CycleBanter.com

Go Back   Home » CycleBanter.com forum » rec.bicycles » Unicycling
Site Map Home Register Authors List Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read Web Partners

Long wet Coker ride, with metaphorical nettles



 
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old August 4th 04, 12:02 AM
Mikefule
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default Long wet Coker ride, with metaphorical nettles


I have the week off work and no clear plans. I get up late. It's
overcast, warm and muggy. Which uni to take? I choose the Coker.

I set off from Trent Fields, near the half pipes, and receive the
customary cat calls from the skater kids. However, uniquely, I do see
one of them land a trick! Instead of turning right and heading across
the field and down river, I turn left and, with the river to my right,
I ride up past the City Ground (Nottingham Forest F.C.), under Trent
Bridge, and along the embankment to the suspension bridge. All of this
is fairly standard stuff and passes without incident. There's some sort
of waterways festival on the river, and there are more boats than usual.
Boaters are generally a decent lot, and I get a bit of friendly
encouragement.

The Suspension Bridge is the first appreciable obstacle. I reckon to
ride across it without a UPD about 95% of the time, but the risk is
there. Half way across, I'm distracted by the sight of Police divers
("frogmen" as we used to call them) on the river bank. Murder hunt? It
looks more like they're trying to retrieve a sunken car or something. A
few kids are watching, and one shouts some mildly amusing abuse at me.
Fortunately, I make it across the bridge, down the ramp, between the
iron bollards and make the tricky sharp turn left without incident.

Then it's an easy cruise over broken tarmac, and a short dash over wet
grass, and I'm on the cycle track alongside the main road.

Here, I see a dead badger on the verge. Presumably it's roadkill,
although the corpse seems pretty intact. It's so rare to see one in the
wild but this one had been run over on a very urban main road.

About now, I start to think of the possibility of reaching Beeston
Marina without a single UPD. The distance isn't that great (about 5.5
miles / 9 km) but there are a few obstacles on the way. I start to
contemplate the maths. If I have a 95% chance of success on each of 5
obstacles, then I have about a ¾ chance of making the distance with no
UPDs. But some of those obstacles are trickier than that, because I
have to time the traffic lights, and make tight turns. I decide to go
for it.

I ride under the underpass, which is a down, up, down, up, down, up,
route, clapping my wristguards together at the turns to warn people that
I'm on my way. I make the tight turn at the exit, time the road
junction just right, then I'm on cycle track again. I relax a little,
but maintain concentration. Last time, I did a dynamic UPD a mile short
of the marina, for no good reason at all.

Down onto the canal towpath, I watch out for the overhanging briars,
contemplate picking some blackberries, but ride on regardless. All
that's in the way now is the rough bit of cobblestone near the hump
backed bridge, then the footbridge. The first is no problem; the second
takes extreme care, with tight corners in the lead in and the exit. I'm
always nervous around safety rails that are at knee level as I'm
riding... but I make it, and soon I arrive at the marina. Here, a
closed gate forces me to stop.

5.65 miles in 35 minutes. That's an average of 9.7 mph (15.5 kmh). The
computer shows a maximum recorded speed of 11 mph (17.6 kmh), showing a
steady and consistent ride. And I feel fresh.

From here, I ride through Attenborough Nature Reserve, which is where I
did most of my early unicycling in the late 1980s. The path is crushed
limestone chippings, rolled flat, so the riding is easy, except for two
steep bridges. After exactly 2 miles, I reach the far side of the
reserve, and dismount for a gate.

The next challenging section is single track, hard baked, and
corrugated. There's nothing difficult, but it requires constant
concentration. I UPD twice in the space of a mile or two. I could have
done better, but it is a numbers game on this type of surface.

I soon reach the next canal towpath and make good time as far as Trent
Lock, where there are two pubs and a tea room. I resist the temptation
to stop, and ride along the path atop the flood bank, the river now to
my left, and a golf course to the right. It's hot and I'm starting to
get hungry and thirsty.

Then it's the Worst Footbridge Of All! The approach is under the arch
of the railway bridge, then there's a sharp left turn on a gritty
surface, onto a steep concrete ramp with safety rails about 30 inches
apart. (75 cm.) I fluff the turn and UPD. I walk back, remount and
try again. I make the turn, but never quite get the momentum right for
the steep climb. I stall and UPD.

I return to the start, and this time I make the turn, make the climb,
ride over the bridge, then start the descent of the steep ramp.

Ha ha! The ramp slopes down, then there's a small landing and a 90
degree turn to the right and a second slope down. Half way down the
ramp, I see my future unfold: I see the steady acceleration, I hear the
cry of despair, the thud of kneebone on barrier, the whistling of air
past my helmet, the splash, the faint cry for help, and I see the vile
green waters of the Trent closing over me... Time to bail out. I walk
the second part of the ramp.

At the bottom, I have a pleasant conversation with an elderly female
bicyclist, who asks sensible questions about the Coker. Her grand
daughter listens with horror, clearly ashamed that grandmother could
speak to such a weirdo.

It's a lovely ride from here, past the narrowboats and cruisers at
Sawley Marina. There's a nicely restored little Dutch barge moored by
the towpath, with its leeboards displayed like the fins of a giant carp.
Then I pop up the ramp onto the pavement, and it's a mile or so along
the side of the busy main road to the cafe, where I stop for a veggie
breakfast and coffee. It's a year since I've been here, but the
proprietor seems to remember me. Two or three of the customers express
jocular interest in the Coker. It's not a posh cafe, but it's a nice
place to stop.

By now, it is overcast and very muggy, threatening to rain. There is
one obvious reason for this: I am at the furthest point from the car
that I will reach all day.

I set off through The Warren - a network of narrow country lanes - and
I'm steaming along when suddenly my heel catches the crank. Before I
know it, I'm running down the road, Cokerless. This is my first Coker
UPD on smooth tarmac for months.

A little while later, I pass the traveller's caravan. A very unsociable
traveller keeps his scruffy, lichen-roofed caravan on a bend in the
lane. There's only ever the one van there, one man, and two big dogs.
His Ford Transit is marked, unconvincingly, Specialist Roofing
Services.

By now, I've done about 17 miles, and the Viscount seat is starting to
make itself known to me. I start to fidget, and I place the heel of my
hand on the front of the seat and lean on it. This makes my hand hurt
instead - or as well.

About two or three painful miles later, I pull onto the frontage of The
Star at West Leake - a fantastic traditional English pub, in a 17th
century building. I buy a pint of Caledonian Deuchar's IPA and go
outside to read my paper. The rain starts to fall, so I retreat into
the pub. It's only a shower, so it won't last long... oh, it's getting
heavier.. much heavier, in fact.

Eventually, I decide I must set off, rain or no rain. The drinkers in
the pub are treated to the ridiculous sight of me putting a waterproof
jacket on over a shirt that is saturated with sweat. The landlady comes
over to ask if I'm on the "monocycle", then sees the full face helmet
and says, "Oh, of course not. You're on a motorbike."

I explain that I am in fact on the unicycle, and she leads all of her
customers out into the rain to watch me ride off. Don't you just love
freemounting a Coker when you're tired and you have a big audience?


--
Mikefule - Roland Hope School of Unicycling

Everyone should be fatuous for 15 minutes.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mikefule's Profile: http://www.unicyclist.com/profile/879
View this thread: http://www.unicyclist.com/thread/34302

Ads
  #2  
Old August 4th 04, 12:03 AM
Mikefule
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default Long wet Coker ride, with metaphorical nettles


Part 2:

It is now raining very heavily. I decide to stick to the roads, and I
keep the speed up as far as I can, making it to Gotham (pronounced "Goat
- um" and nothing to do with Batman!) where I receive unimaginative
abusive laughter from young boys.

A quarter of a mile out of the village, I pull over to the side of the
road and lean the Coker against a house name sign. It says, "Four
Acres". Four acres? that'll be my two buttocks and my two... well,
never mind.

Remounting, I proceed in heavy rain along the straight and slightly
climbing main road to Clifton, where there is one of the largest Council
estates in Britain. Several young scallies are up to no good in a bus
shelter. As I approach, they watch me, and I can virtually hear their
brain cells fusing as they struggle to think of something witty to
say.

Scally #1 opens the bidding with
"Naaahaaahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!"
Scally #2 raises him with a
"Bwaahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaaaaaaaaaaah !"
Scally #3, who looks about 10 years old, takes the pot with, "I'm going
to push you off!" swiftly followed by an attempt to do just that.
His warning was enough for me to brace myself, and I shrug off his half
hearted attempt to knock me over. I explain briefly to him that such
conduct leaves him vulnerable to accusations of being an idiot. We part
as enemies.

These people are nettles in the garden of life. The only reason we
don't pull them and burn them is that it would legitimise someone making
a similar decision about us. It ain't easy being a liberal, but
someone's got to do it.

And from here? All you need to know is that it rained and rained, and I
got more and more sore, until eventually I arrived back at the car,
soaked and sore, but with my legs still fairly fresh. Saddle fatigue,
rather than simple stamina, seems to be my limiting factor.

At the car, I find I've done 32.95 miles (52.7 km) with a riding time of
3:31. That's an average of 9.37 mph (15 kmh) - and I didn't do 80
miles across 3 Colorado mountain passes. I'm a disgrace.

And I arrive home in warm sunshine!

Much later, I notice that the computer shows my maximum speed for the
ride as 24 mph (38.4 kmh). This is clearly wrong!


--
Mikefule - Roland Hope School of Unicycling

Everyone should be fatuous for 15 minutes.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mikefule's Profile: http://www.unicyclist.com/profile/879
View this thread: http://www.unicyclist.com/thread/34302

  #3  
Old August 4th 04, 01:32 AM
billham
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default Long wet Coker ride, with metaphorical nettles


Very enjoyable reading. I was out for my longest coker ride last
night... 18.5 miles. Saddle discomfort was also significant for me but
my legs were getting close to worthless at the end. I would love to be
able to do the ride you described! But the 80 mile ride in Colorado
seems a long way off! Good job, Mike.

Thanks for your post.

Bill


--
billham

The early bird gets the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
billham's Profile: http://www.unicyclist.com/profile/4625
View this thread: http://www.unicyclist.com/thread/34302

  #4  
Old August 4th 04, 02:52 PM
AlbertKarel
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default Long wet Coker ride, with metaphorical nettles

Thanks for a great Coker trip. Cokering in England seems far
more interesting than my morning Coker run in Santa Monica,
California. We loved your detailed descriptions, including the
narrowboats. I "captained" a narrowboat in Wales three summers
ago...what great fun it would have been to have a Coker and
my kid's uni strapped to the deck! Next time for sure.
All best wishes from "out West".

AL
  #5  
Old August 4th 04, 03:06 PM
James_Potter
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default Long wet Coker ride, with metaphorical nettles


That sounds like a lot of fun! I've had my Coker for about a month now,
and haven't yet gone on any long-distance rides. Just used it for
commuting so far. I think I'll go on a distance ride tomorrow.


--
James_Potter - Rettop_Semaj

-If there was an eleventh commandment, it is to be "thou shalt dip thy
pizza, for it is, wicked."-
--Thedan
------------------------------------------------------------------------
James_Potter's Profile: http://www.unicyclist.com/profile/3807
View this thread: http://www.unicyclist.com/thread/34302

  #6  
Old August 4th 04, 03:16 PM
one wheeled stallion
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default Long wet Coker ride, with metaphorical nettles


As usual a very pleasant read! What saddle do you use on the Coker?
I had a GB4 handle and air seat on my 29er, very very comfortable and
highy recommended.


--
one wheeled stallion - Guerilla Unicyclist

OWS

"...I explain briefly to him that such conduct leaves him vulnerable to
accusations of being an idiot. We part as enemies" - Mikefule


------------------------------------------------------------------------
one wheeled stallion's Profile: http://www.unicyclist.com/profile/4832
View this thread: http://www.unicyclist.com/thread/34302

  #7  
Old August 4th 04, 04:15 PM
Mikefule
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default Long wet Coker ride, with metaphorical nettles


What saddle? I have a Viscount on the Coker and on the 20. I have a
Miyata on the 28, and a Viscount with a metal handle on the MUni. The
only other one I've tried is the Velo, which I didn't get on with at
all. The foam was so deep that I sank into it, leaving my goolies
floating on the surface. Most uncomfortable.


--
Mikefule - Roland Hope School of Unicycling

Everyone should be fatuous for 15 minutes.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mikefule's Profile: http://www.unicyclist.com/profile/879
View this thread: http://www.unicyclist.com/thread/34302

  #8  
Old August 5th 04, 10:17 AM
GILD
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default Long wet Coker ride, with metaphorical nettles


i nearly missed this one!!

it was only the 'we part as enemies' bit in someone's sig that made me
realise there was a mikefule post that i'd missed

i had a dream a couple of nights ago that i had unlimited internet
access (oh, the things we dream of...)and since i couldn't publish
mike's suggested book, went hunting thru the forum and found all his
previous posts and posted links to all of them in a Mikefule Ridelog
Gallery Thread
still strikes me as a kewl idea so don't be tooo surprised if u see it
happen soon...


--
GILD - Waffle-tosser (ocfopgm)

If you can't say anything good about someone, sit right here by me.
-- Alice Roosevelt Longworth
'[image: http://www.addis-welt.de/smilie/smilie/sp/84255.gif]'
(http://tinyurl.com/ywxgb)
Namaste!
Dave
------------------------------------------------------------------------
GILD's Profile: http://www.unicyclist.com/profile/657
View this thread: http://www.unicyclist.com/thread/34302

  #9  
Old August 5th 04, 02:32 PM
unicus
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default Long wet Coker ride, with metaphorical nettles


Riding through Clifton, 32 miles on a Viscount and with a forecast of
heavy rain you were certainly fatuous for more than 15 minutes that day
or maybe not. I feel you actually enjoyed it all, pleasure and pain,
including speaking to the Clifton boys (probably in their native tongue
i.e. four letter words and nothing longer). I really wish I had a Coker
and the time to ride it around Nottm, there are some nice Cokerable
trails.

Another nice write up Mike, now I must go back to the grindstone.

Cheers, Gary


--
unicus

Every time I try to write my signature the pen slips on the monitor.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
unicus's Profile: http://www.unicyclist.com/profile/869
View this thread: http://www.unicyclist.com/thread/34302

  #10  
Old August 7th 04, 09:33 AM
Matt.P.Herbert
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default Long wet Coker ride, with metaphorical nettles


Mikefule wrote:
*leaving my goolies floating on the surface*



Well, that certainly conjures up an image.


--
Matt.P.Herbert - Muni Hungry Newbie

Two wheels good, Four wheels bad,
One wheel wonderful.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Matt.P.Herbert's Profile: http://www.unicyclist.com/profile/5486
View this thread: http://www.unicyclist.com/thread/34302

 




Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

vB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Forum Jump

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
2004 STP Trip Report (long) Claire Petersky Rides 2 July 22nd 04 06:33 AM
Learning to ride on a Coker (Day 1-22 Feb) Jayne ZA Unicycling 12 February 23rd 04 10:31 AM
Seattle Coker Ride 15 Feb 2004 harper Unicycling 19 February 18th 04 07:54 AM
3 Gap Ride Report rubic Unicycling 1 October 1st 03 04:08 PM


All times are GMT +1. The time now is 08:07 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.6.4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Copyright ©2004-2024 CycleBanter.com.
The comments are property of their posters.