New Bike

After my last post I made the decision to invest in a shiny new bike, a Ridgeback Element (2009).

This bad boy hybrid has carbon forks and aluminium frame. It's not as fast as a racer but is still very light and has 700c, thin racer type wheels plus it is designed to support panniers (as shown).
I was lucky with my purchase one of the last ones I could find and a steal at $330 reduced from $500 (for some reason the pound sign doesn't work on my cheapo keyboard).

Train, Train, Train.........but unfortunatley without the train!!!

So, as part of my ever increasing training schedule I've started riding to and from work. Approximately a 60 mile round trip (57.9 to be exact). It was difficult to start with, riding a new bike, getting up at 6, riding for 1 3/4 to 2 hours before a full working day, and then another ride after a full working day, but getting into it now.

Duffield at 6.45am

Near Higham at 7.30am (with train!)

This trip, for the last 2 years before I decided to invest in a car, was done with a 20 minute train journey and a couple of 2 mile trips to the station and back!

Its a steady ride, flat through Duffield and Belper until I reach Lower Hartshay and head toward Oakerthorpe. Its the up and down show for a 2-3 miles until you get to Higham and from there into Clay Cross and then into Chesterfield this is relatively flat in comparison. Its a really nice run and riding over the tops near Pentrich is a great way to de-stress after a day at work.