Cycling (MTB) 1:11:11 16.83 km (14.2 kph) +436m ahr:129 max:151 shoes: Boardman MTB Pro FS
Back in the good ol' days, I had been heard to say that "mountain biking is a good hill run spoiled". That was as much a reflection of the paucity of my MTB skills as it was of my hill fitness. I did have the brute force to at least partially ameliorate my failure of finesse, but it was all much more fun on two feet than it was on two wheels.
With the intervening years of long-term injury and increasing decrepitude having completely robbed me of the ability and the opportunity to frolic on my feet over the fells, it stands to reason that my MTB mastery would have miraculously improved to fill the void. Alas, as today proved, that is not so. I am still totally sh*t. Armed, however, with over-confidence and the new normal of unreasonable denial of facts, I read Roger's write up of his recent ride, focussing on the words "great views" and "worth it" whilst ignoring the more awkward "tough" and "walking". As usual, reality is a b!tch.
It was a long slog up the nebulous track from the farm to the top of Glentye Hill. Any half-decent, moderately powerful MTB'er would have had a fair go at cycling it; I can boast neither description, and resigned myself to a push early on. Oh well, at least I got some time in the hills on my feet. And the descent on the wee sheep trod off Glentye Hill was very jolly, if distressingly short after all the uphill effort.
Duty bound as I am, in Boris' Britain, to be undaunted by the harsh reality of facts, I shall declare this short test of my eyesight (sorry, MTB prowess) to be an uncompromised success, and will carry on regardless. Those skillz are going to suddenly materialise. I'll have to Stay Alert for when they do.