Wednesday 9 November 2016

NLTTA presentation lunch, fixed gear ride and meeting the Matchstick man in the wrong trousers.

Let's have a fixed gear bike ride!

I was invited to the North Lancs Time Trial Association presentation lunch by our club chairman David Bisset with the suggestion that an early arrival by car would allow a pre lunch bike ride.
The venue was at Garstang, an obvious choice as it seems to be the natural home for North West time trial enthusiasts, it also is adjacent to the flat lanes of the Fylde, ideal for a pre event bike ride.
Yeah, let's have a fixed gear bike ride, that was my response to which Dave added a weather watch proviso. 
Sunday morning of the ride saw a bitterly cold arctic wind blowing but at least it was dry with a forecast to remain so, ideal for a fixed gear ride. A bike was selected, one of four fixed gear steeds, ready set up with a nice gear for flat or flattish lanes.
As promised Dave arrived early and off we set up the motorway to Garstang duly arriving a good three and a half hours before the main event, the lunch. Bike were dispatched from the rear of the car, wheels fitted, clothing donned. I would add here I was kitted out for a ride to the North Pole, long sleeve merino vest, long sleeve merino midlayer, long sleeve jersey topped off with a winter thermal jacket, club colours of course. Merino long johns underwear, winter tights, socks and thermal waterproof socks inside winter cycling shoes, overdressed, no, it was bloody cold, a seventy nine year old needs all the above, sometimes even for bed.
Now Dave, unlike me, a well known fixed gear nut, is not an experienced fixie rider and on setting off was distinctly nervous despite my assurances he would be ok. Eventually he gained more confidence and picked up speed to a nice cadence.
In the past after taking part in time trials on a Sunday morning in this area we would have a relaxed ride to Knott End, around ten miles distant of easy riding, until that is someone put the hammer down. No hammering this morning, just a pace to keep warm and enjoy the ride.
All was going well, Dav's new found confidence in fixed riding becoming apparent until a call from the rear requested a halt. Dave wanted to adjust his tights, it seems an out of the saddle effort coming out of a junction resulted in his tights being caught on the nose of the saddle dragging the crutch down to his knees, lycra is so stretchable. Wallace and Grommits 'Wrong Trousers' immediately came to mind with a humorous comment and smile.
Adjustment to overstretched tights completed we resumed the ride.
Arriving on the sea front the sun drenched scene before us was not as warm as it looked, the icy blast was blowing strong and we felt it after the shelter of the hedgerows of the narrow lanes.
As we reached the ferry slipway I was surprised to see an almost life size memorial of L.S.Lowry's matchstick man, and dog. It stands right at the beginning of the slipway down to the ferry boarding point and is very impressive glinting in the strong sunlight, the acrylic clear construction allows clear definition. Across the estuary Fleetwood on the opposite side is also clearly visible.

I couldn't resist the temptation to invite the matchstick man to a fixed gear ride.
As the cold began to bite, hanging around was not an option so it was back to the bikes and the return to our lunch venue.
The ride back was better than our outward venture, the wind was now in the main on our backs, immediately it felt so much warmer. Another obvious observation was the way Dave was now handling his fixed gear steed, so much more confident as could be seen by the way his pace had increased and almost but not quite being at one with his fixie. It was good to see.
Back at the car the bikes were stowed and we drove the quarter mile to the lunch venue where championship and award winners were beginning to gather.
The NLTTA had put all the silverware on an impressive display, among the historical silver were a number of new large cups, very nice.
The guest of honour, James Gullen, duly awarded the honours to worthy recipients, a fellow clarion member, Charlotte Gorman among them. Nice to see Bury clarion represented.
After an enjoyable lunch and awards ceremony it was back to Bolton in the car. Dave was very pleased with the fixed gear bike ride declaring it was the furthest fixed gear ride he had ever ridden, I think we may have a convert.