Feb 26: Blue skies, blue water, blue fingers

First actual ride on the new bike today! But there's some issues. Since I don't have panniers I have to take all the gear in a backpack. Also, the pedals I ordered don't have toeclips, because I didn't think of it.

So it's not an effective way to ride, and since it's also the first long ride I'm still a bit worried about new bike problems, so I don't want to go far. I planned out a ride that goes out east, over all gravel tracks that I could find.

Got on the bike about 10, and did a few loops around the neighbourhood checking that everything was working. My seat was a fraction too high, easy fix. No toeclips: not such an easy fix. One weird problem is that the front tyre makes a "burp" noise when it hits a hole in in the road or if I brake too hard. Thought it might be the tyre deforming and rubbing against the frame but there's no signs of wear on the paint. It's not a hit so hard that the bead is unseated and air escapes; so it's a mystery. Maybe it's just a new tyre problem? It’s not enough to stop, let’s hope it’s not a warning sign…

Another problem is "toe overlap". This is euphemistic jargon, it means that the front wheel can hit your foot when turning sharply. The solution is Deal With It, if you have to make a sharp turn at low speeds then inside foot up/outside foot down and don't pedal.

It’s also really, really cold. One philosophy is “if you’re cold go faster”. That works with running; but not with biking: I’m in an actual jersey and I’m working hard and I’m still cold. The temperature is probably a bit above zero, and the right move would have been to get an extra layer on, but by the time I’d had that bright idea I was already an hour down the road.

Except for the temperature it was a really nice day.

One nice feature of the Netherlands is that there’s often pathways with water on each side - like the one in the middle picture. Are these just a natural side effect of having all these canals? Or are they civil engineers showing off? It doesn’t matter; they’re picturesque and memorable and I like ‘em.

The route had some elevation changes. Nothing dramatic, but I’m pretty thirsty for hill training so if I hadn’t been freezing I’d have gone around a few times. No photos because I can’t figure out how to make a slope look exciting.

The maps didn’t really make it clear, but around Bussen is some quite nice and varied countryside. Definitely worth another visit! It’s not exactly rugged, and the paths are smooth dirt and gravel - some people even went through on roadbikes - but it’s a good change from asphalt.

The first photo shows the forest, I’m not smiling because I’m cold and windblown. The bridge is a very nice one that happened to be on my way back. To the civil servant that signed off on an especially elegant tiered arch bridge, for trains, over a motorway miles from anywhere: I salute you, this was a much better choice than the unexceptional but cheap beam bridge that was also undoubtedly proposed.

I also passed through Naarden, which has a fortress with a six-pointed castle wall and a double moat. Unfortunately I was too cold to stop and look at it, or take pictures. To be honest I was too cold to stop and refill my water bottle. I got home and spent the rest of the day inside wearing a heavy jersey. Really hope we get some warmer weather soon…