Back in 2007 I bought my first road bike in a bid to get fitter. Because the countryside locally is not flat I selected a model with a triple chain rings (30, 42, 52) combined with the 8-speed rear cassette (12, 13, 15, 17, 19, 21, 23, 26) giving me 24 gear options. I’d done my research and knew that I needed a 56 cm frame and 170 mm cranks. On arrival I decided to upgrade the wheels to a set made by a famous French manufacturer and fitted skinnier German 700c x 20 tyres. I’ve also ditched the toe-clip pedals in favour of some French made carbon clipless ones. Since then I’ve also upgraded to an Italian made saddle and saved extra weight by switching to a carbon fibre seat post.
So today I decided to take the bike for a spin and find a suitable spot to hide this geocache. So from home I headed north. I started off in my lowest gear and once moving along the fairly flat road changed up to the middle ring and the third sprocket of the rear cassette. Taking a right turn I went up two cogs on the cassette. The wind was behind me and I was flying so I shifted up to the big chain ring. I was doing 25 mph and wondered if I could get a bit faster. I shifted into my top gear and was doing 30 mph as I hit the bottom of the climb. As the road started to rise my speed dropped and I first dropped two cogs on the rear cassette in an attempt to maintain momentum. Taking the left hand fork in the road I dropped two further cogs. The hill was starting to take its toll so I dropped to the middle chain ring and the fifth cog trying to ease the strain on my legs. I love the sights you get to see on the bike. Everything is viewed from a different angle and you get to see much more than if you flashed by in a car. I dropped a further three cogs as the gradient increased. The hill was starting to beat me so I dropped to the small chain ring and the second cog. Trying to avoid going into the “granny” gear I was out of the saddle at this point doing my best Alberto Contador impression (at least that’s how I saw myself). I was then able to shift up two sprockets as I reached the top of the climb. After the crest I turned left again and shifted onto the middle chain ring and the second sprocket. As I regained my breath I was able to shift up two further sprockets. I was nearing the spot where I wanted to place the cache so I slowed down and dropped to the small chain ring and shifted to the third sprocket. As I came to a halt I shifted to the lowest gear to make for an easy departure. I selected a nice natural hiding spot at the base of a tree to hide this cache.
After double checking the coordinates it was time to head for East towards home. I hopped back on the bike, clipped my shoes into the pedals and set off in my lowest gear. I quickly shifted up 3 cogs on the level road. I was taking the quick way back and flicked the chain onto the middle chain ring and the fifth sprocket and pedalled easily in the summer sun. I turned left heading north for a mile or two. I was feeling pleased with myself for finally getting around to placing this cache it’s been mulling around in my brain for a couple of years now. I knocked it up a sprocket and the breeze pushed me along and the road dropped away in front of me. I then shifted to the big chain ring as my speed increased. I really love this descent and I was quickly into my top gear as I approached 40 mph. All good descents come to an end as the road levelled out and then started to rise I dropped a cog to keep my momentum up but that was short lived. I was soon dropping to the middle chain ring and the forth gear in an attempt to retain some speed. I then dropped another cog in desperation. Breathing heavily and with my heart pounding I needed to take a drink. I dropped to the small chain ring and the sixth sprocket before grabbing my bidon for a quick swig. Turning left for a final time I approached home and cruised along the last mile on the middle chain ring and the fifth gear. I turned into my road and dropped onto the small chain ring and the third gear as I coasted to a stop outside my door.
I hope you enjoy the ride.
The cache is placed in accordance to the GAGB's landowner agreement with the Forestry Commission East England Forest District.
'The landowner (Forestry Commission East England) does not assess the suitability or safety of the cache location. The cache placer and the cache finder have a responsibility to take reasonable precautions to protect their own safety and the safety of others. Hazards observed at or on route to the cache location should be reported to the cache placer’
In the first place round" down
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