Romania - Day 2

Today turned out to be a bit of a mini epic... 47 km covered in the mountains, (152 km for the whole day), but in true form for any decent mountain range, the distance is irrelevant and the terrain is everything!

We set off around 8.30 am, heading up the forest road at the end of the valley, looking for a short steep left turn... JP tore his Achilles tendon in the first 3 metres of the ascent, so he was out and limped back to the accommodation to lay up for the day to look at flights home and talk to a doctor. Once he was sorted, the rest of us headed up into the trees, following a GPX route Gareth had done a few times before.

The recent afternoon storms had turned the trails into rivers and we found our first obstacle of the day, climbing uphill in the stream bed... We managed 300m before deciding to try to find another route up as this was chewing up loads of time.

So we dropped back down to the main forest track and headed deeper into the forest until we chanced upon a newly cut forestry lane heading steeply uphill. This turned out to be fast and slick, we all managed to get up it pretty fast and was soon high enough to look for the junction with our original trail.

We found this and ended up fighting through the forest itself, picking a line through the trees. The fan on my bike had stopped working so as the bikes were working pretty hard, there was steam belting out and I thought I'd bust a hose at first, but it was just the engine getting too hot!

We exited the trees onto open prairie land, still climbing to get to a ridge, but once there, we had our first panoramic views of the Carpathian Mountains. I'd forgotten how at home I feel in the mountains, especially when I get high up. Years ago I would have been itching to run this ridge, but these days with a knackered body and spirit, the bike is the next best thing, allowing me to traverse great distances and still see some of these wondrous sights.

We traversed a ridge, stopping to talk to some shepherds tending their large flock, to play in the remaining snow patches and to take loads of pics. A big hill climb separated the men from the boys, with Matt, then Gareth, then Steve all making the ascent. Darren & I tried it but decided to find another route up. Then along a knife edge ridge to another summit before rolling over several more ridges and summits to reach our descent back into the forest.

Once back in the forest, we had another mini epic, trying to connect a bit of trail, so more steep ascent, a traverse and then a steep drop into a forest piste. This then dropped really steeply, eventually coming back into some more river traversing sections where we had to roll over boulders and ride down the streambed for about a kilometre. Darren's Husqvarna 350 4 stroke lost the cold start button from under the tank, this meant he had no tick over, so the rivers were really hard work for him.

This took us into a deeper river crossing where we had an audience of some forestry workers, luckily no one dropped their bike so after a brief chat, it was back onto the flat piste that took us to a reservoir and as it was now nearly 5pm, we decided to follow it down to the tarmac road and take this back.

En route we stopped at a lovely little village bar for a beer and a gossip, chatting with the lass there who worked in the UK for 6 months every year. We then moved onto Caracebes, where we fuelled up and rolled our bikes into the town square so we could sit in a posh bar for another beer before doing the final ride back to the accommodation.

We got back around 8.30 pm, so a 12 hour day of some excellent fun, lots of laughs and a few moments of frustration including me falling downhill again! Dinner went down really well as did some of the wine and more beer...

Wow, what a place, I can't wait to explore some more around here!

Romania - Day 1...

I set off on Saturday morning from Cumbria around 7.30am, a few stops en route, saw me pick up some last minute bits for the bikes, then collect JP from his place and finally call into to see my sister before heading away for the whole summer, then it was driving time!

We arrived at Dover early, expecting to have to check the dog through customs, then have the van checked through by customs, but as it turned out, we just got  waved through to an earlier ferry, so was on board for 20.30 hrs, 2 hours before our booked ferry. P&O ferries were slick and really good, so very happy with that!!

The dog was left in the van for the 90 minute crossing, so we had a coffee, then once in France, it was a quick stop for fuel, feed/water the dog, then drive time again. We split the driving, doing shifts all through the next 24 hours, eventually arriving at our accommodation for midnight on Sunday.

Gareth & the boys were well into their beer heads so after a 10 minute rond of introductions and a brief chat, JP & I crashed for the night.

08.15 Monday morning came way to early for me... I was still knackered and not really with it. But excitement at the riding the surrounding hills overrode any caution and so once we were all kitted up, we were off!!

Gareth had gotten chatting to a local lad who wanted to come out with us, they know each other from a few earlier visits and so the route was set with our own local guide. The 'Doc' is actually a vet by trade and very good with his bike!

JP & I were both still hanging and a couple of the boys had hangovers from the night before so it was a sorry bunch that set off first thing.

The one thing about where were are staying is that it is the head of a valley in a village called Poiana Marului, so everything is up from here. REALLY STEEP UP too! Our accommodation is called Pensuinia Florina which is a collection of apartments and a farm. There are a lot of bikes here in the summer and the winter brings the snows, so probably skiing here too.

After crossing the head of the lake on a gravel road we headed off onto one of the single tracks which climbs to the hill tops, steep ascents into a bit flatter ground, then  another steep loose up and so on.

The local lads found it easy as this was their back yard, JP & I were soon off, not used to the heat and the lack of any kind of warm up, plus we're both not the fittest of people these days. Once you've picked your bike up a few times, then you start to feel it and it takes longer to recover each time.

This early in the day was not a good sign for me, so after I slid back into a tree and nearly broke my arm on the 4th attempt at a steep loose section, I called it quits, deciding to take a day of rest, sleep, walk the dog to the river and try to talk to the locals to find out more about their country.

On the return journey, I found a lovely trail that wound along the hillside and went past a lovely little stream, so I stopped for some pics, then did the last bit back to the accommodation.

Getting here, we used 3.5 tanks of fuel in the van, (75 ltr fill ups)  for the 1800 mile trip which cost us:
Fill up 1. UK - £86.00
Fill up 2. UK - £87.00
Fill up 3. Germany €92 / £80
Fill up 4. Hungary - Forint - HUF -  20064 / £57  (352 - £1 exchange rate)

We had no tolls en route but we paid 2 Vignettes, one for Austria - €8 / £6.95 and one for Romania - €16 / £13.91

The ferry cost us £135 for the long wheel base sprinter on a flexi ticket with P&O ferries.

In Romania we picked up 5d litres of petrol for 281 Romanian Lui, (5.23 - £1) = £55

So total spend so far is £520 or £260 each for JP & I.

We'll see what day 2 has to offer but hopefully I'll be more rested after a lazy day and the swelling on my arm will have settled down!.

Last Lakes Ride for the Summer

I needed to use up the last of the rubber on my tyres before fittings the new ones tomorrow, so as it was a beautiful sunny day here in Lakeland, Nigel & I decided to get out for the afternoon and catch the evening light on the fells...

Plenty of northern classic lanes went up our tyres as we headed out towards Penrith, loving the clear skies and the dry trails. We stopped lots, just to gossip and take pictures, Nigel has just come back from two weeks in Belgium on his road bike with his wife, so plenty of stories of roads, war memorials and epic rain!

There were loads of folk out enjoying a sunny day, the paragliders were flying from Skiddaw & Blencathra, families were out, some with kids on little push bikes, some just dancing in the puddles, various folk were walking, a couple with really big packs on multi day journeys, some were really pleasant, exchanging cheery 'hello's as we went past, some were less so unfortunately, (I do hope they are less miserable and critical in their own back yard!). We met a couple of ladies on horseback in Lorton and had a lovely little chat before each of us went on our way.

There are plans to replace a gate on the Coach Road with some funds from the Cumbria TRF group, so we took some pics of it to aid both of our failing memories. I'd already got the measurements ages ago, but have not found the time to get the gate or sort out how to transport it to half way along the Coach Road, so Nigel has decided to take it on as a project for this summer.

Along with this too the trail user groups are trying to organise a day of clearing the drainage gullys and fill in a few of the softer bits with some of the rubble that is still floating around from Storm Desmond last year. Some of the 4x4 groups locally have already made some progress with this, organising a couple of days just using shovels and manpower to fill in the storm water created gulleys and to try to clear up some of the mess made by the more irresponsible folk who use the lanes.

Anyway, I digress again... Once we got to the end of the Coach Road, we had a good chat, then decided to just turn around and go back to Keswick, where we'd split off and head home, me to a hungry dog and Nigel to his wife in her garden enjoying the sun in her way!

I love sunny days anywhere but the UK positively 'glows' at this time of year, it's really green with beautiful light and totally lives up to William Blake's poem;

 And did those feet in ancient time,
Walk upon Englands mountains green:
And was the holy Lamb of God,
On Englands pleasant pastures seen!

And did the Countenance Divine,
Shine forth upon our clouded hills?
And was Jerusalem builded here,
Among these dark Satanic Mills?

Bring me my Bow of burning gold;
Bring me my Arrows of desire:
Bring me my Spear: O clouds unfold!
Bring me my Chariot of fire!

I will not cease from Mental Fight,
Nor shall my Sword sleep in my hand:
Till we have built Jerusalem,
In Englands green & pleasant Land.

 Happy trails!

Michelin BIB Mousses - Trying them for the first time!

With the planned riding in Romania looking pretty tough with a full mix of terrain, I listened to the lads who've been before and shelled out a chunk of cash on both new tyres and a set of the Michelin BIB Mousses. Ouch said my pocket!!!

Tyrewise, I've stuck with my favourite for the rear, the Mitas EO7 at £45.00, which has been a great all round tyre on the UK lanes and tarmac. For the front I'm gonna try the Mitas C-25 at £45.00, which is more of a mud/sand tyre, so may not last too long on lots of tarmac but then Romania is not meant to be on tarmac at all! I get them all direct from Wulfsport factory in Workington, so just down the road. Lucy went to school with the daughters and her dad used to ride with the founder, small world!

Both tyres have stiff side walls too, which I prefer on the technical terrain, and if I swap back to tubes after our play in the mountains, then they'll protect the tubes better on fast rocky stuff. At least that's my thinking anyway!!

The mousses, I ended up buying the Michelin BIB ones. they are more expensive than a lot of the others, but everyone I know swears by them and has used them for years, plus they get used in all the big race events, so all those elite riders can't be wrong can they???

Sizes wise I matched the two so the rear is a M18 (90/120 - 18) & the front an M15 (80/100 - 21). I got them from two different places although in hindsight next time I will get them from one to reduce any hassle. A lot of the shops in the UK say they can get them but then actually order them in from overseas once you pay, once they get them they are then sent out to you. For me, I had procrastinated so long about them, so when I ordered them I only had a week to go and couldn't really afford any delays.

MyTyres supplied the front via Ebay, it arrived with all the paperwork, some lube and the mousse itself today, £102.00, the rear was a bit different. I ordered it from J. Groombridge on Ebay. I queried the delivery date and got a really quick reply saying they couldn't send it in time, so as I'd paid, they refunded me straight away, leaving me free to go find another supplier. The service from Groombridge was excellent and I will be using them again because of that.

I asked around some of the lads going to Romania with me and was recommended to go to EnduroTyres. Sure enough, they had them in stock and the rear was with me the next day! More great service and a nice lass on the phone too...

The final parts I bought for this was some Stainless Steel Tyre Valves, these go into the rim to protect from water/dirt ingress and also I can add air to the tube on any longer tarmac sections, protecting the mousse a little and potentially making the ride a little firmer too. 

It's all still a test for me never having used these before, so I'm looking forward to finding out how they feel and perform. One thing is for sure, I will be more comfortable hitting rock steps harder on them knowing there is nothing to puncture and will also have to carry less kit with no spare tube, metal work or puncture stuff. All good for the playtime stuff but not as good for the longer road sections when I finish playing, so I'll maybe change back to the tubes after, we'll see...

So next up is fitting them. Now I've never done them before and everyone tells me they are a pig to fit, lots of swearing/sweating etc coming up apparently! As usual, I reverted to YouTube for some 'how to' vids before embarking on this exercise and came across these:

Mousse Fitting Films
Enduro Engineering - A US garage making it look real easy!

RallyMotoUK - UK based rally service place who have loads of experience.

I'll let you know how they faired in reality in terms of fitting! I'm expecting a fight as I don't have a tyre stand or any bead buddies, so we'll see once I cobble together a bunch of kit!

More new toys to play with!!

UPDATE: 01/06/2017 - Actually fitting the things!

So fitted the mousses today, it took plenty of time, especially the rear, but using the methods in the Enduro Engineering film above, it wasn't that much harder than fitting tubes. The front went on really easy, once I'd re-watched the film again and realised I was doing it wrong!

The rear was a bit more of an effort, without a tyre stand, so I had to codge one out of a plastic box. I reckon an old tyre rim bolted to a board would do the same thing if you're tight on cash.

The main issue was getting the tyre to stay on the bottom side of the rimlock when I laid it back down on the floor, so resting it onto a heavy duty plastic tub helped me to get the first tyre lever in a couple of spokes to one side of the rimlock whilst keeping the tyre in place wth my knee. After this the tyre went on fine until I was back round to the rim lock.

Getting two of the tyre levers down into the tyre to get it to sit into the inner part of the rim and help to get the last part of the tyre on was an effort and took almost as long as getting the tyre to stqay on the rimlock. Once I'd got the irons in place, then it went pretty smoothly, although the edge of the rubbber rimlock then got caught under the bead of the tyre, so I had to take that part back off again. Once the bead was seated correctly, then that was it. Done!

For the next time I think I'll try to get a tyre stand and maybe one with a bead breaker just because they really make things easier.

Made in Wales!

The only other thing I'd say is the grease for the mousse is the same size for both the rear and the front, which is not enough I'd suggest. So again next time I'd buy a 5ltr tub of the stuff and lather it on, especially as all the films say how important it is to keep the mousse lubed.

Key advice...
1. Watch the film, try it, then go back and watch the film again and you'll realise what you've missed out!!
2. Check the orientation of the tyre each time you seperate the rim from the tyre. I still mounted it the wrong way round after working it out a least 5 times!!
3. Have plenty of tyre levers, I used 5 this time around, 1 short, 4 long. My favourite ones are in the image below, strong, good bead hook, and nice and long and all for £7.00! Bargain...

Hopefully now I'll have no probs with the tyres or mousses and will just get to ride until the tyres are knackered... we'll see

Update: 11th July 2017
After over a month of using these now, my tyres are almost dead, so I thought I'd write up my impressions so far.

Over all I like the mousses, on the rear wheel the traction is good and the feel is good. The mix of BIB mousse and Midas E07 tyre works well together and they seem to wear well, having now reached Greece, so they have done the harder enduro days with the boys for a week, then the TET through  Romania and Bulgaria. I could be tight and just turn the tyre around to wear out the rear face as I'm still on dry trails and there is about half the depth of tread left, but we'll see.

The front is a bit 'dead' to the feel. It hits thing hard, then bounces over it, but I can't explain the deadness in the feedback to myself, so won't try to here. The Mitas C-25 on the front has been a hard wearing tyre, lasting much better than Gareth's on the hard enduro week, then also doing the same as the rear on the TET.It'll easy do a fair bit more, so I'll look to change it after the Albania section which is next. It does skit on rocky surfaces now and then, which is unsettling, but it always recovers so no harm done so far!

I'll stick to using mousses from now on for the UK green lane use I think, but I'll soon be changing back to the ultra heavy duty tubes for the rest of the TET as I prefer the front end feel for these over longer distances.

Romania - Here we come...

I'm now on count down days wise until departure day!

John Paul & I will be driving to the ferry on our 25 hour trip across Europe to get to where we're staying in Romania. We're heading to a farm in the hills near a town called Caransebes. There we'll meet up with the other lads, Gareth, Darren & Steve and then it's time for some playtime!

I'm free all of this week so will be clocking up some hours on the bike for some last minute fitness training, then Thursday will be the last full service of the bikes before loading everything up on Friday.

It's amazing how much time it takes to prepare for a big trip, I've done a load of work on the van, treating all the rusty bits of bodywork, sorting out the crap paintwork and then cleaning and getting some service work done on it. The back of the van has had some new shelves and cupboards added, the cooker has been rebuilt to make it more solid for a much longer trip. Then a bit of painting/re-varnishing to make it all look spic & span again.

I have a couple of things left to do this week, replace the part full gas cylinder with a fresh full one, change the oil, oil filter, fuel filter on the van and get the brakes bled through.The local village mechanic is gouing to weld me a couple of replacement panels on the rear doors as I couldn't find any replacements, then I'll need to paint the doors to match the rest of the body, so will need a dry day for that, which is not looking promising on the forecast!

All that's missing now is Lucy, she's still in Peru and not back until June 13th, so the 'boys trip' will be over before she gets to us, which is a shame...

Anyway here's a sample film that one of the boys found on YouTube of the area we're heading to... Enjoy