Today I am a cycling GOD

pottssteve

Just got back from riding this:

http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/Ne ... iller-Loop

Note the elevation profile.

Now, I realise that for all you young, healthy toned riders this wouldn't be much to shout about. However, for a 40 year old, slightly chubby cancer-surviving former lard-ar*e who got his first road bike at Christmas this isn't bad, I think.

I'm now going back to bed.... Nighty-night.

downfader

That looks pretty good. Was it quiet scenery or through jammed city roads? (I know nothing about HK :oops: )

pottssteve

Hi Downfader,
HK is an odd place. It's about 1000 square kilometres in area. Most visitors only see the most densly populated bits like Central, Wan Chai and the Kowloon Peninsula. However, 75% of the land area is not built on because it's farmland or too steep (HK's peaks are ancient volcanoes). Therefore, if you get out into the New Territories there are some quite nice areas which remind me of New Zealand. I often do this one:

http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/Sh ... -Pool-Loop

This ride starts off on main roads where you need your wits about you and once the elevation starts to rise you're on something in between an English A and B road. It takes you up to Kadoorie Farm, which is very pleasant.
www.kfbg.org.hk

The descent is 1:8 - pretty dodgy on a bike with cantilever brakes. The main concerns are traffic (especially little minibuses and the ubiquitous delivery vans), and semi wild dogs which are kept to protect scrap yards and container stores.

The HK government are thinking about making the area around Sha Tin a cycle centre for races etc. - This is where Wong Kam Po lives.

The key to riding in HK, as far as I can gather, is to get out early to avoid the cars and the heat.
This has been a public service announcement.
Steve

Headhuunter

I was wondering about the heat. I lived in Japan for a couple of years and the humidity in summer was stifling and when I visited HK it was even worse. I could barely walk down the street without getting horribly sweaty, can't imagine riding a bike in that sort of weather!

pottssteve

It's been weird this year. Winter wasn't that cold and now, when it really should be hot and sweaty, it's beautiful. Today got up to about 25 degrees with humidity only really in the 60-70% and a light breeze - fantastic.
I tend to ride everywhere between about 6 and 9.30am - this avoids most of the heat and the traffic. However, I've just bought some rollers for when it gets too steamy - I can sit under the aircon and pedal away!

pottssteve

Thanks Jake.
To be honest, the combination of sweat in my eyes and having my forehead on the handlebars makes it hard to enjoy the view!

nickcuk

Wimp - you could have headed straight over that peak instead of taking the scenic route !!!

Only kidding - and jealous

pottssteve

nick,
The view from the top looks like this:

http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k204/ ... umShan.jpg

I'm off up there again on Friday...

gtitim

pottssteve wrote:

nick,
The view from the top looks like this:

http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k204/ ... umShan.jpg

I'm off up there again on Friday...

Wow, beautiful view!

nickcuk

pottssteve wrote:

nick,
The view from the top looks like this:

http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k204/ ... umShan.jpg

I'm off up there again on Friday...

Isn't that Blackburn in the distance ? Maybe Bolton ?

pottssteve

Nick,
It's high but I'm pretty sure you can't see Bolton from there!

Anyway, I've been to Bolton (got kicked out of the shopping centre for eating a sausage roll :shock: ) and it does look a bit like HK. Bolton is clearly more glamorous, obviously...

http://www.bolton.org.uk/oxfvs.jpg