2024 – There it Goes

Another year will soon be gone and, as we approach Christmas and New Year, I started looking back to see how cycling had featured in my 2024.

The answer is – Not as much as in previous years. I certainly did not manage the 78k per week in my New Year’s Resolution.

That said – what sort of Stats can I find?

(Basically this section has been written so I have a set of “Milestones” with which to start the new year.)

2024 Stats.

1. Ride Distance

Hmm. So in 2024 I rode 1850 kilometres. That’s not much and was my failure was abetted by September and October figures being so low due to cataract surgery. June and July were low due to the cold winter – saw -6C a few times and the pipes froze!

BUT – even so, these are low figures. Must do better.

---

2. Bafang Motor

The 250W mid-drive motor was fitted back in late December 2019 – 5 years ago.

It has now travelled 14,500 kilometres and the only problems have been a broken power level switch and an internal lead off the battery after a particularly fun but rough descent on an unsealed road. I am dithering over plans to install the larger 52 tooth chainring for summer or keep the 42 tooth on which is better for towing. Either way I should pull the ring off to open the motor up and grease the drive gear anyway. First job for next year

Quite a bit of the 14.5k kilometres has been while either carrying camping laden panniers and rack pack, towing the camping laden Burley trailer or towing the Beriault Bicycle Camper. I wonder how that will affect the life of the motor.

The 5 year old and the 4 year old 36v batteries are both still charging well although the eldest does seem to give up it’s power a bit quicker than it used to. Now that the third, smaller battery was stolen with the BikeE I am considering the purchase of a new, larger battery but keep waiting for the new battery technology from EV development to hit the E-Bike market. “They” keep telling me on YouTube that the price of batteries is falling rapidly but it seems not so when you are the e-bike end user!! Yes, OK, you do get a bit more for your money these days but not hugely so.

I may also look into a solar blanket or similar to add to the camping gear. The ability to charge allows access to preferable non-power camp sites.

---

3. Rohloff gears

The Rohloff gear hub was fitted in August 2022.

Almost 6,000 kilometres later I am still in love with it! It works perfectly with the trike and Bafang motor and has given me no trouble whatsoever. Of course at that ‘kilometre-age’ it’s not yet fully run-in!

It certainly was a good change.

---

Greenspeed Magnum XL Trike

Brought back from Melbourne in July 2019, I have completed around the 17,000 kilometre mark with it.

I have loaded it up with too much camping gear in panniers and rack bags and, as I said before, I have towed a Burley trailer and then the Beriault Bicycle Camper No 5 with it – all things it wasn’t designed for. It seems it can’t be broken – a testament to the design skills of the late Ian Simms. The 20” wheels take what is thrown at them without even a broken spoke.

---

Lastly – the Veltop sun canopy

I have been using this for the last 3 summers and it must have kept a lot of UV off my face. It doesn’t take much these days for the embedded damage to flare up but without the Veltop I would not be summer riding without wearing a huge amount of sun screen.

I am also grateful I bought it when I did as the postage from France would be very high in these Post-Covid outrageously expensive international postage days.

Yes, it catches the wind and at a certain wind velocity has to be packed away. Yes, in it’s packed away state it still catches the wind – but not as much as when deployed. After 3 years of UV the canopy looks pretty much the same as it did on the first day although with some extra oil and dirt on it.

Currently, with the sun as high as it gets in the sky, The canopy supplies a great shelter over the late morning, noon and early afternoon period. I just wish the last of the Spring winds would go away.

Recent rides

Recent rides can all be compressed under the title – Rides to Bishopsbourne or Panshanger. We changed cars a few months ago and have been waiting for a tow bar to arrive to allow trips further afield.

I have watched the local paddocks give up huge amounts of hay and silage while also providing cropping for the ever growing numbers of sheep. It looks like some farmers may be going for a second cut – maybe trying not to get into last years position of running out in the winter. Or hoping to get the high winter prices per bale?

The buildings and tree plantings of the once University (or College) still exist and are part of a farm. It was for sale over the Spring – price on application.

The For Sale signs gracing the front gate posts have now gone – assume the sale went through.

I did finally see a few Skylarks but not many and they seem to have gone again. Perhaps due to the early cutting of hay/silage taking away their habitat. The Swamp Harriers have been busy quartering the sky looking for small mammals to take home for their children. The normal Swallows, Pardalotes, Finches, Sparrows abound along with Galahs and Magpies. In Longford the Plovers, or Masked Lapwings to give them their proper name, are plentiful and have taken over the nature strip by many road junctions in order to rear their young.

---

Now let’s boldly go into 2025. So far the diary is clear of annoying appointments so I had better pencil in some dates for cycle trips with the Camper. I know Colin is itching to go. We had better get our act together – once I have set up the camper in the back yard and crawled in to make sure I still bend enough!

There are a couple of day trips I would like to do first, then maybe start the longer trips with a Deloraine overnighter – or maybe Liffey Falls?

---

’til next time ………………….

PS: A belated Merry Christmas and an on-time Happy New Year to all of you who celebrate the same.