New Cassette and Chain

I took my bike in for a service this morning at my local bike shop and they said the chain was worn - off the scale of their tool. So it's being fitted with a new chain and cassette - which need to be changed together. It's probably done 2,000 miles since it was last changed, maybe more. I decided to swap my existing 8 speed 11-30 cassette for the 11-32 version. So with my 28/38/48 chainwheels I should be well prepared for the Yorks Dales hills.

Nicky the same chainwheels and a similar cassette (7 speed 12-32) so we should be equally matched - although she likes to walk up the steeper hills anyway.

Hoping for good weather - in particular going over the high moors from Wharfedale to Wensleydale on Weds (except this is the day when the heaviest showers forecast).

Chilterns Bike Ride

A couple of LEJOG friends Ellen and Steve joined me yesterday for a 35 mile ride cross country through the Chilterns. We cycled via Wendover to Longwick on fairly busy and decent roads, then up to Bledlow Ridge and beyond on very minor roads. My handlebar bag came in useful for coffee and penquins at the top of the hill.
Then it was on to Speen up another even steeper hill before going down to cross the Wendover-Amersham road then up a gravelly dirt track of a road up to the Old Swan at Swan's Bottom pictured. There were lots of cyclists on the roads, mainly mountain bikers at some sort of event. We had a hearty lunch before the final 5 miles back to Tring.