Wednesday, June 07, 2006

Tow thy self - Bolsover Castle

Further to my frantic and over enthu attempts at owning a SBK (well any goddam ‘BK’), my bike hunt lasted all of 3 weeks before sensibility came and hit me in the face.
Too many reasons to pitt against :
a) Bikes (any) are too expensive in UK (10 year old bike costs £2500)
b) Insurance costs as much as the bike
c) Riding gear is a must which also costs as much as the bike
So not only does it take more than £5000 to own an nth hand 600cc bike you also have to go through the agony of cars being sold for less than £500 (a second hand Mondeo/Octavia sells for £600). IF only cars were an option.

“Reality continues to ruin my life” – Calvin.

Having thus made peace with the devils – settled for a down graded version of two wheels. Decided to by a bike (read bicycle). The Brits are very particular about such things – it is always a bike and a Moutah-bike not just a cycle and a bike.
While rummaging through the garage of my rented place - found two bikes collecting dust and lota rust. The landlady had no further use for them and wanted me to throw them out. Any sane guy would have done it!!…why try fixing them when you could buy a new one for just the same (£70-100). But mentals like us (read bulls, jets…) would want to do just that !!.
So I went about buying spares (started off with a pump, then tubes, brake pads, pedal bearings….). Finally!! the bike was in a condition to be ridden on.
Started commuting to the office on it and then the “keeda” (bug) in my head started squirming.
Downloaded all the historic places (I am more interested in forts, castles, cathedrals…) in the 20mile radius and planned a ride to my first destination – Bolsover Castle.

Managed to convince an unsuspecting fool (Magesh from work) into thinking that it would be pleasant to go on a bike ride. Thanks to a very efficient library – got all the necessary maps and info. Little did we know that the area we were set to explore was once a mining land – very hilly and steep. So steep were the roads that we stopped for our first (of countless) break a mile outside the town. The bike has seven gears and even in the lowest it was very tough. The alternate downhill glide was a relief (which also bought along with it the depressing though of climbing it on the way back).
I must have “given a leg” to the odd broken down bike (read moutahbike) and towed it to the nearest repair station but towing myself up those slopes was definitely the first.

Being a member of the iron butt clan (read long distance Royal Enfield riders) I would have imagined saddle soreness is a thing of the past. But NOOO!! This long, hard, thin bike saddle that I have got, which might as well been medieval torture device, mustve been designed by a sadist to cause excruciating pain and agony to who so ever decides to rest their arse on it.
And to think that I inflicted a 15-mile ride on the dammed thing to myself. Now!! I know what is worse than watching "Big Brother Live".
No guesses as to what my next buy at the local cycle store would be.

After a lot of struggle, reached the castle which itself sits atop a hill. Bought the tickets and went around snapping away with my new camera.
A little about the castle itself :-
Bolsolver is a 17C house built on the site of a Norman fortress. The 'Little Castle' is famous for its charming and spectacular interiors, some of which have been recently restored. The magnificent indoor riding house is one of the oldest in Europe. The views from the Terrace Range of state room looks across the Vale of Scarsdale.

As with any other ride…I do not remember much of the ride back except for the head-down-peddaling, knotted up thing muscles and the beautiful scenary.

I always find clouds mesmerising and could not resist stopping over every few minutes to click at the exceptionally clear skies. Captured some good snaps of the light filtering through the clouds.

Reached back home after what was an amazing ride and as Magesh would put it “Balls-over” ride. I still can’t sit straight….

Pictures:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/bulladi/sets/72157594156518855/