Inspired by our last team ride, 'more altitude' was the cry.
So, on a chilly Sunday afternoon, Sunday last in fact, Haematite Horse and Thunder Horse rode out to Mt Blackheath (Elevation 1065m).
Perhaps you're wondering how two riders constitute a Team Iron Horse training session. Let's just say that for a grand variety of reasons, other members of Team Iron Horse expressed an inability to attend--extenuating circumstances and the like. [Frankly, if you're going to have an overseas vacation I think you need to work it between scheduled training dates ... ;-).]
The ride was quite rustic in parts--horses and everything!
Our main aim was to gather up at least 20km, keeping 'events upcoming' in mind. The ride from the village of Blackheath out to its eponymously named mountain (I may have the naming the wrong way around) was ideal at around 22 km with various minor detours factored in.
The mileage was fine (and isn't it odd how we don't go on about 'kilometre-age'?), but what we hadn't anticipated fully was the chill in the air. While riding, the temperature oscillated between 5C and 6C-- chilly.
Still, we made it.
And, for our trouble, we were greeted with the sight of paragliders preparing for launch. Some were preparing more than others. I can appreciate how lifting off beneath a light fabric wing, tethered to your harness with filament wire might give one pause, but, as you can see in the video below, it's a compelling thought.
As this chap took to the skies, a couple of relatively new paragliders were considering whether to take wing. While that debate raged internally, we gleaned how the sun, heating the valley floor, generates hot air. These 'thermic bubbles' then rise up the escarpment, providing the lift the paragliders would need to get airborne.
Keen to stave off the cold and tuck into some lunch, we saddled up and headed back to the village. We still don't know if trepidation prevented them from taking to the air. If they did, we they had great flights.
I'm also wondering if there's potential to harness one of our trusty, rusty steeds to a paraglider. It'd make the hill climbs a breeze ... oh come on, someone had to say it.
Until next time, Pedal on!
Thunder Horse
So, on a chilly Sunday afternoon, Sunday last in fact, Haematite Horse and Thunder Horse rode out to Mt Blackheath (Elevation 1065m).
Perhaps you're wondering how two riders constitute a Team Iron Horse training session. Let's just say that for a grand variety of reasons, other members of Team Iron Horse expressed an inability to attend--extenuating circumstances and the like. [Frankly, if you're going to have an overseas vacation I think you need to work it between scheduled training dates ... ;-).]
Our main aim was to gather up at least 20km, keeping 'events upcoming' in mind. The ride from the village of Blackheath out to its eponymously named mountain (I may have the naming the wrong way around) was ideal at around 22 km with various minor detours factored in.
The mileage was fine (and isn't it odd how we don't go on about 'kilometre-age'?), but what we hadn't anticipated fully was the chill in the air. While riding, the temperature oscillated between 5C and 6C-- chilly.
Still, we made it.
As this chap took to the skies, a couple of relatively new paragliders were considering whether to take wing. While that debate raged internally, we gleaned how the sun, heating the valley floor, generates hot air. These 'thermic bubbles' then rise up the escarpment, providing the lift the paragliders would need to get airborne.
Keen to stave off the cold and tuck into some lunch, we saddled up and headed back to the village. We still don't know if trepidation prevented them from taking to the air. If they did, we they had great flights.
I'm also wondering if there's potential to harness one of our trusty, rusty steeds to a paraglider. It'd make the hill climbs a breeze ... oh come on, someone had to say it.
Until next time, Pedal on!
Thunder Horse
