no ride today
Suffering from a medical problem at the moment and when it flare’s up makes it painful to walk and riding only makes it worse. The flare-ups has been getting progressively more frequent over the last couple of months that is why I have an appointment the doctors on Monday to see what he has to say. Hopefully with no riding today to allow it to clear up a bit I can ride tomorrow.
I repaired a fence panel today that got damaged a month or so ago in that storm we had. Not sure why I was mending the fence as it is not our fence but I removed the panel during the storm after it got damaged to stop it being blown around my garden and damaging anything. Was hoping the neighbour would get it sorted but they are only renting, so either the landlord could not be arsed or they never told him. Never even got a thank you.
Have not mentioned this yet but Tuesday was weigh-in night and I was a little peeved, in fact I was totally peeved as I had not lost any weight in the previous 7 days. I thought I had had a reasonable week, not perfect but then I had not pigged out either, either way I was not happy. Now that the stress level will be rising because of our circumstances and my eating as a way of releasing stress, it is not going to be a good mix. To make it worse I can feel it starting to creep up on me, I over-indulged in a couple of foodie bits yesterday and today I am feeling pretty low. Hopefully I can hold it together to get a proper result on Tuesday.
Saw this on one of the blog,s I follow, if you need any inspiration then this has plenty. Watch this video. If only I could find Toby’s will power.
idiots and pear-shaped
We will start with idiots on the road (and pavement), there is a side road I drive down in the morning and at the very end is a T junction (into another side road). I approach the junction on the upright part of the “T”. Car and vans park on the left hand side of the road right up to the broken double white lines indicating the give way marking on my side of the road, so as I stop at the junction I stop in the middle of the road, there are normally cars parked opposite the junction, so when I turn right I do so onto the on coming traffic side of the road. So why two days running does a car refuse to let me out only to try and turn to his left into the road I am coming out off but can’t as I am in the middle of the road and expects me to move but I can’t move as his car is now blocking my exit?
Idiot number 2, a cyclist who rode down a pavement because traffic had stopped moving (not a deal breaker but mentioned to give a broader picture of the idiot), rode in and out of stationary, slow moving traffic and on coming traffic, rode through 2 red lights on pedestrian crossing and a lollipop lady crossing. Is it any wonder cyclist get a bad name?
Idiot number 3, a motorcyclist who over took me and had to duck under the mirror on the van as he was that close to the van as he was riding into on coming traffic on a narrow road and then when he passed me immediately braked, why?? He then proceeded to ride off into oncoming traffic again. It he continues to ride like that there is every chance his genes will be removed from the gene pool.
Idiot number 4, a young school girl, stood on the corner of a road junction, about 5 mtrs from a zebra crossing. She had looked up the road towards me, I had seen her and assumed she was waiting for a friend. That was until she just stepped off the pavement in front of me, she did a very good job of ignoring me as I slammed on the brakes to avoid running her down. Another contender to have there genes removed from the gene pool.
Now for pear-shaped, I am once again the only wage earner as the wife’s temp contract has finished suddenly. Not what we wanted and not something we are in a position to handle at this time. It is looking a bit grim at the moment.
number 3
Ride that is, as soon as the hooter (virtual hooter in my head, I was working from home yesterday) sounded for 5pm I was out my chair and donning my ridding gear, then I was back in my chair answering the phone. Once I had finished answering everybodies questions I was off down the road, after 50yds I realised I had gone the wrong way for the route I had intended, this ride was not starting well. Thankfully that was the last of my problems as the rest of my trip to the beach and back went with out a problem. It had been a glorious day here yesterday once the fog lifted and the sun came out and it was warm. I was hoping to take some sunset pictures at the beach but by the time I got there the sea mist was about and I could just make out the outline of Old Harry Rocks to the west and the lights of Bournemouth Pier to the east.
The esplanade from Branksome Chine to the pier was busy with cyclist, runners and the general public. It was also cold from the sea mist, making it to the peir approach it was almost like somebody had turned a heater on. By the time I got to Meyrick Park I had to put my lights as the darkness descented, but it was good for 6 o’clock.
About a mile from home I was whizzing along the pavement when an approaching runner started to wave his arms at me and stand in the middle of the narrow pavement so I could not get past. Here we go I thought, a lecture about you should not be cycling on the pavement. So when I reached the runner I was very surprised when he said “do you mind dropping your light a bit mate, your blinding me and probably the oncoming traffic”!! er yeah was the best I could reply. I lowered my light (magicshine 900 lumen), he bid me farewell and off I went again.
A short ride of 10 miles about 50% off road and 50% on road not my favourite combination but it is a fun quick ride. Best make the most of it as the cycling ban for the summer on the esplanade is only just around the corner.
not much left…
During my ride yesterday I got to thinking about what was still original on my bike (with the advent of the new front disc brake). The bike is approximately 2.5 years old, the only original items that are still on the bike now that were there when I bought it are:
Front Wheel
Stem
Rear Brake
Seat Post
Rear Mech (dérailleur)
1 tyre (currently in the shed as it is more a summer tyre than a muddy winter tyre)
There is not a lot of the original bike left is there? Bits of the bike have been changed either through, fault, personal choice, wore out or upgraded. Having given you what left I suppose I should tell you what happened to the other bits:
Frame, exchanged under warranty
Front dérailleur, changed due to damage
Rear wheel, freehub wore out
Handle bars, changed for personal choice
Handle bar grips, changed for personal choice
Saddle, changed for personal choice
Front forks, upgraded
Headset (bit that connects forks to the frame for steering), wore out and upgraded to better model
Bottom Bracket\Crank, wore out and upgraded to a better one
Front brake, upgraded to a better model as the old one needed servicing
Pedals, changed personal choice
Tyre, sidewall split
Lots of inner tubes!!
That list does not take into account the servicing of the components during their life on the bike. The hub (Hope Pro 2) on the current rear wheel has been rebuilt, the forks have been serviced recently (complete strip down and all new seals) after failing while out on a ride. Then there has been a several cassettes, chain rings, chains and brake pads fitted as the previous one wore out.
I am not even going to try and put a price on this as it would likely scare me, but to me it is the price of exercise, fitness, freedom and fun. What price would you put on your enjoyment??
two in two days!
I have not been able to report two good rides in two days lately but today will go down as one of those good weekends.
I decided yesterday that I wanted to do something different, I was weary of my lack of fitness of late but in the end I decided on riding from Badbury Rings to Chettle in a big loop. I had my concerns as my legs were aching after yesterdays ride and that was only 18 miles, this was 22.5 miles.
The day dawned misty and over cast but by time I had got to Badbury Rings the sun was shining, short sleeved shirt was the order of the day, my arms started cold but my body was warm, certainly to warm for wearing the jumper I was carrying. For the first time I was going to try some electrolyte drink, after the mess of Cannock Woods in January I worked out that I should be using electrolyte based drinks not energy drinks, hopefully this would solve my cramp problems.
The ride starts as a slow steady climb up bridleways and Drove paths, up but slowly enough not to notice, unless your thighs are aching from the previous days ride!! I was remembering to drink the electrolyte drink (along with the plain water I took as well), while my legs ached there was no sign of the cramp.
My doubts about the distance of the ride were well founded, by the time I got to the steep climb at Sovell Down (16.5 miles) my legs were gone but at least there were no cramps. It was a slow push up the hill, followed shortly after by another push up the next hill near Moor Crichel. After that my legs were able to cope with the other small humps I came across on my way back to the car park at Badbury Rings. It was a slow ride completed without cramp and the bonus being that my legs don’t ache after the ride as they have done previously. It looks like the electrolyte drink was a success.
Tomorrow nights ride will just be a simple short ride, nor exactly sure where yet, just a simple ride to put some miles under my belt.
