I enjoy going away, especially with the soup dragon, and this weekend was no exception. I always like coming home as well, with the major thing to look forward to being a nice cuppa tea. However now we go camping, there's always a good cuppa available. What do I now miss? My bike of course. We've not even known each other for two months, but instead of planning who would make the tea, whilst the car was unpacked, my thoughts turned to how long I can legitimately leave it before going off for a ride, without danger of evil looks from my wife.
Chores all done, everything packed till next time, (I'm sure I could have fitted my bike in the car if we left the kitchen sink behind), quick couple of sandwiches and off I go.
Oare and back, 21.2 miles averaged at 15.4, I love cycling. I've now done 410 miles on the bike, total for this month up to 246, with one day still to go!
Now I need a plan to combine cycling and camping, near the sea side, Angela on the beach all day, me off on the bike?
Monday 30 May 2011
Thursday 26 May 2011
It's in his eyes
Like a couple of veterans CC and I would talk about bikes, wishful thinking, carbon or high end aluminium, splash all out or invest to upgrade. But behind those eyes was always the hidden message - "knownothingbozo you need more than a new bike - you need to do Charing hill." It's there behind the pleasantries, the laughs, all hiding the Charing Hill sneer. One that only someone who has looked at it in the eye first from the bottom then from the top. All the time the unspoken message - "first I rode up on my sisters Chopper, then freewheeled down, standing on the seat knownothingbozo you loser."
Well I did it.
Early finish today, I knew it was windy, I knew rain (heavy) was forecast. I had a plan, I even had a route printed out. Calculated at about 23 miles total, Bredgar - Doddington, Lenham - Charing - then back across to Doddington.
Anyway struggled to Lenham - there's some serious hills between Bredgar and there, so much so my average speed was only at about 10 mph. The whole way was against a strong wind. Then hammered along the A20, vicious side wind causing some serious wobbles. Then the HILL.
In reality it was okay, steady and not massively steep, but quite long. Sat down all the way, and felt fine getting to the top.
Those sign stealing crazies! They've been at it here as well.
Glorious trip back towards where I was supposed to go, but then got utterly discombobulated with my geography. Completely out of my printed map, so decided to ride to Faversham, upon arrival the heavens opened and I got drenched. Rode along the A2, effectively riding against a river coming towards me. Then down through Newnham, back to Doddington, more hills and back to Bredgar. 35 miles, instead of 23, average 11.8 miles an hour.
Utterly wasted. But victorious.
May target 200 miles.
1st Ride in May 3/5, todays ride brings total to 225 miles. Target met.
Well I did it.
Early finish today, I knew it was windy, I knew rain (heavy) was forecast. I had a plan, I even had a route printed out. Calculated at about 23 miles total, Bredgar - Doddington, Lenham - Charing - then back across to Doddington.
Anyway struggled to Lenham - there's some serious hills between Bredgar and there, so much so my average speed was only at about 10 mph. The whole way was against a strong wind. Then hammered along the A20, vicious side wind causing some serious wobbles. Then the HILL.
In reality it was okay, steady and not massively steep, but quite long. Sat down all the way, and felt fine getting to the top.
Those sign stealing crazies! They've been at it here as well.
Glorious trip back towards where I was supposed to go, but then got utterly discombobulated with my geography. Completely out of my printed map, so decided to ride to Faversham, upon arrival the heavens opened and I got drenched. Rode along the A2, effectively riding against a river coming towards me. Then down through Newnham, back to Doddington, more hills and back to Bredgar. 35 miles, instead of 23, average 11.8 miles an hour.
Utterly wasted. But victorious.
May target 200 miles.
1st Ride in May 3/5, todays ride brings total to 225 miles. Target met.
Saturday 21 May 2011
Perfect day
The beautiful wife, who apparently is clearly NOT the soup dragon (even though she is the one who feeds us and on whom we all rely on) is out on a shopping trip, the kids are out, the sun is out, so I got on my bike and did the same. Nice 21 mile round around Upchurch, Hartlip etc, average speed just over 15 mph, and bringing this months total to 168 miles. A good end to a good week of work. Need to keep on, because this week is my last chance to hit my target, 32 miles by Thursday effectively.
I reached my 30 mph target the other day as well - well not exactly, down oak hill free wheeling and scared stiff! Watching the two tours currently taking place, it's amazing to watch the loonatic speed these professionals do. Still I can ride a bike, can they do what I do.
I've clearly now got it in me to do 20 miles on a fairly regular basis, in fact if I do less than 15 miles I am feeling guilty. I now need a plan to step up to regular longer distance rides at the weekend.
I reached my 30 mph target the other day as well - well not exactly, down oak hill free wheeling and scared stiff! Watching the two tours currently taking place, it's amazing to watch the loonatic speed these professionals do. Still I can ride a bike, can they do what I do.
I've clearly now got it in me to do 20 miles on a fairly regular basis, in fact if I do less than 15 miles I am feeling guilty. I now need a plan to step up to regular longer distance rides at the weekend.
Saturday 14 May 2011
Mu Mu's and moo moos
Two big issues today, the first of which started last night, out with friends, talking about going to a bar called mu mu's. In conversation with TT - you know who you are, don't hide you swine, he mentions the old KLF song, "justified and ancient" which is about being bound for mu mu land. We mention what a good song it was blah blah blah.
So this morning, I remember that conversation, and pull the song up on youtube. Result of which, the blasted thing accompanies me all the way to Whitstable and back. And it's drivel. Some washed up country singer who should have stood by her man instead of bogging off to be Queen of mu mu land, whilst some chap called Ricardo entreats us to go fishing in the river of life. I checked my cyclists guide to rivers (available in no good book shops) and I'm sure he must mean the river Liffey. Well I'm sorry, it's a bit far to go for a days fishing so I'll give it a miss.
Part two of the big issue arrives when I get to Whitstable, and I remember a fact* I was once told. It's that cows (the moo moos of the title - see what I did there?) take 10 seconds to process a thought. So that's - thought - 10 seconds - act on it. Well I think many of the residents of Whitstable are cows. Thought - there's a cyclist coming, I won't step into the road now - count 10 seconds slowly, too late, you are already in the road grass munching bovine fool. Thought - there's a cyclist already coming along the road, I won't pull out of my parking space until he's past - count 10 seconds - too late, I'm nearly run off my bike as you pull out. You may have a disabled sticker and a wheelchair Chrysler driving muppet, but you also need an idiot sticker as well.
Anyhow to the ride - decided during the week that if I was going to take cycling seriously I need a new bike. Then I decided that the soup dragon was not likely to be letting that happen, so I'd better just get on with knocking out the miles. My plan was to make sure I did a 40 miler, not sure of the distances, I set out to potentially ride to Herne Bay, but at the least Whitstable and back. In the end I settled for Whitstable, and a ride of 44.5 miles in total. With the wind quite nastily against me most of the way back. Not good planning in the wind department, as I was clearly knackered just doing the first 22 miles.
All in all, 44.5 miles, 3 hours 21, average 13.2. The distance is certainly furthest I have ever done. For the most part very enjoyable.
Update on May 200 mile target - so far I have done 138 miles.
*the fact that I was told this fact is a fact, the fact itself may not actually be true. However if seeing is believing is a fact, then the above fact is also a fact.
So this morning, I remember that conversation, and pull the song up on youtube. Result of which, the blasted thing accompanies me all the way to Whitstable and back. And it's drivel. Some washed up country singer who should have stood by her man instead of bogging off to be Queen of mu mu land, whilst some chap called Ricardo entreats us to go fishing in the river of life. I checked my cyclists guide to rivers (available in no good book shops) and I'm sure he must mean the river Liffey. Well I'm sorry, it's a bit far to go for a days fishing so I'll give it a miss.
Part two of the big issue arrives when I get to Whitstable, and I remember a fact* I was once told. It's that cows (the moo moos of the title - see what I did there?) take 10 seconds to process a thought. So that's - thought - 10 seconds - act on it. Well I think many of the residents of Whitstable are cows. Thought - there's a cyclist coming, I won't step into the road now - count 10 seconds slowly, too late, you are already in the road grass munching bovine fool. Thought - there's a cyclist already coming along the road, I won't pull out of my parking space until he's past - count 10 seconds - too late, I'm nearly run off my bike as you pull out. You may have a disabled sticker and a wheelchair Chrysler driving muppet, but you also need an idiot sticker as well.
Anyhow to the ride - decided during the week that if I was going to take cycling seriously I need a new bike. Then I decided that the soup dragon was not likely to be letting that happen, so I'd better just get on with knocking out the miles. My plan was to make sure I did a 40 miler, not sure of the distances, I set out to potentially ride to Herne Bay, but at the least Whitstable and back. In the end I settled for Whitstable, and a ride of 44.5 miles in total. With the wind quite nastily against me most of the way back. Not good planning in the wind department, as I was clearly knackered just doing the first 22 miles.
All in all, 44.5 miles, 3 hours 21, average 13.2. The distance is certainly furthest I have ever done. For the most part very enjoyable.
Update on May 200 mile target - so far I have done 138 miles.
*the fact that I was told this fact is a fact, the fact itself may not actually be true. However if seeing is believing is a fact, then the above fact is also a fact.
Monday 9 May 2011
Sign burning crazies
In a bit of a rush to get out tonight, having ridden only once at the weekend, I had an itch to get out and put some miles in. Dropped off in Tunstall, plan was to go to Doddington, Lynstead, Teynham and back home, nice loop in my mind. Well the sign burning yokels have been out in a desperate attempt to keep us townies out of their villages, they go out at night, turn signposts to face different directions, or burn them, whilst dancing naked with suckling pigs.
In one village (that will remain nameless) the residents of Wormshill chased me - en masse, carrying sharpened barbour jackets and wielding pitch forks. One of them, wild staring mouth and drooling eyes shouted "BURN THE TIGHT TROUSERED INVADER!" I got the last laugh, I managed to escape and circled back to add some of my own organic fertiliser to their vegetables.
Due to the sign burning shenanigans, got a bit discombobulated in terms of my EXACT location but ultimately ended up where I wanted to be, though not necessarily when or how.
En route I saw a wolf disguised as a fox, crosss the road in front of me, I only know it wasn't a werewolf, because by the time I got home, I could see a thin crescent moon.
On a sad note - bad news about the Giro De Italia (or just the Giro to us riders with proper lycra pants) who died in the race today. It's a heck of a sacrifice for something you love so much.
In one village (that will remain nameless) the residents of Wormshill chased me - en masse, carrying sharpened barbour jackets and wielding pitch forks. One of them, wild staring mouth and drooling eyes shouted "BURN THE TIGHT TROUSERED INVADER!" I got the last laugh, I managed to escape and circled back to add some of my own organic fertiliser to their vegetables.
Due to the sign burning shenanigans, got a bit discombobulated in terms of my EXACT location but ultimately ended up where I wanted to be, though not necessarily when or how.
En route I saw a wolf disguised as a fox, crosss the road in front of me, I only know it wasn't a werewolf, because by the time I got home, I could see a thin crescent moon.
On a sad note - bad news about the Giro De Italia (or just the Giro to us riders with proper lycra pants) who died in the race today. It's a heck of a sacrifice for something you love so much.
Thursday 5 May 2011
Exhileration, fist pumping and flies.
I did it! 15 miles in one hour, varied terrain, between my house, and around the country lanes. All part of a 20.55 mile ride with an average speed of 15.2 mph. Loved it. Even the short sharp hills where I feel like I could do with some extra weight! (For the pedals). I could truly get addicted to this. Not as breezy as it has been, sun out, early finish from work and the opportunity to get out with no time constraints. 20 miles is a good contribution to my 200 mile a month target as well. Also I'm now on 188 miles since I got the bike - so looking forward to the next ride which will take it over the 200 mark.
It's a while since I have had a fist pumping celebration - maybe identifying baby Ben in Op Starlight may be the last one. This time though, I saw the computer tick over to the one hour mark, checked the distance - 15.3 miles! Fist pumping here we go. Looney.
In places the fly bombardmet was so hard and fast I could hear them pinging off my helmet - reminded me of a few houses I've been in. Top investment is my riding glasses, most eagerly awaited for invention - fly swallowing prevention device - that allows you to gasp for breath at the same time.
Things to avoid - looking at the speeds, distances and averages of other riders - could be in for a dissapointing shock!
It's a while since I have had a fist pumping celebration - maybe identifying baby Ben in Op Starlight may be the last one. This time though, I saw the computer tick over to the one hour mark, checked the distance - 15.3 miles! Fist pumping here we go. Looney.
In places the fly bombardmet was so hard and fast I could hear them pinging off my helmet - reminded me of a few houses I've been in. Top investment is my riding glasses, most eagerly awaited for invention - fly swallowing prevention device - that allows you to gasp for breath at the same time.
Things to avoid - looking at the speeds, distances and averages of other riders - could be in for a dissapointing shock!
Wednesday 4 May 2011
Variations on a theme
So last night, I was duty taxi driver and chef, so had very little time on my hands to do anything meaningful bike wise. However I still had itchy feet and needed to get out. Not yet up to interval training, though I think I may have the idea location, I decided to get out and do what I call the Stickfast loop, as quick as I could.
Still windy, and surprisingly cold, I managed the 7.9 miles in 29 minutes 54 seconds. So just for a bit of fun, I think I'll keep records of these and see how the time improves. Mind you it showed me what I will have to do to get the 15 miles in an hour target achieved! I suspect I'm a long way from that.
Next step, write myself a proper training plan and read up about nutrition. Though the danger here is that the whole matter becomes the very thing that has always stopped me from doingt regular fitness. Perhaps there'll be a middle ground somewhere.
Still windy, and surprisingly cold, I managed the 7.9 miles in 29 minutes 54 seconds. So just for a bit of fun, I think I'll keep records of these and see how the time improves. Mind you it showed me what I will have to do to get the 15 miles in an hour target achieved! I suspect I'm a long way from that.
Next step, write myself a proper training plan and read up about nutrition. Though the danger here is that the whole matter becomes the very thing that has always stopped me from doingt regular fitness. Perhaps there'll be a middle ground somewhere.
Monday 2 May 2011
A bit windy for an old bloke
Out for the first ride of May today, that means it's my first contribution to my 200 mile month target. 11 miles in a very stiff breeze, which I am sure changed direction to make sure it was never behind me. Unless it was behind me when I was hurtling down an enormous hill at 28 mph, thinking holy shmolie this is fast. In fact it was, too fast for my liking, so I discovered that my brakes (not yet upgraded) are not up to stopping me particularly well at that speed.
I had a stroke of luck though, being unfamiliar with the area, I didn't know that the bottom of the hill was a give way, and not quite getting to a speed where I could stop or jump off, I reached the bottom. Out in the middle of nowhere, would you believe it, two cars (the first a Range Rover) on the road I was entering. Here's where the luck struck - both had stopped to turn up the hill I had just sped down. So on I carried, looking for all the world as if I knew what I was doing. Phew.
Followed my more phews, grunts and swear words when I got to the next hill, which was inevitably going up. Not once did I get off though, despite thinking about it.
Anyhow nice ride, and one I shall explore more when the wind is slightly less severe, as at times it was doing it's best to blow me over sideways or send me riding backwards.
Got home, got my daughter to take a photo of me, bike bound and in full regalia. I really do have a fat belly, so I'd better get into some serious cycling, faffing around is done.
Minor milestone achieved today - now passed 150 miles on this bike. Brought on 2nd April. So 1st full month of ownership and I have done 159 miles.
I had a stroke of luck though, being unfamiliar with the area, I didn't know that the bottom of the hill was a give way, and not quite getting to a speed where I could stop or jump off, I reached the bottom. Out in the middle of nowhere, would you believe it, two cars (the first a Range Rover) on the road I was entering. Here's where the luck struck - both had stopped to turn up the hill I had just sped down. So on I carried, looking for all the world as if I knew what I was doing. Phew.
Followed my more phews, grunts and swear words when I got to the next hill, which was inevitably going up. Not once did I get off though, despite thinking about it.
Anyhow nice ride, and one I shall explore more when the wind is slightly less severe, as at times it was doing it's best to blow me over sideways or send me riding backwards.
Got home, got my daughter to take a photo of me, bike bound and in full regalia. I really do have a fat belly, so I'd better get into some serious cycling, faffing around is done.
Minor milestone achieved today - now passed 150 miles on this bike. Brought on 2nd April. So 1st full month of ownership and I have done 159 miles.
Sunday 1 May 2011
Crashing into the Royal Wall
As I am firmly against hereditary position, and all the hooplah that goes with it, I decided to give the Royal Wedding a miss. I took a ride out to Faversham (wondering if the bike shop would be open - just to browse of course), knowing that there and back would be my longest ride yet (on this bike, still some way to go to beat my record). Had a very pleasant ride there, back lanes, very little traffic, beautiful scenery especially bluebells around the woods near Oare.
Kept a good constant speed of approaching 15 mph average, stopped at closed bike shop to eat sweets and raisins, and have some drink, then set off back. All is going well till I reach the outskirts of Sittingbourne at about 20 miles, and suddenly some big fat swine climbed on the back of my bike and hitched a lift, at the same time, my legs turned into the legs of a baby. I struggled back the last 3 miles, no thoughts of just rounding it up to 25 miles. Crikey what a feeling. Not so good.
I put it down to nutrition, on which I have done no research about at all, and it appears that it's not just a case of having a good breakfast (won't a fried egg banjo do?) but actually planning ahead. The chap I saw coming the other way at the top of a hill, resting with a hot cross bun in his mouth would probably be a good example.
Anyway on the bright side, I did 23.7 miles, still an average speed of 13.7 miles, still want to go out more. I got new glasses yesterday, with a choice of 4 lenses, in a carrier that will need a rack to take with me.
That's now me totally kitted out, now for the upgrades.
As for the Royal Wedding - I'm a bit cross really, the couple are so lovely and genuinely in love, they may yet save the Royal Family from the ignominy and consignment to history that they deserve.
Kept a good constant speed of approaching 15 mph average, stopped at closed bike shop to eat sweets and raisins, and have some drink, then set off back. All is going well till I reach the outskirts of Sittingbourne at about 20 miles, and suddenly some big fat swine climbed on the back of my bike and hitched a lift, at the same time, my legs turned into the legs of a baby. I struggled back the last 3 miles, no thoughts of just rounding it up to 25 miles. Crikey what a feeling. Not so good.
I put it down to nutrition, on which I have done no research about at all, and it appears that it's not just a case of having a good breakfast (won't a fried egg banjo do?) but actually planning ahead. The chap I saw coming the other way at the top of a hill, resting with a hot cross bun in his mouth would probably be a good example.
Anyway on the bright side, I did 23.7 miles, still an average speed of 13.7 miles, still want to go out more. I got new glasses yesterday, with a choice of 4 lenses, in a carrier that will need a rack to take with me.
That's now me totally kitted out, now for the upgrades.
As for the Royal Wedding - I'm a bit cross really, the couple are so lovely and genuinely in love, they may yet save the Royal Family from the ignominy and consignment to history that they deserve.
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