One year on.

So this is it, one full year since my first road bike ride (2nd April 2011). One year since I took possession of a shiney (at the time) Pinnacle from Evans. On that first day, with strapped clips, I managed a whole 8  miles, obviously exhilarated by the experience, I managed to complete 159 miles in that first month.
It wasn't long before I started tinkering - new wheels, new tires, new seat post, new handlebars, new brakes, new frame all followed, till ultimately all that is left from the first bike is a rear derailleur and the cables. very little came cheap, but none of it came at full price either. To start with the bike weighed 10.3 kg, now it's sleeker, shinier young brother weighs 7.8. Along the way I realised that these sort of things matter, I discovered rotating weight, the difficulties of pulling my own weight plus the weight of the bike up a hill and the joy of letting the same weight plummet downhill. I discovered that what the bike looks like does matter, because it's that that makes you want to ride it. I discovered that "fettling" and cleaning it are fun too.
I have had moments of misery, loudly exploding tire left me stranded by the side of the road waiting for CC to come and collect me. A broken chain, made me realise that a some friends really are there when you need them.  A spearing in the stomach from an exploding carbon dioxide canister pump made me realise it's a piece of shit, the like of which will never be used by me again. Rain so heavy that I could barely see made me realise that even when only 2 miles to go to reach a century, that sometimes it's just not worth it.
However mostly it's been fun. I have obsessed about riding, planning my days and weeks around what I can do. Ticking off milestones, and challenges. Sharing some great times with people, but mostly sharing them with my own thoughts. (It turns out that my MBTI personality type would have predicted all this precisely - the preference to ride alone , the endless research, the capturing of statistics - I am an open book).
I've learnt about myself along the way to - having never found a hobby that I stuck with - squash in the army - required interaction, a few seasons dabbling with football - requires a lot of interaction, cycling is the perfect hobby. The only interaction needed is the occasional cheery hello to someone going the opposite way. No need to converse or be interested in their life. Just hello. Conversely I found out that company can be good, as long as it's the right company.  I also found out I do get stressed. Because when on a ride after work, I can feel the clouds  dissipate.
So where have we reached, my bike and I? Here's the facts and figures, (the cost I'll keep to myself).
Longest ride - 103.12 miles, around the Kent Coast to Rye in 6 hours 40 minutes.
12 rides over 50 miles
Least miles in a month - 78 - neck injury (add that to moments of misery above)
Most miles in a month - August 2011 - 438.
Average ride distance - 26 miles at an average average speed.
I have ridden as far as Basrah (Iraq), The Kwiambana Game Reserve (Africa), Sydney (Nova Scotia), Prince Charles Island (within the Canadian North West passages obviously), Komsomolets Island in the Kara sea, and Bandar Torkeman on the southern edge of the Caspian sea. A grand total of 2786 miles, or 4483 km.
And to end it the year, my favourite ride yet, 70 miles today, around the Kent Countryside.
To those who have read my blog, hope you enjoyed the ride.
To the soup dragon, thank you my beautiful, understanding wife for letting me have the time to ride (and buy).
So long.

Targets met...

In the past week, I have passed the target of 4000km (the rules number 24) and 2500 miles (bugger the rules) Both are in fact within 15 miles of each other, but occurred on seperate rides. This being from April 2nd last year, so much to feel good about there.
So far I have reached Aswan in Egypt.
Still a few days to go before a full year is passed, and if the weather stays reasonable, I hope to get in another 200 or more, especially now nights are getting lighter.
Bike is almost running like a dream - I say almost - my highly rated and almost bomb proof tyres - have provided at least 5 punctures so far this year. The latest being yesterday, 48 miles into a 62 mile ride, not a good time to start getting cold and muscles tightening up. So I've taken the plunge and ordered new ones, much sooner than I would have expected to considering the cost of the ones that keep popping. This follows on from a new chain - having finally worked out what a chain wear tool does!  So more money being spent, does it never end? And I am still not finished with the bike build overall! Will I ever be?
I'm still up to scratch with this years resolution of doing a century every month - I must be getting okay at this cycling lark - remembering when 62 miles was quite daunting, I finished yesterday thinking it wouldn't have been much of a hardship to do considerably more. It was done on Romney Marsh, and I managed to achieve a total climb of less than 100 feet! Hardly King of the Mountains material! It will be a great one for the summer though, especially if I can get a day with less wind.
The soup dragon is laid up with a poorly foot, so me and the little Clangers are having to fend for ourselves. Planning ahead is what I am not used to, this means last minute what's for tea? questions lead to a frantic rummaging in the freezer for something delicious. I don't think I take soupy for granted, but it certainly makes a difference not having her doing so much for us.
Junior Clangers birthday tomorrow - how did I ever reach the point of having a youngest Clanger who is 17 years old? That must mean I am older than I feel.

Talking obese (I was but edited it out) - Kevin Bridges described the fat cycle this week - someone should do some science on it. Skinny people think they are chubby. Chubby people think they are fat. Fat people think they are obese. Obese people think they are supermodels. Funny.
Anyhow that's me caught up, next report will be after one full year of cycling, final review and probably last blog.

That's it....for now

So finally the bike is a confirmed sub 8kg, including pedals, and bottle cages, not sure why specifically, but this has been a target since CC started me on this whole weight saving game.
New saddle arrived, hopefully that will solve the recent numbness in the gentlemans area problems.
I've also got myself a GPS bike computer, which not only works wonderfully, but also looks much better than sensors here and sensors there.
So I guess now, that's it for the bike build, other than replacement parts for worn out / broken bits, otherwise I think the soup dragon would cut off soup supplies if I brought anything else.
Now the nights are getting lighter, no excuses for not getting out, 4000km in a year is definitely on the cards, fingers crossed for continued good weather.
Also on the good news front Chris Boardman, who knows alot about bikes clearly said that cold air is more dense than hot air due to the low pressure. This means that the struggle I am having to maintain the speeds I achieved in summer has a scientific reason, not just me being a fat knacker.
Lighter bike, fitter person, less dense air, come spring time, I'll be a two wheeled rocket!

New year same shit

A while since I reported, and truth to tell, not that much to report.
Turns out riding out in the cold is not so bad. Cold being a comparative term of course - several rides at minus 2, the only thing I can't get a grips with are my toes. In fact riding in the cold provides clarity to the air that filters through to a clarity of mind as well.
In January I managed 340 miles, one of my best monthly miles completed. In total now I am up to 2301, and have identified a new target for April to March this will be 2485 miles, or 4000 km of riding in one full year. Not a bad start to what will hopefully see me riding till very old age.
Nice to ride with some different people as well, especially being present on a friends first 50 mile, nice to share his joy at the achievement. Followed by a smug feeling that I had 12 miles to ride home still!
Bike still running beautifully, though it's lost some of it's good looks. This is entirely my fault, in fitting a saddle that is very comfy but does not match the colour scheme at all! This was another knownothingbozo pointless bid on ebay on something I didn't really want, but bidded anyway! I now find myself with an ugly saddle, which I'll have to sell, in order to fund a beautiful but equally comfy saddle! Dumbass. 
I'm finding that I am reliant on riding now to clear out the bad stuff that people do. They are on the increase and there seems to be no stemming the flow of nastiness that people do. Still it still shocks me and pisses me off, so I think I'll carry on a bit longer.
Looking foward to spring now and starting to get some big rides in, and even contemplating a few sportives.

Well that's about that then...

Well 2011 is drawing to an end. This being the year where I finally got off my arse and did something about fitness, and my impending early death (Dad 34 - Mum 56 - I'm probably on borrowed time already). It all started in April when my lovely wife (aka the soup dragon) gave me permission to purchase my first road bike. This after a few failed attempts to get into cycling in the mud with my son. These failed on the grounds that he likes it, I don't.
So I started off with an aluminium road bike, weighing in at a robust 10.3 kg. I had no idea of what was a good weight, nor for that matter how much it matters.
Quickly got to like the freedom and (perceived) speed that I could ride, as well as distances I never thought I'd do.
I also quickly got to understand that bike ownership is a cruel and expensive mistress. There's always something fancy, lighter and faster that is absolutely necessary to make the relationship work. I also found out that cleaning and tinkering with the bike is almost as pleasurable as riding it.
So at the end of 9 months of riding, I have reached 1906 miles, with an average distance of 26 miles.
This includes a paltry 83 miles between 8th October and the end of November when I was suffering with a neck injury.
The bike has been transformed along the way, with the only original parts being the seat, rear derailleur, and shifters. My little white shining beauty now weighs in at 7.92 kg. Importantly that's with pedals, as it appears bike weights are always quoted without. At the start I thought my dream bike would be the Cannondale Supersix at 8.14kg. Who needs a supersix anyway?
Mile stones along the way:
8th July - 1st Century ride (metric)
8th August - reached first 1000 miles.
30th August - 1st Century ride (imperial)
August was also my first and only 400 mile month.

So what have I learnt?
That I am good company for myself.
The wind is a bitch.
Kent is not as flat as a car makes it seem. 
Cyclists are mostly friendly, but some are miserable bastards. I put this down to them riding against the wind.
Some days hills are bumps, others they are mountains.
Sometimes it's just as much fun going up a hill as it is down the other side. Sometimes it isn't. 
Sometimes I just start smiling or chuckling for no discernible reason. If you see this happening, just ignore me and avoid calling for the boys from the funny farm.
If you are considerate to cars and vans, often times they will be considerate back.
Sometimes cars, vans and lorry drivers are gits. I put it down to their small penises and reduced life expectancy.
Whilst weight and equipment isn't everything, it is important to feel good about your bike. This makes you want to use it.
The bike is never finished, there's always something nice and necessary that will make it even better.
As a stress buster, going for a ride after work cannot be beaten.
The patience of my wife, through me being out for hours, referring to her as the soup dragon in my blog, and picking me up at the end of my two century rides is extraordinary, and deserves all the Pandora beads and Radley bags she wants. (see small print).

As for weight loss, and fitness: the weird thing about fitness is that you gain it gradually so it's hard to tell whether you have achieved anything. However given that I have gone from a largely sedentary lifestyle to being a regular cyclist I must be fitter.
I started out at 13 stone 7, and just the other day reached my lightest weight for many years - drum roll etc etc - 13 stone. Whoopee do. That includes a vastly reduced intake of alcohol. I have however dropped at least one trouser size. I guess the lack of weight loss, must be the weight of my increased life expectancy.
2012 - what will it bring - more of the same I hope, I have some targets in mind, but the most important one is to keep on riding with the same enjoyment for years to come.
Happy New Year to all.

At last....

Having had a rotten time in the past two months, hardly any cycling, either through injury or working long hours, I finally managed to get out for a reasonable ride today, only 18 miles, but wind made it quite hard in places. Still, as it was cold (ish) I am satisfied I have the right clothing to keep going through the winter, but breathing cold air has left me with a sore throat and a cough.
It didn't start well, my daughter announcing that I looked like santa claus. I am hoping she was referring to the red and black bib tights and red jacket as opposed to my girth.
Still it felt good to be out on the road, it's a bare arsed place in the winter, quite raw in places, and a complete contrast to summer.
Doesn't look like I'll make 2000 miles from April, these last two months of inactivity have left me some 270 miles short. I'll struggle to make that unless I get some big ones in over the next few weekends.
However next years target of 3000 miles will be a fun challenge, no excuses about bike, weather, time etc. Average of 250 miles a month needed. I'm also thinking of other challenges, perhaps a number of century rides, metric and imperial, increased average speed etc etc.
At least cycling now feeling good again, roll on the next ride!

Dirty bikes and wet bums

Slowly but surely getting back to riding, neck still sore, but physio has identified the problem, essentially a tangle of knotted up muscles around neck and shoulder. However today, the sun was out, the sky a glorious blue and whatever happened I was going to get on my bike and ride.
Only 23 miles, and not at great pace, maybe I am just not born to be a fast rider, but very very enjoyable. It's weird to be thinking that it was only 23 miles, as that's not a bad distance in itself, but not much of an achievement these days.
The bike got filthy and has a hideous squeak, so upon my return it was a good cleaning session and strip down of the rear derailleur. Not something I'd ever attempted before, in fact I'd never taken my own chain off before. What a biff.
Funnily enough, the process of cleaning and maintaining the bike is almost as much pleasure as the ride itself. Perhaps in future I'll save the energy and just go out for a bike clean.
With about a month off riding, not sure I'm going to make my 2000 mile target by the end of the year, not unless I get out and put some long miles in, or at least get out and do some riding in the dark. An experience I have yet to partake of.
One achievement I have, is that this must by now be the longest I have stuck with any form of voluntary fitness. Perhaps there's hope for a long life yet.