If you cycle for a living what do you do if you are stressed? Do you go to an office? Spend a day working in a factory? Get rat arsed or beat the wife up? I only ask because I am finding that cycling is doing the trick for de-stressing me. It's fair to say that this past week hasn't been one I'll be thinking of fondly for years to come, in fact there's been times when some of the above options sounded and felt like a good idea. Nevertheless, the weather gods were reasonable and I managed to get some miles in and felt the better for it.
My friend CC (currently an ex cyclist sadly for him) doesn't like the sound of the wind in his ears, in fact we spent some time planning a world beating invention to solve the problem. For me though I like the sound, I picture it as all the bad shit tumbling down the road behind me.
For a variety of reasons I struggled to get many miles in this month, in fact less than half of what I did in August. One highlight worth mentioning though, had me nowhere near a bike - or in fact very close to about 100 bikes. I went up to London to watch the Tour of Britain reach it's finale, and it's certainly given me the taste for watching some more. Perhaps I'll have to plan something for the Olympics.
Good to be a cyclist at the moment, weather gorgeous, Cav is the world champion, and stress never stays around for long. Happy days.
Tuesday, 27 September 2011
Thursday, 15 September 2011
Racing the sunset
Having left work at 4.30 I was desperate to get a good long ride in, having endured several days of stupid winds. The day was reasonably calm, but bright blue skies.
Anyhow, I managed to set off by 5.30 on a great route, enjoying the best of autumn riding. So there's some downsides but for every shadow there has to be light.
Flies in the mouth - at least they contain carbohydrate.
Low sun in the eyes - there will be an awesome sunset.
Cold arms - I can warm them up wrapped around the soup dragon.
In the end I managed just under 30 before the sun dipped below the horizon. Bike riding like a dream, and I've even managed to rediscover a good set up, now knownothingbozo, stop tinkering!
Up to 1433 miles now, so 1500 is an easy achievement, maybe even by the weekend. Then it's a question of what I am going to be able to do during the winter. Perhaps some early shifts and late shifts will give me daytime riding, then hold out hope for a good long one each weekend. I reckon 200 miles a month is achievable.
On the sad news, I've shaken hands with the soup dragon on a deal not to buy a new bike for another year. All my cognitive distortions have come crashing to the ground in the face of cold hard facts. So I now have to remind myself (and this ride is a good example) that just riding is fun, on any bike. By the time I get my shiney super lightweight dream machine, I'll be very much fitter with many more miles under my tires, and ready for the next level - riding with someone else!
I now have a smart phone with android, so watch out for lots of fun facts and figures as it (hereon known as Mrs Data - the geeks will appreciate this) spits out the daily reminders of what a lazy bloke I am.
Anyhow, I managed to set off by 5.30 on a great route, enjoying the best of autumn riding. So there's some downsides but for every shadow there has to be light.
Flies in the mouth - at least they contain carbohydrate.
Low sun in the eyes - there will be an awesome sunset.
Cold arms - I can warm them up wrapped around the soup dragon.
In the end I managed just under 30 before the sun dipped below the horizon. Bike riding like a dream, and I've even managed to rediscover a good set up, now knownothingbozo, stop tinkering!
Up to 1433 miles now, so 1500 is an easy achievement, maybe even by the weekend. Then it's a question of what I am going to be able to do during the winter. Perhaps some early shifts and late shifts will give me daytime riding, then hold out hope for a good long one each weekend. I reckon 200 miles a month is achievable.
On the sad news, I've shaken hands with the soup dragon on a deal not to buy a new bike for another year. All my cognitive distortions have come crashing to the ground in the face of cold hard facts. So I now have to remind myself (and this ride is a good example) that just riding is fun, on any bike. By the time I get my shiney super lightweight dream machine, I'll be very much fitter with many more miles under my tires, and ready for the next level - riding with someone else!
I now have a smart phone with android, so watch out for lots of fun facts and figures as it (hereon known as Mrs Data - the geeks will appreciate this) spits out the daily reminders of what a lazy bloke I am.
Wednesday, 31 August 2011
Know nothing bozo gets a bike: I'm special
Know nothing bozo gets a bike: I'm special: I've always known I was special. My Mum told me. The authorities told me. My school was a special school. Now I've been reminded how special...
Know nothing bozo gets a bike: Achievements and awe
Know nothing bozo gets a bike: Achievements and awe: Better late than never, delayed updating of blog after yesterday due to 1) Going to see Inbetweeners movie - funny 2) Today having to go w...
Achievements and awe
Better late than never, delayed updating of blog after yesterday due to
1) Going to see Inbetweeners movie - funny
2) Today having to go work to see chap sentenced to 9 years - not funny but satisfying in it's own way.
Anyway - achievements is the title: yesterday I set out from Home in Sittingbourne at 0845, had my new long tights and a long sleeve top - in yellow - hoping that some of its legend would rub off on me. 103 miles, and 6 hours and 40 minutes later I arrived in Rye, having travelled pretty much all the way round the coast of Kent en route. Felt good fitness wise, but knees started to hurt from about 70 onwards. In total, a whole 40 miles further than I had ever ridden before.
At 17 miles I stopped for a slice of malt loaf, and thought to myself, "one sixth of the way, this will be easy" half a mile later the side of my brain that doesn't think stupid thoughts (it's a small and relatively unused side) realised, that twice what I had done was still only one third. So I gave up thinking about fractions, a bit like school days revisited really.
I was hoping for a sign that said "Welcome to Sussex" so I could celebrate my first ever ride from one county to another. Instead all I saw was a sign reflecting the locals most recent fashion revival "welcome to 1066 country" That will have to do I suppose.
Sense of achievement on arrival at the finish point was great, especially as I think cycling 100 miles is probably my single biggest physical achievement, including anything I ever did in the army, even though my first BFT was a bit of a nightmare!
Major thanks to my gorgeous soup dragon who picked me up, less thanks for the idea of calling in at the cinema on the way home. This wonderful idea resulted in me considering calling for a wheelchair to get me from the cinema to the car. Next time, I''ll be going via a hot bath and a pint of beer.
As always following any cycle sport I can on the TV, also finding a rich vein of good books on the subject, cycling 100 miles does give you a knew sense of perspective on just how awesome the athletes are who do this regularly, whether they be professionals in team Sky or just an amateur who's been round the block a bit.
Chapeau! to all of you.
1) Going to see Inbetweeners movie - funny
2) Today having to go work to see chap sentenced to 9 years - not funny but satisfying in it's own way.
Anyway - achievements is the title: yesterday I set out from Home in Sittingbourne at 0845, had my new long tights and a long sleeve top - in yellow - hoping that some of its legend would rub off on me. 103 miles, and 6 hours and 40 minutes later I arrived in Rye, having travelled pretty much all the way round the coast of Kent en route. Felt good fitness wise, but knees started to hurt from about 70 onwards. In total, a whole 40 miles further than I had ever ridden before.
At 17 miles I stopped for a slice of malt loaf, and thought to myself, "one sixth of the way, this will be easy" half a mile later the side of my brain that doesn't think stupid thoughts (it's a small and relatively unused side) realised, that twice what I had done was still only one third. So I gave up thinking about fractions, a bit like school days revisited really.
I was hoping for a sign that said "Welcome to Sussex" so I could celebrate my first ever ride from one county to another. Instead all I saw was a sign reflecting the locals most recent fashion revival "welcome to 1066 country" That will have to do I suppose.
Sense of achievement on arrival at the finish point was great, especially as I think cycling 100 miles is probably my single biggest physical achievement, including anything I ever did in the army, even though my first BFT was a bit of a nightmare!
Major thanks to my gorgeous soup dragon who picked me up, less thanks for the idea of calling in at the cinema on the way home. This wonderful idea resulted in me considering calling for a wheelchair to get me from the cinema to the car. Next time, I''ll be going via a hot bath and a pint of beer.
As always following any cycle sport I can on the TV, also finding a rich vein of good books on the subject, cycling 100 miles does give you a knew sense of perspective on just how awesome the athletes are who do this regularly, whether they be professionals in team Sky or just an amateur who's been round the block a bit.
Chapeau! to all of you.
Wednesday, 24 August 2011
I'm special
I've always known I was special. My Mum told me. The authorities told me. My school was a special school. Now I've been reminded how special I am. The met office have a special bit on their website, especially for me. When I look at the local forecast for wind before a bike ride, they have a white number. That's the wind speed and direction for non special people. They then have a special red number, that's the personalised wind forecast for me. So where it says gusting to 20mph, what it's actually saying is "David, the wind will be consistent 20 mph minimum into your face, whichever way you ride. Especially for you."
So here's the deal:
Captains of the Volvo round the world yacht race I am at the service of the highest bidder. Put me on your boat, sit me astride a bike on a turbo trainer, facing towards the back of the boat, and you are guaranteed there will always be a strong wind behind you.
You should however be aware that my contract will say I can get off and go home if I get scared or cold.
So here's the deal:
Captains of the Volvo round the world yacht race I am at the service of the highest bidder. Put me on your boat, sit me astride a bike on a turbo trainer, facing towards the back of the boat, and you are guaranteed there will always be a strong wind behind you.
You should however be aware that my contract will say I can get off and go home if I get scared or cold.
Sunday, 14 August 2011
A picture of misery
Sat on my bum, bike upside down and rear wheel removed on the A20, face resting on hands, feeling a touch downhearted, I imagine the motorists driving by were thinking that's why they don't cycle and associated thoughts.
However they miss out on a cracking ride with a good friend, a few nasty hills but some lovely sweeping bends on a nice day for riding. Only ruined by total failure of the rear inner tube. Fortunately only a few miles from the end of the ride, so my good friend went ahead and came back to get me in the car.
The most disheartening thing was failing to ride 50 miles, instead I end the day with a paltry 48.85 miles. It's like hitting the post in a penalty.
Lesson learnt, carry a spare inner tube and something to pump it with.
Slightly better feeling was achieved last week when I reached over 1000 miles in total distance cycling since I got my bike on 2nd April. I felt / feel pretty chuffed with myself achieving that particular milestone.
As milestones go, today I also beat my maximum speed record and achieved 40.8 mph (downhill) pretty exhilerating, and slightly scary. However this in itself just serves to remind me what a different league professionals are in. Thor Hushovd on his way to winning a stage in the TDF achieved over 60mph downhill. Lunacy.
Today also provided a reminder of how quickly it can go wrong health wise, when we cycled passed a cyclist being loaded into an ambulance, with his bike (nice carbon looking one) in a pile on the side of the road. I hope someone was able to recover it for him, as I suspect the thought of losing his precious bike was almost as painful as whatever injury he got. Hope he's okay and the bike survived.
However they miss out on a cracking ride with a good friend, a few nasty hills but some lovely sweeping bends on a nice day for riding. Only ruined by total failure of the rear inner tube. Fortunately only a few miles from the end of the ride, so my good friend went ahead and came back to get me in the car.
The most disheartening thing was failing to ride 50 miles, instead I end the day with a paltry 48.85 miles. It's like hitting the post in a penalty.
Lesson learnt, carry a spare inner tube and something to pump it with.
Slightly better feeling was achieved last week when I reached over 1000 miles in total distance cycling since I got my bike on 2nd April. I felt / feel pretty chuffed with myself achieving that particular milestone.
As milestones go, today I also beat my maximum speed record and achieved 40.8 mph (downhill) pretty exhilerating, and slightly scary. However this in itself just serves to remind me what a different league professionals are in. Thor Hushovd on his way to winning a stage in the TDF achieved over 60mph downhill. Lunacy.
Today also provided a reminder of how quickly it can go wrong health wise, when we cycled passed a cyclist being loaded into an ambulance, with his bike (nice carbon looking one) in a pile on the side of the road. I hope someone was able to recover it for him, as I suspect the thought of losing his precious bike was almost as painful as whatever injury he got. Hope he's okay and the bike survived.
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