Monthly Archives: Jan 2016

Nils Frahm: Solo.

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CD, 2015.
All solo piano, quiet, very close miced and measured in feel.
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The cover explains more. The piano he used is a custom built instrument made by David Klavins in 1987. It’s enormous, the longest strings are 10ft long. The blue diagram shows its layout.
As it’s played, other small sounds can be heard from the mechanism. That’s not unusual in piano music, but with Frahm’s style, those working sounds are more obvious. Space between notes opens your ears to the shape and construction of each key press.
The result is peaceful and deliberate. The same characteristics melt into your own mood,
Recommended.

Storm threatening.

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5°C, brisk SW clear blue above though. Rain held off..
I rode The Jake (fixed) with MapMyRide+! Distance: 24.17mi, time: 01:36:35, pace: 4:00min/mi, speed: 15.01mi/h.
http://mapmyride.com/workout/1304385173

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Storm building over Liverpool Bay. A brisk wind blew from that direction, but it didn’t seem to get any closer. Maybe that’s the effect of the Welsh hills. There could be hail in that cloud-head. Despite the strong wind, it didn’t get any closer. Fortunately.

Take an novice out.

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I rode Fixed with MapMyRide+! Distance: 20.00mi, time: 01:43:19, pace: 5:10min/mi, speed: 11.61mi/h.
http://mapmyride.com/workout/1302994541
I’m a gap between storms, I took young (12 years old) E. out on his new bike.
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For him, this was his first adventure on his new Christmas bike.
It’s only right since it was my idea to buy it for Christmas, and to spend this much. We took a route avoiding big roads without cycle tracks. Other roads had usable footpaths he could use. Some roads, this was not possible, so I rode behind, slightly outside in a guard position.
It was quite obvious that cars treated us differently to single, adult cyclists. They waited patiently and from further back when trying to pass.
The ride length was just about right. He got tired on the return leg, but wouldn’t get off and walk the last significant hill.
He’s been enthusing about it since.

Schnee

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8.00 am, Stormy with heavy rain, moderate S wind.

On the drive north, Saturday Classics is playing on the car stereo. Tansy Davies did a selected playlist of Contemporary Classical music in a show broadcast on 2nd Jan. 2016.

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Tansy Davies (photo: BBC)

One piece in particular caught my ear: Hans Abrahamsen: Schnee.
http://bbc.in/MjILVs

Inevitably, a selection contains pieces that vary in their appeal. Some don’t work their magic, some are stunning. Ironically, Davies included one of her own compositions which I would put near to the stunning end of the scale.
At the time, in the car, it seemed a bit odd for a presenter to include some of her own work. That doubt evaporated when the piece started. There is already one T. Davies CD in my collection, and some Ligeti (which is also wonderful).

At another time of day, the drive would have been difficult. Heavy rain glazed the road so markings were more difficult to see. Many drivers don’t sense the risk and drive well over the speed limit regardless. I thought: I want to buy winter tyres soon.

Gorgeous!

Ride no.1

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I rode Arrow with MapMyRide+! Distance: 31.42mi, time: 02:10:53, pace: 4:10min/mi, speed: 14.40mi/h.
http://mapmyride.com/workout/1295886353
I thought the average speed would come out higher than 15. It felt faster today. I’ve had the ‘fizzy legs’ feeling all day. As the cold rain continued, my frustration grew.

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Moss.

The photo is a moss growing in a tiny pot out the back. They are the easiest plants to care for. You don’t have to do anything apart from provide a pot with soil and a deep saucer beneath that retains water. The roots like to be constantly wet. They do well in this country.

Then, a break in the clouds an hour before sunset.
Quickly I changed and jumped on the computing bike. In the hurry, I should have added pressure to the back wheel, it handled in an odd way. Besides the long reach, the long cranks turned easily and I enjoyed the pace.
The soft tyre nagged at my sense of security, but it held. Good, because the spare tube is doubtful, I recalled.

later:, the pressures were even lower than I thought, 55psi for the back, and 60 front. They’re now both 80psi for the return to work.

Happy 2016.

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Put on a good face.

2016’s tick-off list:
Hill and Moorland qualification,
6,000 on the bikes,
Kintail munro loop,
Drop a kilo, Christmas food indulgence means a bit of weight gain. I want to get under 13st 12 by the end of January.
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