Author Archives: essiep

Barn Owl.

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9C, light SE dry and white cloud.
Commute trade with MapMyRide+! Distance: 29.31mi, time: 02:02:21, pace: 4:10min/mi, speed: 14.38mi/h.
http://mapmyride.com/workout/798651481
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Extended ride across the Tame valley. Near the river, well away from any lights apart from my own I saw a shape above. It could have been a reflection in the rim of my glasses but it wasn’t. Flapping slowly and more notably- in utter silence. A Barn Owl was flying across my path to the east. Wonderful.

Away from the big hill.

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12°C, no real wind, but some NE, dry
I rode single-speed with MapMyRide+! Distance: 47.85mi, time: 03:02:27, pace: 3:49min/mi, speed: 15.74mi/h.
http://mapmyride.com/workout/796848735
Once up to speed, the winter wheels aren’t too slow. But, under acceleration, hill climbing or out of the saddle it is obviously heavy. Out of the saddle, throwing the bars side to side was nowhere as free as before. Still, the outing was fun despite me shying away from Bannister Hill.

Carpet.

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11°C, strong southerly,
Carpet fitters can only come to your house during work hours. Luckily, we had the afternoon off in lieu of presentation evening. They cut it fine though. I expected them at 1pm, but it was 3.30 before they arrived. It’s not perfect either, there is one edge that’s not straight. Nevermind, it’s done now.

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If I’d known, then I could have spent more time finalising reports at work, or extended the bike ride home in the gusty wind.

Is there a word for this?

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10°C, light wind and some rain.
What is the word for the times when you clean out some empty bags from your locker and you find a pack of gorgeous chocolate?
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This bar is a little known gem. Far better taste than equivalent bar from up-market shops. Here is one little pleasure that punctuates my day.

Two weeks, what’s the plan?

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9°C, mostly dry.
Two weeks until my 50th birthday. So how best to mark the occasion? Best idea so far- do one activity each month for the year. Taster days, like the velodrome in Manchester, a training course at Plas Y Brenin near Capel Curig in Snowdonia.
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This is the Raleigh cross bike. The top tube is almost level which makes it easier to shoulder. I don’t like the outboard rear brake. Besides that, the frame should be good, the wheels even better.

Autumn sun.

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Rode Arrow, tracked with MapMyRide+! Distance: 55.04mi, time: 03:45:58, pace: 4:06min/mi, speed: 14.61mi/h.
http://mapmyride.com/workout/790175641
The bike felt good, despite the heavy winter wheels. Everything ran smoothly, but it was a heavy load to winch up those hills.
Today had bul the vital ingredients, that feeling of one with the machine, fine weather and fitness. Never mind that the average speed was low.
Web research suggests that I may not get a new bike until near the end of the year. The 2014 range gap sold out of the largest frames and the 2015 bikes aren’t available yet. Trek is a name I haven’t looked at seriously yet. The new ranges often feature a black colour scheme.
Below is the River Tame in flood. This loop near Elford floods easily.
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Warm, really?

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18°C, light S wind, white cloud.

Rode Racelite8, with MapMyRide+! Distance: 31.03mi, time: 02:00:54, pace: 3:54min/mi, speed: 15.40mi/h.
http://mapmyride.com/workout/782130709
Amazing to be in shorts the last day before November. In fact, on this ride, I was too warm. Each time I go out, it’s on the presumption that it’s the last outing on the race bike. I like that bike so much more since changing the wheels.
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Look! My garden fence is getting in the mood for Halloween.

Take the load off your feet: how to deal with achilles tendinopathy

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Take the load off your feet: how to deal with achilles tendinopathy

http://gu.com/p/42nm9
Interesting, although it is written for runners. The symptoms reflect my experience over the last few years. I experience stiffness when I get up, from sleep or long periods of sitting. Doctor can I have a note excusing me from marking?
I do various exercises to build load bearing limit in my calfs, as instructed by the physio.
Winter has worsened it over the last two years. Perhaps the cold mimics the same mechanism as sitting still- circulation.
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