Author Archives: essiep

Sent home.

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rode home with MapMyRide! Distance: 37.98mi, time: 02:48:08, speed: 13.55mi/h.
http://mapmyride.com/workout/459607041
Slow ride with floods, rain and sorrow. I was in no state to consider work, sympathetic colleagues sent me home. They even suggested a bike ride, if that helps.
It did.
Near Elford, a large horse wandered up and down in the inundated flood-plain. It seemed to be exploring and sploshing its hooves in the shallow water. It was like a child playing out after a storm in its Wellingtons.
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The horse is just visible, right of centre.

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I lost a hero today.

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Rain,
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I lost my hero today. After just over three weeks of illness she lost her struggle with lymphoma.
I am still here, but am in agony inside. I have made many posts about this, but they are set to Private.
Don’t ask about this, I cannot answer. My heart is broken.

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A year in the saddle

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7°C, more storms & S wind

The tracking app I use my phone posted this summary for 2013’s mileage.

284 workouts
275 routes
5,206.6 miles
421.2 hours
414,268 kCal burned

Better than last year, and I’d like to break 6,000 miles in 2014. Barring unforseen…

Angry green van.

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CK- Distance: 44.37mi, time: 02:57:05, speed: 15.03mi/h.
http://mapmyride.com/workout/452001445
Wet roads; overnight rain has washed off problem mud, so the roads were good today.
Southport has advanced stop lines (for bikes). The first one, on the southern approach to Southport has a left filter lane so I stood on the left edge of the middle lane, ready to in straight on. Behind me was a small metallic green van. When the lights changed, I clipped in and rode on pulling left for traffic. The van hovered threateningly only a yard behind. Next, he overtook and swerved in twice before driving away. All the while, he was staring at me, shouting and gesturing. I could not hear any of it. Very strange, I puzzled over this for the rest of the ride- 45 miles.

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Regional habits.

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7C, very strong SW wind.
Tracked with MapMyRide! Distance: 21.03mi, time: 01:35:21, pace: 4:32min/mi, speed: 13.24mi/h.
http://mapmyride.com/workout/451560323
The above is probably wrong, short by a mile or two. It’s strange that the phone dropped the GPS signal in the same place as yesterday. Why, is there a rip in the space-time continuum just there?
Yes, that’ll be it.
My crap theory is that each reign has its own bad driving habits; Walsall, jumping red lights; Staffordshire. Drivers signal right to go straight on. Around Southport, drivers don’t switch their lights on until long after dark.

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In a gale.

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7C, v. Strong wind. Clear sunny.
CK: Distance: 23.5mi, time: 01:33:50, speed: 15.03mi/h.
http://mapmyride.com/workout/450339929
Very strong wind from the south. The return leg across the flatlands called The Moss. With no cover the full blast of that wind blew across this road built on a raised dyke. I leant over hard pulling on the right-hand bar just to keep a straight line. Good fun really.

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Drive safely.

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Very wet later. 10°C.
What can I do if I want to drive safely? I should use the motorway later today. But what can I do when I leave a space in front and cars cut in removing my stopping distance. Often they are cars moving back from the third lane where they all tail-gate one another. Nobody observes the two-second rule.

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Riding around rainbows.

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Rain & sun, 6°C, brisk SW

Sunday ride, tracked with with MapMyRide! Distance: 52.1mi, time: 03:39:22, speed: 14.3mi/h.
http://mapmyride.com/workout/449529887
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A long ribbon of dark cloud ran from the south-west. Under the darkest parts, the wind whipped up to quite a cold wet blast. William Turner would know this, I thought of him as I was blown along.
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That tantalizing clear air did blow my direction, only about half an hour after this picture was taken outside Twycross Zoo.

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End of term.

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I rode with MapMyRide! Distance: 37.45mi, time: 02:39:28, speed: 14.09mi/h.
http://mapmyride.com/workout/448782769
A pretty poor average speed, though I did have my school bag on the back and many roads were coated in slimey red mud.
What a fine way to end a long term!
Most years, I get home and feel a bit of anti-climax. Today, I buzzed with energy and a deep contentment.
I would have lost my mind years ago if there was no physical release like this. Car drivers must have boundless patience and resilience to do the daily commute. All those hours accumulated in traffic jams. Months of your life spent sitting, waiting,polluting. The expense! You have to admire them.

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