12°C, windy westerly, CA:20.
Ride in warm wet air. The round trip was typical winter at 1h 22m. Only a few minutes from the average. I feel alive again.
On seeming normal.
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Category Archives: Cycling
First ride
6°C, V. Windy, sun. CK:43miles
Rode a loop in Lancashire- Parbold and the flatlands by Bank. The hedges were low and sparse so no shelter from a strong westerly. Those last miles were hard and slow even on the 42×17. I was standing on the pedals even on level roads.
I have lost form, even though I was reluctant to admit it.
Next week, I should do the same milage and see how it feels. Then, if that’s okay, add 10 more the week after.
You do too much exercise.
-4°C, calm & icy.
Last day of snow, a heavy fall is coming this afternoon.
More turbo time to keep me sane but…
A colleague said in a firm voice that:
(I)” you do too much exercise, half an hour a few times a week is enough”.
Only a few decades ago, millions of men would work 10 or more hours a day burning far more calories than I do on the bikes. It was normal then. Now it’s normal to do barely any and shorten their lives by 10 years. I said that it’s un-natural to do none and our bodies suffer long term (and short).
Besides, it’s fun.
Still no ride
-2°C, thick snow everywhere.
2nd Snowday: it’s the 21st of January and I still have yet to ride a bike this year. Of this, I have never known.
At least I did a few turbo sessions this weekend, 70 mins today and a long walk with Rosie in the deep snow.
Back to work tomorrow.
Related articles
- Thousands take a ‘snowday’ as nearly 5,000 schools close and commuter chaos follows icy conditions (independent.co.uk)
- Woman found dead in snow after night out (independent.co.uk)
Turbo effect
-2°C re-frozen snow. No thaw.
40 minutes on the turbo, plus other stuff as a warm-down. Not much, but it’s an encouraging start. I had no trouble keeping warm in the evening nor overnight. Such is the effect of exercise, it keep you warm for days.
There is bit more snow to come, and this wintry weather is said to last two weeks. Grief.
Looming snow.
-2°C. Snow soon.
A cold week with a front that wants to push it away as much as we all do. There will be snow, but probably not enough to close work I think. There are many hopeful souls out there though.
I’ve been on my turbo, that signifies the end of the longest lived cold I can remember; the despair. 17th of January and I have not ridden a bike this year yet.
Huff and puff
1°C, clear & still
Back to work tomorrow, energy is returning along with my voice. Out goes the despair of getting another damned cold straight after the previous one.
Half an hour on the turbo plus some weights and stretches, that did nicely. Shame the mild winter has given way to such hard frost and ice.
Racing bike repairs are under-way: new headset= in, new pedals= on.
The wheel rebuild awaits, I have to post that one off though.
My Commuting bike could do with a new saddle, only because I don’t like this one. It’s not the right shape. I spend enough hours on it to easily justify the cost- about £45.
2012 summary
7°C, clear, cold wind from sea.
Cycling: ~4,409 miles.
- Kona fixed gear– 984 miles,
- Arrow 16 speed (Shimano)-2,220 miles.
- Racelite 16 (campy)- 1,225 miles.
Fewer miles than I hoped for due to several problems-
- more rain than usual,
- more hiking,
- work related stress much higher than normal.
- Some loss of determination (related to the above),
- Winter ice cost a few hundred too,
I want to clear 5,000 miles in 2013 (by as much as a thousand miles to make up for 2012). To this end, the summer bike needs a good overhaul to avoid mechanical problems and ensure that it’s more fun to ride.
This point generates another list for January-
- Rebuild wheels,
- New headset
- New pedals.
Not too much cost, but quite a long turn-around while it’s away at the Campagnolo service center. No need to ride it until March though.
Mal-segue
7°C windy, showers.
Not again: less than a week after the last cold, I get the next one. This is all sore throat and malaise with a bostin’ headache. This is where the best laid plans run aground: I could have clocked up another 200 miles and potentially breached the 5,000 mile mark for the year.
But no, not this time.
Occultation
7°C clear windy. CK:36
Thinking ahead to a New Year’s resolution. I haven’t quite completed 5,000 miles this year for the first time in I don’t know when..
There’s good advice on use Bikeradar site, in short-
- Build up the week’s mileage, add 10 miles per week,
- Ride on low gears early season,
- Do a short ride if unsure,
- Use an alternative activity for a cross training effect,
By Easter, be back to 70 mile rides, like I used to.
So does all this sound like a New Year’s resolution? Maybe, but why wait another week? Today should be clear to go out for a few hours.
Anyway, I ventured out and did 36 miles but rain got heavy in the last 10
Micycle 