15ºC, light wind but heavy rains.
The BBC have posted a Magazine article that hits the spot. It’s worth sharing here because i can relate to it so well. I don’t go out in all night walks, but do value the very long outing. Also it’s important to ignore your phone and don’t listen to music as you go.
A the heart of this for me is thinking time. The effect is the same while cycling alone, it’s time to chew over thoughts in your head as the miles wheel by.
Do take the time to read it.
14~9C, barely any wind, clear.
Tonight will get cold. It’s still and quiet here in this valley in North Wales. I got here about three in the afternoon, made camp and decided there was time for a walk.
Camp is about a km from Tryfan, which I you to climb tomorrow. It is a rough scramble, so I never wanted to inflict that on Rosie.
It’s as strange walking without her as I thought would be. Somehow, it feels wrong. Enough sad thoughts, I am here to unwind and enjoy myself.
I walked 5 miles today along the eastern end of the Glyderau- a quiet area, the hordes in west from here. I saw no-one.
The Welsh hills are still straw in colour, there is green between the old dead plants from last year, but it’s yet to get going.
Mosses look bright enough though.
First walks of the year are hard on the front of thigh muscles. I swear every time to train them up to get ready, but never I do.
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Cycling, Distance: 63.23mi, time: 04:25:43, speed: 14.3mi/h.
http://mapmyride.com/workout/535495432
First ride on the racing bike this year. It’s running as I left it, apart from new cables and bar tape. Though this tape looks all “retro”, it’s rather slippery compared to the spongy type on the other bikes.
The bottom braket still creaks, and the gear cables are a bit too short. Still, it was a great to ride; I always say that each spring.
Finally, there was no sign of the tendonitus that was a worry as recently as yesterday. Does that suggest that there is something about the winter bike that aggravates it? I have exercises to do which seem to help quite the problem with quick results.
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12C, no wind, and…
forecast– strong pollution, European emissions, Saharan dust and we’re warned not to exercise outside. So I should drive? But cars emit pollution.
After last night’s ride, I intended to drive anyway.
At least I know why the car is dirty so suddenly.
Fixed gear ride- Distance: 62.91mi, time: 03:59:48, pace: 3:49min/mi, speed: 15.7mi/h.
http://mapmyride.com/workout/520722496
Rode a fairly familiar route, but this time clockwise. Some junctions look quite different which is why I took a few wrong turns.
Descending Bannister Hill was a surprise, it looks so steep going down that tipping over the bars is quite possible.
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9C,hail, sun and showers.
No ride today- so I filled in a job application, chopped wood and fixed up the summer racing bike.
It’s not right though, the local bike shop put new bearings and free-hub, but it feels wrong. The axle is this enough but there is free play in the wheel when fitted into the drop-outs. I suspect that the free-hub is not the right one. The gear change seems okay, though I have wet to ride it.
The garden is coming to life. After this coming week of frosts, I can plant all the bulbs. Tomorrow is said to be the coldest this year- and we’re out of winter now.
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4C, SW brisk with heavy showers.
DofE- staff training day. This was a re-newal of our navigation qualification. For us, a nice walk around the limestone landscape of northern Staffordshire.
The next stage is a national award, this one cannot be used outside Walsall jurisdiction. A national award is more use for those of up when want to move on. I think he called it the low-life assessment.
Only problem was nagging aches from that long standing Achilles tendon problem. Every time I think it is healed, it comes back. Frustrating.
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11C,brisk Westerly, dry, bright.
Driving but stuck behind a bike club in Stafford. In a complex of roundabouts, one bloke turns to pick up something dropped. He then struggled to get back on to the group in the Saturday traffic. With the group already split in by cars. He had more trouble passing cars between the bunches.
Then, suddenly he was flicked into the air over his bike. A white car had stopped to let turning cars by. The bike’s brakes hadn’t stopped him fast enough, he hit the white car from the back.
By the time I got there, was wheeling his bike to the bus-stop to recover. The young woman driver walked over, visibly annoyed. She was not too happy to see a middle-aged man face printed on her rear window.
It’s understandable how this happened. The guy had his adrenaline up, he wanted to get back to the safety of the bunch. He pushed on, dodging cars only to foul up.
Walking wounded, hope his bike is okay. She will have to wash the sweaty image of a surprised face off the rear window when she gets home.
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Commute- Distance: 23.20mi, time: 01:34:58, pace: 4:06min/mi, speed: 14.6mi/h.
http://mapmyride.com/workout/506053223
A ride home through quiet country roads. I saw many things, mist forming in the corners of fields, the setting sun, stars appearing, Jupiter, and bats.
The first ones were notable in the corner of my eye, but then one flew in front. It flitted in before me as I rode at about 15mph. There it was, for about 10 seconds before escaping across the hedge.
That made my day.
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12°C, grey start but warm sun later.
Cycle Kona (fixed): Distance: 60.4mi, time: 03:44:44, pace: 3:43min/mi, speed: 16.1mi/h.
http://mapmyride.com/workout/501668581
Who knows why, but the GPS recorded 88 miles for today. Maybe some interference on route. Could overhanging trees do that?
The route took in my favourite measure- Bannister Hill. Like last time, I didn’t make it to the top, but I did get twice as far this week before walking. I weigh 4lbs less than last time and there was no wind, so nothing to blame.
Later, I happened upon the Ormskirk club in a layby so I joined them for some chaingang miles to Southport. That was tremendous, but my legs burnt up with lactic acid and I dropped off along the sea-front. That’s where the anomalous GPS position was recorded (I found later).
I stopped for a snack and to ease my sore legs. It was so much fun though. They are a good group whom I feel safe riding close with.
The day finished in warm spring sunshine smelling sweet.
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Micycle 