Tale of the tape for 2012:
Total distance: 10713.27miles / 17241.33km
Average Speed: 17.17mph
Total Calories: 594020 calories
Total Duration: 624hours
Total No.of Rides: 425
Total no of Strava KOM's: 3
Best cycling experience: Breaking 5hrs for the Norwich 100 or doing the Fred Whitton Route in August.
Bucket List item's getting ticked off in 2013:
Tour de Norfolk (cycling around Norfolk in a day)
Dunwich Dynamo (Subject to holiday Dates...)
Having done over 30,000 miles in 3 years, would love to break 10,000 again but want to see some lift in the performance alongside the distance under the wheels.
Winter bike should be up and running by the middle of January too so at least I can mothball the posh bike, now as for that fixed wheel project...
Monday, 31 December 2012
Thursday, 6 December 2012
In for a penny, in for £230!
Cycling... a leisure pastime, gets you out and about, able to appreciate nature and the great outdoors - I could go on.
Performing a quick Cost/Benefit analysis, the resultant savings are immense - NO fuel costs, a fitter, more healthier rider, a chance to unwind however when a specific bill arrives it is still a shock!
So the posh bike, 2 years old, excluding tyres, tubes, cleaning and lubricants has probably cost me less than £150 for the best part of 10-12,000 miles (i have more than one bike) and evaluating what I have just written would logically suggest that a bigger bill was coming and last week it arrived.
Issues presented - iffy gear changing, tendency for gears to slip (getting worse) and some play with front chain rings.
Diagnosis from LBS - New Cassette, chain, chainrings and BB = £230 - OUCH! Had reckoned on half that amount but having said that it is now a dream to ride again, and considering there are not many other moving parts as such, I almost have a new bike?!
Sadly only been out on it properly twice since, as am on training this week (the head knowledge kind not the fitness kind) roll on the weekend!
Performing a quick Cost/Benefit analysis, the resultant savings are immense - NO fuel costs, a fitter, more healthier rider, a chance to unwind however when a specific bill arrives it is still a shock!
So the posh bike, 2 years old, excluding tyres, tubes, cleaning and lubricants has probably cost me less than £150 for the best part of 10-12,000 miles (i have more than one bike) and evaluating what I have just written would logically suggest that a bigger bill was coming and last week it arrived.
Issues presented - iffy gear changing, tendency for gears to slip (getting worse) and some play with front chain rings.
Diagnosis from LBS - New Cassette, chain, chainrings and BB = £230 - OUCH! Had reckoned on half that amount but having said that it is now a dream to ride again, and considering there are not many other moving parts as such, I almost have a new bike?!
Sadly only been out on it properly twice since, as am on training this week (the head knowledge kind not the fitness kind) roll on the weekend!
Wednesday, 21 November 2012
10,000 Reasons...
10,000 miles completed, a tad earlier than last year - not as early as one would have liked but considering other mitigating circumstances this year, as expected really!
The 12k is now an unreachable pipe dream, but 11K (and a bit more) is now the focus - we'll see...?
Fitted new brake blocks last night - amazing how my bike now stops when i want / need it to rather than eventually coming to a halt in amongst a symphony of screeching on my rims!
Tuesday, 30 October 2012
The Wiggle Rut - A participant's tale
Got picked up by Scott at 5am feeling distinctly wintry temperature wise, feeling glad that all manner of winter clothing options were stowed in the kitbag.
We made good time to Rutland (Oakham) and proceeded to unload bikes and get all extremities sufficiently covered, aiming to commence as close to 8am as possible.
Foolishly I thought that all the hills in the UK were a bit further north so the constant up and down of the first 20 miles or so was a bit of a shock to the system - however at least I was warm now!
The feed stop loomed at 31 miles and a quick pause for ablutions plus cramming some food in and a gel before getting going again. As we reached the halfway point, 18mph average was still being sustained, but as the headwind started to blow and the hills became longer and more drawn out than the earlier shorter sharper affairs, I knew that any hopes of a sub-4hr were going if not gone.
Scott had way more pace than me, particularly going uphill and so disgression being the better part of valour, I let him go and decided that me and the wind would fight our own personal battle for the remaining 30miles. Got passed by 4-5 riders, but as per the Hare and Tortoise, I kept plugging away and had overhauled them all again before the end. A welcome turn to the left at around 60 miles gone meant that the wind would be generally behind again,and so ticking off the miles, the return into Oakham was pretty uneventful except for a stop at a level crossing.
Finish time was 4hrs 22, just 8 minutes outside Gold standard so more than happy with Silver considering the conditions, all in all a well organised, enjoyable ride in beautiful surroundings, who knows I may be back...?
Upon arrival home being a statto, I checked the finish times and looks like I managed the 18th best time out of 324 - chuffed to say the least!
Monday, 10 September 2012
My Bucket List
Otherwise known as the XX (insert number here) things to do before you die.
So today's (cycling) bucket list consists of [In no particular order]
So today's (cycling) bucket list consists of [In no particular order]
- LEJOG
- Etape du Tour
- Col du Tourmalet
- l'Alpe d'Huez
- Mont Ventoux
- Fred Whitton (again)
- An organised sportive every year
- A self organised trip every year
- Coast to Coast GB (The Fat one!)
- Tour de Norfolk
The great thing about a list like this that you get to tick things off. but as preferences and aims / targets change items can be dropped and/or added.
Being still very much alive, having a challenge / target is very important to me even if as at now some of them seem remote.
Realsitically probably need at least 10 years to achieve the above - bring it on!
Recovery riding?
Ok so nothing to write home about - circa 120 miles last week, but for me the important thing was to be out - 8 seperate commuting rides over 4 days of around 17 miles on the way in and 12 miles on the way home -as I say nothing overly impressive, but I did it, and also on the majority of the rides managed a decent 18mph + average, and also for you Strave fans got a few personal records on some segments too.
3rd of 3 days off again today but looking forward to upping the mileage this week - maybe 200 this week - 4 days commuting again and a 2 up ride with Simon on Saturday.
Hopefully going to do the Wiggle Rut at end of October - provides me with a target to "end the season" with and also a chance to ride in an organised sportive.
Saw the end of Stage 1 of the Tour of Britain at the Norfolk Showground - great atmosphere! Unfortunately Cav took a tumble with 1k to go, but Team Sky still mopped up the win with Luke Rowe.
Just read Obsessive Cycling Disorder by Dave Barter on my Kindle - A mountain biker at heart but a semi converted roadie - could empathise a lot with his musings and experiences - a great read!
Re-ignited the determination to get a sinlespeed / fixie sorted so my eBay watch list is groaning at the seams at the moment - wheels, forks. frames, bits, kit etc - being strict with max bids though so it's a waiting (and watching) game/
Looking forward to more ToB this week, and hopefully more of a return to normaility.
REST - that's surely Ride, Eat Sleep, repeaT isn't it???
3rd of 3 days off again today but looking forward to upping the mileage this week - maybe 200 this week - 4 days commuting again and a 2 up ride with Simon on Saturday.
Hopefully going to do the Wiggle Rut at end of October - provides me with a target to "end the season" with and also a chance to ride in an organised sportive.
Saw the end of Stage 1 of the Tour of Britain at the Norfolk Showground - great atmosphere! Unfortunately Cav took a tumble with 1k to go, but Team Sky still mopped up the win with Luke Rowe.
Just read Obsessive Cycling Disorder by Dave Barter on my Kindle - A mountain biker at heart but a semi converted roadie - could empathise a lot with his musings and experiences - a great read!
Re-ignited the determination to get a sinlespeed / fixie sorted so my eBay watch list is groaning at the seams at the moment - wheels, forks. frames, bits, kit etc - being strict with max bids though so it's a waiting (and watching) game/
Looking forward to more ToB this week, and hopefully more of a return to normaility.
REST - that's surely Ride, Eat Sleep, repeaT isn't it???
Tuesday, 4 September 2012
I rode my bike today...
16 days ago, I completed a ride of just under 50 miles, that day was my wedding anniversary. within 24 hours I was diagnosed with quite severe Shingles, and latterly Bell's Palsy. The upshot being my bike has been largely ignored (except for a clean and polish) for that period.
I still have a near constant headache, and my face is almost divided straight down the middle as to what moves and what doesn't, I have also managed to injure my right wrist which caps it all off nicely - don't you think?
Anyhow, returning to work today, the only option (for me) was to ride, but the questions pounded my already aching brain: How far to go? Will it aggravate my various conditions? Will it be pleasure or pain? Will I make it even? and so on...
The answers were: 17miles, nope, pleasure (although the legs did complain slightly) and Yes I made it!
In an nutshell, It's good to be back, and I hope to improve in both health and fitness over the coming weeks - I have at least 6lbs to lose that have piled on in just over a fortnight!
I still have a near constant headache, and my face is almost divided straight down the middle as to what moves and what doesn't, I have also managed to injure my right wrist which caps it all off nicely - don't you think?
Anyhow, returning to work today, the only option (for me) was to ride, but the questions pounded my already aching brain: How far to go? Will it aggravate my various conditions? Will it be pleasure or pain? Will I make it even? and so on...
The answers were: 17miles, nope, pleasure (although the legs did complain slightly) and Yes I made it!
In an nutshell, It's good to be back, and I hope to improve in both health and fitness over the coming weeks - I have at least 6lbs to lose that have piled on in just over a fortnight!
Saturday, 1 September 2012
Frustration knows no bounds!
Aargh!
So planned ride is off... despite the slightly damp start to the day would have gone out except for the fact that I appear to have injured my right wrist! Not aware of jarring it or pulling it in any way BUT it is swollen and aches somewhat to boot.
Finding excuses to go into the garage at the moment just to look at my bike(s) - when will I ride again...?
So planned ride is off... despite the slightly damp start to the day would have gone out except for the fact that I appear to have injured my right wrist! Not aware of jarring it or pulling it in any way BUT it is swollen and aches somewhat to boot.
Finding excuses to go into the garage at the moment just to look at my bike(s) - when will I ride again...?
Friday, 31 August 2012
Recovering so back on it..?
Quick update:
Managed to get away for 5 days or so to Ashbourne, Derbyshire for a camping break - sadly sans bike, but did do a bit of walking, weather was mixed, and in the end beat us as we decided to come home after waking to a river threatening to run through our tent!
Pain to right side of head / neck etc has almost gone, but face is still much the same - although I am planning a sneaky ride tomorrow - just to see how I am - don't know till you try do you?
Eying up lots of bargains on eBay too - gotta get the dirty bike sorted as well as the Single speed pre-winter!
Will feedback on tomorrow's ride...
Managed to get away for 5 days or so to Ashbourne, Derbyshire for a camping break - sadly sans bike, but did do a bit of walking, weather was mixed, and in the end beat us as we decided to come home after waking to a river threatening to run through our tent!
Pain to right side of head / neck etc has almost gone, but face is still much the same - although I am planning a sneaky ride tomorrow - just to see how I am - don't know till you try do you?
Eying up lots of bargains on eBay too - gotta get the dirty bike sorted as well as the Single speed pre-winter!
Will feedback on tomorrow's ride...
Thursday, 23 August 2012
Enforced Time Out - an update
So Shingles diagnosed on Saturday night / Sunday morning (4.30am) at out of hours surgery.
Lots of drugs and 2 further visits to the doctors and it would appear that I have also developed Bell's Palsy, which means the right hand side of my face is pretty much non-responsive which makes those little things like talking, eating and drinking a bit of a challenge.
Nerve pain, from Shingles is much less than at the weekend, but is still there, spots/marks on skin do not bother me but the temporary paralysis to face is (understandably) annoying and frustrating particularly as I have no idea how long it will last?
However on the upside - I am building a repertoire of party tricks such as winking my left eye with ease, sleeping with one eye open, raising my left eyebrow as per Roger Moore's spitting image puppet and the "Elvis" uh huh sneer is coming on a treat!
I have been recommended to not do too much exercise at the moment, so will probably not cycle for another week - watch out world when September comes...
Just to keep the OCD in check, I have cleaned the posh bike in lieu of not riding - yearly mileage sits around 8200ish, so just got to pedal harder in the Autumn to get the 12k then.
Lots of drugs and 2 further visits to the doctors and it would appear that I have also developed Bell's Palsy, which means the right hand side of my face is pretty much non-responsive which makes those little things like talking, eating and drinking a bit of a challenge.
Nerve pain, from Shingles is much less than at the weekend, but is still there, spots/marks on skin do not bother me but the temporary paralysis to face is (understandably) annoying and frustrating particularly as I have no idea how long it will last?
However on the upside - I am building a repertoire of party tricks such as winking my left eye with ease, sleeping with one eye open, raising my left eyebrow as per Roger Moore's spitting image puppet and the "Elvis" uh huh sneer is coming on a treat!
I have been recommended to not do too much exercise at the moment, so will probably not cycle for another week - watch out world when September comes...
Just to keep the OCD in check, I have cleaned the posh bike in lieu of not riding - yearly mileage sits around 8200ish, so just got to pedal harder in the Autumn to get the 12k then.
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