Saturday 14th April 2007
No training done, but a bit of bike building. Progress on this will appear in later blogs.
Last week while, climbing Ben More, I had to resort to a knotted handkerchief to protect my baaldyheed from the sun’s rays. Feeling vaguely ludicrous, I swiftly removed it on encountering the seasoned climber at the summit of A’Choich. Next day went into Tobermory for some more appropriate headgear. Came away with an authentic Stetson. First time I’ve worn one of those since my infatuation with the Wild West ‘Wayned’ back in ’62.
Off to see Bob Dylan at Sheffield Arena, where that Stetson would not have looked out of place. Never thought to take it. We did take a pair of binoculars. They were useful. We could actually see the man. Very dapper. He and his band were on for 2 hours and did 18 songs. A lot from his last 2 albums, ‘Love and Theft’ and ‘Modern Times’, and a few new arrangements of stuff from the sixties. I never really ‘got’ Dylan until recently. My mate Dennis Quinn at school used to rave about him. I was just a nerdy kid, who didn’t even have a record player. I can just picture him (the mighty Quinn) in the classroom with a copy of the gatefold sleeve Blond on Blond tucked under his arm. Ah, but I was so much younger then, I’m older than that now. (You still don’t get it do you, Kingy?). Verdict on his Bubness: music was excellent, just wish you had spoken to us between songs, Mr. Enigmatic.
Sunday 15th April 2007
Computer Reset:
DST 62.29 miles
TIME 6:21:51
AVG 9.7 mph
MAX 35.7
Hot. Went on Georgina's training circuit to remind ourselves what cycling in summer might be like. We managed an average speed of 7.6 mph for one hour. This is not very impressive, and would mean we are in the saddle for 10 hours some days. Terrain is a bit hilly round here, but who's to say how it compares with Cornwall or Scotland?
At one point decided to stop for a drink, and, thinking I was just turning into a lane, managed to mount a low curb head on. Oo that hurt! To quote Rambling Sid Rumpo "Two's for me wurrdled nadgers-oh".
Counsel for Shanks' Pony (cross-examining) "Your honour, I wish to call an expert medical witness who will testify that the intense posterior pain caused by a cycle saddle cancels out any of the aforementioned Velocipedal benefits, thereby demolishing my wurdled colleague's case"
(Half-time score Velo Athletico - 1 Shanks Wanderers - 1)
Weight and diet progress...
It's over 3 months since we made the decision to undertake this, er .. undertaking, and a little over 3 months to the actual start date. I was kinda hoping that all the extra exercise would have led to more of a weight loss than the measly 2 pounds since Christmas. Jacky says it’s all that fat turning to muscle. I don’t buy that. I still have a noticeable subcutaneous fatty layer, and not a six-pack in sight.
I’ve made a decision to reduce calorie intake while at work, by drinking more water. And certainly no choccie bars. (Will I be able to adhere to this stricter regimen, I wonder? See below for answer...)
Monday 16th April 2007
A really pleasant run in to work this morning. everywhere slightly moist after an early shower (not me, the countryside!). No wind to speak of. Even the big hill tackled with gusto. Could have been Joanne's dad who passed me in the YEDL white van - I couldn't tell as my specs were all steamed up (besides I've only met him a couple of times, so probably wouldn't recognise him, anyway.
Joanne, if you're reading this, good luck with the plan to become a physics teacher. (even better, have a nice year out next year). While we're in name-checking mode "Yo, Jean!","Yo, Celia!" (my die-hard esteemed readership).
Managed to roll right up to a pipit on a fence-post without scaring him away. Then same again further on (different pipit, obviously). More or less continuous Curlew burbling on the tops.
Must have been some sort of charity cycle ride over the weekend. Think I saw them near Crossroads on Sunday. Somewhat tautological sign still up on lamp-post this morning "Caution Cyclists on Road". Where else should you expect to find them? On the reservoir? On your 4x4's bull-bars more likely.
In a similar vein, in Halifax "The Carpet Centre. Open for carpets". What else would it be open for - All-day breakfasts?).
And another thing - Why are there never any instructions on a box of tissues?
Perhaps a tasteful picture of a lady dabbing her eyes on the box, labelled "Serving suggestion"
I think we could use the Comic Relief single "I would roll 500 miles" as our theme tune for the ride, since the distance will be near enough 1000 miles.
Time out 0:54
Nutrition seriously cocked up on way home. Got a severe case of jelly-legs. Felt like my heart had given up pumping and all the blood had sunk to my boots. Got home, devoured a bar, sat on wall in sunshine in a state of collapse. How can this happen after just 10 miles?
Only good thing about the journey was being overflown by three noisy oystercatchers pretending to be bleeping UFOs.
You know, if it wasn't for all these motor cars, this could be a very nice island / planet (delete as applicable).
Anyway, I think we'll just forget the fat-burning thing for the time being and make sure we have enough starchy fuel, avoiding too much sugar, which burns too quickly. I wonder if Mr. Apollo is still in business, as advertised by the Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band?
"5 years ago I was a 4-stone apology; today I am two separate gorillas!"
"No tiresome exercises. No tricks. No unpleasant bending.”
“Wrestle poodles and win!”
“Play beach-ball! Shave your legs! Look over walls!”
“Tease people. Brush them aside as though they were matchsticks"
“Impress your friends!”
Time return 1:01
Tuesday 17th April 2007
Bright and cool this morning. After yesterday's depressing run home, I need a quick win on the hill.
The Curlews are under curfew, the Lapwings are doing a lap of honour. And you can forget that refereeing lark. Then suddenly as I hit the first summit, the curlews bowl a curved ball in counter-attack. "You ain't heard the last of us!"
I breast the final summit in a fine time (28 mins), see the wind-turbines and realise it's the tail-wind which is making life so easy. Well, enjoy the moment, and don't think about homeward journeys until the time.
On the descent from Mount Tabor, I look down into the valley, to see the old Webster's Fountain Head Brewery building, looking for all the world like Gormenghast, amid the new build housing which has sprung up in place of the acres of demolished outbuildings. 'Tis a pity the beer was so bland and uninteresting, no wonder Scottish & Newcastle closed it down. They missed a trick there; if they'd sweetened it up a bit they could have re-packaged it as alco-pop and targeted the younger market. Yech!
When the atmosphere is this cold, you know when you're doing more than 30mph, as the wind whips round the top of your specs and tears tears from the eyes.
Nice to get to work, where I shower, using the Chris Evans water-conserving method. (switch on, quick wet, switch off, lather, switch on, go "ooh-ah-ooh" as the water temperature flucutates wildly, rinse off, switch off)
Time out: 0:52
My next door neighbour Tony passes me on the outskirts of Halifax. Oh, he's stopping. He's getting out of the car. He's asking me if I want a lift home. Had this happened yesterday, I probably would have accepted. I graciously decline. Not sure how to explain that accepting a lift home would seriously mess with my training schedule.
No repeat of yesterdays's debacle. I fuelled up with bars and juice and went for it!
Time return 1:11 (blustery side / head wind) altered course to tack via Denholme and the Flappit.
Wednesday 18th April 2007
Knee twinge before I even get to the big hill. If anything is likely to go wrong physically on the ride, it will be my knees. I know this from bitter experience. Also a bit phlegmatic this morning, in the literal / visceral sense. I am not going to go into details here. Luckily twinge disappears on the hill, but not the phlegm.
Lapwings have lapsed, curlews clamour to assert their ancient ancestral moorland rights. Occasional croaking pheasant.
Great visibility all the way to Emley Moor (at least 30 miles away).
Time out: 0:55
No repeat of Monday's lethargy. Huzzah!
Time Return 0:57 (not bad considering headwind still blowing on last leg)
No training done, but a bit of bike building. Progress on this will appear in later blogs.
Last week while, climbing Ben More, I had to resort to a knotted handkerchief to protect my baaldyheed from the sun’s rays. Feeling vaguely ludicrous, I swiftly removed it on encountering the seasoned climber at the summit of A’Choich. Next day went into Tobermory for some more appropriate headgear. Came away with an authentic Stetson. First time I’ve worn one of those since my infatuation with the Wild West ‘Wayned’ back in ’62.
Off to see Bob Dylan at Sheffield Arena, where that Stetson would not have looked out of place. Never thought to take it. We did take a pair of binoculars. They were useful. We could actually see the man. Very dapper. He and his band were on for 2 hours and did 18 songs. A lot from his last 2 albums, ‘Love and Theft’ and ‘Modern Times’, and a few new arrangements of stuff from the sixties. I never really ‘got’ Dylan until recently. My mate Dennis Quinn at school used to rave about him. I was just a nerdy kid, who didn’t even have a record player. I can just picture him (the mighty Quinn) in the classroom with a copy of the gatefold sleeve Blond on Blond tucked under his arm. Ah, but I was so much younger then, I’m older than that now. (You still don’t get it do you, Kingy?). Verdict on his Bubness: music was excellent, just wish you had spoken to us between songs, Mr. Enigmatic.
Sunday 15th April 2007
Computer Reset:
DST 62.29 miles
TIME 6:21:51
AVG 9.7 mph
MAX 35.7
Hot. Went on Georgina's training circuit to remind ourselves what cycling in summer might be like. We managed an average speed of 7.6 mph for one hour. This is not very impressive, and would mean we are in the saddle for 10 hours some days. Terrain is a bit hilly round here, but who's to say how it compares with Cornwall or Scotland?
At one point decided to stop for a drink, and, thinking I was just turning into a lane, managed to mount a low curb head on. Oo that hurt! To quote Rambling Sid Rumpo "Two's for me wurrdled nadgers-oh".
Counsel for Shanks' Pony (cross-examining) "Your honour, I wish to call an expert medical witness who will testify that the intense posterior pain caused by a cycle saddle cancels out any of the aforementioned Velocipedal benefits, thereby demolishing my wurdled colleague's case"
(Half-time score Velo Athletico - 1 Shanks Wanderers - 1)
Weight and diet progress...
It's over 3 months since we made the decision to undertake this, er .. undertaking, and a little over 3 months to the actual start date. I was kinda hoping that all the extra exercise would have led to more of a weight loss than the measly 2 pounds since Christmas. Jacky says it’s all that fat turning to muscle. I don’t buy that. I still have a noticeable subcutaneous fatty layer, and not a six-pack in sight.
I’ve made a decision to reduce calorie intake while at work, by drinking more water. And certainly no choccie bars. (Will I be able to adhere to this stricter regimen, I wonder? See below for answer...)
Monday 16th April 2007
A really pleasant run in to work this morning. everywhere slightly moist after an early shower (not me, the countryside!). No wind to speak of. Even the big hill tackled with gusto. Could have been Joanne's dad who passed me in the YEDL white van - I couldn't tell as my specs were all steamed up (besides I've only met him a couple of times, so probably wouldn't recognise him, anyway.
Joanne, if you're reading this, good luck with the plan to become a physics teacher. (even better, have a nice year out next year). While we're in name-checking mode "Yo, Jean!","Yo, Celia!" (my die-hard esteemed readership).
Managed to roll right up to a pipit on a fence-post without scaring him away. Then same again further on (different pipit, obviously). More or less continuous Curlew burbling on the tops.
Must have been some sort of charity cycle ride over the weekend. Think I saw them near Crossroads on Sunday. Somewhat tautological sign still up on lamp-post this morning "Caution Cyclists on Road". Where else should you expect to find them? On the reservoir? On your 4x4's bull-bars more likely.
In a similar vein, in Halifax "The Carpet Centre. Open for carpets". What else would it be open for - All-day breakfasts?).
And another thing - Why are there never any instructions on a box of tissues?
Perhaps a tasteful picture of a lady dabbing her eyes on the box, labelled "Serving suggestion"
I think we could use the Comic Relief single "I would roll 500 miles" as our theme tune for the ride, since the distance will be near enough 1000 miles.
Time out 0:54
Nutrition seriously cocked up on way home. Got a severe case of jelly-legs. Felt like my heart had given up pumping and all the blood had sunk to my boots. Got home, devoured a bar, sat on wall in sunshine in a state of collapse. How can this happen after just 10 miles?
Only good thing about the journey was being overflown by three noisy oystercatchers pretending to be bleeping UFOs.
You know, if it wasn't for all these motor cars, this could be a very nice island / planet (delete as applicable).
Anyway, I think we'll just forget the fat-burning thing for the time being and make sure we have enough starchy fuel, avoiding too much sugar, which burns too quickly. I wonder if Mr. Apollo is still in business, as advertised by the Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band?
"5 years ago I was a 4-stone apology; today I am two separate gorillas!"
"No tiresome exercises. No tricks. No unpleasant bending.”
“Wrestle poodles and win!”
“Play beach-ball! Shave your legs! Look over walls!”
“Tease people. Brush them aside as though they were matchsticks"
“Impress your friends!”
Time return 1:01
Tuesday 17th April 2007
Bright and cool this morning. After yesterday's depressing run home, I need a quick win on the hill.
The Curlews are under curfew, the Lapwings are doing a lap of honour. And you can forget that refereeing lark. Then suddenly as I hit the first summit, the curlews bowl a curved ball in counter-attack. "You ain't heard the last of us!"
I breast the final summit in a fine time (28 mins), see the wind-turbines and realise it's the tail-wind which is making life so easy. Well, enjoy the moment, and don't think about homeward journeys until the time.
On the descent from Mount Tabor, I look down into the valley, to see the old Webster's Fountain Head Brewery building, looking for all the world like Gormenghast, amid the new build housing which has sprung up in place of the acres of demolished outbuildings. 'Tis a pity the beer was so bland and uninteresting, no wonder Scottish & Newcastle closed it down. They missed a trick there; if they'd sweetened it up a bit they could have re-packaged it as alco-pop and targeted the younger market. Yech!
When the atmosphere is this cold, you know when you're doing more than 30mph, as the wind whips round the top of your specs and tears tears from the eyes.
Nice to get to work, where I shower, using the Chris Evans water-conserving method. (switch on, quick wet, switch off, lather, switch on, go "ooh-ah-ooh" as the water temperature flucutates wildly, rinse off, switch off)
Time out: 0:52
My next door neighbour Tony passes me on the outskirts of Halifax. Oh, he's stopping. He's getting out of the car. He's asking me if I want a lift home. Had this happened yesterday, I probably would have accepted. I graciously decline. Not sure how to explain that accepting a lift home would seriously mess with my training schedule.
No repeat of yesterdays's debacle. I fuelled up with bars and juice and went for it!
Time return 1:11 (blustery side / head wind) altered course to tack via Denholme and the Flappit.
Wednesday 18th April 2007
Knee twinge before I even get to the big hill. If anything is likely to go wrong physically on the ride, it will be my knees. I know this from bitter experience. Also a bit phlegmatic this morning, in the literal / visceral sense. I am not going to go into details here. Luckily twinge disappears on the hill, but not the phlegm.
Lapwings have lapsed, curlews clamour to assert their ancient ancestral moorland rights. Occasional croaking pheasant.
Great visibility all the way to Emley Moor (at least 30 miles away).
Time out: 0:55
No repeat of Monday's lethargy. Huzzah!
Time Return 0:57 (not bad considering headwind still blowing on last leg)
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