almost time to go

Thursday 5th July 2007

The one and only long distance training run. Been looking forward to this. Georgina is using toe clips for the first time. They’re strapless little numbers. These are what I use, as I like to be able to get my feet free at short notice.

A bit of light rain at the start. A bit of cycling on the pavement to undertake a long line of cars held up by road works. Through the centre of Keighley, and out onto the open road. Difficult to carry on a conversation. Walkie-talkies might be a cool idea?

Navigate from the Aire valley into Wharfedale by cycling up the Cringles out of Silsden. Warm work, but we made it, with just one stop half-way up. Then up Wharfedale to Bolton Abbey and beyond up the steep back road up the east side of the dale.

Sit-bones started to complain after about 25 miles on the Brooks. Obviously not causing enough pain to other parts of my body to take my mind off this area. Ah well, lean forward and think of Scotland.

Georgina spotted an owl on a slurry tank, then we interrupted a stoat trying to cross the road. He obviously wasn’t in the tufty club, as he didn’t look before crossing. But then, woah, he sort of levitated, did an about turn and dived for cover in the hedgerow, whence he’d come. Following this we were overflown by a large owl as we cycled through wooded country. All interesting stuff.

The plan had been to return via Grassington and Skipton, but a navigational error by yours truly at Burnsall led to a return past Barden Tower and home. So instead of our planned 60 miles, we did 45 or 50, depending on which device you believe (Garmin or Cycle computer).

It started to rain as we got within 2 miles of home. We would have had an absolute soaking if we'd gone the full 60 miles.

Home a bit tired, but not overly so. Sore backside. Also troubled by the odd knee twinge on the way round. Moving average speed according to Garmin was 8.4 mph. (5.4 hours cycling). So if this is representative, we’ll need to be in the saddle for 8 or 9 hours to achieve 70 miles. Ooh, fun!

Afterwards, I saved the Garmin track log, and was surprised to find it was 6940 miles long, beginning in Garmin corporation’s Taiwan factory, where it was born! How did it know that, as it had no batteries in when it arrived? Clever little unit worked out a great circle route from last time it was powered up, when it was being tested in the factory.


Monday 9th July 2007

First use of bike since our little training run up Wharfedale on Thursday. Bum OK, legs OK, knees twingeing slightly. Sub 28mins up the Big Hill. (impressive, huh?) and a fast run all the way.

What's going on here? Good weather certainly helps - sunny / cloudy with a pleasantly cool breeze, meaning I doff the jacket for the first time on a morning run. The weather has picked up now that the annual rain dance that is Wimbledon has finished.

I've got the new Garmin Cx on the handlebars. Doesn't have a detailed UK base map loaded, so all I get is a lonely-looking little arrow pointing out into a bewilderness of blank screen. Put it on the compass screen, which also shows speed. It reads consistently low by 1 to 2 per cent compared with the cycle computer.

I put this down to the fact that the latter measures distance by revolution of the wheel, which is affected by hill climbing, wiggling, tyre pressure, tread wear, etc, whereas navigation by satellite isn't. Which is correct? Who knows?

To use a ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ analogy, Garmin is Arlene Philips to the Cycle computer’s Bruno Tonioli. Arlene consistently marks low, picking up on technical imperfections, while St. Bruno (sorry, whilst Bruno) gives credit for passionate interpretation of cycling style.

Time out - 0:53 (creditable)

Return - 0:55


Tuesday 10th July 2007

Weather fab. Absolutely no wind. Turbines completely becalmed. Fly Flats Reservoir flat. Best time ever up Big Hill on Lead Balloon just a smidge over 26 minutes.

Country road all pot-holed and rutted after the recent heavy rains. Nearly came a cropper when I let front wheel drop into a hole. Gave myself quite a jolt. Also felt quite stupid.

A bit worried about some sort of boil-like excrescence which has appeared in a rather unfortunate place. It is situated in the lower of what the 'Doc' in the Sunday Post used to euphemistically term 'The Body Forks' (to be blunt it's groin' in me groin). This could prove seriously uncomfortable if allowed to develop. Not a good thing to happen when you're about to embark on a 1,000 mile cycle tour. Wonder if it's linked to change of undershorts? These new ones are supposed to be antibacterial. Trouble is, the seam on the insert might be the source of some chafing. Not sure what steps to take to tackle it. Think I'll try the trusted tea-tree oil. I will keep a 'watching brief' on this one (hah!).

Time out - 0:52 (speedy, or what?)

Came back in car, which Matthew had driven in at lunch-time as he's off on his D of E gold expedition with the school.

Evening: I've reached John o'Groats!!! Easy to get carried away here, as it's just a virtual John o'Groats on the route-planning software, and not the real McCoy. Nevertheless, it feels like a great achievement to have a fully-fledged route which goes from end to end. Haven't worked out the total distance yet, but each leg seems to have grown slightly compared to my original estimates using the road atlas.


Wednesday 11th July

Stormed up the Big Hill, and down Pellon Lane into Halifax. Overcast with slight tail-wind. Thought I should put in a bit of extra effort after using the car yesterday evening.

Time out - 0:49:47 (Must be a record! Normally this would have been rounded up, but I've included the seconds because that looks more impressive, don't you think?)

Return 0:57 (despite a VERY stiff headwind up Long Causeway) The boy done good.

Bought some little walkie-Talkies from eBay. Can't wait to try them! Gadget heaven!


Computer reset

DST 109miles
TIME 10:36:47
AVG 10.7 miles
MAX 37.4 mph
ODO 1276.7 miles

Friday 13th July

Finally successfully loaded down some routes and maps to the Garmin. Then decided to plot my route to work, so that I can practice navigation on Monday.

If you’re interested, the statistics of my commute are:
Direction Distance (miles) Ascent (feet) Descent (feet)
Outward 9.41 1124 1425
Return 9.02 1239 938
Total 18.43 2363 2363

This is a much hillier terrain than the route I’ve settled on for first day in Cornwall, so I’m reassured.