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Sunday 1st July 2007

First off, apologies for the extra apostrophe that crept into last weeks blog. There: I've left one out this week to redress the balance. (Not so sure about that last colon, though).

Here we are in July already, scary or what? End of this month we'll be off on the Big Birthday Bike Ride.

Ordered a Garmin eTrex Legend Cx from t’internet.


Monday 2nd July 2007

And I don't feel at all competent this morning up the Big Hill. I slump to the challenging headwind, with that light-heavy-wetting moorland mizzle turning to actual rain at the Halifax side of the moor.

Reasons to be cheerful: our family doctor, Dr. Burton (who, by the way, has just retired) did the End to End last year, I think. Am meeting him tonight to take him up on his kind offer of advice. Particularly of interest is the use of GPS, but I hope to pick his brains on all sorts of relevant topics.

Time out 1:01 (challenging wind)

Garmin’s grey breadcrumb trail like some sort of Etch-a-Sketch. I now think the A629 is in the wrong place on the base-map. Bit worried the tracklog will end up permanently etched into the screen, so decide to vary my route home.

Return 1:03 (via Flappit pub)


Tuesday 3rd July 2007

Car trouble, so took it to garage this morning. Consequently no bike riding.

Last night's meeting with (now ex-) Dr. Burton was very productive, good advice on routes, GPS use, bike problems, anecdotes of his actual ride. (including one aubergine, sorry face-plant, right at the start - chute!!!).

His ride was done with his daughter and her partner, at a rather faster pace than we're planning. Dr. Burton’s wife drove their motorhome, and acted as team soigneuse, giving the riders rest and succour at the end of the day.

The scores to beat are: Bikes - 3, Punctures - 0, Broken spokes - 1. Still no definitive answer on the female saddle conundrum. His daughter used the standard one as fitted to the Ridgeback machine.

Dr.B. told me about the day of incessant rain in Scotland. Of course it won’t rain on our ride, oh no! It will be warm sun and cooling zephyrs all the way! If only! “Yes, what DO you do if it does rain all day?” I here you say. “Be wet; be vey wet.” And ask yourself, “How come dolphins always look so cheerful?”

Got home from work to find that the Garmin e-Trex Legend Cx has arrived. That was quick delivery. This has the following advantages over the one we have on loan: - USB connectivity, 2GB of memory, colour, longer battery life.

Spent a couple of hours doing detailed route planning through Cornwall and Devon.


Wednesday 4th July 2007

Another day when I had to use the car, as it needs a new rear tyre, so dropped it off at the garage. The weather is still very unsettled, so I would probably have had a soaking. But I'm feeling guilty to be off the bike again. Absolve myself by remembering that Georgina and I are going for a long 60-70 mile training run tomorrow, so that will compensate. Just hope the weather is fair tomorrow.

Shock news! Rapunzel has taken a hissy-fit. An e-mail has been circulated to say that she is stuck between floors 7 and 8, and is slowly going down. I rush out to see what is going on. There's a man on her roof, a blue-collar-maintenance type. He is talking on a mobile phone. What good is that going to do? You should coax her down gently. Perhaps he's trying to call for back-up, or worse still get her sectioned. I feel powerless to act, as he won't be amenable to suggestions. “Treat her gently, sir; can’t you see she’s highly strung?”

Later, I find out it's regular maintenance carried out by Property Services. Good job I didn't try to intervene - could have been very embarrassing. Panic over.

Back home for another few hours of route-planning.