classic

by

New New Years resolution

After last year’s successful ‘Everything Matters’ may I present my guiding words for 2014 …

image

Advertisement
by

January blues

image

The New Year is underway and the short dark days are taking a toll on my mood but not my appetite for Chocolates.

When I do get out on the bike I enjoy it but with such short windows of daylight to get out, trips are often shortened or cancelled.

Friday night I was working until 9pm and so was too tired to get up at 07:30 for a club spin and so headed out at 10am on my own to do 100km. Was going well until I went over the top of the main climb of the spin to find the road blocked with snow and ice. Had to walk a mile or so before getting back on the bike and free wheeling through the slush.

Today’s trip was cancelled because of a puncture. I was on my way to the mountain for a quick spin when the tyre on my car blew out.

Sorry for all the moaning but as you may have noticed when I am in a bad mood I post less blogs so this is a effort to blow away my writer’s apathy

by

New Year Revolutions

image

2014 gets underway. Managed to get out on the mountain bike for a short spin.

Christmas was busy and I didn’t manage much cycling. If I recall correctly I managed to cycle 100Km on Jan 1st last year. First weigh in of the year today.

My resolutions?

1) Get to target weight by April first
2) Match millage from last year
3) Beat times on spins from last year

by

Words uttered in haste

image

Finished 48 minutes after the gold medal time, my slowest Dartmoor of the four only to have Computer add over ten minutes to my time when I did not register on finish line … Argggh

I did the last five hours with my gears screeching at me and every second cyclist I past telling me my bike was making noise. Some  even suggested that I should oil her every now and then Argggh

And don’tget me started on all those guys hearing that my bike was clearly malfunctioning and yet saying nothing Argggh

I am sitting in a warm Bath and starting to calm down.

I would not have finished off it was not for the help of three riders. The only number I’m sure of its 2003, I think 1916 was one of the others. I will  detail later

I have Marked next year’s event in my calendar and will book the time of work tomorrow. It’s gold in 2014 for me!

by

Welcome to Loserville. Population 1

image

Silver Medal 6hrs 55 min
Average speed 22.4kph  Max speed 77.6kph

A wet and miserable start meant that I got nowhere near my Gold medal. After 2 hours of cycling I was 20 Mins slower than last year. I slowly clawed most of it back and finished a couple of minutes slower than last year on a slightly different route.

I had a fantastic day and enjoyed the ride immensely.It really is a beautiful and challenging route with endless steep sharp hills. I feel I paced myself much better than last year and raced home from Princeton to the finish. I powered along the river valley in the last 20km trying to catch last years time. Great buzz flying along in a group of about  six of us.

Wasn’t too disappointed about time as I know I did my best and could not have done better

At least I know my goal for 2013- Gold medal in the Dartmoor classic