The Cycling Mayor

I’ve got another stinkin’ cold, about which I am less than pleased.  I woke up this morning to sunny skies, no obvious wind, and the fact that I hadn’t been on the bike since last Tuesday.  I really wanted to just go back to bed, but that’s never really an option, and it always pains me to miss out on good cycling weather as it tends to be in short supply so…

Cycling time: 2:14:35
Distance: 33.017 miles
Avs: 15.2 mph
ODO: 9106.5miles

I did exactly the same route as I did with AJ last week, and the stats are nearly identical.  Which is weird as last week’s ride felt terrible, and today’s felt fine, even though I was taking it pretty easy because of the lurghi.  I expected to find it proper hard work, but oddly enough I didn’t.  Though there may have been more snot involved than usual *grin*.  My legs felt great – which is no doubt proof of the fact that they like rest days…but as usual, I shall be ignoring that fact.  I guess the next thing to do is the same route, after some rest, without a cold…and see what happens then.  However repetition gets boring, so that may have to wait a while.  At least I got back out on the bike

It’s my birthday!  The wheels of time have turned for another year.  Yes yes, all very well, I hear you say, but how is this cycling related?  Because hubby bought me Lance Armstrong’s “It’s not about the bike” that’s how! *grin*.  OK, so it’s a tenuous link, but hey, I like birthdays – especially mine

Yesterday my kit order went into the lovely people at Kalas.  It took a couple of sessions and some mad to-and-fro ing of emails, but the final design is all agreed, sent off, ordered…now I have to work on the paying for it!  It’s costing me a small fortune – in some respects.  However when you consider that I would have to have been buying various bits of new kit this year anyway, plus the quality of what I’m going to be getting is greater than that probably would have been, then it’s actually not so bad.  Let’s face it, half my kit is worn out, and I can’t wear S’s jacket forever!  And let’s not forget the fact that having this kit produced encouraged my sponsors, hence the reason I’m half way to my target.  Besides which, it should last me a while (it’ll have too!), so it’s all good in the long run…

So, in 4 to 6 weeks, I should be all kitted out, a team of one, in my very own team colours, logos and all.  How cool is that?!  I wonder if it’ll make me go faster…*grin*.

I’m also on the hunt for a new bike which is proving proper problematic.

• Too much:  there’s too much choice!  too many opinions!  too much advice!
• Size:  working out what size you are is a nightmare.  It also appears that my current bike is actually far too big for me if you go by the usual rules – it’s a 56cm whereas I probably ought to be a 50 or 52.  After three years without notable problems, it does make you wonder about this whole sizing thing…  Either way, measuring my bike didn’t help with deciding what size the new one should be
• Colour:  ok, so I’m a girl, though actually I know some guys who are just as bad about this!  I want my bike to match my kit…and a large number of them seem to be red, which doesn’t…

My two current favourites are the Focus Culebro Triple and the Cube Axial WLS Comp.  I’m not sure quite how to progress from here – and may have to go and see a man about a bike…  Same man as does the kit actually, which brings us full circle

Ok, so I’m late writing this, but that’s life.  Or rather I was busy have a life so didn’t get around to it as soon as I should have.  Anyway…

AJ and I made it out as planned on Tuesday morning.  A couple of hours around the sunny levels, which for some reason I found pretty heavy going.  Could have been the wind.  Could have been the over-consumption the night before maybe…or the very late night…or the fact that it was the last of several of those in a row.  Mind you, that doesn’t usually make my back ache.  Still, it was good to be out, and certainly blew away the cobwebs, which was essential.

Cycling time: 2:14:26
Distance: 33.902 miles
Avs: 15.1 mph
ODO: 9072.5miles

Although I seemed to be finding it hard, the average shows that it was actually no worse than usual.  AJ was clearly spinnning his legs though, which was slightly disheartening! *grin*.  We actually cycled past the site of our infamous collision, though I didn’t mention it as drawing attention to such things could be considered to be tempting fate…  Statistically speaking, we have now had more successful rides than disastrous ones, and that is definitely a good thing

Another sunny Sunday meant another sunny seaside loop, only done clockwise this time – variety being the spice of life ‘n all that.  AJ and I spent a happy couple of hours out and about, and actually managed to stay on our bikes this time ’round!  We waved at the hospital in Weston as we went through Uphill, but managed to avoid visiting it in person, which has to be an improvement *grin*.

Cycling time: 2:59:24
Distance: 30.153 miles
Avs: 15.2 mph
ODO: 9038.6 miles

It being the same loop as last Sunday, there were even a couple of hills – including Bleadon Hill which, just like all the others of late, wasn’t quite as bad as I remembered it.  Maybe the sunshine makes hills easier?  Mind you, I may be finding them easier, but AJ is another one of those that disappears up hills as if they aren’t there, and then has to wait for me somewhere down the line.  I do wonder how people do that!

Another sunny day, another perfect day on the road.  I don’t know whether the Torq recovery is the reason – but even after Tuesday’s long run, I’ve been feeling fine.  I had a good gym session last night, and my legs were full of the joys of spring this morning.  Looks like there might be something in it!

Cycling time: 2:12:07
Distance: 33.738 miles
Avs: 15.3 mph
ODO: 9008.5 miles

M, S, and I did the usual kind of pootling around the sunny Somerset levels, and I really enjoyed it.  Gorgeous weather, happy legs…happy me   I wish it was always like this!

As you may have noticed – this bike, and my legs, have now done over 9000 miles!  That’s another landmark for you.  I may have to throw a party when I break the 10,000 mile barried *grin*.

It was time for a long run, having not done one on Sunday as I’d half been planning to.  Once the mob were safely at their various schools, I set off for Cheddar, from whence M and I headed out in the sunshine.  M had planned a route, so I was happy just to be told where I was going which, in this case, was Bradford on Avon.  This meant Cheddar Gorge first thing in the morning…always a tad daunting!  Still, I think it’s getting easier…  We met up with B on the top road, and headed off.  It took a little longer than planned, due to a nasty headwind and plenty of hills…  It was a lovely scenic route though – great view, lovely weather, not too much traffic – pretty enjoyable really.

We arrived at Bradford on Avon, where we had a lovely coffee stop sitting outside a cafe by the canal, with particularly good carrot cake.  Vegetables are healthy you know   Then we turned tail and headed back.  I trailed behind the pair of them as far as Chilcompton where we parted company with B, and M and I cycled back over the top together, to round things off by coming down the Gorge – full circle as it were.

Cycling time: 4:20:43
Distance: 65.287 miles
Avs: 15.0 mph
ODO: 8974.7 miles

Defenestration has always been one of my favourite words.  I think there should be a similar one for that “going very slow, something in the way, need to stop, can’t unclick…b*gger…sideways thud” thing that cyclists do, which is what happened to me when we stopped for the toilets at the canal.  With an audience.  Very dignified I don’t think…and I’m going to have an awesome bruise on my left hip.  In fact I think I may have already.  Ah well – probably good for the ego to be be knocked down a peg or two from time to time

I think it’s safe to say I’m also a bit tired now…

I did go out Thursday, in case you thought I’d been skiving, but the dodgy wires on my cycling computer found the incessant drizzle too much to cope with, and it only started working again on the way back home when it had dried out enough!  (I’ve fitted the new one now – a wireless Lidl bargain).  It was an unremarkable ride anyway – a quick trip over to Burnham and back with G.

So, on to today.  I’d been trying to find someone to cycle to Exeter with, as G had offered me a lift back from there…but no takers.  I decided I’d do a ride ’round here instead, take less time out of the family Sunday, and do a longer ride this week some time instead.

I awoke to bright sunshine which is always very motivational.  The little weather add-on that hubby has added to Firefox showed me that it was warm too, and the forecast was good.   I sat down on bikely and planned myself a seaside loop with several hills which came in at around 32 miles, which I figured would be about 2 1/2 hours.  And, in a mad leap of faith…out came the shorts!  Hello Legs!  Yes – for the first time this season, it was time for shorts.  Shorts, summer gloves…it gets better all the time

Cycling time: 2:01:25
Distance: 31.309 miles
Avs: 15.5 mph
ODO: 8909.4 miles

I had a blinding ride.  First off, up the long haul to Shipham.  Through Rowberrow, and down to Churchill.  Round the back to Puxton, wiggling around the country side to go up the very steep hill at Kewstoke.  On to the seaside at Weston, where the smell of late full breakfasts mingled with that of chips and warm candy floss under clear blue skies, and people were all promenading.

Through Uphill and up and over the main road, and up and up to Bleadon Village.  Which was hideous last time I did it, and was oddly not this time.  Maybe I’m getting better at this?  The views up there are also stunning – well worth the climb.  Down into Bleadon again, and back up to go along to Loxton, and come home over the final hills past the Webbington.  More stunning views, if a little hazy, across the levels.  As I came into Cross, with the sun on my back and the wind in my hair (poetic license!), Faith No More started singing “Easy…” on the mp3.  Definitely a moment

Considering the hills, I am proper impressed with my average speed.  My expected 2 1/2 hours turned into 2!  I did feel like I was flying along – blame the Torq, the hours in the gym, or heck, just the sunshine   Yep – another great ride.

As usual, M and I were out this morning.  The weather, after being wet for the last couple of days, had dried up a bit, and resorted to strong gusty wind instead.  Ah well, you can’t have everything.  Actually as it turns out it wasn’t as bad as I’d been expecting, and it also wasn’t quite as cold as a result.  Result indeed!

We pottered around in our usual way, putting the world to rights, around Wedmore, Mark, Brent Knoll, etc.  We didn’t plan a route, just kinda made it up as we went along, which seemed to work out ok.

Cycling time: 2:07:33
Distance: 31.776 miles
Avs: 15.0 mph
ODO: 8844.7 miles

As you can see, the average was ok, much better than I was expecting after a weekend of conspicuous consumption…there’s clearly no justice *grin*.

Talking of this weekend – I attended a pre-L2P event at the Walkabout Pub in London.  There was a presentation about the charity AMR, and more importantly one from Discover Adventure who actually run the trip.  So I know a lot more about the logistics of things now, which is important when you like to be as organised as I do.  I also picked up some fundraising ideas which may come in handy as I still have a long way to go on that front.  I may be over half way there…but only just!  I’m actually more worried about raising the money than doing the miles – daft, no?  If you haven’t sponsored me yet – please sponsor me!

I went out in two stages today.  I did the Nyland loop by myself, and then picked G up from M’s for an extra loop.  The weather was back to being cold – long sleeve layers and winter gloves – but the sun was out and lovely.

Cycling time: 1:28:26
Distance: 22.030 miles
Avs: 15.0 mph
ODO: 8812.9 miles

It was rather shorter than I’d have liked, though the only other option would have been leaving G in town and heading off out again, and three loops seemed a bit much!  There’s only so much you can do close to home.  Not to mention that I was finding it hard work today, so the sensible thing was probably just to accept that and come home and drink coffee instead