I did a funny ride yesterday evening that has left me with a few thoughts swimming round my head.
Firstly the categorisation that is happening in cycling is barmy, it reminds me of music genres - stupid titles given to the slightest difference to create another market to sell to. We did an off road ride at Dalby, two on mountain bikes and myself on my cross bike and we each faced challenges and had fun in different ways on the same ride. Whether it was me attacking each climb because I didn't have a low enough gear to spin up it or watching Alastair bombing down descents I had to run because of my lack of skill. We were all just riding. Full stop. The same applies in my mind to the craze of off road riding on road bikes, be it bridlepaths, gravel or old coach roads. It doesn't need a name and to be placed in a genre for manufacturers to rehash old ideas and spin out 'original' new products. That aspect of cycling personally reminds me of 'Green Laning', which is basically driving 4x4's down unsurfaced tracks or forest tracks and enjoying the countryside, almost the audax of the 4x4 world I guess. One thing it is definitely not is cyclocross. 'Cross has to be raced, you can use a cross bike for a multitude of different rides but racing is a whole other ball game.
On a related note, it seems that riding generally slows down this time of year as riders who are tired after a full Spring rest up before Summer and some stop almost entirely when family duties take over. It's a time for plans to be hatched and one of my all time favourite things to do is bullshit plan making with people, where we're all dreaming and not even considering reality. This weekend was a classic - a week long riding trip to northern Italy. One bag and a bike, days spent in the saddle, evenings spent eating, drinking and sleeping. But it is what it is probably a dream. To do it solo might be possible, but the organisation it requires to get two or four lives full of responsibility to match up long enough to make a window of opportunity is mind boggling. Hell it takes a week to get a trip to Dalby to happen and even then half of us don't even turn up!
So, my recovery Monday has actually been complete rest so far. The most effort has been making beans'n'toast for my dinner but maybe the washing up will require more will power or at least another cup of tea first. Who knows the sun might even come out again when the rain goes away and we can all get our guns out.
A what point does expressing what you want to do become being selfish, also how do you tell a man who is half your age again to stop acting like a kid?
As the Giro comes to a close in Italy, I've been enjoying watching the Tour of Belgium on my lunch break. Today was great with Gilbert winning and seeing cyclocross stars in the thick of the action, like Niels Albert in the break.
I was going to write a lot more but I forget sometimes.
He was a bike racer that knew when it was the right time to stop. He had been a photographer for Cycling Weekly during the 60's and 70's. He was a Colnago owner. He lives in Spain but travels Europe in a campervan for seven months of the year. He and his wife are Masters World Champions at cross country skiing. He uses a Leica. He was at the 1980 Paris-Roubaix. He was at every Classic this year (and is a Gilbert fan). He knows Francesco Moser.
Does it get any better? and he was a really nice guy too.
Had a pretty awesome day today. Firstly, Katherine had bought me a darkroom printing session for my birthday, so this morning we had a few hours printing old negatives and revisiting old memories. Including this gem;
I was a little nervous that I would have forgotton everything but a quick run through of the DeVere enlarger and I was away. In a few hours I knocked out a couple of small cycling prints for the wall at work and a few large scale enlargements from our holiday in Italy to frame for the bedroom wall. Then we had a little day trip, lunch and a visit to Castle Howard followed by a drive over to Whitby, for a walk on Sandsend beach then a chippy tea.
One thing about the PRO look that is completely unobtainable to the average cyclist is the skeletal gaunt look of a rider in form. You can keep the full carbon bike and Di2 it's about what's in your legs and your head.
This week has been about checking things off an invisible 'to do list', almost got the end. Possibly heading up to Dalby tomorrow night to watch some Pro MTBer's race round the streets of Pickering, although there is a strong chance that I might just come home and sleep.
There is also an interesting day coming up this Saturday, more details after it's been and gone but it could involve revisiting some past activities and probably this photo;
In equally happy news my immediate family has increased by one after my cousin gave birth to a little baby boy. Another one to invite to the wedding then.
Just back from watching TT3D again for the second time, honestly I could watch it everyday. It's amazingly inspirational but not really from a 'let's go ride motorbikes fast' point of view, instead I get the feeling I can do anything if I put my mind to it. Let's see if I can.
Spending the day at work on my birthday was fine, especially because I was looking forward to a couple of swift shandies and a bhuna afterwards. There was a lot of talk of motorbikes, and now I come back and see Duncan's latest video he's posted;
Personally would love a crack on a 'crosser or have a everyday run-around such as an old school Italian style Vespa or Piaggio. Not for a while though...
It's good to see friends and people I like doing well and enjoying life. Last night was a homemade Mexican meal, a bit of swapping and selling of bits that aren't being used, some banter today and thoughts turning towards my birthday in a couple of days. I'm trying to make all my actions be centred in confidence rather than doubt, making everything happen smoothly so energy can be saved for the better things in life. This week's events bring back the idea of living life to the full, making sure time is well spent. To that end I'm heading back home tonight for time with my family, then battling the elements with a off road ride tomorrow. Now time for a lovely cup of tea.
Still have a secret crush on the simplicity of track bikes.
Today was my only proper scheduled road race. It went pretty much how I'd expected, dropped somewhere around the mid point as the serious riders took over and the already 25mph average speed went up another notch. I had some demons I had to lay to rest though, so I carried on and kept the bunch in sight for another half a lap before they disappeared round the lanes. Satisfied I'd done my best I pulled over at the finish line and watched the now splintered bunch come through, surprising how slow they looked when you're not the one hanging on to the last wheel for grim death.
I haven't been that into what Rapha have been doing lately, but the Continental project videos that have just been released rekindled something. The word fun is mentioned a lot, while the 'advertising' vibe has been dropped in favour of a bit more of a documentary feel. Full sleeve tattoo's look sick too.
There's a knack to finding people who are enjoyable to ride next to. It helps if you share the same sort of tempo/speed on the flats, ego has got to be left behind, no halfwheeling - climbs are done at your own speed, yet a certain amount of competition is always good but more than anything you have to be able to share silence comfortably.
Talking is easy, listening to silence can be unbearable in the wrong situation.
I will always remember a line from a Sherlock Holmes story, as a compliment to Watson, Holmes says 'He has always been able to do silence well.'
Just been quietly going about my business so far this weekend.
Have to recommend everybody to go see TT3D while they have the chance, it contains some horrific scenes but the overall feel left me full of motivation. Also enjoyed the 3D aspect, rather than being over the top it gave a HD appearance that added another layer to the beautiful Isle of Mann scenery.
I read about this guy in Joe Parkin's first book "..Dog in a Hat". He looks exactly as I imagined he would do; Patrick Cocquyt
Had a great weekend so far. A solo ride round Harrogate, stopping in Knaresborough on Saturday afternoon followed by a meal out at night with my Parents. Yesterday I showed Rich the secret lanes and tried not to get eaten alive by horse flies. Got back in plenty of time to see Phillip Gilbert do the triple and end the spring classics on a massive high.
Also had enough time to organise a few things to get on ebay soon. I hang on to certain pocessions far too much and one of my pet hates is having stuff for cycling and not using it, unless the sentimental value is too much. I'm at a level now with my bikes where I don't really need anything else. Sure parts will wear out and have to be replaced, and if a set of carbon wheels tough enough to race 'cross on landed in my lap I wouldn't mind but overall I don't want anything. The Bob Jackson is as good as it gets, my CX bike is going great and the winter bike just keeps crunching out the miles.
"It's not just hitting it with a hammer but knowing where to hit it and how hard." Dave Yates.
If a job's worth doing it's worth doing right, in my book it also helps if things turn out looking exactly how I pictured them at the start. It's not necessary looking good just right in my mind.
Also on a daily basis I encounter the driving force of the bike industry - the middle age man with money. Carbon road bikes are great tools in the right hands and they are incredibly easy to sell because the person who buys one will enter the shop believing there is no other option. There are very few unique carbon race frames out there, the real progression in frames I think will come in steel, inspired by the old and pushed by functionality and adaptability, not lightness.
It's often the small details that make a bike feel right. Never underestimate the power of fresh bar tape - correctly fitted. Even wrap and NO GAPS around the levers, never use the finishing tape - it never sticks etc. I have a few trade secrets too, in fact if I went on Mastermind my specialist subject would be Bar Tape and it's application.
This site covers an area I have previously stated my views about; the key to having rules though is knowing when it's ok to break them.
http://slamthatstem.com/
Tomorrow I get to forget everything and ride solo, hopefully enjoy some quiet roads, the sun on my skin and a smooth Campagnolo drivechain.
All I seem to be posting is videos recently. This one reminds of walking round SF, just trying to take it all in. Life is going on around me while I feel all I do is work, eat and sleep. A long weekend coming up hopefully means a mix of riding and home-organisation, which means I might feel a bit more grounded.
It's Paris-Roubaix today! Hopefully I'll get to watch it all on some hijacked Belgian feed with biased commentary I can't begin to understand. I'd love to be there in person but more for the days before when the teams do the recon rides, lie this;
Also could leave this one out,it's so euro it's almost painful:
As I set off on yesterday's audax I thought I'd probably be safer in the middle of a race bunch due to some of the riding on display. It's a weird mix of old guys who can ride you into the ground, weekend warriors and newbies who have never ridden in a group. Things settled down but I was glad that things broke up on the climb through Studly Royal and following hills, meaning I completed the distance in a small group where we all helped each other to the finish. It was also good to talk to some familiar faces, without any drama, for a change.
Notes of a bike tart theme: -Still not convinced about the functionality of carbon clinchers. -Someone else's squeeking bike is like nails down a blackboard to my ears. -Oversocks and gilets are my best friends.
Another ride today, still on the winter bike even though conditions would have allowed the use of no mudguards. While at work and during many previous rides the conversation often turns to aesthetics of a bike and also the rider, looks will generally be second to function but somethings should be set in stone. This is not one of those lists that frequent the internet relating to how roadies should look - rather just a few points that in my circle of friends should be followed.
- Mountain bike pedals have no place on a road bike.
- In relation to headset spacers, a maximum of 25mm under the stem is allowed. A 5mm spacer above is advised but not critical. Also the stem should be -10 degrees, zero degrees stem are fine too but not a minus angle stem flipped upside down is not.
- Hopefully bartape will be white, the same as the saddle, but if not it should be matched to the main graphic/logo colour of the frame.
- Mudguards will be accompanied by the appropriate size mudflap.
- In an ideal world the bars/stem should be free of any computer etc.
All the turbo work is paying off on the road but still need longer saddle time to get my body used to hours riding again. Unfortunately I got the call that I didn't make the cut for the Seacroft road race so I plan on riding the Fountains Audax, which is an old favourite of mine, plus it does turn into a bit of a race to be in the first group back. Also got the dates of the Summer CX series today, mostly on Wednesday nights so probably pile everyone in the van and hopefully have some fun racing.
Had a proper ride today. Rain, crosswind, keeping the knock at bay with Jelly Babies.
Also found out I've been the subject of some shit-talking. Shame people can't say stuff to your face instead of running their mouth. Not massively bothered, just simply confirmation that certain members of a certain club are arseholes.
A very mixed bag so far this week. From 'accidentally' buying a set of wheels off t'bay (although they do have Mavic SSC Paris-Roubaix rims) to getting back into the commute-work-commute routine. Managed to see a couple of films too, as well as planning to see True Grit tomorrow. The original starring John Wayne is one of my all time favourites and it's only the Coen Brothers who could actually make an equal or better attempt at the same story, so expectations are high. No matter what happens I am going to get out and go for a proper ride on Saturday, anyone else out?
Since the 1st of February I done over 16 hours on the road bike.
My Mum and Dad got a new puppy.
I built the wheels for and worked on a BMX today that cost over £1000 and weighed 13lbs (in case you don't know thats STUPID light) had a mint Profile cassette hub too and Ti all over it. Proper bling.
My Dad tried on a pair of Oakleys for the first time ever and couldn't see what all the fuss was about
Tomorrow we're spending Valentines Day in a place most people have nightmares about, yep it's back to Ikea. This time we're going with a list and a 'getting shit done' mentality. If she's lucky I'll treat our lass to a plate of meatballs too.
For the first time since I started my commute I almost made it all the way home in the daylight, I was fast running out of light as I approached Tad but it made a change from pitch black all the way back.
Had a couple of ebay bargains too recently; including a pair of Oakleys as seen here modeled by Katherine.
That's enough for now, the Turbo is calling. Another sweat-fest session but then I get to try out our new MASSIVE bath!
There's something right about getting up at seven in the morning, making it downstairs only to turn right back around and go back to bed. My reward was a day spent with a real friend, instead of people who I pretend to like for convenience. Watch this; it will make you a better person.
We're in. Everything's going to plan so far too. I'm also three days into my new commute, the headwind back tonight along the A64 was too cruel for words, all I could think was 'character building'. I even got called lucky before I left work for getting a decent length ride home and when I think of the two amazing sunrises I've seen this week I might agree.
Sometimes Life has a way of feeling like you're putting in massive amounts of effort and not seeing much gain but with everything still moving really fast. For me moving house is like this, and it's only in the last day that things have started coming together. The best thing is it's starting to feel like home.
For the cycling geeks reading this, the title is 53x12 not 53x11 because I don't use cassettes with an 11 tooth cog. This is because in 'cross I rarely use the 12 so having an 11 is only taking away a gear I could use mid block, and (now really nerdy) on my road racing wheels I use a Campagnolo 12-23 cassette is a straight block through to 19 with 21-23 tagged on the top, the benefit of this is getting an 18 tooth cog, which is missed out if you run a 11-23 cassette. It's a bit old school but 53x18 is a gear I can pedal all day long and 39x18 is a climbing gear which I can push knowing I've got a couple of lesser options should the gradient increase. Told you it was geeky.
The best way to find your maximum heart rate is riding at full gas, on a turbo, for 8 minutes, at night, in a freezing cold garage, whilst sweating profusely and keeping your cadence above 120rpm. At least that's the way I did it last night. My first coaching session was more of a 'field test' to work about the zones I need to train in. It feels good to have some saddle time and confidence steady growing again.
It's been too long since a proper entry. At the moment our world is upside down, with splitting time between work and getting the new house ready. My shifts aren't allowing me to be involved as much as I'd like but Katherine's doing a cracking job at getting everything organised. Also I've had the cold/flu, which has been doing the rounds, it has basically robbed me of all energy and left me a bit absent minded and short of patience. Today was the first morning where I didn't feel like crap in about a week, so I took the chance to get out for the first road ride of the year. Three hours and 50 odd steady miles has destroyed me to put it simply. I've decided that this Summer is basically building fitness for cyclocross in Autumn/Winter, this should mean I can build steadily and use road racing as a stepping stone rather than it being the only thing I'm focusing on. My upcoming longer commute should help my mileage total each month too, while at the same time I'm building my 'cross bike up sooner this year to do a lot more skill training and hopefully Summer racing after work. The 'cross bike is going through a couple of changes this year. Stripping it down to the bare essentials with racing being the main priority, probably 1x10 gearing, a little HOPE equipment and tubulars for the first time. This year I've decided to ride only for Here Come the Belgians and not join Clifton, it was something I thought a lot about but some recent events pushed me towards my decision. I still plan to ride some of their events but I'd like to take a back seat from the politics and concentrate on my own riding.
Due to Katherine working in a job that requires her to work on Boxing Day I have found myself alone today. I carried on the tradition of a walk, and took the opportunity to nip to the shop for supplies and take some snaps on the way. This afternoon will be filled with eating turkey sandwiches, watching Columbo on ITV3 and today's euro cyclocross race live via the internet.
Sometimes all I need is a day to just sit back and look at life, the business of a regular routine can lead to a lack of appreciation for the finer/stranger side of things. Such as,
I can't tell you how much I don't understand people who have white tyres on their road bike, but I absolutely love white tread on cyclocross tyres. White Dugast Pipistrello file treads anyone? Yes, they're even the older style design with the diamond pattern on the shoulders. Most likely going to FMB to transplant on to new casings!
We signed on the dotted line on Friday for our own house and started a joint account together. The modern equivalent of getting married, who knows next news we'll be getting a cat too.
My desk is always a mess. And I'll never sell that Colnago.
One longsleeve thermal baselayer. A pair of thermal socks. One pair of bib shorts with a pair of padless winter fleece lined bib tights over the top. Assos winter jacket. Windproof gilet. Neoprene overshoes. Defeet wool gloves inside windproof winter gloves. Rapha hat and merino wool buff.
All this for a quick two hour spin this morning. Can't wait till it's back to just wearing short sleeve jersey and shorts.
I have always been a little too interested in the tread patterns of my bicycle tyres, whatever bike it may have been at the time. Recently my passion for BMX has been stirred again, nothing is as fun as cruising around town on that small bike, it immediately puts you at odds with 90% of society and means the riding never gets overly stressful. My most recent cycling discipline of 'cross reminds me a lot of BMX with a bit more competition thrown in, while also breeding tyre and tread pattern experts too. With all this snow and no off-road bike I'm finding myself longing for dry roads and steady winter miles, whatever aspect of cycling you're into it's the same: You only get out, what you put in.
+1
Dugast Flying Doctor Pippestrello file treads in WHITE. The colour green. Two more weeks before the days start getting longer again. Getting Christmas shopping done early.
-1
Minus temperatures. Not feeling like you're getting the full story.
It seems like too many people are rushing around and belly aching about things they do for 'enjoyment' recently. It's all to easy to get dragged into their rants, and it can spoil a perfectly good day. So, today I went for a walk, took some photos, talked, and learnt from some like minded folks and topped it off a great coffee in town. Tomorrow I'll go on another solo ride and enjoy the peace and quiet.
The title is my posh way of saying I'm not racing 'cross anymore this season because we're buying a house! The stress and workload of two undertakings outside work would surely kill me so racing had to go, for this season. The good news is the new place is very bike racing friendly - outside bike storage, outside tap for muddy bikes and a great mix of quiet roads and trails on the doorstep. Also I'll have a bit more of a commute so base miles won't be a problem.
Of course it's not finalised until we sign on the dotted line but the offer has been accepted, solicitors called into action and mortgage agreed so it's looking promising. This week I'll also be cannibalising the cross bike for parts for my winter training ride, expect compact chainrings, full mudguards (and mudflaps) but with a hint of PRO white thrown in, with a Turbo saddle of course.
This week I have been getting out of bed at 5:30am, traveling to Manchester and building wheels. I now know all the usable spoke patterns off by heart, if you need a 3 cross asymmetrical rear wheel build I'm your man! Seriously though all this is going towards making me a better mechanic and gaining some qualifications I can use in my career. The day's activities doesn't leave much time for anything else, so this weekend I will be mostly riding my bike and maybe attending one of those bike jumble sales to sniff out any deals.
Possible house-moving opportunities. Banter. Home baking from the other half. Trade price. Standing on our own two feet.
-1
Talking about money. Having to admit some things are not at the top of your priority list. Training rides in November, the first road races are in April - they'll be sick of training before February!
Had a proper day off today. Not done anything that requires much energy, apart from tidy up a little, chicken soup for dinner and then GVA Trophy Koppenbergcross live off the t'internet. Good to see the best in the world struggle in the mud like the rest of us. I'm no expert on euro cyclocross but it was nice to see someone other than Stybar win, Nys looked like his old self and is it possible Pauwels could podium when the Worlds come around?
Today I experienced both the positives and negatives of cycling in a group. This isn't the place to go into details and the brisk 90 miles to Bedale and back certainly will do me good. I missed today's cx race for a few reasons, mainly transport but also when it boils down to it for me bike racing isn't life and death. I have enough of that in my family at the moment, so I'm taking it each day as it comes and riding when I can and making sure it's enjoyable. Lets leave the proper suffering till the new year when training starts in earnest again.
I'm a hoarder. I'm not only talking about material possessions but also random boxes, unopened envelopes and general clutter. I'm also struggling to focus on the things in life that actually matter due to recent events, all of which can lead to me mindlessly questioning what's going on.
Things that need done: 1. Start a charity bag. 2. Stop buying just in case things on ebay. 3. Infact only using ebay to sell! 4. Sort out a load of rubbish for bonfire night. 5. Tidy the house.
Contact me if you fancy making an offer for various items such as old cameras, tubular tyres and many more probably coming to ebay soon.
It feels like I've waited all year for my first cx race and I go and pick the wettest and muddiest day I've ever seen, but then again it's probably right it happened that way. On a course that wasn't particularly suited to my lack of technical skills, I was having my own little battle of 25th place before two crashes in quick succession meant I DNF'd. It would have been great to finish but looking back I have no regrets, the likely hood of doing myself some lasting damage on another lap was quite high, as it was I get to walk away (quite badly bruised) but still keen to come back and race again. It was great to meet a couple of the 'Belgians' and have support at the side of the race. I also couldn't have managed without my mate Rob supporting in way of Chief Mechanic (and bike washer) Looks like I might be taking advantage of another kit reorder as my jersey is still stained with mud after two washes!
On the other side of life I'm making the trip to the other side of the Pennines on the 6.30am train to Manchester everyday this week for my Cytech bike mechanics course. Didn't appreciate the early morning but the day went well. One thing I have to comment on is the abundance of electronic devices ordinary people have today, on the way home I watched one guy mess on his iPhone, then use a mobile organiser device, then start listening to his iPod Nano at the same time as reading from one of those Amazon electronic readers! I'm only 26 and already I'm asking the question what happened to cassettes and real books?
It's like he says, "jump" and the other asks, "where do you want me to land?"
In the last couple of days I have been put into situations where I've been able to take a step back and look at what is actually happening rather than being fully part of the scenario. It is like my days as a photographer observing without commenting. Most of the time if you are the one creating silence other people can't help themselves but talk, to try and say something, anything to take away the nothingness that has been happening.
Another one of my Grandma's sayings I'll dearly miss; 'If you don't have ought good to say, don't say anything at all.'
Today reminded me of my old flatland BMX days, trying something on a bike over and over until it suddenly clicks, and then you're doing something almost naturally that fifteen minutes ago was making you scream with frustration. Today it was remounts on my cyclocross bike.
The comment you have a lot (or too many bikes) is something I hear regularly, so I thought it's about time to lay everything on the table. Here's what I currently own:
Bob Jackson custom made road bike.
The bike I waited 8 months to be built and have been riding all summer, including a few road races. Strictly my best bike, only summer mileage and maybe going into hibernation soon.
Scott CX Team cyclocross bike.
My first staff purchase bike through work, will be racing cyclocross in the coming weeks on this bike.
On-One Pompino singlespeed/fixed gear bike. It's unusual I don't have a photo of this bike but it really isn't the best looking thing but does a lot of jobs and serves as my everyday bike. Usually equipped with mudguards it's coming into it's second winter and hasn't failed on any score so far.
Colnago Art Deco.
The photo shows it as a complete bike but this is now just a frame and forks that lives next to my bed. Bought it as an absolute bargain and will never sell it, if I did I'd have bad cycling karma forever.
Fit BMX bike.
Doesn't get ridden much anymore, lives at my parents house, again loathed to sell it mainly for sentimental reasons.
Here's what I have owned:
Kinesis RacelightT road bike.
The latest bike to leave me, was simply a stop gap till the Bob Jackson frame was ready but did me well to get some winter training miles on.
Pete Dunn Lo-pro track bike.
Probably the best bike I no longer own. Bought this off a local shop with a horrible purple and yellow paint job, then got Bob Jacksons to convert it to track ends and paint it green. I used to fly around York on this, doing laps of town without ever putting a foot down, really fun bike to ride and you have to focus all the time, being one step ahead in traffic. Ultimately it was what made it so much fun which was the problem, being brakeless in city roads causes issues, skidding through gaps is fun but skidding for the tenth time that ride so a taxi/bus/HGV doesn't kill you isn't. It always got a lot of attention, especially on eBay where it sold for a bomb.
Carlton track bike.
Really nice old track frame that I built and rode on the street for a while before turning it into a velodrome only machine, unfortunately it became too expensive to just have sitting around not in use, maybe a lesson about punching above your weight too - never felt comfortable on it.
No name fixed gear conversion road bike.
My first fixed gear bike. This saw a lot of mileage when we lived in Leeds, later in York it had mudguards and swept back granny bars. Again went on Ebay.
Peugeot road bike.
My first geared bike, ebay special - bought cheap, done up and sold on.
WeThePeople Div BMX.
Probably my favourite BMX and certainly the one I rode the longest, thinking back I can't think why I stopped riding it, the frame is back at my parents but was damaged beyond repair when swapping the parts.
That's about it, not counting a few early BMX's including one that was stolen and a Specialized Langster, which I owned for less than 24 hours before selling. Another thing about cycling it you need more gear than just the bike, if you consider the parts that the average rider has in his pocession it'd probably make up a decent shop stock list.
This mornings ride was a lovely two hour loop to the North, straight into the chilly north wind. Missed all the major climbs in favour of just getting some miles in. Dress code mainly matched outlined guide from here: http://www.cyclingtipsblog.com/2008/11/how-to-look-pro/ White armwarmers matching white oversocks, team kit, old cycling cap, embrocation on the knees, ipod and riding my white bike (with white bar tape and saddle of course) Had to laugh at the fact I was almost turning into the characteur of euro cool, but still a great way to pass a bank holiday Monday morning.
Today is also the first day of two weeks holiday from work, very much looking forward to getting away for a few days and catching up with people who we don't often see. Then it's straight back into Cytech training at work and cyclo-cross racing.
Think about what you're saying. Do you believe every word that leaves your mouth? You could well be the only person who cares what you say.
I wrenched on a lovely Ellis Briggs steel audax bike at work today, reminded why I like the colour black for bikes, truly timeless. I predict the touring/audax bike to be the next big thing, cyclocross bikes that can be used for commuting etc are already ten a penny and fixed gears are so 2006! Its a rare treat when a great bike passes through the workshop, it really improves the day whether it be a fancy race machine or just a bike the owner loves and takes care of. On a related note, I'm loving learning all the 'tricks of the trade'. It's almost something new everyday, not many people can say that.
Reminds me of a saying of my Grandma's; "We don't have much money but we do see life."
Recently I have found my strength leaving me, the classic 'Yorkshire' attributes of grit and determination lacking as different challenges and situations throw me off balance. When the people and things that usually give me encouragement and help form part of the problem itself I don't know where to turn. It's easy to be hard on myself and to adopt a negative attitude but that just digs the hole deeper. Things need done.
Some good advice from a Wu Tang Clan song:
Lord, don't move my mountains just give me the strength to climb.
I managed two laps of today's race before having a 'mechanical'. I stopped in the pits for my lap out and to fix my bike but wasn't allowed to rejoin as it was deemed a fault not a race caused mechanical. I was, and still am, absolutely gutted. However many times you say life goes on it still hurts but I do have much bigger things happening in my life right now, so I won't brood too long.
Watching BBC4 documentaries about the American South. Home cooking. Signing up to start my Cytech training. Working on old bikes for good people. Getting help.
-1
Katherine going down south for a week without me. Not being around family when all is not well. Missing the Yorkshire Show. Money. Not feeling you belong where you were once comfortable.
This is the first weekend I have managed back to back rides in ages but my mileage probably tops out at only 40 miles. Yesterday I went for a short spin on my cross bike to get used to the position and check it was in full working order, then after a couple of minor adjustments today I did some dismount/remount practice on the Knavesmire. I've started thinking cyclo cross early because as it's my first season racing I want all the experience I can get, although with two weeks remaining to my last road race of the season I have to keep the mileage and leg speed going too.
Weekends of driving around, going out for leaving do, racing another circuit race and nine hours days on my feet could all be classed as the 'storm', whereas a night watching Midsomer Murders on the telly and a curry for tea is definitely calming.
Another race for me last night and another finish in the bunch, slightly higher up than before. Being a dry night it was very fast from the off and a bit of shoving going on in the pack kept us all alert, but everyone got round fine with no crashes. Last race on this circuit in two weeks, so hopefully looking for another improvement again.
Was watching the Isle of Man TT races last night when it was reported that Guy Martin had had a bad crash, I'm a big fan and wish him a speedy recovery but what I want to share is a little of his blog:
Also a story from his website that maybe a little close to the truth but still very funny:
The Squirrel and The Grasshopper
REST OF THE WORLD VERSION The squirrel works hard in the withering heat all summer long, building and improving his house and laying up supplies for the winter. The grasshopper thinks he’s a fool, and laughs and dances and plays the summer away. Come winter, the squirrel is warm and well fed. The shivering grasshopper has no food or shelter, so he dies out in the cold.
THE END
THE BRITISH VERSION The squirrel works hard in the withering heat all summer long, building his house and laying up supplies for the winter. The grasshopper thinks he’s a fool, and laughs and dances and plays the summer away. Come winter, the squirrel is warm and well fed. A social worker finds the shivering grasshopper, calls a press conference and demands to know why the squirrel should be allowed to be warm and well fed while others less fortunate, like the grasshopper, are cold and starving. The BBC shows up to provide live coverage of the shivering grasshopper; with cuts to a video of the squirrel in his comfortable warm home with a table laden with food. The Daily Mail informs people that they should be ashamed that in a country of such wealth, this poor grasshopper is allowed to suffer so while others have plenty. The Green Party, Greenpeace, Animal Rights and The Grasshopper Social Housing Commission demonstrate in front of the squirrel’s house. The BBC, interrupting a cultural festival special with breaking news, broadcasts a multi cultural choir singing ‘We Shall Overcome’. A socialist rants in an interview with Andrew Marr that the squirrel got rich off the backs of grasshoppers, and calls for an immediate tax hike on the squirrel to make him pay his ‘fair share’ and increases the charge for squirrels to enter the congestion zone in London . In response to pressure from the media, the Government drafts the Economic Equity and Grasshopper Anti Discrimination Act, retroactive to the beginning of the summer. The squirrel’s taxes are reassessed. He is taken to court and fined for failing to hire grasshoppers as builders, for the work he was doing on his home, and an additional fine for contempt when he told the court the grasshopper did not want to work. The grasshopper is provided with a Social Housing Commission house, financial aid to furnish it and an account with a local taxi firm to ensure he can be socially mobile. The squirrel’s food is seized and re-distributed to the more needy members of society – in this case the grasshopper. Without enough money to buy more food, to pay the fine and his newly imposed retroactive taxes, the squirrel has to downsize and start building a new home. The local authority takes over his old home and utilises it as a temporary home for asylum seeking cats who had hijacked a plane to get to Britain as they had to share their country of origin with mice. On arrival they tried to blow up the airport because of the British apparent love of dogs. The cats had been arrested for the international offence of hijacking and attempted bombing but were immediately released because the police fed them pilchards instead of salmon whilst in custody. Initial moves to make then return them to their own country were abandoned because it was feared they would face death by the mice. The cats devise and start a scam to obtain money from people’s credit cards. A Newsnight special shows the grasshopper finishing up the last of the squirrel’s food, though spring is still months away, while the Housing Commission house he is in, crumbles around him because he hasn’t bothered to maintain it. He is shown to be taking drugs. Inadequate government funding is blamed for the grasshopper’s drug ‘Illness’. The cats seek recompense in the British courts for their treatment since arrival in Britain . The grasshopper gets arrested for stabbing an old dog during a burglary to get money for his drug habit. He is imprisoned but released immediately because he has been in custody for a few weeks. He is placed in the care of the probation service to monitor and supervise him. Within a few weeks he has killed a guinea pig in a botched robbery. A commission of enquiry, that will eventually cost £10 million and state the obvious, is set up. Additional money is put into funding a drug rehabilitation scheme for grasshoppers. Legal aid for lawyers representing asylum seekers is increased. The asylum seeking cats are praised by the government for enriching Britain ’s multicultural diversity and dogs are criticised by the government for failing to befriend the cats. The grasshopper dies of a drug overdose. The usual sections of the press blame it on the obvious failure of government to address the root causes of despair arising from social inequity and his traumatic experience of prison. They call for the resignation of a minister. The cats are paid £1 million each because their rights were infringed when the government failed to inform them there were mice in Britain . The squirrel, the dogs and the victims of the hijacking, the bombing, the burglaries and robberies have to pay an additional percentage on their credit cards to cover losses, their taxes are increased to pay for law and order, and they are told that they will have to work beyond 65 because of a shortfall in government funds.
One of the most popular sayings from customers is: "I know nothing about bikes but..."
Never lend a chain tool to anyone, they will break it.
I'm moving into five months at the shop and will soon be starting a slightly different role as a full time mechanic. I will only work one weekend in three so should be able to organise my racing easier, although it will be an intensive learning curve at the same time. Bring it on.
Our Saturday morning training rides has almost been a continuous, and quite uneventful, feature of 2010, starting off in the snow then ice and making it safely through the Spring showers. So today on a beautiful Summer's day it was quite a surprise that we had two crashes. Firstly a small slow motion touching of wheels that had spectacular results with a full over the bars dive. The kind where the rider picks themselves up and looks for the damage, as the rush of adrenalin manages to block any pain for a short moment before quickly wearing off to reveal the full extent of the problem. Everyone involved continued onwards undeterred, we all stayed upright for about 20 minutes when another rider had a very professional looking fall. A small bump in the road and a loss of balance and said rider was soon sliding across the road on his arse following his bike into the verge. It was one of those crashes which burns most of the shorts and then the skin straight off. Again we all continued and all finished the ride together without incident, thankfully.
Last night saw my second road race, a 4th Cat crit on a closed circuit near Tockwith. After my first race, my aim was to actually finish this one. I lined up with a few club mates and after a quick neutral lap we hit the line for a flying start. I tried to avoid the back of the pack and moved in to the front half, the pace was high but manageable with most people riding sensibly. As the race progressed a couple of rookie mistakes, mainly braking too hard, saw me move to the back of the field but never in trouble. I found the right wheels to follow and never felt in danger of being dropped but I was very relieved to see the lap board counting down each lap. On the last lap the pace increased but I finished in the pack, giving my all for the sprint for goodness know what place. The feeling of finishing was amazing and like another step to being a fully fledged racer.
So, this morning I had my first road race. Here are a few lists of what I learned and what went right or wrong.
Good: Didn't panic when I found myself at the back of the group. I took opportunities to move up to the front when they arose. Early in the race I was coping well with the pace. I wasn't intimidated by group racing.
Bad: I tried to eat some of my energy bar but couldn't chew it before the climb, which meant I had to swallow it almost whole. I got gapped on the climb, couldn't breathe right then off the back of the group threw it up at the road side. I joined another rider who had been dropped earlier, was going to carry on but he had already decided to head back to HQ and I followed him without any argument.
What I learnt: Don't use energy bars in races. There isn't the time. It has to be either sports drink or gels. I can 'do' road racing, the atmosphere has quite friendly and it was good to be in better company. Don't take the easy way out, keep going as long as possible.
I feel a little disappointed because it was a mistake that ended my day rather than lack of legs but there are a lot of positives and I'm looking forward to my next race in a few weeks.
I'm currently sat on the sofa, resting in preparation for my first road race tomorrow. I'm about as ready as I'll ever be, although strangely I'm not feeling that much pressure because I've been told so much not to expect a lot from the first races. There will be clubmates in the race too and I'm even getting a lift out so don't have to worry about finding my way. This time last year I had just completes my first TT and ridden my first century, looking back it's hard to believe how much I've progressed both mentally and physically. There's always work to be done but that's half the fun. Next week it's my birthday again and we're heading to a little B+B I used to stay at with my family when I was a young 'un. That's all for now, back to Midsommer Murders and a cup of tea.
