3 days a week..

Well, after wednesday's slightly painful ride in, I went home via Caerphilly (Up Pound Hill, thence to Rudry etc..) and met up with the evening night ride crew. I fancied a pint or two so followed their off-road route on-road before dropping down off Caerphilly mountain at a million miles an hour back in to Cardiff at midnight or thereabouts..

So riding in Thursday was a pain. Did the A48 direct in both directions as I was pressed for time, had a half hearted crack at breaking the 30minute barrier on the way home, but missed it by a mile. Tired legs..

Rode in this morning along the coast road (first time in that direction) felt fairly strong and quick though I hate the bumps along there. Being picked up from work today though so don't get to ride home :-(

Back into the groove

After a few days rest to recover from the SSMM 24hr race, I rode in this morning. Legs feel fine and the new bike is pretty quick. It even put up with the pot-holes pretty well for a skinny wheeled machine, so it might turn out to be a good little commuter..

SSMM 24hrs

Well, I managed 8 laps, and our team pulled in 30 over all. Not bad, but a little way off the podium places ;-)
A great weekend, but I'm going to need a few days off the bike to recover.. Oh well. it's raining anyway.

Tired legs

Riding in today was hard work. Then I've ridden everyday for the past 9 days now, not quite up to Tour de France standard yet, but improving.

The loooooong way home

I went home via Caerphilly yesterday. Lots and lot of steep tarmac hills, but quite satisfying and a pretty ride... Met up with the wednesday night ride boys at the Lewis for a pint or two, then carried on home down the Taff.

Free bacon roll this morning

..for cycling in. It's apparently national bike week again. The bacon roll was very nice, shame they can't find one for me the other 200 days a year I ride in... Oh well, mustn't grumble. I got a cup of choco-coffee too.. :-)

It rained on me this morning

It was actually quite pleasant regardless, but it does bring the prospect of a few wet days ahead...oh well.

Friday at last

..and I'm actually feeling better with each day that passes. At this rate by november I'll be able to give international pie eater Jan Ulrich a run for his money. Came in via Coal Pit Lane again, a nice compromise route that minimises the amount of unpleasant dual carriageway I have to endure. Dabble briefly with the idea of buying a lovely singlespeed road bike (an old track frame) from an acquaintance, but sadly I think it really will be too small :-(

Starey scarey man

Well it was hard to get out of bed and pedal in this morning. Something to do with the late session riding and drinking last night.. Oh well. Felt fine as soon as I got going, though my arse is a little sore not being used to such prolonged time in the saddle these days.. Nice ride in on the whole, came the Coal Pit lane way which is very pleasant. Filtering through traffic on newport road though and some weird old guy tried to squish me very deliberately...and then just stared at me as I remonstrated with him light heartedly..

New routing

Well, last night's ride home was good. Apart from getting briefly lost in the park, the new route via Baessleg was great. Lovely quiet lanes, big swoopy descents and great views. It does take 15mins longer than my usual route, but it does circumvent the roundabout of doom in St Mellons..

Coming in this morning I tried to follow a slight variation of last nights route and came in via coal pit lane. I was aiming for pound hill, but that'll take a little more work. I might try to find it this evening...

Cloudy morning

So the good weather might be coming to an end..just as I get back to riding every day, bummer :-(
Oh well, going to console myself by trying a new route home today, watch this space..

Andy flying

Andy flying
Originally uploaded by hairy_matt.

Last wednesday's night ride was a good un. Very dry trails and lots of fun. I've been getting more interested in photography again recently, so hopefully should have some nicer pics up here soon.

Start of a cycling summer..

Well they've started building a new multi story car park at work. This means a couple of hundred spaces are out of action til novenmber and a nice incentive to get back into the groove of cycling to work.
Luckily my back is much better now, so as long as I do some core exercises, it should all be groovy. The ride in today was very pleasant too, looking forward to much more of the same :-)