Roundabouts..

...when giving way to right, please include me in the equation.. Mind you, the look on the poor wee lassies face as I sounded my large vocal horn ("Ooiiiiiiiiiiii!!!!!!") an inch from her side window was almost worth being mown down for.....almost.

New job

...same organisation, but now in a shared office instead of my own little den.. I thought this would cause problems with riding in, but a new locker seems to have sorted most of the probs.. :-) Nice ride in after all..

2 inches

...from my elbow at about 60mph.. I honestly can only imagine these people have no concept of how scary it is to a cyclist.. and I forgot my lights, so I had to ride home before going out for the evening..bah.

Oooeee

That's been a while. Changing jobs soon which may make it tricky to ride in very often...though I hope not. Will have to make the most of my last few weeks.. Alright ride in today, though back hurting a bit. Must do more core exercises..

Bicycle race

Slow ride in this morning, on the big bike for this evenings ride, so wasn't going to break any records.. That is until I was overtaken on the way up the hill by a bloke in jeans on a rigid mountain bike.. He was pedalling away like fury, clearly trying to make a point to the guy in all the pro-looking kit...plus ca change. Anyway, usually I just draft behind such folk until they run out of puff and then casually overtake, perhaps commenting that it's a marathon not a sprint (if feeling overly smug)...this time however, I'd just overtaken him when a fast road bike came up the outside, not really standing a chance on my MTB against a skinny tyred bike, I was happy enough to be in the middle of three, but gave it a bit of welly to show I wasn't a pushover...until my chain fell off. By the time I stopped and rechained myself I was far at the back, and only managed to reel in the two riders ahead just as they both pulled off my route. Oh well, I should know better than to get into races on my commute. Most of the time my opponents are only riding a mile or two* so can afford to put in more energy than myself with 11 more miles to go..


* the exception to this being the guy I started to race on the way back to Cardiff once, who when we got chatting turned out to have ridden from Bristol..

A head wind..

...and dead legs. Although I've been keeping up a fair mileage recently, I always notice the difference a big tyres bikes makes.. It'll be fun this even when I get out on the trails on the way home, but on the road to work this morning it was a grind..

To the driver of the blue Ford Escort.

If you cast your mind back to this morning, you may remember overtaking a cyclist just before you got onto the roundabout below Rhymney Hill. After you had passed him no doubt he dropped from your mind, sadly you failed to wait for your entire car to pass him before choosing to forget his existence, which explains perhaps why you pulled in across him forcing some alarming avoidance manouvers on the part of the cyclist, who as I'm sure you've now guessed, was me. If you had bothered to check your mirrors once in the following half a mile, you would have seen me chasing your car so that I might have a word about your behaviour, perhaps you did see me gaining on your feeble family saloon despite the steep gradient and that is why you ran the red light on the way up the hill...outside the police station. Either way, I just wanted to say that I'm sad you didn't look in your mirror enough to appreciate the wide range of hand gestures I was performing for your benefit, and I hope the daytime TV show you were rushing home for was entertaining enough to offset the lives of those you nearly killed en route.. If it had Carol Vorderman in, or perhaps John Leslie, then at least I won't have had my enitire existence nearly snuffed out for nothing..

Bah, red car rage..

Idiot driver this mornign thought getting to his dead end job 5 seconds earlier was more important than my continued good health.. Mind you, the sprint up Ryhmney Hill trying to catch him should have put my cardiovascular system into tip top order.. ;-)

A bit wet

It were a bit wet yesterday, and riding to the pub to meet the WNR I realised how crap my little LED light is... Oh well. Managed to pinch flat riding the CX bike down the steps too.. ;-)

Traffic jams..

Big sky
Originally uploaded by hairy_matt

Well, after taking 45 minutes to drive in yesterday (some poor folk took 6 hours), there was no way I was getting in a car today... Lovely cool crisp wintery morning too, probably the end of summer.

Pic from Brechfa at the weekend.

Full speed ahead

Full speed ahead
Originally uploaded by hairy_matt

Fairly uneventful ride to work on Friday, although on the way home a bus almost cut me up, noticed me at the last minute and pulled back out again. This meant he left a load of irate looking passengers at the stop we were passing at the time, more people who now hate cyclists I suppose.. :-(

Photo is from a lovely sunny blast we had round Brechfa on Saturday. Fun in the sun..

45lbs of fun

Well it took me over an hour to ride inthis morning..a new longest record. But I was riding my downhill bike, so I don't feel too bad.. Putting SPDs on makes it quite ridable for longer distances, but it ain't exactly nippy..

Rode in, yadda yadda

Another day, another donut. Actually tomorrow should be interesting, I'm planning to ride in on my downhill bike... At 45 odd pounds, with 2.5" tyres, it's not really made for the tarmac.. but it should be worth it when I meet up with the WNR on my way home...sadly after 25 miles of slogging. Watch this space.. (but don't hold your breath cos even if I set off at 8am, I still might not get to work in time for lunch..)

Friday comes

The Welsh mafia size up the Slab at Dalbeattie
Originally uploaded by hairy_matt

Well a nice non-eventful ride in this morning...sadly not via Dalbeattie (pictured). Got a lot of work to do over the next few weekends which is a pain with akll this nice riding weather suddenly being upon us... Oh well. I'll try and get it finished and get out to play as soon as I can..

Dead mammals

Been a bit lazy this week, but rode in today as I'm meeting the WNR after work.. Lots of dead things on the road today though, squirrels, rabbits and a rat (I think)... I just hope cyclists aren't next..

Evening ride ahoy..

Rode in on the medium sized bike today, so home via the ridegway (stopping for a pint at the Maenllywd) to meet the boys at the Lewis and then go on a ride (probably back to the Maenllywd) and then back to the Lewis and home.. 30 odd miles, 5 or 6 pints... not a bad way to get to work and back..

Bits and pieces

Quantocks
Originally uploaded by hairy_matt

Been a bit of a random week. I rode to work on Wednesday, then left the bike and went drinking in Newport in the evening.. Thursday I got a lift to work and rode home.. Friday I rode to work and got a lift from work to a wedding for hte weekend..and today (Tuesday) I got the bus to work and will ride home.. Got out yesterday for an offroad ride in the Quantocks though..

Splashdown

Mugs
Originally uploaded by hairy_matt

Just had a cracking weekend riding around Rhayader.. It was a tad damp on the saturday, as you can see from this pic of the bombhole at the top of the golf links descent.. Still great fun though..

Nice ride in this morning too, except for the car on newport road which passed me so close I almost took his wing mirror off with my elbow :-(

Fair weather biker

I got accused today of only cycling in when it's sunny...and the worst thing is, I can't really refute that. Had a nice ride in this monring and will be meeting the WNR tonight, but it is concincentally a glorious day outside.. Might have to make a point by riding every day for the next few weeks.. Saves on fuel anyhow..

Motorway jams

After spending 5 hours in a traffic jam between Cardiff and Newport last Thursday (yes, 5 sodding hours) I have discovered anew the joys of commuting by bike.. Imagnie my cackling laughter as I cycled over the motorway bridge this morning to see yet another lengthy tailback on the M4 :-) Viva la (pedal) revolution..

Skateboard ramps and grannys

Rode in this morning, first time for a while, but (a) we've had more rain than Borneo in the wet season recently and (b) I've been away a lot... Anyhow, as I was on the big bike in anticipation of this evenings night ride, I stopped off at the skateboard ramps at the top of Rumney Hil.. Great fun, but i almost landed on some poor dear walking her little terrier.. She looked a bit surprised.. ;-)

Back pain

It's been a while since I last rode in (and we've had torrential rain nearly every day..) so finally forced myself to this morning. As usual the ride was actually much nicer than driving, but my recurrent back problem seems to have reappeared. I need to build up my core to stop my stronger back muscles from messing me up.. Time to buy a swiss ball I think..

Wettest month ever

Well it's been raining rather a lot recently, so I've been driving a lot.. A bit pathetic really, but there you go.. Finally back on the bike today, with a 24hr race this weekend so was a bit anooyed that I was going to get some of my kit wet so soon before the race...but actually had such an enjoyable ride in I don't care. I had plenty of time so went along the top, up the rollercoaster and down coal pit lane, ace fast zooming over the motorway bridge..

Knockdamph

Knockdamph
Originally uploaded by hairy_matt

One of many pics from our Hebridean adventure. This was taken while crossing the mainland (we had to ride a quick coast to coast to get to a mainline railway station).

Headwind to welcome me back

Blimey, didn't realise it was a month since my last pedal in. Had a nice headwind all the way in to welcome me back, though nothing like as windy as it was durint he week we spent cycle touring around the Hebrides a week or so ago.. :-)
Great trip.

Poor dog

I ran over a dog on my bike on the way home on Friday. No lasting damage I think, but it ducked in front of me at the last minute and got clouted at about 15mph.. Lots of whimpering..

No such drama today...so far. Just an ugly headwind all the way in.

..and rode in this morning

Having spent half of yesterday evening stripping and re-building hubs, it was reassuring to find the wheels going round properly on the way in. Meant to be meeting Amy on the way home again to get a few bonus miles in..

Rode in yesterday

And met Amy at the Maenllwyd on the way home. Originally plan (I thought) was to go for a bit of a beasting on the roads as prep for our touring trip, but the couple of pints we had instead were very pleasant.. ;-)

Breakfast on high

Bought a bacon, sausage and bean breakfast pastry thing on the way in (had actually just stopped to buy some P-clips, but the bakery smelt good). It was a bit hot so I pedalled up to the top of the ridge and found a handy style to sit on, not a bad spot for a munch..

Quarry ahead

Quarry ahead
Originally uploaded by hairy_matt.

Went home via Rudry and the ridgeway on Friday, an excellent ride in the sunshine...though steep loose terrain with drop handlebars is interesting to say the least..

CX Bike

CXBike
Originally uploaded by hairy_matt.

Well, I picked up my new toy last night, and after swapping a tube and tightening a few bolts, it rode in very well this morning. not as quick as the road bike (shorter gearing and fatter tyres) but a lot more confidence inspiring when hitting rough stuff. I think it's going to make an excellent tourer/commuter. Just need to sort out some chain skipping probs, and it'll be sweet to take the off road route home..

Sunshine

The weather shows no sign of breaking, so another lovely ride in for me today.. Nice..

Castle Coch Photoshoot

DSCF1406.jpg
Originally uploaded by hairy_matt.

Headed out last night for a dedicated photoshoot evening. Shot lots and got a few good uns, like this one of Rich leavnig a dust trail in his wake. Learnt that I need to practice more to get the best out of the flash, I need to work on timing and also remember to think about focal length. Wide angle wacky distortion is fine for a few shots, but I need to start using more of the range of my zoom.. Good fun though :-)

Rode in this morning too..pretty uneventful..

Hole filling

Well, I'm not sure if it was a result of my complaint or not, but the pothole at the top of Rhumney hill has been patched up making for a much smoother ride to work this morning. The other potholes in the newport side are still there though, obviously they aren't as on the ball as their cardiff collegues.

Slow puncture

Booo. I hate slow punctures. I pumped it up yesterday before riding in, before riding home, this morning before riding in and no doubt later before riding home. It's only losing around 5psi/hour so not really worth changing the tube, but I'm going to get bored of pumping soon.

Hmm the pecking order continues

Had a nice uneventful ride in today, until the roundabout outside the office. There was no traffic in the outside lane, and only a scooter in the middle so I pulled out. The scooter then buzzed in behind me and shouted that it hadn't been safe so I shouldn't have pulled out. I'm a good judge of closing speed (you have to be to survive) and there was no way he was going quick enough for me pulling out to cause him to brake, and besides he wasn't even indicating to change lanes. I half pointed this out, but I have a feeling he accelerated to make a point that while cars may bully him out of the way, I'm still further down the pecking order...sod that.

30 minutes!

I've just about broken the 30 minute barrier riding home before, but never got close on the way in...until today. Sprinted up Rumney hill like a madman and kept the bike in the big ring on all the flat sections... Got to work in pretty much exactly 30 mins.. Not going to come anywhere close on the way home mind, but c'est la vie.. ;-)

Cold head

HAd my hair cut on Friday, and only just got round to riding since... It's a bit chilly with less up top :-o

Potholes

Just realised riding in today that half the potholes I reported aren't quite where I said they were...oh well. hope the council can find them anyway..

Half a ride in

Getting a lift home via Stroud.. Finally reported some potholes on http://www.fillthathole.org.uk/ hopefully something will happen..

Decisions decisions

Nice ride in today (though almost flattened an idiot woman who walked out in front of me while chatting on her phone..). Just trying to decide whether to swap the road bike for a CX bike..more off road commute potential and less worrying about potholes... Hmm...

Costa Blanca enthusiasm

After a cracking week in Spain climbing and biking (alternate days) I came home to good weather and a bit more enthusiasm to get back up to regular commuting. Rode in yesterday and today, going riding off roadm tonight, taking tomorrow off to go downhilling at CwmCarn and then up to CyB at the weekend. Should get me fit or dead..

Puncture :-(

Got a puncture on the way home last time, right as I got to Newport road which is annoyingly too close to home to be bothered fixing it.. Must get some tougher tyres, or better yet, a CX bike.. Hmm

Just beating once a month..

Rode in today using my SKS race blade mudguards.. They work well, but it was damp enough that I still got soaked. Riding once a month is pathetic, must try harder...

Cold snap

Well, after a little good natured 'encouragement' from Amy, I actually rode in today for the first time in ages.. Been doing plenty of riding off road, but the dark nights and horrible weather have kept me from commuting. Good ride in, though chilly toes.. must get some new shoes soon.