Black mountains

Did the black mountains killer loop for the first time on saturday, what a cracking day out. It almost made up for our joke of a summer.

Where now?

Ok, so it's a bit melodramatic, but i have been thinking more than ever recently about my direction in life. Time to make some decisions is near. This post though, is mostly to try blogging from my new phone ;)

If in doubt, rip their legs off...

Nice ride in this morning, though I did fall prey to every commuter's weakness. I was overtaken by a chap on a mountain bike on Newport Road, not a problem in itself, but he did not offer any cheery hello, or friendly good morning. As a result of course, I was compelled to draft him to the bottom of Rumney Hill (noting with satisfaction that he was slyly looking behind to see if he'd dropped me yet) and then, as the gradient picked up, I pulled round him and sprinted up the hill until my lungs were burning. He was nowhere in sight by the time I had crested the rise, and as I kept the hammer down for the next 7 miles or so, he had no chance of catching me back up...

Satisfying, yes...am I an overcompetitive cock? ...probably ;-)

Ha, back on a faster machine

Quarry ahead
Originally uploaded by hairy_matt

Felt good to spin in this morning on the CX bike.. It may not be a tour de France winning machine, but its a hell of a lot easier to pedal than a mountain bike..

Not cycling, but canoeing

Campfire
Originally uploaded by hairy_matt

Took a weekend off the bike, and paddled down the river Wye with friends.. This shot is from our little campfire and camp on Saturday night...it was great to be out..

I love my Surly

Surly
Originally uploaded by hairy_matt

But it ain't half sodding slow when cycling along the road to work.. Hopefully the ride home off road will make up for it..

Back from the Mega

Qualifier start
Originally uploaded by hairy_matt

Well I survived the Mega Avalanxche, even though my bike ain't quite in one piece.. This vid is of the qualifier race, the main event this year started at the same point because of bad weather, usually it would be even higher, on the glacier of Pic Blanc at 3300.. I'll be back next year and hopefully will get to race over the whole course..

Off to the Alps

Tomorrow morning we leave for the Alps, to race in the MegaAvalanche (google it, it's the worlds most stupid downhill race). Apparently there is a lot of snow on the course this year...eeep!

Marshalling and downhilling

Stef
Originally uploaded by hairy_matt

Been a bit patchy on the old riding front for the last few weeks. Marshalling at 24hours of Mayhem took it out of me a bit, but otherwise I've been getting into shape for next weeks Megavalanche race.. it looks completely ridiculous.

All washed up...

Bikes waiting to be washed
Originally uploaded by hairy_matt

Well not really, but feeling a bit run down. Had a good ride last wednesday, and then unusually, had a whole weekend off the bike.. Made up for it today though by rding in, and hope to do so again at least a few days this week..

Wales north to south ride

A few pictures from a short ride across Wales we did last week, from the north coast (Bangor) to the south (Cardiff), mostly off road. The route came out around 250 miles, with a huge amount of climbing...literally huge...some days we were climbing for about a million hours...great fun though.

Starting off in Bangor, on the pier no less...


Riding past Lwyn Ogwyn


One of about a million forests we rode through..


Some bits were not entirely ridable...


Though bits of Sarn Helen we came across were mostly pretty tame like this..


There's a lot of twee countryside in Wales..


Waterfalls and that...not ridable.


Some of the bridleways were a little indistinct..


Some a little wet...


Pedal power and wind power in the same shot... All that's needed is an organic yoghurt weaving plant, and you'd have a hippy paradise..


The trip was of course powered by highly advance Polish carbohydrate replacement solutions..


A bit more 'challenging' climbing...just a few miles or so across boggy sodding tussock grass...A feature that is strangely lacking on most man-made trails..


All in all a top week. The weather was mostly hot til the last day (44 miles down the taff trail in the sodding rain...joy..). We travelled light with just a 32l sack each, and I can highly recommend the OMM sacks on the back of this trip too, very comfy even heavily loaded for a long day in the saddle..

A couple more piccies here if anyone is terminally bored at work or similar..

Two commutes and a Sunday

Surly
Originally uploaded by hairy_matt

Well, I've been taking it steady after my recent off spell, but have managed two commutes to work with attendant Wednesday night rides, and we did a good ride on Sunday, from home up to Ton, then over to Machen Mountain via Caerphilly mountain and home..

Still not feeling 100%, but starting Sunday morning we are going to be riding from Bangor to Cardiff over the course of a week all off road...should be ace!

Bit of a break

Unhurt
Originally uploaded by hairy_matt

Well, I've had 5 weeks off the bike. After a hectic week at work (including trip to Paris) I got off to a stag do in Devon and managed to break a rib and put my back out in a go-karting accident.. 4 weeks of physio later, I am finally able to get back on the bike. It's put my training schedule off a bit, but c'est la vie. Just trying to get in shape now in time for our north coast to south coast off road epic in mid May..

The road to success

Pathway
Originally uploaded by hairy_matt

So I’ve had a bit of a long lay off, mostly because I’ve been resting my shin, but also because I’m lazy.. It was actually getting to the point where I was worried my sister was going to run rings around me on race day. Luckily though, I got out last night and managed 5.9 miles in 55 minutes. That equates to under and hour (just) for the 10km, which I think is my sister’s target time.. Now all I have to do is keep that in my legs til the event..

Night ride Wednesday

Sunset on the Quantocks
Originally uploaded by hairy_matt

It's that time of the week again, so a slow twiddle in on the Surly.. Looking forward to this evening though, I need a ride and a pint* to sort me out..


* Actual number of pints may be plural

Bit of a cross training weekend

Rafting
Originally uploaded by hairy_matt

Soo, Friday running and cross training.. Saturday Rafting (thanks Pete) and Sunday Kayaking (cheers Warwick). All this was topped off with a 70km ride on Monday (thanks to Mark & Mel) so a pretty good weekend for exercise and company all round..

Missed a run yesterday though as my legs felt dead. Hopefully this slightly longer break will get my shin a bit stronger for this weekend's running..

Hanging on

Scruff in flight
Originally uploaded by hairy_matt

Had a good run on Saturday, though my right shin was still complaining so I limited it to 3 miles. Same again last night sadly.. I feel more than happy with the distance, but don't want to push it until my shin is completely happy..

Good ride to work today though, looking forward to a nice spin along the ridge later..

Just a short one today

ASICS Running shoe in black and white
Originally uploaded by hairy_matt

3 Miles exactly. Newport Road, Colchester Ave, down to Marlborough road, funeral home, then Stacey road and home down Cecil street. 30 minutes and 1 second. Probably would have been 5 minutes quicker if it wasn't for waiting at traffic lights..

Felt fine, nice easy pace, though my right shin did start to twinge a bit..

Riding Sunday

Turning in
Originally uploaded by hairy_matt

This is actually I pic I shot on at the BUSA's at CwmCarn on Saturday. Due to the rain I didn't take a camera to Afan on Sunday. The new section of Whites level (NRG) was really nice. Good to get some jumping in between the hailstorms..

The running has started in earnest

ASICS Running shoe
Originally uploaded by hairy_matt

3 1/2 miles on Saturday, round the park and the lake. Didn't feel too bad, but my shin was twinging a bit by the end.. Still, should be on track for race day.

A night off

DSC_0568.jpg
Originally uploaded by hairy_matt

I had a good ride in today, but will not be going on the Wednesday night ride tonight. iding at CwmCarn on Friday I had an off on the bridge in the picture..basically a sidewind scuppered me mid flight, causing a slightly bikeless landing.. Oh well. Looks gloomy outside too..!

Training starts here

Airborne Blackbird
Originally uploaded by hairy_matt

So, after lots of huffing and puffing, I've finally kicked off my training program. Not quite the right photo as I actually went for a run, but I don't have any decent pictures of me running (apart from the Tough Guy, and they're too muddy).

This also marks the end of me using this blog as strictly a record of my rides to work, I've decided to use it more as a general training and photblog sorta thing.. Not that anyone actually reads this (hi Steve.. ) but just so you know.. ;-)

You what?

You what?
Originally uploaded by hairy_matt

Started on the long road of my multi-faceted training programme today. Got a run in april to train for, followed by an off-road coast to coast of wales, then a 12hr solo singlespeed MTB race and finally, the daftest MTB event in the world, the Mega-Avalanche.

So riding in this morning was a gentle way to start, but felt good nonetheless.

Wooo tired

Yesterday was hard. Singlespeed to work, then along the ridgeway to the Lewis, then little Garth, big Gart and Badger Avenue..

Another long gap...but I'm going to have to be more keen

Lovely cold and crisp ride in this morning, all good stuff. Been a while since I last rode in though, which won't do. I've entered the Bristol Bike Fest 12hr solo race, so I need to get in shape soon.. That and a week long coast to coast from north to south wales offroad in May..

Woohoo

We're up to twice a month for the ride in...stunning.

Nice morning actually, if it stays like this I might ride in Friday as well.. Nice.

Finally

Rode in yesterday, after a hell of a break.. Ride in ok, but home along the ridgeway was gopping! Thick claggy mud..

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.

Loose spokes

But blues skies, so it all balances out.. Got halfway up the first hill with gears all over the place and was swearing at the whole concept of a bike with multiple ratios (wouldn't happen with a fixie etc) until I realises that a gentle twist of the barrel adjuster was all that was required to get things running sweet again..

Yves Saint Laurent Shirts and Tesco Underwear..

Looong break from cycling in, caused by laziness mostly..and some kind of zonal disturbance in the atlanstic leading to lots of sodding rain here.. Came in on the singlespeed today though as I'm going to hook up with the wednesday nightride crew this evening on my way home... It's a bit sliggish on the road though, a one geared fat tyred bike is not quite in the same league as a skinny tyred road bike..

Wet day

Nice to ride in though..

Finally..

Too long off the bike, mainly due to rain of biblical proportions, but also laziness and stress over a failing bike purchase of all things... Never mind, back in the saddle today.

Mileage

Well this week I have ridden into work 4 days.. Gone for evening road rides twice, and one evening off road ride. Including a trip or two to the shops, this means that at the moment I'm on 100.6 miles and by the time I get home this evening I'll be on 111.8 or so.. Luckily I'm riding this weekend too, though I do get tomorrow off :-)

Tired legs

After riding last night, this morning was a bit of a slog in... Looking forward to the ride home though, cos I get to go via another bike shop to look at a frame I've just (hopefully) ordered.. Fingers crossed it will be big enough :-)

Biking biking and more biking

Rode in and back yesterday, met amy on the way home and went for a 20 mile loop for fun.. Sadly her rear mech went into the spokes meaning I had to leave her at the pub and sprint home to fetch the car... Then rode in this morning, and of course it's the wednesday night ride tonight.. Good job I'm 'ard! ;-)

Went riding on the road for fun yesterday..

..I feel so dirty.. ;-)
Came in on the bike today though passing a huge traffic jam on the M4..meeting the missu on the way home for a recreational loop on top of my usual commute. Should be fun..

Logistics

Blimey, that was a bit of a gap. A combination of bad weather, other biking commitments and early morning meetings has led to me using the car a bit much recently.. Back on the bike to come in today (including a tit for tat race with a grumpy sod who works in the same office.. we passed each other at least 4 times, but not so much as a good morning grunt..) but might get a lift home (long story). Which means that over the next few days I might be half bussing, half riding..bit of a pain really. I should just put some lights on and ride every day.. hmmmm

Wet

Gonna get wet on the way home. Clouds a loomin' :-(

Bit of a break..

Had about a week off the commute. Partly due to time pressures, partly weather and partly cos I'm lazy... I also binned it off a jump at CwmCarn the other day so am still rather sore.. Rode in this morning though, blue skies and green fields. Very nice :-)

Bing

Nothing to report today. Fairly chilled ride in via an ascent of the big dipper. Not too bad a climb, but not worth it for the descent as the tarmac is too lumpy..

Ended up racing another roady yesterday, cranking along newport road in the big ring..he was a miserable bugger too, but even after the mileage I've done this week, I still toasted him :-)

The fear

The motorway roundabout by the office is starting to give me the fear.. I hope they finish the roadworks soon so I can get back to riding through the park instead of risking life and limb with the hgvs..

Heckled

Got heckled on the way in to work today. Nothing unusual in that, but this time it was a car load of girls shouting "Oi! Sexy rider!" ... Made a nice change from what people usually shout I can tell you..mnid you, they may have been joking :-(

Headwind

Nice ride last night, thougha bit humid. This morning was hard work though, sodding headwind all the way in. I seem to have lost my toughness in the arse area too.. Sitting in the saddle hurt a bit today..

Must stop swearing

A week and a bit off the bike, cos I was lounging around in Corfu.. Very nice.
Back in the saddle this morning only to get beeped by some twunt wile coming off the motorway roundabout. That exit is scary enough without HGVs bearing down on you beeping.. Sadly I think my raised finger may have been a little indisciminate, hope the guy in the car doesn't work at my office.. Ooops.

Zoom zoom zoom

Beat Amy from Sainsburies to home last night, that's 1.2 miles according to the Gmaps pedometer. Not bad against a 1.6l 16v Astra Sport.. :-)

Felt a bit more lethargic on the way in today though, ho hum end of the week and all that.

Today I bought stuff

I forgot my lock, but as I was popping into the bike shop for a tube anyway, I took the opportunity to buy a sturdier, yet still portable number.. Going to the shops on the way home so a decent lock will be useful.

Wore my old courier bag on the way in too. Despite telling everyone for years that they aren't as comfy as a rucsac, I actually found it ideal for the amount of stuff I was carrying today. Might have to use it more often. I wonder if the different position on the road bike makes a difference?

Not the best commute in..

First I get dropped by a Napoleon Dynamite lookalike at the lights, my legs are really feeling the last few days so I let him wobble off up the road uncontested..
Then I get a puncture on the dual carriageway, bit of glass through the tyre..
Then I get beeped at and cut up by two carloads of chavvy families on the motorway island. All in all a bit of a pain in the arse..

Oh well, time to order more inner tubes..

Rode a long version of the gap yesterday

A great day out. Made the ride in this morning a little hard work, but not too bad all in all...

Soaked

On the way in this morning, much rain... Oh well, sun is out now.

3/4 length trews..

Some Humvee 3/4s arrived in the post eysterday so I got to ride in wearing proper pedal pushers today.. They're pretty cool, comfy and warm.

Mobiles...grrr

NEarly wiped out by a 4x4 this morning..dozy bint of a driver on her mobile. WHY ARE THESE PEOPLE NOT MADE PARIAHS AND HOUNDED FROM POLITE SOCIETY? I mean, we did it for drunk drivers, let's get these morons off the roads too..

Spots of rain

While riding in this morning, I almost got wet.. It was actually quite nice.
Roll on winter, that's what I say..

Slipstream

Slipstreamed a HGV all the way through the roadworks today, must have been pushing 25 miles/hour for a mile or so flat out.. Great fun..

Wetter than I thought

It was drizzling when I left home, but by the time I got to work it was almost proper rain.. Makes a nice change actually..

Music while you pedal

Tried listening to my MP3 player on the way in this morning. I'd always thought it'd be bad idea, less ability to hear traffic, less aware etc... and I was right. It was nice to have a soundtrack though, some songs got me peddaling like crazy. The worst thing though is the wind noise in the headphones. As riding off road with tunes would be nice, I might see if I can find some better earbuds.

Zoom zoom zoom

Well, after a hard three days peak bashing in the lakes, I had a day out of the saddle before getting back on the road bike today. The ride in was super quick, even the longer way via millionaires row takes less than 45 minutes now.. That bike is so speedy.. or maybe it's me. Amy pointed out at the weekend that I'm getting split calves..hardcore.