Stupid New Years Resolution!
Discussion
Hmmmm, I forgot about the Whyte set up. Having the hinge in the front swing arm always concerned me.
The problem with ideas is someone has pretty much always come with something similar...
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Suntour-Swing-Shock-700c...
...better than the D.I.Y option.
1318 miles.
There was a time trial going on along my commute route this evening. The local Lycra wearing society were out in force. The were being set off at ten second intervals and I managed to catch three. Probably due to this being their first ride of the year so I'll get trounced next time I see them.
One chap stayed with me and we got chatting even though this meant he went off course. He think's I'm mad for riding twenty five or so miles a day in all weathers. What's mad is he was on a £5,000+ bike wearing a £500 helmet and he rides 50-60 miles for the fun of it but drives seven miles to work.
I guess that's the difference between a cyclist and a rider. He goes on long rides for the fun of it and even though I enjoy riding mostly I do it to get to work and take long drives for the fun of it.
The problem with ideas is someone has pretty much always come with something similar...
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Suntour-Swing-Shock-700c...
...better than the D.I.Y option.
1318 miles.
There was a time trial going on along my commute route this evening. The local Lycra wearing society were out in force. The were being set off at ten second intervals and I managed to catch three. Probably due to this being their first ride of the year so I'll get trounced next time I see them.
One chap stayed with me and we got chatting even though this meant he went off course. He think's I'm mad for riding twenty five or so miles a day in all weathers. What's mad is he was on a £5,000+ bike wearing a £500 helmet and he rides 50-60 miles for the fun of it but drives seven miles to work.
I guess that's the difference between a cyclist and a rider. He goes on long rides for the fun of it and even though I enjoy riding mostly I do it to get to work and take long drives for the fun of it.
1404 miles.
I've driven to work this week and after an entire Winter (and a half if you believe the press but I don't think it was as cold this year barely a few minus double figure mornings and the coldest was -12'C instead of last year's -18'C and plus 20'C a week later. Anyway....) without a day off due to illness. Today I sound like Barry White. Yesterday was the warmest day of the year so far 21'C and I'm bloody ill. Could this be because I've driven my car and am not pumping my immunity around my body as much? Could it be because I used the air conditioner in the office and it smelled like a dead badger that had been wearing the same socks for two months? Could it be because I'd been working on my Transit and breathed in more rust and paint dust than other powders that are snorted on an entire Justin Beiber tour?
Who knows, but I'll be making a few phone calls to people I don't like while my voice is this low.
I've driven to work this week and after an entire Winter (and a half if you believe the press but I don't think it was as cold this year barely a few minus double figure mornings and the coldest was -12'C instead of last year's -18'C and plus 20'C a week later. Anyway....) without a day off due to illness. Today I sound like Barry White. Yesterday was the warmest day of the year so far 21'C and I'm bloody ill. Could this be because I've driven my car and am not pumping my immunity around my body as much? Could it be because I used the air conditioner in the office and it smelled like a dead badger that had been wearing the same socks for two months? Could it be because I'd been working on my Transit and breathed in more rust and paint dust than other powders that are snorted on an entire Justin Beiber tour?
Who knows, but I'll be making a few phone calls to people I don't like while my voice is this low.
1404 miles still. 
Fixed my bike as waiting for insurers to payout is like waiting for Venus to Eclipse Mars. The Police have given the driver a driver awareness class and a slapped wrist.
Against Dr's orders I'm back on the saddle tomorrow as I've run out of petrol money and I'm bored of driving.
Fixed my bike as waiting for insurers to payout is like waiting for Venus to Eclipse Mars. The Police have given the driver a driver awareness class and a slapped wrist.
Against Dr's orders I'm back on the saddle tomorrow as I've run out of petrol money and I'm bored of driving.
1429 miles.
Bloody Hell I'm unfit. Apart from a bit of discomfort that'll be the intercostal muscles not fully recovered then. I was worried because my spit was pink but that was probably due to brushing my teeth in a hurry. I felt fine as soon as I was off the bike and stretched but by lunchtime I was as stiff as a board. Head wind all the way home. Grrrr!
Beer and bed.
Bloody Hell I'm unfit. Apart from a bit of discomfort that'll be the intercostal muscles not fully recovered then. I was worried because my spit was pink but that was probably due to brushing my teeth in a hurry. I felt fine as soon as I was off the bike and stretched but by lunchtime I was as stiff as a board. Head wind all the way home. Grrrr!
Beer and bed.
1541 miles.
Yesterday was a nightmare, hot, windy, psycho' traffic, homicidal RAC van, every light was red and I got more of a sense of achievement in one journey than a hundred in my car.
This morning I took a slight detour to see if I could avoid a choke point. I can but it's two miles further so I won't bother with that again.
Yesterday was a nightmare, hot, windy, psycho' traffic, homicidal RAC van, every light was red and I got more of a sense of achievement in one journey than a hundred in my car.
This morning I took a slight detour to see if I could avoid a choke point. I can but it's two miles further so I won't bother with that again.
1606 miles.
Back to fitness? Pah! Thanks to my nephew bringing it home from school and my delayed recovery I've had my first ever Summer cold. It was crap. At times it felt like someone was trying to pull my eyes out with a sink plunger. No thirty five minute runs for a while. I have two night shifts followed by thirteen days off so I might get to use my knoblies without snow.
Another snapped wheel spoke. Why do DT Swiss use alloy spokes? They're brittle as porcelain. Looking for new wheels again but I'll probably mend and make do as always. The tyres are looking cracky as well so they'll need replacing soon.
Back to fitness? Pah! Thanks to my nephew bringing it home from school and my delayed recovery I've had my first ever Summer cold. It was crap. At times it felt like someone was trying to pull my eyes out with a sink plunger. No thirty five minute runs for a while. I have two night shifts followed by thirteen days off so I might get to use my knoblies without snow.
Another snapped wheel spoke. Why do DT Swiss use alloy spokes? They're brittle as porcelain. Looking for new wheels again but I'll probably mend and make do as always. The tyres are looking cracky as well so they'll need replacing soon.
1631 miles.
Last night was a little worrying. It was a headwind so as usual I swore a bit before tucking my head in and getting on with it. Thirty five minutes later I was early for work. Tailwind time in a headwind? Must be a fluke.
This morning I set off with a three quarter tailwind and after five miles I noticed the Lycra lot were behind me. I slowed so they could catch me up quicker and I stayed with them for the next three miles almost flat out while they cruised along between 26 and 28mph.
It's got me thinking about aerodynamics and gearing again.
Last night was a little worrying. It was a headwind so as usual I swore a bit before tucking my head in and getting on with it. Thirty five minutes later I was early for work. Tailwind time in a headwind? Must be a fluke.
This morning I set off with a three quarter tailwind and after five miles I noticed the Lycra lot were behind me. I slowed so they could catch me up quicker and I stayed with them for the next three miles almost flat out while they cruised along between 26 and 28mph.
It's got me thinking about aerodynamics and gearing again.
1666 miles. 
Well I waited an extra week to avoid the fog but now I'm fully recovered and back on the saddle. After the warmest and driest start to September in a very long time I wanted to wait for the temperature to be more palatable as well.
So my reward for such patience? Near gale force headwind and driving rain. Apart from being seriously unfit it was as if I had never stopped. Same idiots driving with blinkered views (please clear the condensation from all your windows guys), drivers and fellow cyclist not using lights when it's near as darn it pitch black, the same plethora of dead animals along the road a few new potholes, a few perfectly good roads made dangerous with loose chippings and the usual couple of hours drying stuff out on radiators.
Something that is new (at my place of work at least) Dyson Airblades are brilliant for drying rain soaked underwear.
Just enjoying a chicken pasta salad before this evenings commute.
Well I waited an extra week to avoid the fog but now I'm fully recovered and back on the saddle. After the warmest and driest start to September in a very long time I wanted to wait for the temperature to be more palatable as well.
So my reward for such patience? Near gale force headwind and driving rain. Apart from being seriously unfit it was as if I had never stopped. Same idiots driving with blinkered views (please clear the condensation from all your windows guys), drivers and fellow cyclist not using lights when it's near as darn it pitch black, the same plethora of dead animals along the road a few new potholes, a few perfectly good roads made dangerous with loose chippings and the usual couple of hours drying stuff out on radiators.
Something that is new (at my place of work at least) Dyson Airblades are brilliant for drying rain soaked underwear.
Just enjoying a chicken pasta salad before this evenings commute.
1,802 miles.
Yesterday was an eventful commute. I passed a friend of mine in my village as she was getting ready to go to Peterborough. There was a collision on the A17 so that road was closed and traffic diverted through the village. The back roads were busier with people paying more attention to their Sat' Nav's than the road and certainly weren't expecting me to be in the way.
I got the the A47 and there was another collision on the slip road from country lane to the dual carriageway. Traffic was stopped and diverted into the next village much to the bemusement of the alleged drivers who had passed me getting there. I got to Wisbech and a cyclist had been knocked off by a hit and run driver and the Ambulance was blocking the main road into town causing tail backs as far as the A47.
I received a text from my friend letting me know she had just made it to Peterborough an hour and a half after I arrived at work and it took an hour and ten minutes to get to the Wisbech bypass!
Just as well I was on my bike otherwise I would have been half an hour late.
So there are some new additions to the bike...
...this was a pretty good little light until the lens fell off and now it's practically useless.
Some extra reflective tape...
...since my diversion across a left hookers roof I've become a little paranoid.
This morning I made a couple of discoveries. Idiots will let the air out of your forks, tyres and shock if your bike is locked and alarmed.
And...
...sometimes it's just nice to be out there.
Yesterday was an eventful commute. I passed a friend of mine in my village as she was getting ready to go to Peterborough. There was a collision on the A17 so that road was closed and traffic diverted through the village. The back roads were busier with people paying more attention to their Sat' Nav's than the road and certainly weren't expecting me to be in the way.
I got the the A47 and there was another collision on the slip road from country lane to the dual carriageway. Traffic was stopped and diverted into the next village much to the bemusement of the alleged drivers who had passed me getting there. I got to Wisbech and a cyclist had been knocked off by a hit and run driver and the Ambulance was blocking the main road into town causing tail backs as far as the A47.
I received a text from my friend letting me know she had just made it to Peterborough an hour and a half after I arrived at work and it took an hour and ten minutes to get to the Wisbech bypass!
Just as well I was on my bike otherwise I would have been half an hour late.
So there are some new additions to the bike...
...this was a pretty good little light until the lens fell off and now it's practically useless.
Some extra reflective tape...
...since my diversion across a left hookers roof I've become a little paranoid.
This morning I made a couple of discoveries. Idiots will let the air out of your forks, tyres and shock if your bike is locked and alarmed.
And...
...sometimes it's just nice to be out there.
Why do I hate cycling in fog?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xkjFdS74zv8&fea...
200 people in Kent can't all be wrong.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xkjFdS74zv8&fea...
200 people in Kent can't all be wrong.
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