Stupid New Years Resolution!
Discussion
Nothing cycling related to report apart form this thing in my mouth not going away, feeling rough and as it's dark all the time I'm consistently a few minutes slower than before.
Today I left my office for four minutes to get changed (I happened to look at the clock when I left I don't time myself). When I got back apparently someone had been held up for five minutes and I was reprimanded for leaving my post unattended.
I looked at the clock again to establish the time. I left at 06:40 and it was now 06:46 and had spent a minute performing a task and the conversation with this supervisor took a minute as well. So from now on I'm going to get changed in the office.
Today I left my office for four minutes to get changed (I happened to look at the clock when I left I don't time myself). When I got back apparently someone had been held up for five minutes and I was reprimanded for leaving my post unattended.
I looked at the clock again to establish the time. I left at 06:40 and it was now 06:46 and had spent a minute performing a task and the conversation with this supervisor took a minute as well. So from now on I'm going to get changed in the office.
Letting the side down today. 
This thing in my mouth isn't getting smaller and it has kept me awake again, so sorry but I can't be arsed to get wet so I can struggle to stay awake later. I'm taking dads car.
Anyway to cheer me up a bit here's this morning's view...
...tomorrow's forecast is a washout as well so but it's Friday for me and I should get plenty of sleep so I'll be back in the saddle hopefully.
This thing in my mouth isn't getting smaller and it has kept me awake again, so sorry but I can't be arsed to get wet so I can struggle to stay awake later. I'm taking dads car.
Anyway to cheer me up a bit here's this morning's view...
...tomorrow's forecast is a washout as well so but it's Friday for me and I should get plenty of sleep so I'll be back in the saddle hopefully.
4'C this morning and feeling good. Loved riding into the Moon set. Didn't like being invisible to drivers as the silly season has started again. Is it so hard to dip your headlights to a cyclist or is Driving with Due Care and Attention beyond people? Well it is Saturday I guess. The first Saturday since the Payday Fairies visited.
Yes! My monthly fry up.
Annoyingly today is day two of twelve but the overtime should mean I can afford to insure my car in one go for the first time in five years.
Yes! My monthly fry up.
Annoyingly today is day two of twelve but the overtime should mean I can afford to insure my car in one go for the first time in five years.
With these road bikes on my watch list I'm looking at these as well...
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Suntour-Swing-Shock-700c...
What does the forum think of them?
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Suntour-Swing-Shock-700c...
What does the forum think of them?
Some nice views home last night as usual...
..and as usual for a Saturday some seriously ropy driving. The highlight of these was a complete pair of idiots (rant alert) in a Hyundai Coupe. The driver decided to to open his door on my side of the road driving towards me. Closing the door at the last second because instead of moving out of the way I extended my leg to kick the door shut if we made contact. The same car overtook me a short while later and slowed so the passenger could throw a beer bottle at me.
The same car was on a driveway later with both driver and passenger looking very sheepish when I passed them. I reported all of this to the Police car, reg, driver description, passenger description, locations, address, etc and they said "they'd look into it" so hopefully they won't kill anyone in the mean time.
This morning was the usual pillocks who don't know how to dip their headlights and one who at a traffic calming junction decided he had right of way instead of me. That was another close call. Didn't get his plate as he had his fog lights on and no rear number plate lights.
..and as usual for a Saturday some seriously ropy driving. The highlight of these was a complete pair of idiots (rant alert) in a Hyundai Coupe. The driver decided to to open his door on my side of the road driving towards me. Closing the door at the last second because instead of moving out of the way I extended my leg to kick the door shut if we made contact. The same car overtook me a short while later and slowed so the passenger could throw a beer bottle at me.
The same car was on a driveway later with both driver and passenger looking very sheepish when I passed them. I reported all of this to the Police car, reg, driver description, passenger description, locations, address, etc and they said "they'd look into it" so hopefully they won't kill anyone in the mean time.
This morning was the usual pillocks who don't know how to dip their headlights and one who at a traffic calming junction decided he had right of way instead of me. That was another close call. Didn't get his plate as he had his fog lights on and no rear number plate lights.
Edited by Liquid Knight on Sunday 30th September 12:19
Last night my college decided to be over an hour late. Well it wasn't a conscious decision but he's still a pillock. So my understandable temperament and near gale force tailwind meant I have broken the thirty six minute barrier again.
35.39
There were two limiting factors to take into consideration as well.
1/ I was stuck a red light for ages (ended up jumping it as there was no other traffic and an aluminium cycle does produce a magnetic field to trigger the floor sensors).
2/ About half way home I realised I should back down a bit because I was going to have a near gale force head wind in the morning.
Sure enough this morning was an effort. Waterproofs on as it was cacking it down when I left. Annoyingly this had fizzled out to a drizzle by the time I got to work. Still horizontal precipitation and the head wind was enough for me to get out of the saddle a few times.
Tailwind tonight.
35.39
There were two limiting factors to take into consideration as well.
1/ I was stuck a red light for ages (ended up jumping it as there was no other traffic and an aluminium cycle does produce a magnetic field to trigger the floor sensors).
2/ About half way home I realised I should back down a bit because I was going to have a near gale force head wind in the morning.
Sure enough this morning was an effort. Waterproofs on as it was cacking it down when I left. Annoyingly this had fizzled out to a drizzle by the time I got to work. Still horizontal precipitation and the head wind was enough for me to get out of the saddle a few times.
Tailwind tonight.
Edited by Liquid Knight on Wednesday 3rd October 20:13
£30 chain and £10 petrol for dads car.
That's this months money saving gone.
Still with a breaking strain of 1,500Kg I've officially got legs.
Having said that. Driving to work meant two things. I felt rough yesterday and couldn't sleep so this morning's head wind was a bit heavier than normal.
That's this months money saving gone.
Still with a breaking strain of 1,500Kg I've officially got legs.
Having said that. Driving to work meant two things. I felt rough yesterday and couldn't sleep so this morning's head wind was a bit heavier than normal.
Zoned
I don't know if "Zoned" is the correct technical term for this but I've started to notice something. When I'm riding normally I set five or ten minute check points and aim to be at these points roughly in time-ish. When in a hurry (usually because I'm running late) the next corner is my check point. I see the next corner, work out how far it is and how much time it should take and try to beat it.
When drag racing I'm sure I can see the element in the green light phase up and once off the line I only see the bridge at the end of the quarter mile. When driving a handling course I can see the grain in the rubber footing of every single cone. Every blade of grass on the apex when rally driving. An artist can sit at a blank canvas for few hours and there's a picture in front of them they don't remember painting. Martial artists call it Chi. As I said I don't know if it's called being "Zoned" when cycling but that's what I call it.
So why bring this up?
A couple of weeks ago whilst running late I was Zoned, failed to recognise someone when our paths crossed, didn't notice her waving at me, didn't hear her shouting at me and because I kicked between two corners so she thought I was in a hurry to get away from her. I mistakenly made light of this and noted it on this thread. That entry has been deleted and this is not only a retraction and explanation but an apology as well.
Sorry.
I don't know if "Zoned" is the correct technical term for this but I've started to notice something. When I'm riding normally I set five or ten minute check points and aim to be at these points roughly in time-ish. When in a hurry (usually because I'm running late) the next corner is my check point. I see the next corner, work out how far it is and how much time it should take and try to beat it.
When drag racing I'm sure I can see the element in the green light phase up and once off the line I only see the bridge at the end of the quarter mile. When driving a handling course I can see the grain in the rubber footing of every single cone. Every blade of grass on the apex when rally driving. An artist can sit at a blank canvas for few hours and there's a picture in front of them they don't remember painting. Martial artists call it Chi. As I said I don't know if it's called being "Zoned" when cycling but that's what I call it.
So why bring this up?
A couple of weeks ago whilst running late I was Zoned, failed to recognise someone when our paths crossed, didn't notice her waving at me, didn't hear her shouting at me and because I kicked between two corners so she thought I was in a hurry to get away from her. I mistakenly made light of this and noted it on this thread. That entry has been deleted and this is not only a retraction and explanation but an apology as well.
Sorry.
Edited by Liquid Knight on Thursday 4th October 08:07
2.5'C when I set off this morning and my ears felt cold for the first time in ages. Running late as usual. Why is it still "running late" when you're on a bike? 
Anyway that "Zoned" idea; doesn't work very well in the dark. Instead of going from corner to corner or check point to check point I ride from pillock (cutting a corner so the racing line means we could collide head on) to pillock (who don't see me and fail to dip their lights until I ride in the middle of the road because I can't see where the grass verge is). Oh and pillocks who underestimate (or don't care) how fast you're going and turn left whist still attempting to overtake (left hooking tts). The ones I love to spoiler smack are the ones who signal they intend to turn left before starting to overtake.
I know it's silly o'clock in the morning and you've either done a night shift or are up to do a six 'til two standing at the end of some spirit crushing factory line with an egregiously pedantic supervisor and nobody English to converse with but still if you're not awake enough to see a florescent yellow and orange Christmas tree on a red and white bike with red tyres you shouldn't be behind the wheel.
Anyway that "Zoned" idea; doesn't work very well in the dark. Instead of going from corner to corner or check point to check point I ride from pillock (cutting a corner so the racing line means we could collide head on) to pillock (who don't see me and fail to dip their lights until I ride in the middle of the road because I can't see where the grass verge is). Oh and pillocks who underestimate (or don't care) how fast you're going and turn left whist still attempting to overtake (left hooking t
ts). The ones I love to spoiler smack are the ones who signal they intend to turn left before starting to overtake. I know it's silly o'clock in the morning and you've either done a night shift or are up to do a six 'til two standing at the end of some spirit crushing factory line with an egregiously pedantic supervisor and nobody English to converse with but still if you're not awake enough to see a florescent yellow and orange Christmas tree on a red and white bike with red tyres you shouldn't be behind the wheel.
Sorry for the rant, but because my shift starts at half six I get the Zombies drivers just after I set off, I'm late so the highway code doesn't apply to me lot a while later and the I've just done a night shift crew when I hit the outskirts of town.
As the nights are drawing in they are becoming more feckless every day. :soap:
Wow, funny mood today.
As the nights are drawing in they are becoming more feckless every day. :soap:
Wow, funny mood today.
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