March 25, 2007

Sunday riding

I've been on a bike ride today, not unusual you might say, given I am in the semi middle of training for the Jogle.
It being a Sunday I thought I ought to go to Church so I managed to take a route which led me to and beyond, Flockton, Lepton, Farnley Tyas, and the Pie Villages Churches.
I also heard the bells, and/ or saw on the horizon, Emley, Almondbury, Thurstonland and Christ Church New Mill (have to say Almondburys bells were by far the most tuneful).
Luckily for all the congregations the sweaty oik in his usual day glow attire had pressing business to attend so just kept riding by.
Although a chilly misty start I still had cause to feel good about it, sounds sanctimonious I know, but, to drag myself out of bed the day the clocks go forward has to be worth some kind of self praise.
Anyway apart from churches I definitely discovered that Spring appears to have definitely sprung, what with seeing leaves springing forth on the trees, birds of all descriptions (goldfinch, chaffinch, wrens etc) pairing up and calling their merry chat up lines (I especially liked the woodpecker braying seven bells out of a tree, to be answered shortly afterwards with a rather short message in response from the opposite side of the road (I can only presume it was OK big boy come up and see me , or bog off you lesser spotted squirt)).
Lambs gambolling and rabbits doing what rabbits do (running like hell and diving into the warren, what did you think I meant), and of course the good old Englishman out running with his white legs and arms bared to the world for the first time this year turning a lighter shade of blue due to the uncaring fickle wind.
Ah what a great way to spend a Sunday morning, its also a great excuse for eating Flapjack and not worrying about spoiling the Racing Snake physique.

March 19, 2007

Ode to an admirer

Ahhhh! That's better, my young blog has finally succumbed to the attentions of an admirer and allowed itself to be commented upon.
My good friend Jonny M has broken its duck and with the usual level of self analysis, the blog has decided it was good, and shall remain immortalised as a random memory untouched in a mad mad world.
Thankfully he also took me out to the good old Public house to ensure my hydration levels were appropriate and adequately maintained, (Timmy Taylors Landlord one of the wonders of the world of Keighley) just had to be sampled.
Given his most "generous" suggestion of £1 a mile in sponsorship, though I haven't quite pinned him down on this one yet, I may need to revise the target for sponsorship!
Anyway he will of course be delighted to know the prize for first correspondent is not a pair of my cycling shorts (pre or post trip) though what he will think of the pink frilly knickers and bra outfit I have no idea.

Anyway enough of the frivolity, I'd just like to take a moment and remember the man who was like a brother to me and died 5 years ago, Bevan Laycock would have been 35 tomorrow and although I called him numerous names whilst out riding the hills and dales, mainly Wazzack, King wazzack or some such , as he rode off up rock strewn lanes leaving me floundering normally in a gorse bush somewhere in his wake, I miss his presence enormously and wish his parents well at this time.

One final thought, Jonny, What the hell is Cardiovascular? and What does it have to do with me riding a bike???? I'm only pedalling with my legs aren't I?

March 16, 2007

Of Mice and Men

Oh Dear, here I am at 3:20 in the afternoon sat blogging, when the plan was to be on my way home from Sunny Castleford after a full days ride kitted up and in full expectance of the John Wayne syndrome.

All started well, though it took me a while to attach my Bar bag to my satisfaction, and I was just in the process of descending from Bretton to Woolley when my phone went. It took me a while to answer it as my stopping distance is appreciably longer fully laden.
The call was from Caroline, to say Nursery had rung to ask us to take Archie home as he wasn't well. So I reversed my wheels and set off for home to rescue the little man.

He has since been asleep most of the afternoon and as with the best laid plans my full ride will have to wait for another day.

Poor little fella, can hardly raise a smile for his Daddy but he is now"helping "me type this blog ! so he mustc 3 be a little better.

March 08, 2007

Tumbling records

Well, here I go again setting those training records tumbling, I've now passed my total miles that I did for 2006. I've also for the first time this year gone under 50 minutes for my ten mile early morning jaunt.

That means I am either getting fitter, which is quite possible, or because the dawn is rising earlier,I am actually able to see most of the roads I am travelling on and as such am able to traverse them at a more breakneck speed! It also means I need to extend the ride to get my full hours training benefits.

Anyway next target has to be, to beat my 2005 and 2006 totals combined.

Coming up shortly (end of next week), I also have my first full gear training run over the "actual" mileage I am hoping to cover each day, the aim of which has to be, to be able to walk without doing a John Wayne impression the day after.
If you hear of a man walking round the pie village saying phrases like " get off your horse and milk your cow" you will know I have failed.

March 04, 2007

Let your face muscles do some good!

The English are a miserable lot, even those of us from Gods own County of Yorkshire (though in particular South Yorkshire) seem incapable of enjoying ourselves, especially when up with the larks breathing fresh clear air on a Sunday morning whilst exercising or walking the dog.
Admittedly the smell of farmyard and the taste of carbon monoxide from passing cars isn't necessarily great, but for goodness sake you're not at work! Let those muscles do some good and smile and respond to the cheery "Mornings" of the day glow idiot on the bike.
OK some of you I have scared half to death as I have crept up behind you, before saying morning as I pass like a blur on my stealth cycle, but heh! if you can see my lips moving and a cheery gesticulation or nod of the head, please respond.
I don't care how, I just need to be sure that my velocipede and I in my day glow gear are visible and that the stealth cloaking really is a part of an overworked imagination. It will also stop me calling an ambulance or a vicar to collect all you lost souls out there, for all I know you may still be wandering about in the dark as I write.


P.S. It isn't just those on foot that have this affliction the worst by far have to be my fellow cyclists and particularly riders of road bikes and especially those on club rides spread three quarters of the way across the road, in their own little worlds.

March 01, 2007

Landmark passing

Today as I was blown from pillar to post by a North, South, East, West headwind, I passed a mini landmark on my training schedule.

I have now done more miles this calendar year than in the whole of 2005.

So I have given myself a pat on the back (which was difficult whilst holding on to the handlebars for grim death), and begun advancing upon my next target of beating my 2006 achievements.

In addition I can report I have concluded my dot to dot, and now have all 15 stages of the Jogle mapped out, I just need to prepare the details for perusal upon the Blog.

All in all I've probably just about scaled the very small foothills of the Himalayas in my preparations as I head every upwards towards the Start line at John O'Groats.