Friday 31 August 2007

August Riding

Some proper rides, and two weeks of commuting gives me the biggest total since May, but still not a huge monthly total.

September should be better, with a century ride on Sunday, a full month of commuting and the Great Milk Stout Ride towards the end of the month. Should be 300+ miles.

Proper rides: 144 miles
Commuting: 28 miles (11 days riding to work and back)

Total: 172 miles

(Total so far for 2007: 1004 miles (125.5 miles per month - on course for 1506 miles for the year))

Monday 27 August 2007

Center is not a destination

there is something special about the ebb and flow of life that I'm happy to be a part of. Injury stokes the fires of passion. Challenge brings new understanding. Failure leads to future strength and resolve. All of these phrases describe how life itself is rarely centered. You rarely experience the "perfect moment" when everything comes together. Instead it's a series of events that often swing wildly from one extreme to another. Or sometimes all you get is a gradual change until one morning you have to put your jacket on for that brisk fall commute. Center is not a destination. It's something to wave to as it passes it by a few times a year and I wouldn't have it any other way.


- Slip Angle - Finding Center

Riding a bike almost every day is a great way to notice the natural ebb and flow of the seasons. Having kids seems to have made life's swings seem even more extreme :)

Sunday 12 August 2007

Darlington - Hamsterley group ride - Darlington

Rode out to Hamsterley on the road to join in the Trailblazers August ride. It's good to get to ride with a group, and try more technical riding than I usually do on my own. Managed my fastest time to the forest, kept up with all the people on bouncy-shifty bikes and felt really good riding home, too. In a bit of pain now though; shoulders and neck rather than legs though, which beer and sleep should fix.

Distance: 55 miles?
Surface: Road/off-road/road
Time: 1.5/3/1.5 = 6 hours (plus 45 minutes waiting for the group to arrive, and 45 minutes of tea and burger)
Weather: Changeable, but generally warm
Bike: Inbred ss (with 2.1" tyres, 32:16)

Wednesday 8 August 2007

Fixing Teesdale

Rode from home to Egglestone, then on to Middleton-in-Teesdale, then via Grassholme and Hury reservoirs to Barnard Castle and then home again via (some of) Sustrans route 52 (map).

Too slow though. I'm definately not doing the Hell O' The North fixed, but will give it a bash singlespeed.

Distance: 65 miles
Surface: Road
Time: 7 hours
Weather: Nice and warm, sunny
Bike: Solitude fixie (with 45c tyres, 34:16)

Wednesday 1 August 2007

Fixing Eggleston (Day 3)

Rode home. 24 miles, mainly downhill. My hands hurt; I think I need to move the saddle back a bit, and tilt the nose up a little.

Distance: 24 miles
Surface: Road
Time: 1 hour 45 minutes
Weather: Nice and warm, sunny
Bike: Solitude fixie (with 45c tyres, 34:16)

July Riding

An average month, mileage-wise. Looks bad for July, which should be a major month, but I've been off work since the sixth and we went away on a bike-free holiday for 11 days. Plus, all my 'proper' rides were fixed, which must count for more. I need some big rides in August to get me ready for The Hell O' The North century ride on the first weekend in September.

Proper rides: 100 miles
Business miles: 0 miles
Commuting: 20 miles (4 days riding to work and back)

Total: 120 miles

(Total so far for 2007: 832 miles (119 miles per month - on course for 1428 miles for the year))