Came across these rules of cycling, which should be obeyed at all times. They can be accessed here http://www.velominati.com/blog/the-rules/
Pay particular attention to rule #5, 9, & 20, 34, & 37
I endeavour to live by these rules particularly no 5.
Roll on
Will
www.pro-physio.co.uk
Wednesday, 21 December 2011
Wednesday, 14 December 2011
Where have you been?
Crikey, a full 6 months has gone by, and I haven't updated this blog! Poor show. Well what have I done.
Lately, the trusty steed is knackered. It's in the repairers, getting a new STI fitted (Shimano are looking into it), as the original failed. I did a cycle mechanics course in November, and made the fatal mistake of fiddling around with the set up, which seemed to cock it up. However, I'm reliably told my the shop that Shimano 105 STI;s (specifically the left one) has a tendency to fail?? Well, hopefully that will be repaired in the next week or so. In the meantime I'm stuck with the effing mountain bike. Christ, I don't see what people see in that cart-horse!! Don't ask me why I've got one?
What's next. Well I've already entered the 'Kilo to go' Cornwall Tor in April, and the Wiggle Dragon ride in June. Also want to do the Jurassic Beast again (May), and a few others. Will update sooner, when I have more info.
Roll on.
I did the C2C (Coast to coast), St Bees to Robin Hoods Bay (nr. Whitby), in mid June. It was cracking. Did this with my little bruv, & a group of Firefighters from Staffordshire Fire & Rescue service who were doing the ride for the Firefighters Benevolent Charity. 189 mile in 2 days, well 12 hours of cycling to be precise. A breakdown of the ride can be found here. A brilliant ride with a great bunch of lads (I'm the idiot with the camera on his helmet)! 
I really should have written about it sooner, coz it was epic. Some damn steep hills oop norf!
Still, the old memory not being what it once was, I won't try to reminisce?
I really should have written about it sooner, coz it was epic. Some damn steep hills oop norf!
Still, the old memory not being what it once was, I won't try to reminisce?
Lately, the trusty steed is knackered. It's in the repairers, getting a new STI fitted (Shimano are looking into it), as the original failed. I did a cycle mechanics course in November, and made the fatal mistake of fiddling around with the set up, which seemed to cock it up. However, I'm reliably told my the shop that Shimano 105 STI;s (specifically the left one) has a tendency to fail?? Well, hopefully that will be repaired in the next week or so. In the meantime I'm stuck with the effing mountain bike. Christ, I don't see what people see in that cart-horse!! Don't ask me why I've got one?
What's next. Well I've already entered the 'Kilo to go' Cornwall Tor in April, and the Wiggle Dragon ride in June. Also want to do the Jurassic Beast again (May), and a few others. Will update sooner, when I have more info.
Roll on.
Wednesday, 8 June 2011
Dragon Slayed in Wales
So, Sunday saw my erstwhile cycling buddy/brother and team (All the Gear) domestique slay the fearsome dragon (Wiggle Dragon Ride).
4 days prior to the event, my iPhone app informed me to expect a sunny day with cloud cover, 2 days before, the expectation was for a cloudy day. The day before, intervals of rain (to be expected in Wales)!
Well, we drove from Staffordshire to Bridgend on the morning of the 5th, aimimg to get to the start line for 09:00. You may recall, that my lackadaisical little brother failed to enter in time, so had to book onto the baby (Corto) ride, so that we could start together, then sneak onto the Medio Frondo (120 K) route with me!
It was my birthday on the friday, so a couple of beers on the Saturday at Kiff's was in order, followed by a large glass of wine. The wine must have been off, coz after going to bed at 22:15 I awoke at 00:45 with a stinking headache. - Not best preparation for a 120K ride in the Brecon Beacons!
We arrived in plenty of time to see the longest queue to start ever! It took fully 45 mins to get from the back of the queue to the start line for the off! Still, plenty of time to check out the opposition!
The weather was a little parky to start, so arm warmers were the order of the day. Kiff went with the full base layer (he would have worn that even if it had been 20 degrees)! We set a cracking pace to the first feed station at about 35 miles (17 MPH). here we stopped for the traditional Jam tarts, banana and energy drink. Quick pizz, and we were off again heading for Port Talbot, and the dreaded Bwlch climb (13.5 miles to the summit)!!
We threw in another quick stop for an energy gell as the climb started. We needn't have bothered, much of the climb was slowly rising at about 1 - 4% of the first few miles, and so required little effort. Eventually the road steepened, we had been warned to expect 8%, but my trusty Garmin made it 10% in places, and as we broke cover of the small virtually disused mining villages we could see the road meandering slowly to the top, with various coloured dots strewn along the way. I'm pleased to say, my accidental 100m ride a couple of weeks earlier on the Jurassic Beast had given me added strength, and I had no real bother on the climb, achieving a steady 6mph all the way up. Just before the summit were a few local well wishers clapping & cheering which was nice, but as we summited the Bwlch, (the heavens opened - Kiff says), in actuallity, it was light rain, but enough to make us don rain jkts & cover the breaks all the way downhill, thus spoiling the reward for toiling uphill!
We stopped one more time for Roasty potatoes, and more drink, then fairly whizzed off at a fair lick to conquer the final 20K's. We fairly sped through Pen Coed at the end to pick up our finishers medal, goody bag, & replenishment drink. We slayed the beast in 4:33 mins, av 15.6 MPH, pretty good going which earned us 'Silver category' - great days work. We forwent the finishing line pasta to save a space for a delicious paella cooked by my lovely niece who lives nearby in Cardiff, where we went for a flying visit post race -Yum!
On the way home it was: 1 Paul Weller, 1 or 2 Elvis songs, then a whole 2 hours of George Michael at full volume. What a cracking day, with one of the premier cycling sportives in the UK conqured! Bring on the Coast 2 Coast in 3 weeks! - I'll keep you posted!
4 days prior to the event, my iPhone app informed me to expect a sunny day with cloud cover, 2 days before, the expectation was for a cloudy day. The day before, intervals of rain (to be expected in Wales)!
Well, we drove from Staffordshire to Bridgend on the morning of the 5th, aimimg to get to the start line for 09:00. You may recall, that my lackadaisical little brother failed to enter in time, so had to book onto the baby (Corto) ride, so that we could start together, then sneak onto the Medio Frondo (120 K) route with me!
It was my birthday on the friday, so a couple of beers on the Saturday at Kiff's was in order, followed by a large glass of wine. The wine must have been off, coz after going to bed at 22:15 I awoke at 00:45 with a stinking headache. - Not best preparation for a 120K ride in the Brecon Beacons!
We arrived in plenty of time to see the longest queue to start ever! It took fully 45 mins to get from the back of the queue to the start line for the off! Still, plenty of time to check out the opposition!
The weather was a little parky to start, so arm warmers were the order of the day. Kiff went with the full base layer (he would have worn that even if it had been 20 degrees)! We set a cracking pace to the first feed station at about 35 miles (17 MPH). here we stopped for the traditional Jam tarts, banana and energy drink. Quick pizz, and we were off again heading for Port Talbot, and the dreaded Bwlch climb (13.5 miles to the summit)!!
We threw in another quick stop for an energy gell as the climb started. We needn't have bothered, much of the climb was slowly rising at about 1 - 4% of the first few miles, and so required little effort. Eventually the road steepened, we had been warned to expect 8%, but my trusty Garmin made it 10% in places, and as we broke cover of the small virtually disused mining villages we could see the road meandering slowly to the top, with various coloured dots strewn along the way. I'm pleased to say, my accidental 100m ride a couple of weeks earlier on the Jurassic Beast had given me added strength, and I had no real bother on the climb, achieving a steady 6mph all the way up. Just before the summit were a few local well wishers clapping & cheering which was nice, but as we summited the Bwlch, (the heavens opened - Kiff says), in actuallity, it was light rain, but enough to make us don rain jkts & cover the breaks all the way downhill, thus spoiling the reward for toiling uphill!
We stopped one more time for Roasty potatoes, and more drink, then fairly whizzed off at a fair lick to conquer the final 20K's. We fairly sped through Pen Coed at the end to pick up our finishers medal, goody bag, & replenishment drink. We slayed the beast in 4:33 mins, av 15.6 MPH, pretty good going which earned us 'Silver category' - great days work. We forwent the finishing line pasta to save a space for a delicious paella cooked by my lovely niece who lives nearby in Cardiff, where we went for a flying visit post race -Yum!
On the way home it was: 1 Paul Weller, 1 or 2 Elvis songs, then a whole 2 hours of George Michael at full volume. What a cracking day, with one of the premier cycling sportives in the UK conqured! Bring on the Coast 2 Coast in 3 weeks! - I'll keep you posted!
Wednesday, 13 April 2011
Latest Ramblings of a frustrated cyclist
So, where are we now? Well, you will have noticed the weather changing for the better. This means more time on the bike. That has its problems, as I have now developed a rather embarrassing pain from sitting on the saddle. Let's just say, I can still pee straight! Although, like pinching the end of your garden hose, it sprays for quite a distance!! I know too much information. But these are the trials & tribulations of an amateur 'wannabe' cyclist.
What have I been up to?
I have completed the 'Early season 50 miles' with Hampshire CTC, in a pretty respectable time. I also did a 75 miler to The Witterings & back - which started my nether region pain. This weekend I'm doing the 'New Forest Spring Sportive' with my brother & a friend, and have signed up for the Jurassic Beast (the day after a Party) on 8th May! Oh yeah, I am doing the Thames Bridges ride again this year in support of 'The Stroke Association' in May, obviously a charity close to my heart (or should I say head)! Also looking forward to 'The Dragon ride' on June 5th, and have signed up to do the Coast to Coast (C2C), later in June with a group of Fire-fighters, and my brother from Staffordshire. Some good cycling coming up over the next couple of months. If only I could get rid of this pain at the base of my .......
Health wise, as predicted I have now come off the Beta Blockers & Statins, so expect my Heart rate to rocket to within normal levels. Watch out for my Garming posts for links to the rides that I do. I feel generally better, with more energy, so things are moving in a positive direction.
With the summer approaching, my tennis is also coming on - having kept going through the winter with coaching from one of Hampshire's top lady players Lisa Radford. I have entered a local mixed doubles tournament for May, with the accent on fun (bol**x). We're in it to win it!!
Keep you posted, roll on.
Will
www.pro-physio.co.uk
What have I been up to?
I have completed the 'Early season 50 miles' with Hampshire CTC, in a pretty respectable time. I also did a 75 miler to The Witterings & back - which started my nether region pain. This weekend I'm doing the 'New Forest Spring Sportive' with my brother & a friend, and have signed up for the Jurassic Beast (the day after a Party) on 8th May! Oh yeah, I am doing the Thames Bridges ride again this year in support of 'The Stroke Association' in May, obviously a charity close to my heart (or should I say head)! Also looking forward to 'The Dragon ride' on June 5th, and have signed up to do the Coast to Coast (C2C), later in June with a group of Fire-fighters, and my brother from Staffordshire. Some good cycling coming up over the next couple of months. If only I could get rid of this pain at the base of my .......
Health wise, as predicted I have now come off the Beta Blockers & Statins, so expect my Heart rate to rocket to within normal levels. Watch out for my Garming posts for links to the rides that I do. I feel generally better, with more energy, so things are moving in a positive direction.
With the summer approaching, my tennis is also coming on - having kept going through the winter with coaching from one of Hampshire's top lady players Lisa Radford. I have entered a local mixed doubles tournament for May, with the accent on fun (bol**x). We're in it to win it!!
Keep you posted, roll on.
Will
www.pro-physio.co.uk
Friday, 11 February 2011
What's New?
Well, got the all-clear from the Cardiologists. Hole has healed, and no shunting! Dropped a beta blocker, and have been back on the bike with a couple of 30+ rides, & a few turbo trainer sessions (thanks Sufferfest) feeling good.
What have I got planned?. So far I have planned; Hampshire CTC's Early season 50 Miles on Feb 20th. I have also registered for the New Forest Spring Sportive on April 17th, the Stroke Associations Thames Bridges Ride in May, & the Wiggle Dragon ride on 5th June (closest ride to a European Etape du Tour). Also a possibility is the Jurassic Beast on My 8th, and the Winchester 100 & Southern Sunday Sportives in September. I just need to persuade my co-rider to tackle them with me. Happy to do more, but would like to stay fairly local (finance reasons).
Just waiting for the weather to change to increase the road mileage - bring it on!
What have I got planned?. So far I have planned; Hampshire CTC's Early season 50 Miles on Feb 20th. I have also registered for the New Forest Spring Sportive on April 17th, the Stroke Associations Thames Bridges Ride in May, & the Wiggle Dragon ride on 5th June (closest ride to a European Etape du Tour). Also a possibility is the Jurassic Beast on My 8th, and the Winchester 100 & Southern Sunday Sportives in September. I just need to persuade my co-rider to tackle them with me. Happy to do more, but would like to stay fairly local (finance reasons).
Just waiting for the weather to change to increase the road mileage - bring it on!
Wednesday, 12 January 2011
Pro-physio Cycling Update
Well, it's been a couple of month's since I have updated my blog - I know poor show. Well since the Cat & Fidle cycle in Monsoon, I have at last had the PFO - you know that hole in the heart thingy fixed. That was done toward the end of November without any complications (that they told me about)! I was told (advised) to lay off exercise for at least 6 weeks (after further negotiation with one of the surgical team, I managed to get leeway to cycle, avoiding the 'Val Salva Manoevre' (Holding ones breath whilst straining)). Well not a lot of that goes on in cycling. So, 3 days after the Op, I sat on my bike on the indoor trainer to spin my legs round. Stupid B'stard I hear you say. You're right, a couple of minutes later with a sensation akin to that of a can of worms opening within the confines of the left side of my chest as my pulse reached 90 plus, told me to get the F out of there! I needed +ve re-enforcement, proof if you like that I shouldn't be doing certain things to get through to my thick skull, and this was it. I thought 'that's not right', and calmly got of the bike, exited out of the Sufferfest interval Training DVD, and went back indoors. I didn't feel the need to run this episode past the wife - for obvious reasons. But thought, 'maybe I'll have a go in about a week.
A week later I got back on the indoor trainer deciding to limit my heart rate to 120BPM, and set off. It's quite hard to effectively train, and keep you pulse low. I managed it for the next 4 weeks, by putting in only 70% effort on the intervals. Once I got the 'All Clear' I was away. Graft in situ, 'crack on mate'. I did umpteen sufferfest video's; a couple of leisure rides with the family, and one with my son, before tackling a 25 miler with my little bro in Staffordshire. I am pleased to say 'No further problems reported'. Heart, legs, lungs felt good; I now look forward to getting back into cycling proper!
I thought I'd do the return leg of my usual jaunt to Sidlesham nr Selsey last Sunday. The return to Winchester is infinitely harder, as it is almost all uphill (Until past Bishops Waltham). A man of my calibre should have no problem with that! Well, how wrong can one be? Bear in mind that i've not cycled 30 miles, or done any exercise in the past 3 months; coupled with a loose post New Year 'elastic' resoloution, to watch what I eat, which had started the week before was a recipe for disaster. I had totally cut out all fat, sometimes missed breakfast and stayed off the snacks. I was low on energy anyway, but thought this would be a good one to attempt on a bottle of water only! I bonked at approximately 20 miles. I had to continue 2 miles to a local petrol station, and stocked up on Lucazade and a Marathon (Snickers) bar, with a couple of Nutri-grain bars as spare for the remaining 10 miles. Bloody hell!! This was rocket fuel, I fair sprinted the rest of the way home.
Lessons I have learn't:
1. I am infact Mortal!
2. I do get F'ing cold on the bike!
3. I don't know what's best for me!
4. I need to listen to others occasionally??
All stored, ready to be forgotten about in the spring/summer.
Have entered the Verenti Dragon Ride in June - better get training. I've always wanted to do that ride. There are a couple of others on the Radar, which include; The Jodrel Bank ride, Cornwal Tor, New Forest Spring Sportive, and the Southern Sportive (you get a free T shirt) in Autum. No, I'm not doing the Cat & Fiddle, not unless they move it to rainfree May or June? & maybe a few degrees further south?
I need to service the bike. Ruby requires a new Chain, cassette & tyres. If she behaves she'll get these for the spring - Roll on!
Will
www.pro-physio.co.uk
A week later I got back on the indoor trainer deciding to limit my heart rate to 120BPM, and set off. It's quite hard to effectively train, and keep you pulse low. I managed it for the next 4 weeks, by putting in only 70% effort on the intervals. Once I got the 'All Clear' I was away. Graft in situ, 'crack on mate'. I did umpteen sufferfest video's; a couple of leisure rides with the family, and one with my son, before tackling a 25 miler with my little bro in Staffordshire. I am pleased to say 'No further problems reported'. Heart, legs, lungs felt good; I now look forward to getting back into cycling proper!
I thought I'd do the return leg of my usual jaunt to Sidlesham nr Selsey last Sunday. The return to Winchester is infinitely harder, as it is almost all uphill (Until past Bishops Waltham). A man of my calibre should have no problem with that! Well, how wrong can one be? Bear in mind that i've not cycled 30 miles, or done any exercise in the past 3 months; coupled with a loose post New Year 'elastic' resoloution, to watch what I eat, which had started the week before was a recipe for disaster. I had totally cut out all fat, sometimes missed breakfast and stayed off the snacks. I was low on energy anyway, but thought this would be a good one to attempt on a bottle of water only! I bonked at approximately 20 miles. I had to continue 2 miles to a local petrol station, and stocked up on Lucazade and a Marathon (Snickers) bar, with a couple of Nutri-grain bars as spare for the remaining 10 miles. Bloody hell!! This was rocket fuel, I fair sprinted the rest of the way home.
Lessons I have learn't:
1. I am infact Mortal!
2. I do get F'ing cold on the bike!
3. I don't know what's best for me!
4. I need to listen to others occasionally??
All stored, ready to be forgotten about in the spring/summer.
Have entered the Verenti Dragon Ride in June - better get training. I've always wanted to do that ride. There are a couple of others on the Radar, which include; The Jodrel Bank ride, Cornwal Tor, New Forest Spring Sportive, and the Southern Sportive (you get a free T shirt) in Autum. No, I'm not doing the Cat & Fiddle, not unless they move it to rainfree May or June? & maybe a few degrees further south?
I need to service the bike. Ruby requires a new Chain, cassette & tyres. If she behaves she'll get these for the spring - Roll on!
Will
www.pro-physio.co.uk
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