Wilbur and I

I returned to Shotley on Thursday afternoon, after spending the best part of two weeks in London looking after Wilbur, a whippet. He was sad to see me go:



It didn't start out this way, however. I headed up to London on that baking hot Bank Holiday Monday. I needed a bike to get around, but owing to engineering this meant I first had to cycle, with my heavy heavy bag, from Shotley to Witham. Nearly 40 miles. I also got lost and ended up doing a short stretch of the A12 dual carriageway on a bank holiday... it was caravan-tastic and very scary.

The train dropped me off at Stratford and I worked my way slowly up to Stamford Hill, arriving at two. The dog had been on his own since six in the morning, and I was apprehensive of what kind of horrors awaited me. He was OK, except absolutely terrified of me at first, although this was gradually replaced by a mixture of what appeared a mixture of wariness and contempt.

I'd planned to do a lot of work while dogsitting: I had a lovely flat to myself, a stove-top espresso maker and, for extra north London class, a coffee grinder! Oh yes. It was all I could do to stop myself doing lines of it off the worksurface.

Anyway, the heat, the cycling ... even the coffee, I was knackered, and spent that first afternoon dozing on the settee. Woke up to find a whippet snuggled up next to me. Were we friends yet? No, this illusion vanished when I took him for a walk to a nearby park. I accidentally trod on him at one point, causing a yelp and a shocked Polish woman shouted at me. This was not going well.

The park was nice, but I didn't dare take him off his lead yet. I was convinced he'd bolt for freedom. He missed his owners and didn't like me.

Wilbur is pretty much still a puppy, and sleeps in the bedroom in a small cage. It was easy enough to lure him in there, but by five in the morning he was whining. I refused to give in, and fitfully slept until Radio 4 came on at 7.45. Two new innovations for me! Radio 4! 7.45 in the morning!! That first couple of days was good, having a few cups of coffee and getting work done *before* lunchtime...

At the end of the first week I was quite glad to go back to Shotley for the weekend, leaving Wilbur to the tender mercies of his dogwalker (there seems to be a huge industry in London based around this).

I returned on Monday, again paranoid of what I'd find, again everything was fine. Wilbur seemed more pleased to see me, but I got angry with him when he jumped up to try and eat my pasta. There are certain lines one does not cross.

We had better walks this week - Wilbur met other dogs, sometimes lady dogs, while I got to converse with their owners, telling them of the mythical countryside from whence I came, and of a labrador named Sally who would *not* get on very well in London. It seems you will always find someone to speak to in London if you have a dog, even if it is the local schoolkids saying 'Oi! Feed your dog, mister!' I have to say, Wilbur and I are quite alike in terms of physique: ribs poking out of flesh and skinny, muscular legs. He has better ears though, capable of expressing a variety of emotions.

Anyway, speaking to his owners on the phone, it transpired that the whining from the cage indicates his desire to hop up onto the bed and snuggle down for a couple of hours. I was having none of that! Even when I heard the next door neighbours' kids telling their parents that the dog was crying. At 7 in the morning.

The breakthrough came on Tuesday night. I didn't get back from Bicester til 1.30 in the morning, as I had to wait ages for a train from Gerrards Cross and then popped to LSE for a bit to do some work for my mum. I was so knackered I fell asleep, waking up at 9 not only to the ongoing debate on Radio 4 but also a whippet curled up on my feet. I'd slept well, Wilbur had slept well. When I took him for a walk, he was absolutely mental - leaping and running, when I let him off the lead he shot off like a rocket but, more importantly, came back.

He is quick, but doesn't have the elegance, say, of a true racing dog. That's OK though, because he's hilarious to watch. He is baffled by flying insects and will chase them happily.

Anyhow, with our differences behind us, the last couple of days in London were pleasant, though the weather started to turn and I started to feel pretty fatigued what with the oppressive humidity and large amount of cycling.

On reflection, it is much easier to look after Sally, a comparatively inexpensive labrador, on a farm than it is to dogsit a whippet with fine pedigree in a busy city. However, it was certainly an interesting experience. And I did get plenty done, and drank some damn fine coffee.

Twin Beaks

This is absolutely brilliant, and is providing much distraction... it's very well done especially the background music halfway through.

Bicester Millenium CC 2up 10

Bike: Trek (teammate Richard was on his TT bike, with disc, trispoke and 57 chainring)
Distance: 10 miles
Time: 23 minutes 49 seconds
Average speed: 25.192mph

Back to earth with a thump, nearly 2 minutes slower than Saturday, such is life. However, I think that's my fastest team TT to date - Richard and I are now looking forward to doing a proper distance on a proper course. We're also looking for a fourth member for a 4up squad, given hippy can't really get out of such things now.

We certainly did better tonight than in to last year's adventure, when I'd managed to fall off before even getting into Richard's car, proceeded to repeat the stunt while warming up, Richard's tub blew up, we spent some of the race arguing about the rules, and generally didn't do so well on a slippery wet surface (alongside assorted bike rack dramas). No similar problems befell us tonight, but the sad thing is, we were 'only' 25 seconds faster than last year, because it was really really windy. We were also beaten by Des and Carl of the Kenton by 15 seconds.

Nonetheless, that's the first time I've gone over 25mph round this circuit (it's the perimeter track of an R.A.F. base), and when I attempted it as a solo during my form period last year, I only just managed to crack 25 minutes. Actually, re-reading those posts, it brings back just how much last year was a succession of injuries and other mini-disasters.

Richard is in storming form this year - although he'd chosen the wrong gear to start in, he soon put me to shame, and must've spent 80% of the race at the front. His 57 tooth chainring gave him far too much oomph on the tailwind straight, so he had to keep easing off or he'd have lost me. I should've probably put more effort into the wind, to balance matters, but my legs were misfiring. It was also a bit disconcerting because Richard was clearly fired up, and our changeovers were less me falling back, and more him just powering past when I thought I was putting on a turn of speed! I'm going to have to watch him.

Shotley - Holbrook - Cattawade - Bentley - Tattingstone - Harkstead - Shotley

Bike: Condor
Distance: 28.69 miles
Time: 1 hour 28 minutes 56 seconds
Average speed: 19.3 mph
Maximum speed: 41.0 mph
Odometer (at end): 1082.6

I hope everyone who reads this blog managed to get out on their bike at some point this weekend - it really was amazing out there.

Lidia texts she did '20 rambling km' today, with 'upright handlebars, flip flops and in a dress, not anything like you and John on a cycle ride' - if only she knew!

This evening, did what I've been longing for all winter: a ride round the country lanes in summer kit, without having to worry about wet roads, with a reasonable amount of fitness. There is a back road from Holbrook to Shotley which I've been riding since I was 15 - really twisty and undulating, a definite challenge - generally good surfaces, with the occasional spot of gravel or muck. The hot weather also brought out some of the more slack-jawed elements of the local youth, however, who have a tendency to wander round in the middle of the road, you almost expect to see them collected among the other roadkill. Currently writing this from the front garden, throwing balls for Sally and listening to the Drifters to complete the summer mood. Back to London for a week tomorrow, to complete my dogsitting duties... in a very relaxed and cheerful mood!

Shaftesbury CC 10

Bike: Trek
Distance: 10 miles
Time: 21 minutes 50 seconds
Average speed: 27.480mph

56th out of 120. (NB I was about the 80th fastest rider on the startsheet, so this is actually a pretty good showing! this race attracted some v.quick individuals). Nearly half the field got personal bests!

A very fast day, a very fast course. I mustn't get carried away: the fastest time was 18 minutes, a lot of riders did 20 minute times. Nonetheless, that's a new PB by some 51 seconds!

I also can't remember feeling so good or riding so smoothly in a time trial, it was probably last August.

Hillingdon CC 25 mile TT

Bike: Trek
Distance: 25 miles
Time: 59 minutes 11 seconds
Average speed: 25.344mph

Result: 35th out of 66

Under the hour for only the second time :D

Managed to hit 43mph going down the skislope :D

Did two 25 mile TTs this weekend in a total time of 2.00.12 :D (was aiming for under 2 hours, but close enough)

Also, a very strong Willesden performance, with our top 3 riders times = 2.59.40

Richard Jerome, with a new 57-tooth chainring and loads of quality training, did a 59:00. He's going about the same speed as me, therefore, and we're looking forward to our second attempt at a 2up 10 in a week or so. We should hopefully push each other to go faster as the year goes on, though for some reason Richard's into this road racing lark...

Hippy did a 1:01:29 in his first 25 mile TT. He was also hungover and was threatening to throw up kebabs and cider. So, his performance deserves plaudits.

I'd love to have a crack at this course in full fitness, i.e. not having raced the day before - reckon I could've done a 58 or even 57 today. It seems a bit risky, though: a few riders were knocked off or came off, and the initial descent is also a big test of courage.

Today deserves, and will get, a full report. For now:

* was up at 5.30 this morning
* cycled 30-odd miles out to Marlow with hippy to get to the HQ
* felt bloody awful
* but rode much better than yesterday
* then had to get back to Suffolk, in the face of the dreaded Bank Holiday Timetable

Have ridden 142 miles this weekend, and 411 miles since I got back from holiday 11 days ago. And have to be up very early tomorrow to head back to London where I am dogsitting a whippet.

Oxford University BUSA 25 championship

Bike: Trek
Distance: 25 miles
Time: 1 hour 01 minutes 01 seconds
Average speed: 24.583mph

Result: 32nd out of 90(27th student)

Louis did a remarkable short 1:02 in his first 25 (my first 25 on a quickish course was a 1:04), so LSE got two top 40 placings.

Front-on picture. This is what a half-smile, half-grimace looks like. I was going alright at this point.

Profile picture. I wasn't going alright by this point.

Err, don't know what wrong here. I just don't get on very well with this stretch of road, perhaps. I'd slept on an air mattress the night before, which hadn't been very restful, though sleeping on the floor with the bike propped up next to me felt reasonably old-school professional. Didn't eat as much as usual the day before, due to various financial disasters (£76 overdraft charges!!! Natwest will be hearing from me... that's a third of my wages wiped out) and general busy-ness.

Still, I also think if I build up a race too much in my head I then don't do as well as if I'd been a bit uncertain. Today I assumed I'd be quick, owing to the near-perfect conditions and fact I'd prepared quite well. Was certainly hydrated. In the event, was tired and sluggish, paced myself badly. I was probably 2 minutes slower than I should've been, at least. Think I have some residual fatigue from the 50 last weekend...

The tweaked set-up (bit lower and longer at the front, bit higher on the saddle) worked OK, though the saddle is now back down again because my knees were twinging slightly.

Apart from riding badly, the day was very pleasant. A good journey up to Oxford with Louis, followed by the usual entertaining warm-up ride up Cumnor hill. The HQ was at Cumnor Cricket Club, which made for an interesting combination as a match was in progress. A fair few cyclists were cycling behind the bowler's arm, they'd never stand for it at Lord's.

The pusher-off for the early starters was Anton Blackie of OUCC, who goes extremely quickly and is also possessed of a good starting push. When I started chuntering before my start, he said 'you're one more cup of coffee'. Infamy!

Also saw Rachel Fenton, who was at Cambridge when I was and, in fact, still is - she won the Ladies' BUSA, so well done to her. A long way from when she and I were two of the slowest riders on the CUCC trip to Northumberland in December 2003...

And then, back at the station, bumped into Ribu, who I've now bumped into at LSE, Cambridge and Oxford. He was at LSE as an undergrad when I was, was at Cambridge when I did a masters (though he became president of all postgrads, or somesuch, whereas I kept fleeing back to London), and now he's working in an investment bank and doing something at the Said business school. He's a very successful individual, always very well turned out (he was off to a ball in this instance), but always asks how and what I'm doing. He also says I haven't aged a bit, which is either politeness or I've always looked a bit haggard. Similarly, a woman my mum works with was in my year at sixth form, and she was sitting in our kitchen the other night. I didn't recognise her, but when I took off my helmet and sunglasses, she said 'I know him!!' (and indicating I haven't changed much since 1999). Turned out it was Lucy, who used to go out with my Ecuador friend Hugh. Small world. She went really red when I started to remember things about her, mwahaha! It's really funny: my mum's been raving about this new colleague Lucy for months.

The other good thing about this time trial (the original post topic) was the large field of cows next to the start area, though their curious gaze was slightly off-putting.