GT ODOMETER AT START OF MAY 2007: 9537.3
GT ODOMETER AT END OF MAY 2007: 9773.8
TOTAL GT MILES MAY 2007: 236.5
TREK ODOMETER AT START OF MAY 2007: 11336
TREK ODOMETER AT END OF MAY 2007: 11839
TOTAL TREK MILES MAY 2007: 503
COMMUTER MILES TREK: 245.06
COMMUTER MILES GT: 236.5
TOTAL COMMUTING MILES MAY 2007: 481.56
TOTAL TRAINING MILES (TREK) MAY 2007: 157.94*
* I have included 60 (approx) miles from getting to the two Maidenhead TTs I forgot, for different reasons, to blog.
TOTAL SOLO TIME TRIAL MILES (TREK) MAY 2007: 90
(in 3 hours 40 minutes 40 seconds, averaging 24.471mph)
TOTAL TEAM TIME TRIAL MILES (TREK) MAY 2007: 10
(in 24 minutes 14 seconds averaging 24.759mph)
TOTAL MILES MAY 2007: 739.5
(23.85 miles per day)
TOTAL MILES CYCLED IN 2007: 3723
(24.82 miles per day)
TOTAL MILES CYCLED SINCE 25 MAY 2003: 21612.8
(14.73 miles per day)
Thursday, 31 May 2007
Monday, 28 May 2007
BLOODY HELL.
My battered self-esteem fell a notch further just now - I burned pasta. That's right, I burned something which involved a saucepan full of water.
Saturday, 26 May 2007
25 May 2003 - 25 May 2007
Owing to carnage. my stat-obsessed brain forgot that yesterday was 4 years since I first hooked a computer up to my trusty GT. Since then, I have acquired a second bike and covered many hundreds of miles. The figure for 4 years stands at:
21584.3 miles, which has incorporated so many different types of journey I can't list them all. Neither can I summarise all the stuff that has happened in the intervening time. Perhaps the most succinct description for both would be 'ups and downs'.
It breaks down as 11832 miles on the Trek and 9761.3 on the GT.
That's 5396 miles per year, and would've been many more had it not been for illness in 2005.
It's also over 14 miles a day, which means I should be in pretty healthy condition. Today, however, I am sore and scabby.
21584.3 miles, which has incorporated so many different types of journey I can't list them all. Neither can I summarise all the stuff that has happened in the intervening time. Perhaps the most succinct description for both would be 'ups and downs'.
It breaks down as 11832 miles on the Trek and 9761.3 on the GT.
That's 5396 miles per year, and would've been many more had it not been for illness in 2005.
It's also over 14 miles a day, which means I should be in pretty healthy condition. Today, however, I am sore and scabby.
Friday, 25 May 2007
two shots of happy, one shot of sad
One of my housemates, admitting to only knowing me for a bit, has just wondered aloud if this is 'what I'm like' - i.e. wandering in periodically clutching bits of broken bike. I hope that's not what I'm like.
The good news is I've cheered up a bit, and am determined to ride the Chiltern 100 next Sunday. I have new handlebars, and Wes U. at LSE (with nearly a decade of bike shop experience) is going to help me check them out and get me ready for the road. I have had much sympathy, concern and advice from my friends. Other good news is that the STi shifters are still working.
The bad news is my front wheel is, alas, broken. The spoke that was torn out is not replaceable as the threading is destroyed. I am hoping to rebuild a wheel on the hub at some point, but for now I've ordered an exact replacement - 'only' £120 as it is a two year old model now. I also have some scratching on my carbon fibre forks, which I hope is only superficial. I will have to get someone who 'knows' to check them out. I probably should get a new seatpost and saddle too. Hell, why not a new bike.
Apparently it is quite common for handlebars/stems to fail when they get old. And I guess 4 years and 12,000 miles is quite some pressure. But even so!
The good news is I've cheered up a bit, and am determined to ride the Chiltern 100 next Sunday. I have new handlebars, and Wes U. at LSE (with nearly a decade of bike shop experience) is going to help me check them out and get me ready for the road. I have had much sympathy, concern and advice from my friends. Other good news is that the STi shifters are still working.
The bad news is my front wheel is, alas, broken. The spoke that was torn out is not replaceable as the threading is destroyed. I am hoping to rebuild a wheel on the hub at some point, but for now I've ordered an exact replacement - 'only' £120 as it is a two year old model now. I also have some scratching on my carbon fibre forks, which I hope is only superficial. I will have to get someone who 'knows' to check them out. I probably should get a new seatpost and saddle too. Hell, why not a new bike.
Apparently it is quite common for handlebars/stems to fail when they get old. And I guess 4 years and 12,000 miles is quite some pressure. But even so!
Thursday, 24 May 2007
Maidenhead and District CC Club 10
Before the nastiness, I'd had a lovely evening cycling out to Maidenhead and then doing a 10 mile time trial:
Bike: Trek
Distance: 10 miles
Time: 23 minutes 53 seconds
Average speed: 25.122 mph
12th out of 45.
That's also my 3rd fastest 10 ever, and I wasn't riding particularly well. And, obviously, on a bike about to suffer catastrophic equipment failure!
Bike: Trek
Distance: 10 miles
Time: 23 minutes 53 seconds
Average speed: 25.122 mph
12th out of 45.
That's also my 3rd fastest 10 ever, and I wasn't riding particularly well. And, obviously, on a bike about to suffer catastrophic equipment failure!
NOT happy.
Am in a complete state right now, mentally and physically. And all because of my bike.
I'd gone off to do another TT tonight, and did a 23:53, which I was pleased with. Got the train back from Maidenhead to Ealing Broadway, and then was sauntering along the half mile home.
Then, with less than 300m to go, my handlebars snapped without warning. Do I blame the aerobars? I don't think so - the split happened where the bar meets the stem.
That was bad enough, and I attempted to slow the bike with the remaining half. However, the bit that had snapped off went straight into the wheels, snapped a spoke (which punctured the front tyre), wedged between the forks, and sent me flat on the ground. Bad enough, but a van behind me only missed me by a couple of feet. I thought I'd shouted my last expletive. Thankfully, I escaped with grazing on my previously uninjured arm, so now I have a complete set:
I really don't know what to do now, either about fixing the bike or thinking about when I want to cycle again. Right now, I have the unpleasant dichotomy of feeling both very unhappy and very lucky.
I'd gone off to do another TT tonight, and did a 23:53, which I was pleased with. Got the train back from Maidenhead to Ealing Broadway, and then was sauntering along the half mile home.
Then, with less than 300m to go, my handlebars snapped without warning. Do I blame the aerobars? I don't think so - the split happened where the bar meets the stem.
That was bad enough, and I attempted to slow the bike with the remaining half. However, the bit that had snapped off went straight into the wheels, snapped a spoke (which punctured the front tyre), wedged between the forks, and sent me flat on the ground. Bad enough, but a van behind me only missed me by a couple of feet. I thought I'd shouted my last expletive. Thankfully, I escaped with grazing on my previously uninjured arm, so now I have a complete set:
I really don't know what to do now, either about fixing the bike or thinking about when I want to cycle again. Right now, I have the unpleasant dichotomy of feeling both very unhappy and very lucky.
Saturday, 19 May 2007
Stowmarket & District CC Open 10
Bike: Trek
Distance: 10 miles
Time: 24 minutes 27 seconds
Average speed: 24.539 mph
15th out of 47.
Took Wednesday and Thursday off cycling, and my grazes/bruises are still pretty sore. All my muscles have recovered though, so I decided to race today.
Glad I did: an undulating, windy course that I was pleased to do a 24 on. The HQ was in the lovely village of Woolpit, and the whole afternoon had a pleasant feel to it - cricket on the green etc.
I came about 15th/16th out of 48 finishers, so in the top third! Fastest was 22:20. Apart from the Hillingdon circuit 10s and the one 'bad' day I had at the BUSA 10, I've consistently done 24s this year, with a couple of 23s. Hopefully, as the year progresses, my times will fall a bit...
With cycling to the station, getting lost after the race and cycling back from the station, I did nearly 50 miles today. Probably too much, as I've felt shocking tonight.
Distance: 10 miles
Time: 24 minutes 27 seconds
Average speed: 24.539 mph
15th out of 47.
Took Wednesday and Thursday off cycling, and my grazes/bruises are still pretty sore. All my muscles have recovered though, so I decided to race today.
Glad I did: an undulating, windy course that I was pleased to do a 24 on. The HQ was in the lovely village of Woolpit, and the whole afternoon had a pleasant feel to it - cricket on the green etc.
I came about 15th/16th out of 48 finishers, so in the top third! Fastest was 22:20. Apart from the Hillingdon circuit 10s and the one 'bad' day I had at the BUSA 10, I've consistently done 24s this year, with a couple of 23s. Hopefully, as the year progresses, my times will fall a bit...
With cycling to the station, getting lost after the race and cycling back from the station, I did nearly 50 miles today. Probably too much, as I've felt shocking tonight.
Tuesday, 15 May 2007
Bicester Millenium CC 2up 10
Team mate: Richard Jerome (Willesden CC)
Bike: Trek
Distance: 10 miles
Time: 24 minutes 14 seconds
Average speed: 24.759 mph
Joint 17th out of 24.
Good fun, although we'd been promised parachutists falling on our heads (the race was held on a 2.5 miles circuit at an RAF base). More on this later, when I'm not so sore and tired.
Bike: Trek
Distance: 10 miles
Time: 24 minutes 14 seconds
Average speed: 24.759 mph
Joint 17th out of 24.
Good fun, although we'd been promised parachutists falling on our heads (the race was held on a 2.5 miles circuit at an RAF base). More on this later, when I'm not so sore and tired.
slippery people
Agh! Came off my bike not once, but twice today. In mitigation, it is very damp out...
First, cycling home from LSE this afternoon - tried to turn out of Hyde Park and onto the road, but slipped on the cobblestones. Back wheel slid out, down I went onto my left hand side: grazed near my elbow, and the top of my thigh. Ouch. Have also buckled the rear wheel of my commuting bike.
Second, headed out with Richard of the Willesden this evening to do the Bicester Millenium 2-up at Weston-on-the-Green. Cycling along a pathway (having headed back to fetch Richard a spare wheel after his tub exploded) at the RAF base to the start, I slipped at low speed on some mould, tumbled to the ground and have hurt a muscle on my right leg as well as causing a nasty welt on my left shin.
Bruised ego too: both falls were highly public.
I think I'll get the train in tomorrow...
First, cycling home from LSE this afternoon - tried to turn out of Hyde Park and onto the road, but slipped on the cobblestones. Back wheel slid out, down I went onto my left hand side: grazed near my elbow, and the top of my thigh. Ouch. Have also buckled the rear wheel of my commuting bike.
Second, headed out with Richard of the Willesden this evening to do the Bicester Millenium 2-up at Weston-on-the-Green. Cycling along a pathway (having headed back to fetch Richard a spare wheel after his tub exploded) at the RAF base to the start, I slipped at low speed on some mould, tumbled to the ground and have hurt a muscle on my right leg as well as causing a nasty welt on my left shin.
Bruised ego too: both falls were highly public.
I think I'll get the train in tomorrow...
Saturday, 12 May 2007
Ealing - A40 - Ealing
Bike: Trek
Distance: 36.56
Time: 1 hour 57 minutes 48 seconds
Average speed: 18.6mph
Maximum speed: 41.0mph
Odometer (at end): 11644
Punctured after 8 miles, so a squidgy rear for 28 miles - so not a bad time considering. Good tailwind on return leg.
An odd feeling: I think this is the first weekend since 17/18 February that I haven't had a race... and I think I chose the right weekend, this one seems to be a bit of a washout.
Distance: 36.56
Time: 1 hour 57 minutes 48 seconds
Average speed: 18.6mph
Maximum speed: 41.0mph
Odometer (at end): 11644
Punctured after 8 miles, so a squidgy rear for 28 miles - so not a bad time considering. Good tailwind on return leg.
An odd feeling: I think this is the first weekend since 17/18 February that I haven't had a race... and I think I chose the right weekend, this one seems to be a bit of a washout.
Thursday, 10 May 2007
Maidenhead & District CC Club 10
Bike: Trek
Distance: 10 miles
Time: 24 minutes 16 seconds
Average speed: 24.725mph
Results! 3rd out of 14
A shocking night: lots of rain meant lots of puddles and a slick road surface. This, however, is my third fastest 10 of the year.
Had cycled out to Maidenhead (circa 30 miles, I reset my computer without checking) in the pissing rain, and was soaked through by the time I arrived at the start. Had to wring my gloves out. No skinsuit tonight: thermal jersey and tights or I would have perished (not much meat on me).
Was overtaken after seven miles by Rebecca Romero, who started a minute behind me, and did a 23:01, winning the event I think. I also think I came third or fourth in a small field.
Distance: 10 miles
Time: 24 minutes 16 seconds
Average speed: 24.725mph
Results! 3rd out of 14
A shocking night: lots of rain meant lots of puddles and a slick road surface. This, however, is my third fastest 10 of the year.
Had cycled out to Maidenhead (circa 30 miles, I reset my computer without checking) in the pissing rain, and was soaked through by the time I arrived at the start. Had to wring my gloves out. No skinsuit tonight: thermal jersey and tights or I would have perished (not much meat on me).
Was overtaken after seven miles by Rebecca Romero, who started a minute behind me, and did a 23:01, winning the event I think. I also think I came third or fourth in a small field.
Wednesday, 9 May 2007
genuine cause for complaint
There I was, moaning that I was still in some distress after completing 50 miles of time trialling over two days, when I read about these giants of the road, who completed 5 times that distance in but a single day.
This is the first blog from my new laptop - I have finally given up on Apple after two and a half years of unreliability: I'm now on Windows again, and have only had one blue screen so far!
This is the first blog from my new laptop - I have finally given up on Apple after two and a half years of unreliability: I'm now on Windows again, and have only had one blue screen so far!
Monday, 7 May 2007
Westerley CC Evening 10s - Rounds 1 and 2 results
Here!
My name appears to have lost a 'c', but I'll take a 6th and a 5th place, as I'm sure hippy will take his leap from 15th to 11th. At this rate, we will intersect at some point around round 4.
My name appears to have lost a 'c', but I'll take a 6th and a 5th place, as I'm sure hippy will take his leap from 15th to 11th. At this rate, we will intersect at some point around round 4.
Sunday, 6 May 2007
Hillingdon CC 25
Bike: Trek
Distance: 25 miles
Time: 1 hour 00 minutes 41 seconds
Average speed: 24.718mph
Result! 28th of 50
The race itself: well, slightly pleased (with new PB) and slightly peeved (legs not working as well as yesterday, unsurprisingly). I'd been led to believe this was a quick course, but much of that comes from the large hill you start off on (and the largeish hill you end with) - otherwise it's quite hard going, and 10 miles constitutes the H10/2. As well as being a bit worn out, also made an error at one of the roundabouts, d'oh.
So, 41 seconds off beating the hour, but given my target this year was to crack 1:01:30...
Distance: 25 miles
Time: 1 hour 00 minutes 41 seconds
Average speed: 24.718mph
Result! 28th of 50
The race itself: well, slightly pleased (with new PB) and slightly peeved (legs not working as well as yesterday, unsurprisingly). I'd been led to believe this was a quick course, but much of that comes from the large hill you start off on (and the largeish hill you end with) - otherwise it's quite hard going, and 10 miles constitutes the H10/2. As well as being a bit worn out, also made an error at one of the roundabouts, d'oh.
So, 41 seconds off beating the hour, but given my target this year was to crack 1:01:30...
Ealing - Marlow
Bike: Trek
Distance: 25.39
Time: 1 hour 23 minutes 33 seconds
Average speed: 18.1mph
Maximum speed: 43.0mph
Odometer (at end): 11499
Up at 5.30 this morning, after six hours fitful sleep. Bunged some pastries and a cup of coffee down me, lycra-d up and headed out onto the blissfully deserted streets. Got to the HQ in Marlow with plenty of time to get my number and cycle to the start point. However, by this point, I'd already cycled 30 miles, perhaps too much of a warm up...
Distance: 25.39
Time: 1 hour 23 minutes 33 seconds
Average speed: 18.1mph
Maximum speed: 43.0mph
Odometer (at end): 11499
Up at 5.30 this morning, after six hours fitful sleep. Bunged some pastries and a cup of coffee down me, lycra-d up and headed out onto the blissfully deserted streets. Got to the HQ in Marlow with plenty of time to get my number and cycle to the start point. However, by this point, I'd already cycled 30 miles, perhaps too much of a warm up...
Saturday, 5 May 2007
Cambridge University CC BUSA 25
Bike: Trek
Distance: 25 miles
Time: 1 hour 01 minute 48 seconds
Average speed: 24.271mph
24th out of 61 for BUSA, 32nd out of 82 in men's overall standings - this is my highest BUSA placing to date. One more year, I guess.
Easily my best race of the year so far: and over six minutes quicker than my BUSA 25 time on the same course 2 years ago. It was really windy then, it was still today - perfect conditions. One year, I'll have a good BUSA 10 and 25... today my average speed was quicker than last weeks 10, and this is supposed to be a slow course! Enjoyed myself.
Marlow skislope tomorrow...
Distance: 25 miles
Time: 1 hour 01 minute 48 seconds
Average speed: 24.271mph
24th out of 61 for BUSA, 32nd out of 82 in men's overall standings - this is my highest BUSA placing to date. One more year, I guess.
Easily my best race of the year so far: and over six minutes quicker than my BUSA 25 time on the same course 2 years ago. It was really windy then, it was still today - perfect conditions. One year, I'll have a good BUSA 10 and 25... today my average speed was quicker than last weeks 10, and this is supposed to be a slow course! Enjoyed myself.
Marlow skislope tomorrow...
Friday, 4 May 2007
cycling (related) injury
Managed to dislocate my thumb today ... taking off a cycling sock. Hm.
It relocated itself, and is bruising up nicely. Pain was quite intense, but more nausea than anything. Just another day in my clumsy world.
It relocated itself, and is bruising up nicely. Pain was quite intense, but more nausea than anything. Just another day in my clumsy world.
Thursday, 3 May 2007
Ealing - A40 - Ealing
Bike: Trek
Distance: 35.99 miles
Time: 1 hour 57 minutes 22 seconds
Average speed: 18.3 mph
Maximum speed: 34.0 mph
Odometer (at end): 11396 miles
Recent poor time trialling form has caused me to enjoy cycling oh-so-slightly less - at the same time, it might be caused by the fact I'm not training as much as I was! Today, killed two birds with one stone - a hugely enjoyable, quickish training ride. This is more like it! Shame the sun had decided to disappear, but the mid-ride cappuccino warmed me up (and made up for the chaotic scenes yesterday when I bought such a beverage only to have it blow over in the wind before I'd taken a sip...)
Distance: 35.99 miles
Time: 1 hour 57 minutes 22 seconds
Average speed: 18.3 mph
Maximum speed: 34.0 mph
Odometer (at end): 11396 miles
Recent poor time trialling form has caused me to enjoy cycling oh-so-slightly less - at the same time, it might be caused by the fact I'm not training as much as I was! Today, killed two birds with one stone - a hugely enjoyable, quickish training ride. This is more like it! Shame the sun had decided to disappear, but the mid-ride cappuccino warmed me up (and made up for the chaotic scenes yesterday when I bought such a beverage only to have it blow over in the wind before I'd taken a sip...)
Wednesday, 2 May 2007
Westerley CC Circuit 10
Bike: Trek
Distance: 10.23 miles
Time: 25 minutes 35 seconds
Average speed: 23.992mph
I was off last! Probably the only time this will ever happen in time trialling... fastest time was 24:40ish?
That felt a bit better than Saturday, but am still 'weary' and unable to really push as hard as I'd like. I was 3 seconds slower than my last Hillingdon 10, but - in mitigation - it was much windier. Annoyed I seem to have slipped below 24mph for 10 miles - I need a fast course and a still day! Fellow LSE student Louis seems to thrive in the wind - he did a 25:31, beating me by 4 seconds and thus setting an 'LSE record' for this course!
Luckily, hippy has written a report, so I don't have to! He didn't seem to suffer so much from the blustery conditions. We had an entertaining 4/5-man ride back to Ealing too...
Distance: 10.23 miles
Time: 25 minutes 35 seconds
Average speed: 23.992mph
I was off last! Probably the only time this will ever happen in time trialling... fastest time was 24:40ish?
That felt a bit better than Saturday, but am still 'weary' and unable to really push as hard as I'd like. I was 3 seconds slower than my last Hillingdon 10, but - in mitigation - it was much windier. Annoyed I seem to have slipped below 24mph for 10 miles - I need a fast course and a still day! Fellow LSE student Louis seems to thrive in the wind - he did a 25:31, beating me by 4 seconds and thus setting an 'LSE record' for this course!
Luckily, hippy has written a report, so I don't have to! He didn't seem to suffer so much from the blustery conditions. We had an entertaining 4/5-man ride back to Ealing too...
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