Monday, October 30, 2006

18 and a half miles yesterday

another round trip around the Bexley area with C. N was not around. Lovely sunny day and far too warm for the time of year, more global warming I guess.

I don't ache today but I am a bit knackered. this was not due to the bike ride but because I stayed up watching a girls film called "In Her Shoes". That'll learn me.

How am I going to get up to 70 miles in one day, and then for three days in a row?

Thursday, October 26, 2006

A little bit of mid week training

As I am in Devon I managed to fit in a bit of mid week training on the Tarka Trail and although there was not much mileage - (we did about three I would say and there was a lot of stopping and starting due to the number of young'uns who travelled with us - T was attached to my bike on a separate cycle, excellent idea) - it was good to get out and about.

The twins were the most impressive, at 4 years old they can balance and cover as good mileage as adults on faster bikes.

I recommend the Tarka Trail for a day's cycling - it is flat but covers some beautiful country side and passes some good cream tea emporiums. We didn't enjoy a cream tea as such but the Chocolate Fudge Cake at the Puffing Billy in Torrington has much to recomend it.

My trip to Devon is enjoyable but is tainted with a slight worry about work, namely that a lot of things have gone wrong and I am not there to help put them right, well at least the ones I can help with. I have not received any calls today and am not sure if this is a good or bad thing.

In the short term though I have more important things to worry about - I am having sausage (locally produced Devon ones of course), mash and onion gravy for tea and need to decide between the four flavours available so I will just have to think about all this work stuff later. Home tomorrow and then hopefully a cycle ride on Sunday - we really must do 20 miles this weekend else this 70 miles a day in May will be pie in the sky. And as for that bloody doctor and his form - don't get me started......

Monday, October 23, 2006

12 miles instead of 20

Yesterday's training session started off well. Both C and new boy N and myself set off a bit later than intended and followed the same route as the previous Sunday, intending to do two laps to bring us up to the 20 miles.

However it started to rain half way round. Alas a bit of a whimpish cop out followed (insitigated by me but I think the others were keen to get home too) and we cut the first circuit down to 12 miles and headed home to C's for tea and marmite toast. My lycra shorts did not keep the rain out and my sweatshirt did an even worse job. A trip to the cycle outfitters is required to ensure the rainwear situation is brought under control. The eventual ride is over three days and although it takes place in May you cannot guarantee dry weather even in these globally warming days.

I am going to phone the doctor about the form tomorrow. Still no sign. I'm calm though.

And then I am off to Devon for a couple of days, hopefully we may fit in some cycling there on one of the trails. And maybe a blog update too.

Saturday, October 21, 2006

New bike

It's getting a bit quiet on the cycling front this week - I'm not going to mention the Doctor's form despite the fact it's still not signed. However I have ordered a lovely road racing bike from Condor cycles. They have a shop in Greys Inn Road - I allowed R to come with me who encourages people to spend as much as possible but I can't blame him for how much I eventually did spend. Apparently I will be able to do 70 miles a day for three days using this beast with no worries of saddle soreness or aching legs. I'll buy anything when I think the salesperson isn't lying but R thinks it's ok so it must be good as he stands for no nonsense. It won't be ready for three weeks (three weeks? what are they doing with it?)

I think the final list of riders joining me may not be finalised yet. C is a definite, N is a definite and maybe there is a new entrant, A who has expressed a preference. I think a charity website for all of us is the answer.

You can read about the charity for which we are doing the ride here

I just had a call from a chap from Amex (they always call on a Saturday morning) inviting me to pay £9.99 a month for some emergency and accident fund for disability and emergency cash payments should I end up in hospital. I said "No" and then he asked me "Why? Why don't you want it?" and I didn't have an answer. I felt sorry for him, the same old calls, the same knock backs and the same crib sheet. It's humilitating for these people, they don't really want ot be making these calls as much as I don't want to receive them. Perhaps we should come up with a truce to banish these rubbish calls forever.

20 miles tomorrow hopefully. Watch this space - I'll put some photos up if I remember :-)

Monday, October 16, 2006

doctors form

My doctor still hasn't signed my medical form. This worries me slightly and i am hoping that he will phone soon to say that all is ok.
He bloody better sign it or he's dead. Mind you if he was he wouldn't be able to sign it but you know what i mean.
In other news professor Musty has returned to work after a week off sick. There was an odour of stale fags and a smell of suit which had not been dried properly after being out in the rain a year ago. Just what you want to smell for a 9 hour Monday! Mmmm!

Sunday, October 15, 2006

sunday lunch


sunday lunch
Originally uploaded by OrangeCamperVan.
Mm not only sunday in the office but mcrancids for sunday lunch! I'm so lucky!

Still at least this morning's ride around Wilmington with C was good. Bit of road training this week as opposed to the country roads training last week.

Now must eat dinner!

Saturday, October 14, 2006

test


test
Originally uploaded by OrangeCamperVan.
Photo test blog.

Some clouds from the Big Chill...

...for your delectation

Bexley to Petts Wood

Apparently the next ride tomorrow....watch this space for update, 15 miles apparently.

Thursday, October 12, 2006

sunday ride is on!

It's all go for Sunday ride. Whether it's around Leafy Surrey or slightly less Leafy Bexley there will be some training. I am annoyed about doctor's attitude but I guess he's gotta be careful in these sue-ya-ass-off-days. I know that medically he has to be careful.

Listening to 'The Key, The Secret' by Urban Cookie Collective. I'm so old skool sometimes i scare myself. Incidentally i was reading the other day that your ipod may not be as random as you think it is. Or it could be more random than you think it is. It's all psychological you see. I will post a link to the article when i'm not blogging by phone.

Quacks

He won't sign my form, the green medical one, he says theres some sort of legal clause in it and if he signs it and something happens to me I could sue. Blimey. What chutney.
 
He seemed most concerned about the 60 miles a day! Like I was some 90 year old duffer, i mean i know I'm unfit but with training I'm sure it will all be ok.
 
So I've got to wait till next week for him to sign it off before I can actually send my main form in. I hope there are still places on the race. I've never seen him look so concerned. Normally it's a presription and you're out the door in 1 minute!
 
I may go out for an evening ride tonight. Must buy some lights first from Evans Cycle Shop at London Bridge.

Wednesday, October 11, 2006

Little progress since Sunday

My aim is to carry out some cycling activity during the week as well at the weekends to build up my stamina gradually rather than cramming it all in one day at the weekend but the truth is that there is always so much else to do, like surfing the net, logging on to itunes, watching "Britain's Youngest Mums and Dads, 2006" (another ITV1 chestnut aired last night, it sounds like it should be an awards ceremony) and old re-runs of Cadfael, the 12th Century super-sleuth. Plus it's getting dark early.
 
And I still ache a bit from Sunday, which three days afterwards is a bit rubbish.
 
Further update tomorrow - I have a visit to the doctor who needs to sign my medical form if I am to take part and to whom I must donate £15 for the privilege unless I can convince him about the charity aspect of the ride.
 
 
 

Tuesday, October 10, 2006

Training session

Sunday's initial cycling session went better than I thought. My "trainer" and "partner in crime" who have more experince than myself in all things two wheeled were gentle with me and I was pleased with the completion of 12 miles in the hour. I turned down the offer of one more 4 mile circuit as I felt it would be the difference between a slight ache or complete agony the next morning.
 
You must understand my level of fitness is pretty low although I count myself in good health. I used to cycle during my youth (when I also used to weep in butchers shops too*) but although it's been a few years since then I feel that my legs are up for the job with a bit of training.
 
So now to keep up the momentum and do this every weekend and of course, the secret is to increase the amount of time spent on the road. But one step at a time....
 
 

Sunday, October 08, 2006

Where it all began

At some point in a pub in the City of London a couple of weeks ago after a few pints I agreed to cycle from London to Paris in three days for charity. The idea seemed simple at the time, I mean, I used to cycle when a youth so what would be different now?

The next morning I awoke to realise the implications. In the cold sober light of day this wasn't going to be a walk in the park. I could have reneged but I didn't deciding to go through with the whole thing.

So this is it; two weeks later I have my welcome pack, I have several items of laughable but very practical cycling gear and one old mountain bike which actually looks new due to the little amount of use it has got over the last six years. Oh and I did my first day's training today and ache a bit.

More about the journey, my training, the charitee and the eventual improvement to my below average fitness will appear in this blog. Oh and the small matter of how you can add to my sponsorship funds....