Busy!

What can I say, the last few weeks have been extremely busy and the bike has been stuck in the shed as I have been working, training for my new career and squeezing in a short trip to Paris.

We booked a cheap day at Disney Land Paris through the Sun newspaper and booked a motel for a couple of nights so we could take in the sights of Paris as well, photo's from our short trip can be found on my Facebook page here.

Work is great if not well paid, but what a relief it is to not have to put up with the shambles that TNT became (I still hear from ex colleagues who inform me it is still getting worse) I am so glad to be out of it all and able to just go to work, do my bit and come home without any stress.

My new career, well now I can actually talk about it now I don't have the Gestapo peering over my shoulder, I am two thirds of the way through qualifying to become a driving instructor, something I part qualified for in 2000 but didn't follow up as at the time we felt it too bigger risk having to wind up my business to set out on a new venture.  I passed my part 2 exam last week and now just have the instructural ability section left to complete.  Being well and truly shafted by TNT actually has played into my hands as it gave me the proverbial kick up the jacksie to go out and do something.  Back in November I set myself a short target of qualifying and starting out by June this year.  A big ask but achievable if things went my way, well so far they are and we are still on for June, maybe even May!

So unfortunately for cycling this year may well be another wipe out, the next 4 weeks are fully booked with either work or driving instructor lessons fitted in between shifts, some long days for me, but it will be worth it once it's done.  The bike will just have to be patient, I will get on it when I can, but that family/personal balance we all struggle with has to be met.

Finally we come to plot 71, with all that is going on I haven't even had time to think about the allotment let alone get up there and tend it.  I have decided to keep it on this year as once I am set up and running my own driving school or franchise a place to go and get away from it all for an hour or two between lessons when there is not enough time for a ride may be a welcome release.  I am also hoping to rope the family into helping up there as well.  It looks as though I will be more of a weekend allotmenteer from now on though rather than my shorter but more regular visits last year.

So after banging on about how busy I am just now I'll sign off by saying I'm off on a club ride tomorrow morning and jetting off  to Spain next Saturday on a 3 night Stag do, I still (for now) manage to find time to play.

Sunday 20th Feb

Took a late decision to have a ride out yesterday, so came home in the dark, not something I want to make a habit of, as when there was no 'dry line' on Long Lane from Kegworth it was quite easy to loose the edge of the road in my front lights beam.

Was a very nice ride albeit very cold, felt much stronger today and pushed it quite a bit.  First ride this year over 15mph ave speed.  Felt strong all of the way except for the last mile.

Followed this route but added a loop of Draycott on the way out to Long Lane.




Distance = 47.5 miles
Time = 3 hrs 05 mins
Ave Speed = 15.4 mph
Top Speed = 32.8 mph
Hillometer = 23.4 ft/mile

Weather = Overcast, 4c

2011
Road Bike = 294.9
Single Speed =19.1
Indoor =44.4
Total Mileage = 358.4

Azizulhasni Awang = NAILS

In the spirit of cyclists who are NAILS we now have Azizulhasni Awang who after coming of his bike last night and impalling his leg with a shard of wood from the track only went and got back on it with said 'splinter' still in his leg to finish third and claim a bronze medal!

Full story on the BBC here - http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/cycling/9402907.stm

Monday 14th February

Rode out to Etwall and back on familiar roads, added a couple of sections to the ride shown below to stretch it out to 55 miles.

Still feel slow, unfit and overweight, but am managing to get round a 50 miler without too much trouble.  Ave HR of 154 so well out of zone 2 still, but for now I'm follwing the advice of "Just ride your bike lot's".  In comparison to this time last year I'm slower and my HR is higher, so it doesn't take much to work out I'm in worse shape than I was 12 months ago, not suprising really with the last 6 months I've had.

Saw one of the Team Raleigh boys near Willington on a training ride, looked like it was Liam Holohan

Todays ride based on this route, on the way back I went from Willington to Repton and Ingleby and then from Aston on Trent to Elvaston and then back towards Long Eaton.





Distance = 55 miles
Time = 3 hrs 43 mins
Ave Speed = 14.8 mph
Top Speed = 34.3
Hillometer = 33.6 ft/mile

Weather = Sunny, 7c

2011
Road Bike = 247.4
Single Speed =19.1
Indoor =44.4
Total Mileage = 310.9

Tour de Loughborough - Tuesday 8th February

Legs felt a little weary still from Sunday, the first 22 mles to the top of Beacon Hill (Leicestershires highest point) were hard going, more so than they should have been, after that though the route leveled out and of course dropped back down to starting height and the following 29 miles were pretty easy going.

Still lacking in fitness, you can really feel it on a bike, especially when riding familiar roads.  Didin't do any 'zone' stuff today, just wanted to ride the bike, and with a 156 ave today I'm glad I wasn't on a zone 2 ride, I'd have been out all day!





Distance = 51.2 miles
Time = 3 hrs 36 mins
Ave Speed = 14.2
Top Speed = 39.3
Hillometer = 39.3 ft/mile

Weather = Sunny, 4c

2011
Road Bike = 192.4
Single Speed =19.1
Indoor =44.4
Total Mileage = 255.9

*Edited for pub commute

BCC Social Ride - Sunday 6th Feb

Headed out with Beeston CC today on the social ride, a steady 35 ride with a coffee stop. Well it would have been steady were it not for the 40 mph winds buffeting the midlands today. Despite the wind I added a loop onto the end of the ride to make up 50 miles. Not riden for a few weeks but felt suprisingly good.

Route based on this





Distance = 51.2 miles
Time = 3 hrs 54 mins
Ave Speed = 13.1
Top Speed = 31.8
Hillometer = 20.5 ft/mile

Weather = Overcast & Windy, 13c

2011
Road Bike = 141.2
Single Speed =13.6
Indoor =44.4
Total Mileage = 199.2