Happy Hogmanay!

Hello and a Happy New Year!!

What have I been up to... Well a couple of well deserved days off has and is (I've still got one day before I need to go back) wonderful.  Me and the Gids were round at his folks for Christmas Dinner and then they here for a spot of desert.

I have another stinking cold.  I had planned to spend these days around Hug-yer-granny night doing some proper road cycling but a swollen dangly bit in my throat means I'm taking it rather easy.

On the plus side I've managed to set up the new turbo trainer - though have lost my cycling shoes in the move, but bit the dust a couple of days ago (pre cold) and did the cycling dvd I purchased a while ago.  It's rather good. It's done one the pyramid method of keeping the same cadence over a harder and harder gear for a few minutes.  They have a couple of young guys doing it with a couple of old hands (I don't really recognize any of them).  They don't do the full hour but you do get about 50 minutes of turbo training, and the last 10 minute wind down is listening to the young guys picking the brains of one of the older guys.  Apparently he did some sort of route at a death defying speed behind a motorbike when he was in his prime but he doesn't want to say because the cameras are rolling and it wouldn't be responsible. There's also a couple of 10 minute stretching scenes thrown in which if you do a bit of yoga you'll find them fairly standard.

The fitness videos I usually purchased were often of some soap opera actress laughing because she used to be the weight I am now but is now a half pound from organ failure...so this gets 5 stars from me.

With any luck we'll be cycling to and from work when we go back, and I intend to kick off my training this Sunday coming with a 30 miler.  I'm wondering if I should perhaps try to build my distance early this year and then concentrate on speed. Hrmmm.

Mx

5…4…3…2… and One. We have Registration!

Etape Cally people have opened their floodgates, and they’ve found me poking the Giddy Blonde with a sharp stick through the entrance. I did originally think it was just us two but after a quick canvassing not only is it us two, but also Ladies of the Lane (like of the lake except holding aloft Scott Carbon fibre road bikes), my mate Pam (must think of a proper blogger name for her, I was thinking Fuzzy Bear since at her 40th, a group of lads from her work turned up wearing Fuzzy Bear t-shirts but that’s their in joke and I don’t really understand it and I’m fairly sure it’s not etiquette etc), a Trevor and a Simon – not the TV comedy duo I’m told, another duo of sorts and one or two others who’ve expressed an interest but whom I don’t think have actually registered so am not going to jinx that by mentioning them here. Aims for this year: Skills: Get better riding in a group. I’ve started doing the slipstream 3” away from the Giddy Blonde’s back wheel when we’ve been commuting in the morning so getting better at that. He hates it, he ‘can’t see what’s going on and you could be up to anything’... It's the accusatory tone of 'you' I don't like, as if I'm sneaking drugs to 7 yr olds whilst cycling behind him. Cornering and descending needs and always will need work. Fitness: I will conquer those hills (though I quite enjoy it). I wonder if I can get 5 hrs….Hrmm….I’ve said it now haven’t I. So I suppose faster will have to be an aim as well. Commuting’s going fine – though the weather’s taken a turn for the worse. I had to wear padded cycling tights – full length ones - and it wasn’t fun. Not comfy and felt like I was wearing a nappy. So I’ve purchased a new set of long running leggings. I did try on two pairs – Nike and Ronhill. Nike ones – Legend Tight Fit – lovely material, felt quite thick and luxurious and would have been nice and warm but god awful fit. In every other sports wear – nearly – I’m a size 12. In theirs a size 16 and still feel too tight in places. Truly Awful. Their tracksuits are really lovely though I do end up buying a size 14 I’m coming to the conclusion they make clothes for women with no pelvis and tiny, tiny, tiny non-hips. Or their clothes are just for sucking it all in and posing. Ended up with a pair of Ronhill ones with extra lighty reflector bits. Much better fit (even a little loose). They’ve got zips on the end – I think they’re to help you put socks on, otherwise they’re like nipples on Batman – which I usually have issue with but me and my short arse seem to be quite comfortable in them. I have another pair with zips but those zips are much more heavy duty than these ones so don’t always like wearing them. In news that’s no really connected with this blog, I’ve nearly – properly nearly – finished my math course. Though that means gearing up for another much longer math course (oh, god. If I actually think about it, I’ll not do it. So best just do it then eh?) Mx

I'm a commuter!

I've been commuting! On my bike! We're now officially in the house which is a few miles from town. 3.5 to be exact, and it's along the beach so go given the sun doesn't rise until 8, I get to watch the sun come up as I cycle along! We've also signed up for this: Scottish Bike Show Challenge The 65 mile one. I really enjoyed it last year. Particuarly as a prelude to the Etape Cally - which is yet to open it's entry yet. And I could have sworn I'd signed up by now this time last year. Grr. Other than that we're just getting the house ready for Christmas - you know, putting up a couple of shelves (20) so... Tickety boo peeps! Mx