I have man flu. Its not just the ordinary man flu, but serious, bone shaking man flu and ive had it all month!! Its had a serious impact on my training. I had to give things a rest for about a fortnight and got back on the bike a couple of days ago. It wasnt too bad to be honest, only thing was that I was walking like John Wayne for a day or two afterwards.
Matt and I have been out for only one ride this month. It wasnt a good one either. We got down to Fairburn, which is around 6 miles from my house and Matt got a puncture. As I had walked out of the house, I had looked at the puncture repair kit and bike pump and thought "Oh we wont need it!!"
We stopped in a layby and Matt took the front wheel off his bike. I rang Alison who was just on her way out and she dropped of the repair kit and pump with us on her way through to Lotherton Hall.
Matt took out the inner tube and we began to start to pump the tyre up to find out where the puncture was. At this point, we were passed by a group of cyclists who asked us if we were okay. "Fine!" we confidently replied as we tried to pretend that we actually knew what we were doing.
Only after they had disappeared around the corner did we realise that the pump did not actually fit the inner tube. Although we tried to remain as calm as possible, both Matt and my tempers started to fray slightly. It was one of those typical conversations that at the time seemed VERY serious, but something which now seems very funny. I am actually sat here smiling about what happened now. This wasnt the actual dialogue, but just to give you an idea, things went something like this:
"Whats wrong?"
"There's nothing wrong with me, whats wrong with you?"
"Nothing"
"Doesn't look like nothing!"
"Why are you losing your temper?"
"Im not, but you are!"
"No im not im perfectly calm thankyou!"
"No you're not you're annoyed aren't you!"
and so on..................................
At some point during us both pretending not to sulk, Matt somehow managed to rip the whole inner tube apart!!
The result of this was that I rode back home on my own, to bring a car back to pick Matt up. We were both disappointed at not getting further than six miles as I think we were both set for going a long way that day.
Because of my shifts at work, we haven't had the opportunity to go out since. However, I have just read Cleve's blog for Feb and it looks like we are doing a 50 mile bike ride on 1st March!! That is next weekend and is only six short days away. 50 miles right now sounds horrendous.
I have been at work today and had a conversation with someone which has made my realise just what we are about to embark on. It hadn't really hit home properly as its always seemed so far away. I thought I would share it:
"You know Jon, you seem to be eating very healthily at the moment!"
"Doing a bike ride" I said
Their reply to this was something which I think will stay with me for quite a while. It made me sit back and think "Yeah, good point actually!"
"About 20 or so miles around Leeds is it?" they said
"No, about 900 miles from one end of the country to the other!"
Open mouthed and with her jaw on the floor she replied "**** me!!"
I'm not deterred in the slightest, just a little more aware of what we are going to do as at looms ever closer. I am incredibly proud of us all and know that there will be many more tantrums from us all along the way. I cant wait!!
Jon
Sunday, 24 February 2008
Wednesday, 13 February 2008
Cleve's Feb Blog
It's getting closer & things are staring to come together. I've been alternating my rides on both the road & the performance hybrid bikes - definatley taking both. Looking at the map on the site & the stop overs has really brought the whole thing into reality especially with the 1st day of 132 miles (something to look forward too!!!). We didn't get our 1st joint ride in this month as hoped, but we've got one booked for 1st March (i'm charged with sorting the route ... however Matt's confidence & Jon's training regime means the 50 mile ride should be a breeze for them 2!)
Really need to step up the training ..... had a couple of 12 - 16 mile rides this week so far and have a planned 35mile this weekend. Note to self "as of next week 3 x min 45 min rides plus 1 x 2 hr for next 5 weeks...".
Knee is feeling good but not perfect, physio next week. Apparently i'm looking the part in my full Lycra, just need to build up the fittest to match (just talked the guys into joining me in the Lycra wearing revolution, so watch for new pics) - next post after the group ride!!
Cleve
Really need to step up the training ..... had a couple of 12 - 16 mile rides this week so far and have a planned 35mile this weekend. Note to self "as of next week 3 x min 45 min rides plus 1 x 2 hr for next 5 weeks...".
Knee is feeling good but not perfect, physio next week. Apparently i'm looking the part in my full Lycra, just need to build up the fittest to match (just talked the guys into joining me in the Lycra wearing revolution, so watch for new pics) - next post after the group ride!!
Cleve
Tuesday, 5 February 2008
Matt - Feb Post 2
Monday: Cycled for 10.5 miles after forcing myself to go out. Bum sore, legs killing, back hurts and nose running like a waterfall !! Just goes to show that having a week off does me no good.
The cycle went fine although idiots in their cars are scaring me a bit today. 1 woman drove on the wrong side of the road, i had to slam the breaks on and nearly came off and then a 4x4 pulled out in front of me then ignored his indicators when puling back in. This has made me more than aware of how careful we are going to have to be when out and about, especially on the busy roads.
The cycle went fine although idiots in their cars are scaring me a bit today. 1 woman drove on the wrong side of the road, i had to slam the breaks on and nearly came off and then a 4x4 pulled out in front of me then ignored his indicators when puling back in. This has made me more than aware of how careful we are going to have to be when out and about, especially on the busy roads.
Sunday, 3 February 2008
Matt - Feb Post 1
The months until we ride in September are flying by already! Another month gone and now only 8 months to go. The good thing is that there has been no tantrums, no throwing the bike to the ground in temper, and generally no excuses not to ride. However, when i say generally no excuses...i havent actually trained this week! I usually train while in Edinburgh at the hotel and instead went to Glasgow to watch the CIS Cup Semi Final at Hampden. My weekend ride didnt happen due to the bad weather (Cleveland didnt prompt me to ride though - i spoke to him on Saturday and he was using that excuse as well!). Adding to not training, i had chips on the way back from the football, so not a good week for me. If you see me, tell me off!!
My new Boardman bike arrived and it is fantastic!!!! The strength of a mountain bike with the performance of a road bike - and it is so much easier to ride. I have had the bike up to 44mph and it really does power along! This past week i cycled from Holmfirth to Glasshoughton (29.1 miles), and managed to do it without much trouble. I met Jonathon half way and he rode the second half of the journey with me. The not so nice part of the ride was when a car full of teenage lads hung out of the car swearing and generally giving us abuse as we passed (my pink hat probably isnt helping, and the fact that my head shape doesnt take well to helmets so i look quite like Stan Laurel !!). However, I can quite honestly say that i am now quite sure that i will be able to manage riding circa 100 miles per day (although i still know that i am miles off).
On the charity front, the costs are being finalised by the Simantoi at the school and Serena at the Maasai Heritage Foundation. We have identified the clear stages of the build and just need to assign our costs to them to have our targets set. The registration papers are almost complete to register the charity in the UK as well as the USA and that should be submitted this month. Our charity comittee has been defined so big thankyous on that front to Andrew Weatherill (Vice Chair), Mark and Rowena Short (Secretary), Lee Clayton (Finance) and Mushtaq Mahboob who have all agreed to come on board.
The scary thing for me this week has been speaking to the Foundation in the states about what our scond project will be and what we can do for the Maasai in Tanzania (education is equally as bad in Tanzania and in some cases worse). We havent even got near this ride yet and discussions are taking place for 2009!!!!!
My new Boardman bike arrived and it is fantastic!!!! The strength of a mountain bike with the performance of a road bike - and it is so much easier to ride. I have had the bike up to 44mph and it really does power along! This past week i cycled from Holmfirth to Glasshoughton (29.1 miles), and managed to do it without much trouble. I met Jonathon half way and he rode the second half of the journey with me. The not so nice part of the ride was when a car full of teenage lads hung out of the car swearing and generally giving us abuse as we passed (my pink hat probably isnt helping, and the fact that my head shape doesnt take well to helmets so i look quite like Stan Laurel !!). However, I can quite honestly say that i am now quite sure that i will be able to manage riding circa 100 miles per day (although i still know that i am miles off).
On the charity front, the costs are being finalised by the Simantoi at the school and Serena at the Maasai Heritage Foundation. We have identified the clear stages of the build and just need to assign our costs to them to have our targets set. The registration papers are almost complete to register the charity in the UK as well as the USA and that should be submitted this month. Our charity comittee has been defined so big thankyous on that front to Andrew Weatherill (Vice Chair), Mark and Rowena Short (Secretary), Lee Clayton (Finance) and Mushtaq Mahboob who have all agreed to come on board.
The scary thing for me this week has been speaking to the Foundation in the states about what our scond project will be and what we can do for the Maasai in Tanzania (education is equally as bad in Tanzania and in some cases worse). We havent even got near this ride yet and discussions are taking place for 2009!!!!!
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