2008

Coming to terms with everything.

This past 9 months has been turmoil, buying a house and changing jobs and dodgy knee’s has meant little time on the bike.

Last season finished well with 16^th place at SITS and a good run to finish at dusktilldawn. I then went for an assessment with Mart at Torq, bought a power meter for my road bike, set a place for the New Year.

What I didn’t do was enough riding.

My knee started hurting during the coaching period I had in first six months on 2007. too long on the trainer with the bike set up slightly wrong has resulted in RSI in my knee. It still hurts now throbbing wildly in the 3 lap at mayhem, I have solutions for it which means taping it up it works. My other problem was that after a weekend of road training I twisted my knee at work and was off my bike again for 2 weeks, following physio its better I’m riding again, but its still not quite right.

I did get my track

accreditation in January for the Manchester Velodrome, so I will be racing next winter.

Where am I now – having finished Mayhem with 10 laps and 45^th I feel pretty good, mot much training and I go pretty well. The bike works fine, no rear mech to lose in the mud. Next up is hit the north, 12 hours in Manchester.

Get more riding in, fit it, get new shuffle too.

2007

I have being doing a lot of road work so far this year, but only in the daylight, it's bad enough dodging the traffice without doing it  with lights.  So got a trainer for the weekdays after work, hmmm? could get used to this - warm, TV, no need to balance...

I was out today, 18th March, extremely windy, saw one other rider out. After 3 hours I knew why, riding into the wind is like riding up hill non stop! Anyway was out there doing it.

2006 

June 1st 2006

Just found out my new frame has finally ariived in the bike shop. The on one has a last few outings before a serious make over. It has been a great bike and I will be keeping it in back up.

June 5th 2006

Did the TREK 50k yesterday, see diary for more info. Wish I had my granny ring with me though as I had to use my Duo ring set and there were just too many hills! ( broke the bolts on my granny when changing the thing!). Loved to watch the guys in front of me on a full suss bike carefully picking a line through the rought stuff, why?

June 11th 2006

Over the last few months i have been designing a course for the British Heart Foundation Charity Ride at Delamere as part of the DelamereBikeClub. The event went off very well and we had plenty of positive feedback from the riders. This has been a useful experience in designing AND marking out a course and its no easy task, next time i take part in an event I will know what went into it!

July 5th 2006

New bike now running! The nicolia have been on two rides since arriving last week, the rohloff hub is excellent, but getting used to suspension will take a while. The bike is set at 130mm and rides over logs with ease, I could get used to this. It will be wound down to 100-110mm for events though, i think.

July 14th 2006

Now have bike with a difficlut to get out rear wheel, due to the Rohloff and a slow to remove front wheel due to the bolt through, now i need to get to club riders earlier if the bike is in bits - oh dear! and remember to do up all the allen keys on the fork (3) before riding, got a spare front QR though!

1st August 2006

My bike is at last complete, black pedals now finish it off, thinking off a new set of ergons now as the old ones look scruffy. The cost of maintaining a bike, it goes on and on...

3rd August 2006

Yippee! finally agreed on a logo, designed  it with the help of Giles at www.ink-n-paper.com

I will  now be able to desing my race kit for next year, update my website and do some banners.

7th August 2006

Tractor? well that's what i though i was riding, after 8 river crossings at Newham Park, there was not a lot of oil left on the chain, almost thought of asking someone! And did i see Liam Killen cleaning his own bike on the side of the rode? No couldn't be.

12-13th August 2006

You can't have enough lights! At sits I took out blackburns for 2 laps, they started flashing, then I took my lupine out, the longer muddy laps meant I didn't allow for the battry life and the second halve of the lap, with warning it cut out. No lights bar for a haedlamp low power for controls and checking the bike. Oh dear, its 3.00Am and i have no lights, well managed 2 more miles then a mate from a team joined me and I tagged home with him.

My next big night outing will be: Lupine Edison and Li-on 1x 3hr &1x 6hr batteries, Dinotte 5w Li-on  6-12hr battery and 1 smaller back-up light in the pack. The idea is to use the 3 hr and put it on charge while i use the 6hr, then back to the 3 hr.  The Dinotte small and light on the helmet and use when needed. www.on-one.co.uk  are selling them at present.

25th August 2006

Have been looking out for a budget cylo-cross bike for a while and managed to get a Terry Dolan full bike for £610. Looking forward to road rides from the door, but not car drivers! See www.terrydolan.com for more info on some excellent deals.