Sunday, 16 May 2010

Singletrack splendour

100 of 100

3 hours of lovely trails around my favourite forest, showing a new friend around, the trails were in just about the best condition ever, dappled sunlight streaming through, dust kicking up and temperature just about perfect.

A splendid way to finish this little project, now lets see just how much good has been done next weekend, despite numerous doubts and negative thoughts I will be on the start line for the UK 24 hour solo championships, I want to finish and finish in the spirit of the event, fingers crossed.

Saturday, 15 May 2010

Sunshine and lollipops

Ride 99 of 100

A lazy start meant local trails, and the nemesis bike, the bike that did the damage, the bike that I love to hate....

Anyway, dusty trails, the smell of freshly cut grass, few people around, and fantastic sunshine.

Two and a half hours of single speeding, just riding along minding my own business.

Bliss.

Thursday, 13 May 2010

Lost

Ride 98 of 100

Over a week now since I last rode a bike, resting my borked knee, I rode into work and then home from work, my knee is sore, my head is up my ass as I caused this by not paying attention, all my plans have gone out of the window because I did something dumb.

Tomorrow I will ride into work and back and then on Saturday I will do an exploratory ride around Delamere, I will ride my bike, just not for 24 hours

Wednesday, 5 May 2010

Feeling poorly

Ride 97 of 100

some strange malaise came over me during the day so rode straight home, the chance to align some numbers lost forever....

69er

Ride 96 of 100

got the 69er from the cellar in homage to the 96th ride

was aiming to get up early and hit the river run this morning but rain stopped play and I went back to bed, then got up and went to work.

Tuesday, 4 May 2010

Riding home

Ride 95 of 100

Home the short way, wind assisted, clean bike and annoyed that the sun is out but I need to rest my knee.

Concrete bike

Ride 94 of 100

The Trek had set solid with Dyfi concrete so I rode it to work and jet washed it down, my right knee still swollen from Sunday and sore to boot :-(

The real pain is at the top of my calf muscle, feels like something deep inside is stretched out, its ok when riding but I'm wondering about a 24 hour race and what damage that will do, all recent rides have been fine but the days after have been painful.

The doubts are setting in, I'm not sacrificing another summer for one race, one race for which I am utterly underprepared.

We'll see

Monday, 3 May 2010

Dyfi Enduro

Ride 93 of 100

its not a race, its a timed event.... and despite our best efforts we didn't manage DFL.

well whatever it was it was a whole heap of fun, trundling along, enjoying the scenery, enjoying the descents, realising that a good, well set up full suspension bike makes a huge difference to how well I can descend.

The company was great also, once or twice there was the threat of a sense of humour fail but it never happened, testament to a strong will :-).

Of course all of this would never happen without the will power of the folks who organise the Dyfi, much respect to those lovely people who open up their lovely trails to all comers, go out of their way to make you feel welcome and know just what it takes to make for a grand weekend.

Sea air

Ride 92 of 100

20 miles along the Mawdach trail, sea breeze, cream tea, inspiration found

Thursday, 29 April 2010

Things had better change

Ride 91 of 100

Home, on the road, dodging the lorries, dodging the rain (not very well), keeping a sharp eye out for that inspiration that I know is lurking out there, didn't see it :-(

Uninspired

Ride 90 of 100

12 minutes at 19MPH

Wednesday, 28 April 2010

The Wrong Wind

Ride 89 of 100

Despite trying to get away early I was still late out, and to face a howling wind straight in my face, it evaporated my desire instantly, oh well I'll call this week a rest week then eh ?.

Wet Tarmac

Ride 88 of 100

Road bike to work, too late to do anything other than straight there thanks to an errant teenage son.

Tuesday, 27 April 2010

Clean Bike

Ride 87 of 100

Spent an hour cleaning the bike after work, aiming to ride for a few hours in the sunshine, didn't happen as sitting on my arse all day appears to caused my sore knee to flare up, riding home was a painful soft pedaling exercise :-(

Road Bike

Ride 86 of 100

Straight to work for an early meeting, nowt to report.

Sunday, 25 April 2010

Short and sweet

Ride 85 of 100

Peaks again, ditto the last blog entry.

Annual Bamford weekend

Ride 84 of 100

28 miles of the peak districts finest trails, in the sun, with friends and a skill compensator, and possibly the driest trails for a decade.

No more needed.

Thursday, 22 April 2010

Cheeky Singletrack

Ride 83 of 100

Out before the bell and round the back to pick up the cheeky singletrack, the trail is in such good condition that it begs you to go fast, so I did, as fast as I could

it was ace

even the dog shit had dried out !

A short commute

Ride 82 of 100

Along the river and straight to work, sunshine warmth breaking through

The smell of soil

Ride 81 of 100

Must be national plough your field day today, all the way to Delamere farmers are out and ploughing, turning over the top soil to reveal the rich dark and damp soil that seagulls love for the worms !

Sunshine but a cold wind meant a hard ride out, buff trails in the forest meant a couple of hours exploring before turning back for home to be disappointed that the expected wind on my back had died down.

Never got warm all day.