Hang in there, Mr Bear.

Delays, delays, delays

Got a puncture 5 mins after leaving work and I was supposed to pick the kids up from school and nursery by 5pm.

Inner tube was replaced in 5 mins, then I had to spend about 10mins trying to get enough air into the tyre so that I could limp down the road to the garage and use the air compressor there. I definitely need a new pump.

Got to the garage, over to the pump and realised that I needed a 20p piece to get the damn thing started. Into my pannier bag, rusling through till I found my jeans and dug out whatever change I had - no 20p coin!!

I finally got the tyre pumped up to a decent pressure and had to pedal fast to try and get to the school in time to pick up the kids. The firm head wind wasn't too helpful, therefore. Anyway, I ended up getting there 10mins late, which wasn't bad considering the delays to the journey and the kids seemed to enjoy the ride back home.

No cycling today because its Easter weekend.

Weekly Total: 43.18miles
Overall Total: 469.6miles
Max Speed: 30.6mph

Racing Rain

There is something immensely futile about trying to race against nature. That wasn't something that crossed my mind this morning, however, when I looked out of the bedroom window at 6am and thought 'hmm, it might rain'. I still climbed into my cycling gear, but couldn't be arsed to pull on my waterproofs so I set off on my journey in to work wearing only a pair of shorts and a summer t-shirt. Nothing like being prepared for the worst. The journey started off at a fairly relaxed and enjoyable pace (I was still aching from playing squash last night) but when the first tendrils of rain started to appear things changed and I realised the predicament I was facing.

There was an large, black and ominous rain cloud hanging over the city and, as I cycled down Queen Margaret Drive and then turned onto Great Western Road, the contents of that cloud were becoming more and more threatening. Up ahead, however, further to the west of the city, was clear skies and probable sanctity from the impending rain.... which then turned the journey into the race against nature.

Tiny droplets of rain seemed to continually pester and poke me, reminding me of what it was I was trying to escape. My legs were screaming their protestations at this most ridiculous of races but I kept up the pace and really started to believe that I was going to make it without getting the soaking that I thoroughly deserved.

I have no idea of how quickly I completed the journey, but I know that I was blessed with empty roads and excellent luck with the majority of the traffic lights along the way. I did manage to make it in to work without being caught in a downpour and I was grinning madly as I stomped off towards the shower block.

My glee was short-lived, however. By the time I came out of the shower block and made my way over to the main building the rain had closed in on Clydebank and I got a rather damp reminder of why you just can't outrun nature.

Weekly Total: 31.66miles

Spring is here

Sunny morning, no wind, no rain, just the perfect weather for cycling. Shame I decided to take the train in to work today then, isn't it?

My excuse is that I'm playing squash tonight, but the reality of it is that I'm finding it hard to get back into the routine after a week away from the saddle.

Weekly Total: 21.10miles

Back on the road again

It's lovely to be back.

It was a muggy but cool morning this morning, with a wee breeze to keep me comfy and empty roads to make me smile. Legs felt strong and bike seemed to be in fairly healthy condition, apart from screeching front brakes that almost gave one poor old pedestrian a heart-attack when she stepped out in front of me. I even managed to squeeze in a gentle race on the way in - didn't even seem to notice that I was accelerating up the hill to overtake him.

Not sure what the prospect is for cycling the remainder of the week, however, as there is some heavy rains forecast and there's a few bears planned for Thursday night (Easter weekend starts).

Weekly Total: 10.56miles

A bike-free week

A whole week off the bike?

I have to admit that its been strange not to have cycled in at least once this week, but I'm feeling pretty good for it. Snowboarding on Monday couple with the winds and rain of the remainder of the week were enough to keep me off the bike and secure my place on a crowded carriage on the train. Not as much fun, but not insufferable as I got to listen to the iPod and read a few copies of the Metro, something I've definitely missed while cycling.

I haven't wasted away the week, however. I've entered the family in the Run The Road event that is scheduled to take place on Sunday 24th April. I'm going to hire a couple of tag-along-bikes for the kids and a mountain bike for the missus, so it should be a good day out for the family, especially if the rest of the gang get their finger out and sign up.

Anyway, a week of abstinence has got me raring to get back on the bike again, so hopefully next we will be a week of sunshine and no pathetic excuses about nasty weather.

Sunshine and Snow

An absolutely incredible day up in Aviemore yesterday as Derek, Iain and myself all bunked off a Monday at work and headed off for some snowboarding.

We got there late thanks to appalling traffic congestion and a few too many beers during the previous evenings poker competition (which Iain won) but when we got there we were rewarded with clear blue skies, blazing sunshine and practically nobody else on the slopes. It was a-m-a-z-i-n-g! There was no fluffy powder to be found, only pisted runs and lumpy hard pack, but every now and then, if you looked hard enough, you found the strangest sort of soft, lumpy crust that felt like you were boarding through a bath of ice cubes.. strange, but eminently rideable.

The afternoon sunshine melted some of the less enjoyable slopes and turned the whole place into a playground of hard-pack, slushy powder and fine pisted runs with a myriad of jumps and berms to entertain us. A truly memorable day out and my thanks go out, once again, to Derek for being my taxi, and also to Iain for joining us on the adventure and for taking all my money in the poker game.

Oh, no bike today 'cos my legs hurt and I didn't fancy arguing with the rain... wuss.

Rest Days

No cycling on Thursday after my exertions on the muddy canal path and Friday was always going to be a day for the trains because I was heading out for a poker game with a few mates straight after work so it feels like its been ages since I was on the bike.

I spent an hour cleaning and lubing up the bike yesterday and I'm all set for the week ahead. No cycling tomorrow though as I'm sneaking another trip up to the Scottish Highlands for another session in the snow... bring on the powder!

Weekly Total: 65.17miles
Overall Total: 426.5miles
Max Speed: 118.8mph (?!!?)

Fishtails and mudflaps

So after a series of gorgeous sunny mornings and hazy sunshine on the way home, I left work last night fully expecting to be embraced by another evening dusk. I had obviously forgotten that I live in Glasgow and that rain is a more predominant weather option and so was provided with a dismal grey sky with light rain punctuating my journey home.

In hindsight, the decsion to take the canal route home wasn't such a good one either, especially when the track disintegrated into a boggy mess and it was all I could do to stop the bike fishtailing across the path and into the canal. It was a long a tiring journey home.

Day off the bike tomorrow, I feel.

Weekly Total: 65.17miles

100mph!!

Another gloriously frosty but sunny morning this morning, a thoroughly enjoying cycle in to work.

I didn't feel like I was overworked at all as I spun the pedals and soaked up the tranquility, ambience and generally happy vibe in the morning sunshine. I was a little shocked to find that my spedometer had registered a max speed of 118.8mph at some point in the journey!

Not quite the 152mph bike record but not too far off.

Weekly Total: 53.53miles

Glorious

What a glorious cycle home today.

It wasn't too cold, perfect shorts weather. The sun was out and covering everything with a warm, orange glow. All I had to do was spin the pedals and follow the long, hazy shadows home. Brilliant.

Weekly Total: 42.96miles

Blinded by the lights

I was at The Streets gig at the Carling Academy last night, which is why the title of this post might be recognisable by some. An all-round excellent gig ruined by the acoustics of the venue. Enough said.

Anyway, blinded by the lights?

At 6:22 this morning I was looking out of the window thinking 'its bloody dark' and seriously contemplating sneaking on my jeans and making a bolt for the train and then 8 minutes later I look out again and its daylight! A beautiful light outside highlighting the overnight frost and making everything sparkle. It looked lovely and was all I needed to convince myself that I should take the bike this morning.

I'm glad I did because I decided to make this morning my monthly time trial attempt. In hindsight, I now realise quite how much of a difference traffic lights can make on your progress and I now know just how agonising those last couple of minutes of the journey can be when you think you are in with a chance of beating your previous record...

My time?

39minutes 58secs.

Almost 40secs knocked off my previous time and I've broken the 40minute barrier. Not bad, but I reckon I can do a lot better (and I need to get a little luckier with the traffic lights).

Weekly Total: 32.42miles

Bland

More practical parenting this evening, which helped break up the monotony of the ride home.

Weekly Total: 21.87miles

Wake up, its Monday

After a long weekend of excess, it was all I could do to persuade myself that cycling in to work was the right thing to do this morning.

I did, it was and I'm glad.

Weekly Total: 10.53miles

Long Week

I have definitely felt the pace this week and I'm glad its over.

The journey home was completed amidst the dolcit tones of metal grinding against metal as my chain decided to make the fact that it hadn't been oiled in over a week known and my brakes decided to add a melody of squeals to the party.

I made it home though and I'm pleased that I managed to ride 4 out of 5 days.

Weekly Total: 86.23miles
Overall Total: 361.3miles
Max Speed: 31.6mph

Freak

I managed to persuade myself that it was a good day to cycle in to work on the basis that the weather had done all its raining overnight and that it looked pretty dry outside.

20mins into the journey I was feeling good and particularly pleased that I'd made the decision not to take the train. At that very moment a freak snow shower decided to make an appearance and I had to spend the remainder of my journey cycling through freezing cold sleet, some hail and a rather annoying head wind that ensured that the aforementioned sleet and hail was fired directly into my face and eyes. A refreshing way to start the day.

Weekly Total: 75.68miles

Knackered

It was all I could do to just keep myself spinning those pedals and make my slow journey home last night. I just didn't have the energy to push myself and just felt completely drained by the time I got home.

Day off the bike tomorrow, I think.

Weekly Total: 65.10miles

Lovely

Beautiful sunny day this morning. Chilly temperatures but glorious sunshine make for a lovely cycle in to work.

Weekly Total: 54.55miles

Practical Parenting with a Bicycle

I was tasked with picking up my two boys from school and nursery this evening (they are 6 and 4 years old).

The boys seem to particularly like it when I come to pick them up, but only when I'm on my bike. You see, I appear to have a slightly unique method of ferrying them home and one which I'd like to offer up as a practical solution for general consumption.

Prepare you bike in the following manner:
1. Add one pannier rack (and pannier bag, if required)
2. Remove all lights, speedometers etc from handlebars
3. Ensure that the bike is in the lowest granny gear you have (those hills are a bugger to climb with extra passengers on board)
4. Park bike next to school bench, thereby allowing the younger child access to scramble onto the pannier rack.
5. Lift the older child up so that he is sitting on your handlebars (NB - advise him not to attempt to hold on to your brake levers - use the bar ends provided)
6. Advise all passengers to 'hold on tight' and begin the cycle home.

The cycle home (with newly acquired passengers) generally takes about 10 mins and is a cacophony of squeals and shrieks as we go down and uphill, my oldest screeching 'slow down!!' and 'brake brake brake!!' while his younger brother is far more daring and is always shouting 'pedal faster, Daddy!!'.

Hardly responsible parenting, but damn good fun.

Bike Thief

Bike theft in New York - check it out and be amazed.
stealbike.wmv (8.4mb download)

I picked up the link from Pedalmasher.com which seems to be a pretty cool collection of mtb race videos and blog.

Cold Ears

My legs were killing me after yesterday's races, but I managed to force myself to pull on the waterproofs and drag the bike out of the shed. I'm glad I did, because the rain stayed away and the cycle in was uneventful (as you would expect at 6.30am) and fairly easy once my legs had warmed up (I couldn't think of an exercise for my ears, so they just turned blue and froze).

Anyway, I made it in and that journey has meant that I have cycled over 300miles since the start of the year. I'm quite pleased with that.

Weekly Total: 32.64miles
Overal Total: 307.7miles