Archive for June, 2005
June 25, 2005 at 8:06 am · Filed under Cycling, Road
New plan is start long distance challenge rides. Audax is a name given to such rides that are controlled by a national body AUK, and can lead to awards if you like that sort of thing. Of course I do.
An audax is not a race but you do have to complete the course within a certain time frame - neither too fast or too slow. I think a typical average pace (to include rest breaks) is 15 - 20 kph. The distances involved vary, I will be sticking to 100 km rides before trying 200 km. The sky is the limit though, there are grand 1400 km rides like London to Edinburgh (and back to London again) and another biggy is London-Paris-London. Ridiculous eh?
The rides seem a bit like orienteering, you are given a route card at the start line and have to find your way to assorted checkpoints where you have to get your card stamped and information points where you need to answer a question - to prove you were there.
The AUK organise awards to encourage participation in ever longer rides, you can have a badge for completing 10 100 km rides in a year or become a super randonneur for completing a 100, 200, 400 and 600 km in a year.
Details can be found on the AUK website http://www.audax.uk.net although be warned it is a bit tricky to navigate. The main point of interest is the calendar so you can find any suitable rides in your area.
I’ve signed myself up for the West London Sightseer, a 100 km trip around the London tourist sites.
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June 22, 2005 at 2:00 pm · Filed under Bikes, Cycling, Equipment
I’ve had a few teething problems with Peryl the Airnimal Chameleon, since I got her nearly 3 months ago.
No real problems, it was just a shock to the system to move from the comfort of a hybrid with front suspension to a twitchy, road bike. I had aches and pains particularly in my elbows and wrists but the main problem was the price. It is a shockingly expensive machine and I suppose it has to be said that I can’t quite afford it. Don’t get me wrong, I have paid for it, but really I can’t warrant such an outlay. Now that its my only bike I have worries about trips like going to the hairdressers and the shops - I just don’t want to leave her outside.
Anyway, thats enough moaning. I think its all an excuse to get another bike - like I need to be a two bike household!
Things have really improved since I came back from my holiday though. My elbows recovered, I bought some extra padding for the handlebars and I started having fun. She is after all a lovely bike.
I’ve just entered us both into an audax. Its my first and not one I would have considered doing on my old cannondale. So the date is set, 6th July, me, Peryl and 100km of london streets. Exciting init.
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Tags: airnimal, chameleon, folding bike
June 15, 2005 at 7:47 pm · Filed under Running
Dunno what possessed me, but I got up at 6.30 on Monday and went for a run. I know…. flippin crazy!
Actually it was a lovely bright morning and Shakti rang all positive and up for a jog so we did it. I live right on the bank of the Thames so its a lovely thing to do, trouble is I’m now almost completely crippled.
We only ran perhaps a max of 1.5 miles but I felt my quads start to ache a little before I finished. By the time I’d had a cup of tea and prepared myself to cycle to work I could barely walk down the stairs.
Anyway, cycling wasn’t at all bad didn’t seem to hurt much at all so the next day I went for another run thinking it might help to stretch my legs out a bit. I took it really easy and pretty much only walked the 2 miles this time.
Boy oh boy it was a mistake, my thighs are killing me. I can’t walk, if I sit I can’t stand, going to the loo is an expedition I may never return from.
I’ve stayed at home today to rest and apply loads of ice, no idea how long its going to take for me to recover fully. Better be soon because I’m cycling in again tomorrow.
I did a few sun salutations before I went out and properly stretched my calves as thats what normally goes when I run, I must add quad stretches now that I have another body part to add to my list of ailing and ageing joints and muscles.
Init awful to get old and I’m only 33?
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Tags: thames
June 7, 2005 at 10:33 am · Filed under Commuting, Cycling
Rather uncharacteristically I took the bus in this morning. I adopted the zombie state that seems to be required for such passive commuting trips but was jolted awake by abuse shouted by the driver. We had just approached Hammersmith Bridge at the same time as another bus came off it and the driver seemed to be doing his best to sandwich a cyclist in between and give him a bit of verbal just for good measure.
Not content with this the driver then drove alongside the cyclist, appeared to be pushing him to the kerb and then threatened to run him over.
I have just sent my complaint to TFL and I imagine a number of the other passengers will too - there was quite a murmuring of discontent on board. In fact one of the passengers stepped up furiously and sorted the driver out, he almost got himself a standing ovation. This is quite positive actually, last time I was on that bus all I heard was tutting as cyclists passed by.
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