Cycling up to work this morning, minding my own business (albeit wearing a road-safety vest with a hedgehog on it!) Nom suddenly braked at an amber light like the good adult that he is. I continued, braked sharply with my 'keen' disc brakes, flew over the handlebars and fortunately flat out onto some nice soft grass.
Not so lucky with the bike. Investigation by the adult revealed that the back wheel had actually come off!
Enough said. Halfords - bleh. Epic fail.
Tuesday, 30 December 2008
Monday, 29 December 2008
Pedal splosh pedal
Yes, I was going swimming today; in fact cycling to Spenborough and back with another epic swim session in the middle. Lucky we didn't go for the run that was joked about afterwards. Rest day tomorrow, thank gravy.
And hopefully the Corporal's toe hasn't exploded.
And hopefully the Corporal's toe hasn't exploded.
Sunday, 28 December 2008
Question.
Just cycled to work and back today, despite it being a Sunday, but Nom was going like wotsit off the proverbial Teflon stick, so a very tired Veg with non-working legs had to calculate interest rates for three hours. At least I was sitting down.
So to the question. Corporal, are we cycling tomorrow, and if so, how about a cycle-swim-cycle at lunchtime before the after New Year rush kicks in and we have to find a lake?
Yay tri suit! Yay new swimming costume! Yay new road safety top with a hedgehog on it! People were very kind at Christmas! Now I just need a heart-rate monitor. And gravy.
So to the question. Corporal, are we cycling tomorrow, and if so, how about a cycle-swim-cycle at lunchtime before the after New Year rush kicks in and we have to find a lake?
Yay tri suit! Yay new swimming costume! Yay new road safety top with a hedgehog on it! People were very kind at Christmas! Now I just need a heart-rate monitor. And gravy.
Saturday, 27 December 2008
Dressed to Tri
Who put Nom in charge of the route?
An afternoon cycle to blow away the cobwebs sounded lovely until Nom took the A-Z right out of my freakishly long fingers to plot his own fiendish route.
We went to Horsforth, to visit TRIangle, a lovely little triathlon shop with some very beautiful wares. The problem was that it was up a hill, then on the flat, then up a hill, then down a hill, then UP A HILL, then DOOOOWWWWWWNNNN a hill, then...well, you get the idea. Extreme undulation.
BUT I NOW HAVE A TRI SUIT!! Although I was told off by the Corporal for it being black, not red, so I won't go faster. Yay tri shop. Now all I need is a heart rate monitor and some shiny new tri shoes.
We had to go to the pub for tea as we didn't have enough food to keep up filled. Yay steak.
An afternoon cycle to blow away the cobwebs sounded lovely until Nom took the A-Z right out of my freakishly long fingers to plot his own fiendish route.
We went to Horsforth, to visit TRIangle, a lovely little triathlon shop with some very beautiful wares. The problem was that it was up a hill, then on the flat, then up a hill, then down a hill, then UP A HILL, then DOOOOWWWWWWNNNN a hill, then...well, you get the idea. Extreme undulation.
BUT I NOW HAVE A TRI SUIT!! Although I was told off by the Corporal for it being black, not red, so I won't go faster. Yay tri shop. Now all I need is a heart rate monitor and some shiny new tri shoes.
We had to go to the pub for tea as we didn't have enough food to keep up filled. Yay steak.
Saturday, 20 December 2008
39:25
Finally got my timed cycle in today, after Wednesday's farrago. 9 miles on the (relatively) flat Greenway in a time which you just might be able to predict. Tremendously happy with this, as it now means I've met all my targets for 2008: 300m swim in 7 mins (6:45), 2mi run in 18 mins (16:53) and 9 mile cycle in 45 mins (39:25).
On a heap of junk, as well. With almost entirely ineffective brakes. 75% of my brain capacity is now taken up with daydreaming of new bikes. Ones that aren't made from bricks.
On a heap of junk, as well. With almost entirely ineffective brakes. 75% of my brain capacity is now taken up with daydreaming of new bikes. Ones that aren't made from bricks.
Friday, 19 December 2008
No internet access - sob!
I have no internet access at home and so am trying to type this post in the 3 minutes that are left of my work lunch.
Swimming tonight.
Running around like a lunatic on Saturday.
Hopeful bike ride on Sunday then swim in the afternoon.
Lunch over! :(
Swimming tonight.
Running around like a lunatic on Saturday.
Hopeful bike ride on Sunday then swim in the afternoon.
Lunch over! :(
Thursday, 18 December 2008
a new 3 stage plan
After discussions with the Corporal I have developed a new 3 stage plan to the Triathlon.
Stage 1. Agree to make a plan
Stage 2. ???
Stage 3. Win triathlon.
How can I fail to succeed?
Stage 1. Agree to make a plan
Stage 2. ???
Stage 3. Win triathlon.
How can I fail to succeed?
Wednesday, 10 December 2008
Ilkley Tri 2008 - in stats!
Okay, first off, I'm aware that my love of stats is not shared by the rest of you. Additionally, I know that Nom and Fromage profess not to be bothered about their final positions next year (I'd be willing to bet real money that this isn't the case by next September). I even know that the information presented below might make Veg a sad panda-ess. But you should read anyway, because I'm awesome.
Anyway. What I did tonight (after getting bored with Arsenal living up to the first syllable of their name in the Champions' League) was get all the results from the Ilkley Tri 2008 (from a .pdf file on the LTB website), take all the relays out (because they don't really count), and play around with the numbers. What I wanted to find out was which discipline has the greatest effect on finishing position (more or less the same as finishing time).
I was confident beforehand that the bike leg would be the most important. It's the longest, after all. I was right:
How to read the table: r^2 is basically a measure of the relationship between two sets of data, 0 being no relationship, 1 being an exact relationship. A bike rank - total rank score of 0.911 is really, really close.
A graph? Here:
If my A-Level physics experiments yielded graphs like that, people would think I'd faked the results. (They'd probably be right.)
What this means for normal people, of course, is that the bike leg will be vitally important for those trying to get a good result next year.
In other words, lots of cycling in 2009!
PS. The bit which might make Veg a sad panda-ess is the fairly weak relationship between swimming and finishing position. I suppose the problem with the swim is that the difference between a good swim and an average one is about 2 minutes, which really isn't a lot in the grand scheme of things. So that's something for Nom and Fromage (and my shoulder) to feel good about.
Anyway. What I did tonight (after getting bored with Arsenal living up to the first syllable of their name in the Champions' League) was get all the results from the Ilkley Tri 2008 (from a .pdf file on the LTB website), take all the relays out (because they don't really count), and play around with the numbers. What I wanted to find out was which discipline has the greatest effect on finishing position (more or less the same as finishing time).
I was confident beforehand that the bike leg would be the most important. It's the longest, after all. I was right:
| r^2 | Swim | Bike | Run |
| Time | 0.447 | 0.808 | 0.764 |
| Rank | 0.444 | 0.911 | 0.810 |
How to read the table: r^2 is basically a measure of the relationship between two sets of data, 0 being no relationship, 1 being an exact relationship. A bike rank - total rank score of 0.911 is really, really close.
A graph? Here:
If my A-Level physics experiments yielded graphs like that, people would think I'd faked the results. (They'd probably be right.)
What this means for normal people, of course, is that the bike leg will be vitally important for those trying to get a good result next year.
In other words, lots of cycling in 2009!
PS. The bit which might make Veg a sad panda-ess is the fairly weak relationship between swimming and finishing position. I suppose the problem with the swim is that the difference between a good swim and an average one is about 2 minutes, which really isn't a lot in the grand scheme of things. So that's something for Nom and Fromage (and my shoulder) to feel good about.
Monday, 8 December 2008
Blogging, then, up to me...
...not a particularly good thing for it to be.
Happy Birthday, firstly, to Veg, who celebrated in style. With gravy.
This contributed to the reduced weekend schedule, with just a brick session on Sunday, including a route of fierce hills as devised by Nom, cackling manically as he went. Grr. Still, I'm sure it will have burned off at least one of the birthday baguettes.
I somehow managed to drag myself out of the house today for a run, the same 2 mile run we'd done previously. Was v. happy to finish it in a shade under 17 minutes (target 2 for 2008 completed), especially as I got a bad stitch for the second day running (a-ha-ha). I might need to do something about that if it persists, although I've not had this problem in the past.
All of which means that I only have a 9 mile cycle in 45 mins to get through before New Year. Not entirely sure whether I'm looking forward to doing that on my increasingly inadequate machine.
Bah, humbug.
Happy Birthday, firstly, to Veg, who celebrated in style. With gravy.
This contributed to the reduced weekend schedule, with just a brick session on Sunday, including a route of fierce hills as devised by Nom, cackling manically as he went. Grr. Still, I'm sure it will have burned off at least one of the birthday baguettes.
I somehow managed to drag myself out of the house today for a run, the same 2 mile run we'd done previously. Was v. happy to finish it in a shade under 17 minutes (target 2 for 2008 completed), especially as I got a bad stitch for the second day running (a-ha-ha). I might need to do something about that if it persists, although I've not had this problem in the past.
All of which means that I only have a 9 mile cycle in 45 mins to get through before New Year. Not entirely sure whether I'm looking forward to doing that on my increasingly inadequate machine.
Bah, humbug.
Thursday, 4 December 2008
Boo, no internet :(
Major internet failure at Veg/Nom Towers means that I won't be able to update as often as I once was. Hopefully will be rectified soon, but may have to pay £75 for the privilege (long story).
The Corporal has a squiffy shoulder: so squiffy in fact that he is having to retire from swimming for two weeks. Boo. Poor Corporal; hopefully his saluting arm will be back to full strength soon; that is if he hasn't died of boredom on the exercise bike.
Nom has a puncture, and an inner tube that doesn't fit his pump.
It's too cold outside for Fromage.
The Corporal has a squiffy shoulder: so squiffy in fact that he is having to retire from swimming for two weeks. Boo. Poor Corporal; hopefully his saluting arm will be back to full strength soon; that is if he hasn't died of boredom on the exercise bike.
Nom has a puncture, and an inner tube that doesn't fit his pump.
It's too cold outside for Fromage.
Sunday, 30 November 2008
Wet brick
Poor Corporal. Enjoy your gravy - you've earned it.
Starting at the beginning - due to the FAIL status of the swimming last Friday, (too busy building the best cake ever from a potential cake fail due to the squodginess of Nigella's chocolate cake) there was a little guilt in the Veg camp. So what better way to make amends than to punish myself and the Corporal with a variety of ridiculous workouts? Whoever heard of a bike-swim-bike brick? (Probably not technically a brick, but still...)
Saturday: bike ride - I think it was about 14 miles and I also think everyone was lost for most of the route. Some giant hills; I'll map it out and report back. Problems were encountered with Nom's iffy inner tube which required a hasty puncture repair and my front wheel which had been completely Halfords-ed. It really was a great steaming pile of Halfords. The route, despite my best efforts, had far more texture than any of us were expecting but was great fun and very pretty, even including a bonus stop in Brighouse for Nom to get his bike serviced and for almost everyone to buy new gloves. VS Cycles are amazing! Said stop however, did involve a major food fail, with a full fish and chip shop, then a closed down stodge shop, then a cafe owner who had run out of food, then eventually Wetherspoons, for surprisingly nommable fare. Then alcohol in the evening and an indoor barbecue: mmm, mushrooms.
Working this morning, despite it being Sunday: boo. Nom was fragile due to vast amounts of wine consumed last night and a very late night. A discovery was made last week of a new unsociable hour to swim: 3.30 to 4.30 on Sundays. Hopefully everyone else is in the church or the pub. Set off with a Nom and a Corporal (Nom on old bike due to another tyre fail) and arrived sans Nom, who was feeling more fragile, had no lights and was extremely tired.
So, the swim. Oooo. I now have an invisible gorilla on my shoulders. I'm dreading waking up tomorrow because it doesn't hurt now and I'm expecting pain. It's harder to swim at Spenborough: the Corporal used science and concluded that a longer pool is harder to swim in, due to fewer push-offs. We were both talking ourselves through the last set. I had serious thoughts about skipping the last 66m of the last front crawl set but pride wouldn't let me.
And then we had to cycle home. At top speed, naturally. Bendy lessons tomorrow if my arms haven't dropped off. I need to wash my hair now before I can't raise my arms above my head.
Starting at the beginning - due to the FAIL status of the swimming last Friday, (too busy building the best cake ever from a potential cake fail due to the squodginess of Nigella's chocolate cake) there was a little guilt in the Veg camp. So what better way to make amends than to punish myself and the Corporal with a variety of ridiculous workouts? Whoever heard of a bike-swim-bike brick? (Probably not technically a brick, but still...)
Saturday: bike ride - I think it was about 14 miles and I also think everyone was lost for most of the route. Some giant hills; I'll map it out and report back. Problems were encountered with Nom's iffy inner tube which required a hasty puncture repair and my front wheel which had been completely Halfords-ed. It really was a great steaming pile of Halfords. The route, despite my best efforts, had far more texture than any of us were expecting but was great fun and very pretty, even including a bonus stop in Brighouse for Nom to get his bike serviced and for almost everyone to buy new gloves. VS Cycles are amazing! Said stop however, did involve a major food fail, with a full fish and chip shop, then a closed down stodge shop, then a cafe owner who had run out of food, then eventually Wetherspoons, for surprisingly nommable fare. Then alcohol in the evening and an indoor barbecue: mmm, mushrooms.
Working this morning, despite it being Sunday: boo. Nom was fragile due to vast amounts of wine consumed last night and a very late night. A discovery was made last week of a new unsociable hour to swim: 3.30 to 4.30 on Sundays. Hopefully everyone else is in the church or the pub. Set off with a Nom and a Corporal (Nom on old bike due to another tyre fail) and arrived sans Nom, who was feeling more fragile, had no lights and was extremely tired.
So, the swim. Oooo. I now have an invisible gorilla on my shoulders. I'm dreading waking up tomorrow because it doesn't hurt now and I'm expecting pain. It's harder to swim at Spenborough: the Corporal used science and concluded that a longer pool is harder to swim in, due to fewer push-offs. We were both talking ourselves through the last set. I had serious thoughts about skipping the last 66m of the last front crawl set but pride wouldn't let me.
And then we had to cycle home. At top speed, naturally. Bendy lessons tomorrow if my arms haven't dropped off. I need to wash my hair now before I can't raise my arms above my head.
Painzilla
Egads.
Today was a hastily-arranged cycle-swim-cycle to Spenborough Pool and back. Done in around 90 minutes, which probably explains the total agony in my entire body. I would guess an average bike speed of approx. 15mph (officially quite fast), partially due to the cold and partially due to the closing window of swimming time.
Swimming was great, due to the absence of anyone else (more or less), giving us half the (big) pool to ourselves. 4x200m sets in a pool like that is pretty hardcore, though, and I'm not entirely sure how we managed to haul ourselves out of the water at the end.
I need to put gravy on now, so I'll allow Veg to talk about the interesting bits...
Today was a hastily-arranged cycle-swim-cycle to Spenborough Pool and back. Done in around 90 minutes, which probably explains the total agony in my entire body. I would guess an average bike speed of approx. 15mph (officially quite fast), partially due to the cold and partially due to the closing window of swimming time.
Swimming was great, due to the absence of anyone else (more or less), giving us half the (big) pool to ourselves. 4x200m sets in a pool like that is pretty hardcore, though, and I'm not entirely sure how we managed to haul ourselves out of the water at the end.
I need to put gravy on now, so I'll allow Veg to talk about the interesting bits...
Friday, 28 November 2008
The Battle of Halfords, Part the Fourth
Grrrr. How can a household name be so absolutely rubbish?
I had my first full service last week. To fix the broken gears, the sticking brakes and the grips that slip off the handlebars.
I took my bike down. I was hoping that it was just teething troubles and the bike would be fine after I reported the problems and demanded it be fixed.
But Halfords, in my experience, really are a bag of crap. I cycled down my road tonight thinking 'if I brake too suddenly I'm going to go under that car'. I have disc brakes but they seem no better than properly set up standard brakes. I'd like to take my trade elsewhere because I'm sick of this. :(
I had my first full service last week. To fix the broken gears, the sticking brakes and the grips that slip off the handlebars.
I took my bike down. I was hoping that it was just teething troubles and the bike would be fine after I reported the problems and demanded it be fixed.
But Halfords, in my experience, really are a bag of crap. I cycled down my road tonight thinking 'if I brake too suddenly I'm going to go under that car'. I have disc brakes but they seem no better than properly set up standard brakes. I'd like to take my trade elsewhere because I'm sick of this. :(
Thursday, 27 November 2008
Well...nobody else is here (sigh)
Looks like I'm here on my own (sob!) Until this weekend, I'm sure when the brick will have everyone in pain and complaining here!
Hmmm...free swim last night as kind friend works behind the counter. Yay! Swam 700m - 100m breaststroke, followed by 500m front crawl, then 100m breaststroke. Amazingly I could feel my shoulders, and not in a bad way, this morning. I may have to step it up.
Unbelievably muddy trip home from work on the bikes yesterday. Past the building site, on a main road, in the dark and the rain. Everything went in to wash when we got home, including us.
*space reserved for photo of muddy Nom and Veg*
Cycled to work and back today, then locked up the bike and walked up to Odd Barracks for a run, which, we were told when we arrived, was two miles long! Eeek! We're beginners! Surprisingly it wasn't too bad, until Nom sat down, to get up 20 minutes later and discover his legs no longer worked. Well, he is the oldest one among us...
Hmmm...free swim last night as kind friend works behind the counter. Yay! Swam 700m - 100m breaststroke, followed by 500m front crawl, then 100m breaststroke. Amazingly I could feel my shoulders, and not in a bad way, this morning. I may have to step it up.
Unbelievably muddy trip home from work on the bikes yesterday. Past the building site, on a main road, in the dark and the rain. Everything went in to wash when we got home, including us.
*space reserved for photo of muddy Nom and Veg*
Cycled to work and back today, then locked up the bike and walked up to Odd Barracks for a run, which, we were told when we arrived, was two miles long! Eeek! We're beginners! Surprisingly it wasn't too bad, until Nom sat down, to get up 20 minutes later and discover his legs no longer worked. Well, he is the oldest one among us...
Tuesday, 25 November 2008
The Battle of Halfords: Clearing up the bodies.
Ooh, argh, my thighs. Ouch. Yesterday has come back with reinforcements on the tops of my legs; hopefully meaning that the tops of my legs will be shrinking without (much) further delay. Smaller pants here I come! Had to tighten my belt by a notch (about 2 inches) over the weekend to prevent embarrassing loss of trousers. This is very good, except that I'm cold without my nice, insulating layer of fat! Had to wear my fleece in the office today: brrr...
But the good news. My bike is fixed - yay!! Hooray! Woo hoo! (Other random exclaimations!) Picked it up from Halfords tonight and:
Cycling to work tomorrow - hooray! Can't wait for the next brick to see how fit I actually am! Although that may be an exaggeration.
But the good news. My bike is fixed - yay!! Hooray! Woo hoo! (Other random exclaimations!) Picked it up from Halfords tonight and:
- the wheels spin when encouraged and don't stop for ages
- the grips stay on the handlebars as they should
- the gears are smooth as a very streamlined swimmer
- the bike's had a full first service for free!
Cycling to work tomorrow - hooray! Can't wait for the next brick to see how fit I actually am! Although that may be an exaggeration.
Monday, 24 November 2008
The Battle of Halfords, Part the Third.
31 in a couple of weeks. Sigh.
Anyway, enough reminding the Corporal about his treatment of the elderly (Nom is older still!). It's been a busy few days. Circumstances had a meeting without me and decided that I'd be too busy to train for most of last week. Bendy lessons: OK. Tuesday rest: OK. Wednesday run: fail. Thursday run: fail. Friday swim: big old rubbish fail. Sob!
Anyway, on Friday night we ventured over to Nom-Land: Beverley, East Yorkshire. Wow, no hills! We celebrated in true Corporal style: well, I did. Nom and I ran 1.25 miles (admittedly from the pub so we didn't miss The IT Crowd at 10pm) on Friday night. We also ran 1 mile on Saturday night before tea, on the only 'hill' in Beverley. A giant bike ride was planned for Saturday, but snow stopped play. Boo. I wasn't even allowed to go for a run until freezing cold early evening. How many calories does shopping and cooking burn? Swam 800m (me) and 500m (Nom) on Sunday morning, then despite Nom being confined to bed on Monday morning (didn't sleep well, so couldn't get up) I did 1,000m in 100m reps of breast stroke and front crawl alternately. Shared a lane with the most courteous swimmer I've ever met, and also the rudest. Most courteous swimmer was great; we swam at the same speed so could share the lane perfectly; stopped for a chat when we got knackered and had the happiest lane in the happiest pool in Yorkshire. Then Mr Head-above-the-water-and-splashy-front-crawl came into the pool, swam like someone insane in Bowling Pool on a lunchtime with no social skills, but also with more splashing, less technique and less speed. Boo. I wonder if he drives like that?
Also met someone in the pool who had some tri-specific goggles; designed for the whole event. He swore by them; his partner does 'tri' so I'm sure he knows! I think they came from TK Maxx too - Veg on a mission!
Ran a bit back from the pool session, until my legs began to collapse. Also, running on cobbles is not fun. Ooh, aargh, ankle!
Then we walked into Beverley to visit the rather nice bike shop with the very nice tri-bars in the window: closed on Mondays. Noooooooooooooo! :( (me) :( (Nom)
Sulked home, then cycled into Bradford (at walking pace admittedly, but in the FREEZING cold. I honestly thought my fingers were going to fall off). Dropped my poor, broken bike off at Halfords, wishing they were VS Cycles, pointed out that the front wheel doesn't move, the gears creak and groan and sometimes don't respond, and the grips on the handlebars slide off as you cycle, to be translated as 'some issues to be done' by the genius behind the counter. Not holding my breath.
Then home (via Costa Coffee for a skimmed milk latte with whole milk. Hmm...listening? Grrr. I'm going to yoga next! I can't have whole milk or anything substantial before; will leave the rest to your imagination.) by bus. Then to bendy lessons. Great fun - so bendy that we had to use a strap to bend into the required positions, but rewarding. So rewarding that despite the hot bath tonight I know that I'll hurt tomorrow. But I never knew that I could touch my knee sideways on my back with my nose! And tomorrow I get my bike back! Yay!!!
I must admit that now muscles are starting to appear. In fact, with all this resistance training my thighs are starting to scare me! They've never looked so muscular before; and with the yoga I'm much more aware of my joints and muscles, which I'm sure can only be a good thing, until after a brick!
Anyway, enough reminding the Corporal about his treatment of the elderly (Nom is older still!). It's been a busy few days. Circumstances had a meeting without me and decided that I'd be too busy to train for most of last week. Bendy lessons: OK. Tuesday rest: OK. Wednesday run: fail. Thursday run: fail. Friday swim: big old rubbish fail. Sob!
Anyway, on Friday night we ventured over to Nom-Land: Beverley, East Yorkshire. Wow, no hills! We celebrated in true Corporal style: well, I did. Nom and I ran 1.25 miles (admittedly from the pub so we didn't miss The IT Crowd at 10pm) on Friday night. We also ran 1 mile on Saturday night before tea, on the only 'hill' in Beverley. A giant bike ride was planned for Saturday, but snow stopped play. Boo. I wasn't even allowed to go for a run until freezing cold early evening. How many calories does shopping and cooking burn? Swam 800m (me) and 500m (Nom) on Sunday morning, then despite Nom being confined to bed on Monday morning (didn't sleep well, so couldn't get up) I did 1,000m in 100m reps of breast stroke and front crawl alternately. Shared a lane with the most courteous swimmer I've ever met, and also the rudest. Most courteous swimmer was great; we swam at the same speed so could share the lane perfectly; stopped for a chat when we got knackered and had the happiest lane in the happiest pool in Yorkshire. Then Mr Head-above-the-water-and-splashy-front-crawl came into the pool, swam like someone insane in Bowling Pool on a lunchtime with no social skills, but also with more splashing, less technique and less speed. Boo. I wonder if he drives like that?
Also met someone in the pool who had some tri-specific goggles; designed for the whole event. He swore by them; his partner does 'tri' so I'm sure he knows! I think they came from TK Maxx too - Veg on a mission!
Ran a bit back from the pool session, until my legs began to collapse. Also, running on cobbles is not fun. Ooh, aargh, ankle!
Then we walked into Beverley to visit the rather nice bike shop with the very nice tri-bars in the window: closed on Mondays. Noooooooooooooo! :( (me) :( (Nom)
Sulked home, then cycled into Bradford (at walking pace admittedly, but in the FREEZING cold. I honestly thought my fingers were going to fall off). Dropped my poor, broken bike off at Halfords, wishing they were VS Cycles, pointed out that the front wheel doesn't move, the gears creak and groan and sometimes don't respond, and the grips on the handlebars slide off as you cycle, to be translated as 'some issues to be done' by the genius behind the counter. Not holding my breath.
Then home (via Costa Coffee for a skimmed milk latte with whole milk. Hmm...listening? Grrr. I'm going to yoga next! I can't have whole milk or anything substantial before; will leave the rest to your imagination.) by bus. Then to bendy lessons. Great fun - so bendy that we had to use a strap to bend into the required positions, but rewarding. So rewarding that despite the hot bath tonight I know that I'll hurt tomorrow. But I never knew that I could touch my knee sideways on my back with my nose! And tomorrow I get my bike back! Yay!!!
I must admit that now muscles are starting to appear. In fact, with all this resistance training my thighs are starting to scare me! They've never looked so muscular before; and with the yoga I'm much more aware of my joints and muscles, which I'm sure can only be a good thing, until after a brick!
Birthday swimming - the future?
26 today. Sigh.
Anyway, hauled myself over to Richard Dunns at lunchtime for swimming. Didn't start very well, my goggles started leaking almost instantly, and after two lengths the strap came off completely. Gngh. Fixed it in a makeshift fashion, and then managed to meet the first of my end-of-2008 goals by swimming 300m in under 7 minutes (6:45 to be precise). Finished off the session with those somersault turn thingies, which I really need to get the hang of the breathing of, else I'll probably die.
Wrapped the whole thing, including grabbing dinner, up in an hour, heroically. Officially the best thing ever.
Until I opened my birthday present, anyway, lovely lovely tri-bars. I forsee about 4 months of adjusting the positions, roughly up until I get my new bike and get an adult to set them up right. At the very least, however, I expect a placebo effect. And, frankly, that'll do.
(PS. I will get an avatar sorted, honest. It's just that I've had pizza and chips for tea, and it's rather sapping my stamina...)
Anyway, hauled myself over to Richard Dunns at lunchtime for swimming. Didn't start very well, my goggles started leaking almost instantly, and after two lengths the strap came off completely. Gngh. Fixed it in a makeshift fashion, and then managed to meet the first of my end-of-2008 goals by swimming 300m in under 7 minutes (6:45 to be precise). Finished off the session with those somersault turn thingies, which I really need to get the hang of the breathing of, else I'll probably die.
Wrapped the whole thing, including grabbing dinner, up in an hour, heroically. Officially the best thing ever.
Until I opened my birthday present, anyway, lovely lovely tri-bars. I forsee about 4 months of adjusting the positions, roughly up until I get my new bike and get an adult to set them up right. At the very least, however, I expect a placebo effect. And, frankly, that'll do.
(PS. I will get an avatar sorted, honest. It's just that I've had pizza and chips for tea, and it's rather sapping my stamina...)
Sunday, 23 November 2008
So lonely, bricking on my own...
Point for the reference.
Anyway, myself and Fromage had the pleasure of IB's company on Saturday for a stroll along the Greenway. Sparkly new bike as well, very nice. Panini streak was maintained due to the Wickham Arms (well, the cafe attached to it, anyway. Nice lattes.) Felt jolly civilised to avoid hills for once.
No such luck on Sunday, with everyone else busy, t'was a solo bricking session, beginning with my first cycle ascent of Shetcliffe Lane. Pretty painful. In fact, the whole session was a struggle, due mainly to the lack of company, I think. Although the tweak in my knee right at the beginning of the run can't really be blamed on anything other than technique (and, I suppose, the hardness of concrete).
In other news, it turns out my lovely new pump is useless for the next few months, as apparently road tyres have different fittings to normal crap bikes like mine. Still, it does look very pretty.
More importantly though, this time tomorrow I should have fitted aerobars to the Oddmobile! A gleaming future of chronic back pain awaits...
Anyway, myself and Fromage had the pleasure of IB's company on Saturday for a stroll along the Greenway. Sparkly new bike as well, very nice. Panini streak was maintained due to the Wickham Arms (well, the cafe attached to it, anyway. Nice lattes.) Felt jolly civilised to avoid hills for once.
No such luck on Sunday, with everyone else busy, t'was a solo bricking session, beginning with my first cycle ascent of Shetcliffe Lane. Pretty painful. In fact, the whole session was a struggle, due mainly to the lack of company, I think. Although the tweak in my knee right at the beginning of the run can't really be blamed on anything other than technique (and, I suppose, the hardness of concrete).
In other news, it turns out my lovely new pump is useless for the next few months, as apparently road tyres have different fittings to normal crap bikes like mine. Still, it does look very pretty.
More importantly though, this time tomorrow I should have fitted aerobars to the Oddmobile! A gleaming future of chronic back pain awaits...
Wednesday, 19 November 2008
Bike woes - the Battle of Halfords Part the Second
I can't get my bike fixed until Monday. Even then they may delay it until Tuesday. Woe, woe and cabbage. VS Cycles have said I'll have to take it to Halfords :( and Halfords say they're busy until Monday, maybe Tuesday. Which is upsetting considering my bike is crap.
Errrrr...Corporal? Are you going to find another avatar? You can do the Python thing without your face if you're shy.
Bless him. *kick* :)
Bendy lessons were hard last night. My back stopped working this morning: not good. It's supposed to make you more, not less bendy! Bleh.
Errrrr...Corporal? Are you going to find another avatar? You can do the Python thing without your face if you're shy.
Bless him. *kick* :)
Bendy lessons were hard last night. My back stopped working this morning: not good. It's supposed to make you more, not less bendy! Bleh.
Sunday, 16 November 2008
Bacon and buttercream
Best time of the week - the longest possible time before we have to do a brick session. Although I jest, today was extremely good fun, despite the hill up to the Greenway being above even an exclamation of "holy crud" from the Corporal. Probably because he couldn't speak, or breathe, or use his heart because he sprinted up it. Straitjacket on standby.
I can honestly say that the Tom Yam Gai soup, chicken satay, spring roll, seaweed, prawn toast, mini-rib, duck pancakes, sea bass in fresh chilli and pineapple sauce (beef in lemongrass, chilli and holy basil for Nom), Yeung Chow (everything) fried rice, fresh fruit and bottle of Pinot Grigio have been well and truly worked off. How have we created a calorie deficit after a five- course meal?
I have a new wicking top. It's made of 'Verytech Stuff'. It says so on the sleeve.
I also have a duff front bike wheel. Yet again; grrr, Halfords. It doesn't spin AT ALL when you lift it off the ground and try to spin it. Yes, Corporal, even with the brakes off. Hopefully VS Cycles will be able to sort it out on Friday when I go down with a bike, some cake and a pathetic expression. Then I'll be able to keep up!
I also have a working cycle computer (thanks, Corporal; gratitude in buttercream and paninis. Or buttercream paninis. As you wish. Second day out, I thought I was going really REALLY fast down hills (40mph??!! With my front wheel?? ZOMG!!!) but the Corporal (the nearest we'll get to a voice of reason) pointed out that somehow I'd switched it from miles to kilometres. Don't ask me.
Anyway...the tri. It's feeling easier (not easy by a long stretch, but easier), to run, swim and cycle. Yes, to run. I never thought this possible. Although I don't like the way that the Corporal was talking about the Blenheim Marathon today.
I went out in four-inch platforms last night and got right back to my back gate before I fell off and twisted my ankle. D'oh !!
Bendy lessons tomorrow. And maybe resistance training if I bike to work.
These have made me laugh today:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7725079.stm
http://www.flyingcircusalterego.co.uk/
^^ Fromage and the Corporal need to get themselves on the last one - Fromage; e-mail me the code!
I can honestly say that the Tom Yam Gai soup, chicken satay, spring roll, seaweed, prawn toast, mini-rib, duck pancakes, sea bass in fresh chilli and pineapple sauce (beef in lemongrass, chilli and holy basil for Nom), Yeung Chow (everything) fried rice, fresh fruit and bottle of Pinot Grigio have been well and truly worked off. How have we created a calorie deficit after a five- course meal?
I have a new wicking top. It's made of 'Verytech Stuff'. It says so on the sleeve.
I also have a duff front bike wheel. Yet again; grrr, Halfords. It doesn't spin AT ALL when you lift it off the ground and try to spin it. Yes, Corporal, even with the brakes off. Hopefully VS Cycles will be able to sort it out on Friday when I go down with a bike, some cake and a pathetic expression. Then I'll be able to keep up!
I also have a working cycle computer (thanks, Corporal; gratitude in buttercream and paninis. Or buttercream paninis. As you wish. Second day out, I thought I was going really REALLY fast down hills (40mph??!! With my front wheel?? ZOMG!!!) but the Corporal (the nearest we'll get to a voice of reason) pointed out that somehow I'd switched it from miles to kilometres. Don't ask me.
Anyway...the tri. It's feeling easier (not easy by a long stretch, but easier), to run, swim and cycle. Yes, to run. I never thought this possible. Although I don't like the way that the Corporal was talking about the Blenheim Marathon today.
I went out in four-inch platforms last night and got right back to my back gate before I fell off and twisted my ankle. D'oh !!
Bendy lessons tomorrow. And maybe resistance training if I bike to work.
These have made me laugh today:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7725079.stm
http://www.flyingcircusalterego.co.uk/
^^ Fromage and the Corporal need to get themselves on the last one - Fromage; e-mail me the code!
Brick - now with added Nom!
Good session today, 45 mins cycling, 15(ish) mins running, just how it should be. Some good solid hills as well, which is great (mainly in retrospect). In fact, here's how Drub Lane (good name) compares with the traumatic hill in Ilkley (Carter's Lane):
Drub Lane (that shallow bit in the middle doesn't feel so shallow)
Carter's Lane, Ilkley. Literally the most awful thing in the world.
And, as a bonus, here's Cliff Hollins Lane, probably the closest hill to Carter's Lane I've seen so far, and which would be a living torment if it were actually alive.
The terrifying thing is, a really close approximation of the Ilkley route would be to ride up Cliff Hollins Lane, turn around and go back down, then mess about on Cleckheaton Road for a bit, and repeat 2 more times. Oh dear.
Still, the paninis were nice (again).
Drub Lane (that shallow bit in the middle doesn't feel so shallow)
Carter's Lane, Ilkley. Literally the most awful thing in the world.
And, as a bonus, here's Cliff Hollins Lane, probably the closest hill to Carter's Lane I've seen so far, and which would be a living torment if it were actually alive.The terrifying thing is, a really close approximation of the Ilkley route would be to ride up Cliff Hollins Lane, turn around and go back down, then mess about on Cleckheaton Road for a bit, and repeat 2 more times. Oh dear.
Still, the paninis were nice (again).
Saturday, 15 November 2008
What Thai banquet?
We swam last night. Nom and Veg did 35 minutes; to Nom to chart his progress, but Veg did 800m - 400m breaststroke and 400m front aaargh crawl. Although it wasn't too much 'aaargh' - satisfyingly. Not as much as before. Just the stagefright from Nom and Veg being the only two people in the pool - 'aah, my form!' Or was that just me?
Today we did 8.164 miles (exactly courtesy of my new cycle computer), the first part of which was UPHILL. And resistance training for me, due to Halfords bikes having great parts, but being put together by monkeys, who haven't been trained in alum keys. Or *insert clever word for spinning of bike wheels here, Corporal Odd* ... <--what he said.
Tonight, Nom and I have been to Chino Thai for the Royal Banquet. Mmm, calories. I daren't log it on The Daily Plate, but it was gooooooood.
I was good too, for ordering sea bass for my main course. At least there's a calorie-annihilating brick tomorrow.
Today we did 8.164 miles (exactly courtesy of my new cycle computer), the first part of which was UPHILL. And resistance training for me, due to Halfords bikes having great parts, but being put together by monkeys, who haven't been trained in alum keys. Or *insert clever word for spinning of bike wheels here, Corporal Odd* ... <--what he said.
Tonight, Nom and I have been to Chino Thai for the Royal Banquet. Mmm, calories. I daren't log it on The Daily Plate, but it was gooooooood.
I was good too, for ordering sea bass for my main course. At least there's a calorie-annihilating brick tomorrow.
Thursday, 13 November 2008
Running without cycling!
It's the cycling before the Sunday run, obviously, that makes my legs stop working. Tonight we ran for 20 minutes and could have gone on, except for the fact that it was too dark to see where our feet were going (a real concern on the unofficial bridleway that is the Greenway).
Woo hoo! 20 minutes! It's amazing how quickly this has built up, and also that I'm actually really enjoying the running too.
Thursday night running as a regular thing, anyone?
Woo hoo! 20 minutes! It's amazing how quickly this has built up, and also that I'm actually really enjoying the running too.
Thursday night running as a regular thing, anyone?
Monday, 10 November 2008
Problems in two disciplines
I'm not going to moan about being told off and sent to the slowest fast lane in Yorkshire by an old woman because allegedly she was in charge. Grrr.
I'm not going to moan about the bus driver who cut me up twice, almost knocking me off my bike, then totally blanked me when I asked him politely to give me a bit of space on the road. Grrrrr.
Veg has had a very active day! Walked this morning for 90 minutes, half of which was conducted with 2.5kg of potatoes and a cabbage in my backpack. Then cycled up to the mad Monday swim session where we go at top speed and can't stop because the whole swim is a permanent state of overtaking the crawlers in the aforementioned 'fast' lane. Then cycled home and did the abs exercises that have become a swear word for Fromage. They do work...I promise. Nothing that hurts so much is ineffective.
Rest day tomorrow. Yay. Too tired and sick of people for bendy lessons tonight. Holed up in my cosy house and not long before bed...
I'm not going to moan about the bus driver who cut me up twice, almost knocking me off my bike, then totally blanked me when I asked him politely to give me a bit of space on the road. Grrrrr.
Veg has had a very active day! Walked this morning for 90 minutes, half of which was conducted with 2.5kg of potatoes and a cabbage in my backpack. Then cycled up to the mad Monday swim session where we go at top speed and can't stop because the whole swim is a permanent state of overtaking the crawlers in the aforementioned 'fast' lane. Then cycled home and did the abs exercises that have become a swear word for Fromage. They do work...I promise. Nothing that hurts so much is ineffective.
Rest day tomorrow. Yay. Too tired and sick of people for bendy lessons tonight. Holed up in my cosy house and not long before bed...
Sunday, 9 November 2008
Nine Miles
It occurred to me that it might be of use to people to know what a nine mile cycle actually is. Thus I spent an unfortunate proportion of my evening on Google Earth clicking on bits of the Greenway.
Anyway, the course I found was from the bridge underneath the M606 (just past Staithgate Lane) to the rings and back. Exactly nine miles. Come next September, we'll be doing a significantly harder version of that in 30-35 minutes. Egads.
Anyway, the course I found was from the bridge underneath the M606 (just past Staithgate Lane) to the rings and back. Exactly nine miles. Come next September, we'll be doing a significantly harder version of that in 30-35 minutes. Egads.
Wet bike, wet run, wet bum, AWOL Fromage...
So no Fromage this morning. Boo. We're hoping it won't lead to another bottom post. We're hoping it's not his bottom. We all vote Nom to cycle behind him...
But a good brick session for the dedicated 50%. We sent Nom to buy bacon, as previously mentioned, and then tried to steer to the ring-things and back. The Corporal will do the real maths and see his post for some sense, but we met Nom as we had almost finished our run, and then ran home cursing his shiny bike as we used our distinctly non-shiny feet.
Note: Veg and Nom spent yesterday building steps at a local nature reserve so are allowed to be in pain tonight. In fact zzzzzzzzzzzzz.........
But a good brick session for the dedicated 50%. We sent Nom to buy bacon, as previously mentioned, and then tried to steer to the ring-things and back. The Corporal will do the real maths and see his post for some sense, but we met Nom as we had almost finished our run, and then ran home cursing his shiny bike as we used our distinctly non-shiny feet.
Note: Veg and Nom spent yesterday building steps at a local nature reserve so are allowed to be in pain tonight. In fact zzzzzzzzzzzzz.........
Brick in non-fail shocker!
Actually had an entirely successful brick session today, much to my surprise. 50 minutes cycling and 10 minutes running, which was probably about the maximum we could expect at this stage. Didn't feel completely destroyed afterwards, fortunately. Got nicely wet, though, which I guess will be the defining theme of the next four or so months. Bah, humbug.
Hurrah for paninis though, possibly the other defining theme of our training sessions. Mm, recovery food. Just need several hundred litres of banana smoothies and we'll be alright.
PS. For geeks, New experimental Blood Bowl rules here and new teams here. Ooh.
Hurrah for paninis though, possibly the other defining theme of our training sessions. Mm, recovery food. Just need several hundred litres of banana smoothies and we'll be alright.
PS. For geeks, New experimental Blood Bowl rules here and new teams here. Ooh.
Friday, 7 November 2008
Training schedule set to fail - extreme rest day
Veg and Nom were supposed to go swimming last night, but Veg fell asleep on the settee at 6.50pm, woke at 7.50pm - ten minutes before swimming began! Then went up to bed and slept for 12 hours. Uber-zzzzzzz...
I'll go swimming tonight instead: I'm guessing it'll be quiet as only I am sad enough to go swimming on a Friday night.
I'll go swimming tonight instead: I'm guessing it'll be quiet as only I am sad enough to go swimming on a Friday night.
Wednesday, 5 November 2008
At last!
We (Veg and Nom) went for a run tonight at last. It wasn't as awful as we'd feared. Perhaps we were clever in trying out brick sessions first, so the running would seem easy when we finally started?
Swimming tomorrow night, and Veg is cycling to work and back. Nom has the day off. Boo.
Swimming tomorrow night, and Veg is cycling to work and back. Nom has the day off. Boo.
Denied!
Work filters have dictated that I'm not allowed to sign into Lycos to activate my MapMyTri.com membership! Grrr! What am I going to do now for the next hour?
First official running session tonight: in the cold and the dark. Trying to map my run, but unable to get into Google Earth at work and probably have MapMyRun.com also set to fail.
Trying...
Waiting...
Fail!
Question: am I too tight to pay £10 per year for membership to the Good Run Guide website? It looks amazing, admittedly, with logs and (steady yourself, Fromage) graphs and such.
It may be useful as we train for Ilkley Triathlon...
First official running session tonight: in the cold and the dark. Trying to map my run, but unable to get into Google Earth at work and probably have MapMyRun.com also set to fail.
Trying...
Waiting...
Fail!
Question: am I too tight to pay £10 per year for membership to the Good Run Guide website? It looks amazing, admittedly, with logs and (steady yourself, Fromage) graphs and such.
It may be useful as we train for Ilkley Triathlon...
Tuesday, 4 November 2008
How fast is my bike!!!!
Amazingly managed to get to work in 17 mins today - only 2 mins longer than it would have taken me in the car. Even better I got home in 20 mins and thats all uphill, even more impressive when you factor in that I had to stop and reattach the chain after it fell off!!!!!!
At this rate I might have to sell my car.
Urmmm....... Ilkley Triathalon.... yes that one.
On a further note - I still don't have a nut for my bike light. This is not good as I don't think an elastic band is quite good enough to hold the light onto the bike frame (though that said it did do a good job on the ride home).
Have to take the car to work tomorrow but I see many bike rides to work ahead.
Have I said Ilkley Triathalon yet? Oh I have, well I guess I don't need to say Ilkley Triathalon again then do I.
At this rate I might have to sell my car.
Urmmm....... Ilkley Triathalon.... yes that one.
On a further note - I still don't have a nut for my bike light. This is not good as I don't think an elastic band is quite good enough to hold the light onto the bike frame (though that said it did do a good job on the ride home).
Have to take the car to work tomorrow but I see many bike rides to work ahead.
Have I said Ilkley Triathalon yet? Oh I have, well I guess I don't need to say Ilkley Triathalon again then do I.
Rest day!
Today is my rest day, and the urge to go swimming has been successfully squished.
Zzzzz. Ilkley Triathlon. Zzzzz.
Zzzzz. Ilkley Triathlon. Zzzzz.
Monday, 3 November 2008
STOP PRESS: Excitement!
Bendy lesson companion was ill tonight so I trundled over to Borders to buy a book on triathlon swimming and a copy of the latest 220-Triathlon magazine. Yay!!
Also, has everyone seen: http://www.mapmytri.com/ This could become a habit...
P.S: Ilkley Triathlon.
Also, has everyone seen: http://www.mapmytri.com/ This could become a habit...
P.S: Ilkley Triathlon.
Argh, gasp, rest day tomorrow!
Today was meant to be a steady day, but what went wrong? Cycled to Cleckheaton and back (with a bag of rabbit food and a chicken in my rucksack on the way home) then just time for a quick bath before meeting the Corporal at Bowling Pool. Which meant cycling. Uphill again.
It was a great, if busy session in the pool. Front crawl is certainly beginning to feel much more natural now, and aerobic fitness doesn't seem to be a problem. Just need to develop leg muscles of steel!
Had a small incident, which could easily have been a large and very painful one, as somebody opened a car door in my path as I was cycling down Bierley Lane. It just caught me, but if I hadn't swerved I would have hit it hard, as I was going fast downhill. Message to cyclists: parked cars are as dangerous as moving ones if they're filled with idiots. Grrrr.
The bad news is that Corporal Odd seems to have developed a squiffy foot, and Fromage is the owner of a squiffy neck. Tomorrow's swimming session may have to go on hold until Thursday.
Didn't make it to Halifax to search for the Tri magazine, but an in-depth search of all the newsagents in Cleckheaton turned up a blank. Will try to get to Borders one evening this week as we want to know about swim drills.
Time for core exercises, then probably a nap.
P.S - Ilkley Triathlon
It was a great, if busy session in the pool. Front crawl is certainly beginning to feel much more natural now, and aerobic fitness doesn't seem to be a problem. Just need to develop leg muscles of steel!
Had a small incident, which could easily have been a large and very painful one, as somebody opened a car door in my path as I was cycling down Bierley Lane. It just caught me, but if I hadn't swerved I would have hit it hard, as I was going fast downhill. Message to cyclists: parked cars are as dangerous as moving ones if they're filled with idiots. Grrrr.
The bad news is that Corporal Odd seems to have developed a squiffy foot, and Fromage is the owner of a squiffy neck. Tomorrow's swimming session may have to go on hold until Thursday.
Didn't make it to Halifax to search for the Tri magazine, but an in-depth search of all the newsagents in Cleckheaton turned up a blank. Will try to get to Borders one evening this week as we want to know about swim drills.
Time for core exercises, then probably a nap.
P.S - Ilkley Triathlon
Sunday, 2 November 2008
Brick? Pile of rubble...
Too tired to do in-depth, real and entertaining post, but suffice to say that the mega-cycle (Dewsbury and back via many villages) took place again on Saturday, then a brick today has made me long for my bed. It was hard work coming back from the blue sheep, but the Corporal earned his pips (and daft pants) on encouragement. Didn't manage to run as long as I hoped, but my feet don't seem to be co-operating today.
Worked out a draft training plan which means I'm swimming at dinnertime tomorrow, then doing bendy lessons in the evening.
Random fact: there's more protein in 100g of Mexican grasshoppers than in the same weight of beef. Not sure they're better though...
Another random fact - it was shop time again yesterday and I now, at last, have some pants that give me warm knees. Hooray! My cycling clothes are not good for being seen by cars, but they keep me warm, so when I'm lying in the road having been run over, at least I won't freeze on the tarmac. Um...yay!!??
On a mission to Halifax tomorrow morning before the swimming session for the elusive Tri magazine, to teach us about swim drills. Not sure if we want to know.
Worked out a draft training plan which means I'm swimming at dinnertime tomorrow, then doing bendy lessons in the evening.
Random fact: there's more protein in 100g of Mexican grasshoppers than in the same weight of beef. Not sure they're better though...
Another random fact - it was shop time again yesterday and I now, at last, have some pants that give me warm knees. Hooray! My cycling clothes are not good for being seen by cars, but they keep me warm, so when I'm lying in the road having been run over, at least I won't freeze on the tarmac. Um...yay!!??
On a mission to Halifax tomorrow morning before the swimming session for the elusive Tri magazine, to teach us about swim drills. Not sure if we want to know.
Wednesday, 29 October 2008
Good news for fans of warmth
Whilst in the summertime Bowling Pool is insanely warm, in the winter, it becomes very pleasant indeed. It made a nice change from the freezing cycle yesterday to splash into what I currently believe to be a pool of molten lava dyed blue.
Anyway, a quick blast of crawl to blow off the cobwebs (800m in approx. 20mins, not scientifically tested or owt), and home to eat everything with a use by date of today (clue: it was lots).
Hm, funny how I have a training schedule that goes up to December 27 2009, but I don't know what I'll be doing for the rest of this week...is there a swim scheduled tomorrow?
Anyway, a quick blast of crawl to blow off the cobwebs (800m in approx. 20mins, not scientifically tested or owt), and home to eat everything with a use by date of today (clue: it was lots).
Hm, funny how I have a training schedule that goes up to December 27 2009, but I don't know what I'll be doing for the rest of this week...is there a swim scheduled tomorrow?
Tuesday, 28 October 2008
Swimming - what a stupid inefficient mode of transport
Who was the first person to come up with the idea of swimming? That guy was insane and everyone who has ever "gone swimming" since is also insane.
45 mins to do 3 full laps and 7 3/4 laps, not too bad for a first swim I suppose, slightly more worrying is the fact I can't use my feet or arms now!!!!
Swimming stage target: - 500m in 30 mins.
In other news IB got his bike today, nothing to do with the triathalon but have to say it is very nice.
45 mins to do 3 full laps and 7 3/4 laps, not too bad for a first swim I suppose, slightly more worrying is the fact I can't use my feet or arms now!!!!
Swimming stage target: - 500m in 30 mins.
In other news IB got his bike today, nothing to do with the triathalon but have to say it is very nice.
Is it cold outside?
Yes, it flipping well is. It's been over an hour since I returned from my 10-mile cycle, and I still can't feel my toes. Thick socks next time.
Also, I'm starting to think about contemplating starting a training plan. I don't think my brain is entirely happy with this.
UPDATE! I have started a training plan. It's tremendously exciting. Don't think I can link to it here, though. At least, not without significant effort, which basically ain't happening.
Also, I'm starting to think about contemplating starting a training plan. I don't think my brain is entirely happy with this.
UPDATE! I have started a training plan. It's tremendously exciting. Don't think I can link to it here, though. At least, not without significant effort, which basically ain't happening.
Sunday, 26 October 2008
Brick-tacular
After Nom, the real adult, mended the Corporal and Veg's Halfords monsters (Suspicions have been raised that Halfords don't actually run an 'elementary screw-tightening' course or in fact build bikes at all. We think they're actually a cake shop or something.) I'm going elsewhere for my first service, despite the Halfords one being free. I'd rather pay, as the Halfords one seems a little like a non-transaction, in that if I take it down there I won't be paying them and I'm sure they won't be fine-tuning and fixing my bike, so five miles seems like a long way to cycle for absolutely nothing. Grrrrr. Halfords.
Anyway...we did brick. Minus Fromage (get well soon...bicycle clips on standby). We cycled to the ringy-things on the Spen Valley Greenway, (You know, it's past the metal sheep but before where the pub used to be) then back, then left Nom for his extended transition which involved going into the house, fetching the bike lock, etc. The run didn't feel too bad at first, despite the fact that against me, snail's pace is actually an improvement. (No seriously; walking is faster. I've measured my speed against real snails.) But then, as the Corporal overtook me shouting 'Sprinting! Sprinting!' I remembered that we forgot to take off our helmets in the excitement of the transition.
Note to self: check whether Ilkley's triathlon allows laughter breaks.
Anyway...we did brick. Minus Fromage (get well soon...bicycle clips on standby). We cycled to the ringy-things on the Spen Valley Greenway, (You know, it's past the metal sheep but before where the pub used to be) then back, then left Nom for his extended transition which involved going into the house, fetching the bike lock, etc. The run didn't feel too bad at first, despite the fact that against me, snail's pace is actually an improvement. (No seriously; walking is faster. I've measured my speed against real snails.) But then, as the Corporal overtook me shouting 'Sprinting! Sprinting!' I remembered that we forgot to take off our helmets in the excitement of the transition.
Note to self: check whether Ilkley's triathlon allows laughter breaks.
Saturday, 25 October 2008
Wednesday, 22 October 2008
I've cycled 17 miles today. Am I insane? Probably. Are you sitting comfortably? Then I'll begin...
Raced Nom down to Brighouse, with him on the bus and me on my bike. I won! [Portion of story edited because Nom has something to tell us all], then we cycled down into Bradford and back in the afternoon.
My legs felt OK until Nom told me that 2,000 metres was over a mile. That made me ache.
Tomorrow is a designated rest day, not even swimming, Just cycling to work and back. I'm sure that will be enough.
Raced Nom down to Brighouse, with him on the bus and me on my bike. I won! [Portion of story edited because Nom has something to tell us all], then we cycled down into Bradford and back in the afternoon.
My legs felt OK until Nom told me that 2,000 metres was over a mile. That made me ache.
Tomorrow is a designated rest day, not even swimming, Just cycling to work and back. I'm sure that will be enough.
Poor Fromage and poor me!
Poor Fromage. We hold a moment of silence for his bottom.
...
And poor me. I have swum 2,000 metres tonight. It felt good until I stopped and tried to get dried. Ow, my everything! Damp trousers from the rain, on damp skin from the pool, with tired muscles from the duff brain that makes you swim too far just because you can, are a very bad combination.
Then we had a pizza! It was gigantic and (block your ears, Corporal and Fromage) was full of veg and especially chillies! Mmmm...
Nom went for his first swimming session and I'll persuade him to report it later. And his exciting news, which he hasn't told us yet. It's going to be difficult to go to what I've christened the 'exciting appointment' tomorrow and not officially know where I'm going! I think he's almost asleep now after his swimming ordeal, so I'll do my best not to disturb him.
Get well soon, Fromage.
...
And poor me. I have swum 2,000 metres tonight. It felt good until I stopped and tried to get dried. Ow, my everything! Damp trousers from the rain, on damp skin from the pool, with tired muscles from the duff brain that makes you swim too far just because you can, are a very bad combination.
Then we had a pizza! It was gigantic and (block your ears, Corporal and Fromage) was full of veg and especially chillies! Mmmm...
Nom went for his first swimming session and I'll persuade him to report it later. And his exciting news, which he hasn't told us yet. It's going to be difficult to go to what I've christened the 'exciting appointment' tomorrow and not officially know where I'm going! I think he's almost asleep now after his swimming ordeal, so I'll do my best not to disturb him.
Get well soon, Fromage.
Tuesday, 21 October 2008
Why are all my posts about my bottom?
Buggar, had to cry off of Swimming due to bottom related troubles, not going to go into more details but it also caused me to have to finish early from work.
I'm a sad, cheesy panda.
I'm a sad, cheesy panda.
Monday, 20 October 2008
Bricks R Us
What the Corporal said. It was all his fault. Bendy lessons tonight were painful: ('You may feel a small stretch in your lower back' 'Aaaaarrrgh, no, my thighs are falling off!') Everything got the thighs. Even when it wasn't meant to. Ouch.
Anyway, the brick session was tremendous fun (hmmmmm) and to be repeated sometime when I'm in a different county. I really must start on the running training as the Corporal made me look like a wuss as he bounced up the park. My thoughts: 'He's running uphill! Is he mad? Well - yes."
Nom fared better than me too: I officially suck at running. I've been told I have a nice front crawl stroke though. Or I can crawl well; not sure which. Much of both have been attempted.
Today was interesting - the motorised Vegmobile was at Odd Barracks and the pedal Oddmobile was at Veg/Nom Towers due to a complicated plan involving eight people meeting up at different times and locations during Sunday. I am about a foot shorter than the Corporal and was nominated to deliver his bike home. The result: I perched up in the air like a flamingo on a bird table (albeit a very short flamingo) and couldn't actually reach the pedals as they got to the bottom of the circle, so it was a case of keep going or fall off in a pile, which I can do quite adequately from my own bike and need no training to those ends.
That being said, however much he may mutter, the Oddmobile is a damned nice bike, despite the ludicrous handlebar width, which really doesn't fit through the park gates! The handlebars come up to my chest and the saddle to well above my hips, so I was probably dicing with death this afternoon, but the Corporal is right - bigger wheels make for an easier ride. It was so much easier to pedal up to Odd Barracks than usual on my own bike, even though I was trying to extend my legs to far longer than they are in the process. So it isn't me that's unfit when they leave me behind whilst sprinting along the Greenway: it's just me who has a Hobbit bike.
Some thoughts: the Corporal's avatar looks very much like Francis the 'bring on the trumpets' bear.
I have a new pillow.
I've forgotten the other thought. It may come back.
Anyway, the brick session was tremendous fun (hmmmmm) and to be repeated sometime when I'm in a different county. I really must start on the running training as the Corporal made me look like a wuss as he bounced up the park. My thoughts: 'He's running uphill! Is he mad? Well - yes."
Nom fared better than me too: I officially suck at running. I've been told I have a nice front crawl stroke though. Or I can crawl well; not sure which. Much of both have been attempted.
Today was interesting - the motorised Vegmobile was at Odd Barracks and the pedal Oddmobile was at Veg/Nom Towers due to a complicated plan involving eight people meeting up at different times and locations during Sunday. I am about a foot shorter than the Corporal and was nominated to deliver his bike home. The result: I perched up in the air like a flamingo on a bird table (albeit a very short flamingo) and couldn't actually reach the pedals as they got to the bottom of the circle, so it was a case of keep going or fall off in a pile, which I can do quite adequately from my own bike and need no training to those ends.
That being said, however much he may mutter, the Oddmobile is a damned nice bike, despite the ludicrous handlebar width, which really doesn't fit through the park gates! The handlebars come up to my chest and the saddle to well above my hips, so I was probably dicing with death this afternoon, but the Corporal is right - bigger wheels make for an easier ride. It was so much easier to pedal up to Odd Barracks than usual on my own bike, even though I was trying to extend my legs to far longer than they are in the process. So it isn't me that's unfit when they leave me behind whilst sprinting along the Greenway: it's just me who has a Hobbit bike.
Some thoughts: the Corporal's avatar looks very much like Francis the 'bring on the trumpets' bear.
I have a new pillow.
I've forgotten the other thought. It may come back.
Bricking It
(ayethangyew)
Well, yesterday was the inaugaral "brick session". A brick session being a cycling session immediately followed by a run. Approximately 7 miles in 30 minutes on the bike, a hasty "transition", and a run across Victoria Park. Run in theory, anyway. In practise, this means trying one's best not to fall over whilst simultaneously trying to move in a forwards direction without being able to feel one's legs. It's the only type of exercise encountered that's officially amusing, anyway. And the exciting thing is, that it's not tremendously painful the day afterwards.
The Corporal was also pleased to keep up the running with a 15-minute jog up (and down) Shetcliffe Lane. He must also officially duck out of the swimming session on Thursday (he will make amends), due to the fact he will have been in bed for around 2-3 hours by the appointed meeting time, and wish Fromage and Nom luck for their first pool session.
Bring on the trumpets!
Well, yesterday was the inaugaral "brick session". A brick session being a cycling session immediately followed by a run. Approximately 7 miles in 30 minutes on the bike, a hasty "transition", and a run across Victoria Park. Run in theory, anyway. In practise, this means trying one's best not to fall over whilst simultaneously trying to move in a forwards direction without being able to feel one's legs. It's the only type of exercise encountered that's officially amusing, anyway. And the exciting thing is, that it's not tremendously painful the day afterwards.
The Corporal was also pleased to keep up the running with a 15-minute jog up (and down) Shetcliffe Lane. He must also officially duck out of the swimming session on Thursday (he will make amends), due to the fact he will have been in bed for around 2-3 hours by the appointed meeting time, and wish Fromage and Nom luck for their first pool session.
Bring on the trumpets!
Saturday, 18 October 2008
Yay buying stuff II!
I also went shopping this afternoon. Nom's fault. 'Dragged' (ahem...leading the way) to VS Cycles in Brighouse, where, after returning for reasons that are not mine to blog, at 3.30pm to buy a water bottle and cage, cycling shorts with a rather disturbing orange padded bit (on the inside!), cycling top and wedgie bag type thing to sit under my saddle and not give me a wedgie!
VS Cycles is our friend. We spent 45 minutes in there although the shop is the size of our kitchen.
No exercise today as Nom wanted a quiet day, but we have had salad twice. And Nom has something rather exciting to report...
VS Cycles is our friend. We spent 45 minutes in there although the shop is the size of our kitchen.
No exercise today as Nom wanted a quiet day, but we have had salad twice. And Nom has something rather exciting to report...
Yay buying stuff!
Went and spent my pocket money at Paul Milnes Cycles today. I now have:
- Front and back lights, looking pretty good, and easy enough to attach (which is very important, as I'm an idiot).
- Cycle computer, for which the instructions are in various Eastern European languages, and, as far as I can tell, don't relate to installing the thing in any way. So I basically don't have any clue how to make it work. Which is a shame, because that was the exciting part of the whole deal.
- Water bottle and cage. Entirely uninteresting, except the water bottle is flipping huge.
- Cycle shorts. Now we're talking. Lovely big padding in the necessary areas, and for some reason they go all the way up to the shoulders (in a style reminiscent of Borat). Apparently they look 'sexy'.
- Cycle trousers. Also known as 'longs,' which logic fans should celebrate. Not quite as sexy, but with the bonus of delaying hypothermia in the winter (or summer, for that matter).
All of which came in at £69, just under what I'd budgeted. Lovely. Now I just have to wait until tomorrow to see what happens. Seeing as tomorrow's a brick session, though, I'm betting on exhaustion and collapse.
Thursday, 16 October 2008
Sick note runs out after a day :(
I'm not a wuss either. Which meant, only one day after recovering from Veg-blight that I was back in the pool doing what were nicely termed '50m reps' which was Odd shorthand for 'fast track to lungs full of water'.
Of course, being more streamlined (and less recognisable to the Corporal) in my new shiny...er...black swimming cap, the laps actually were much easier, despite the cap and the goggles being too much to fit on my little pea-sized head. Or perhaps I've had enough practice now.
Veg has decreed that Wuss-Nom and Wuss-Fromage will henceforth swim on Tuesday evenings giving her two swim sessions per week.
I also deserve bonus points for going to the pub with the best steak and ale pie in the world tonight, on Gravy Thursday, and having fillet steak (medium-rare), salad and a baked potato. Mmmmm... Don't ask Nom what he had.
Of course, being more streamlined (and less recognisable to the Corporal) in my new shiny...er...black swimming cap, the laps actually were much easier, despite the cap and the goggles being too much to fit on my little pea-sized head. Or perhaps I've had enough practice now.
Veg has decreed that Wuss-Nom and Wuss-Fromage will henceforth swim on Tuesday evenings giving her two swim sessions per week.
I also deserve bonus points for going to the pub with the best steak and ale pie in the world tonight, on Gravy Thursday, and having fillet steak (medium-rare), salad and a baked potato. Mmmmm... Don't ask Nom what he had.
Wednesday, 15 October 2008
Eek, ouch, etc.
Pain.
Went for my traditional Wednesday evening swim with Corporaless Odd, however the Corporaless cried off on medical grounds, leaving me to my own devices. Which, being me, meant going as fast as I could until I was unable to move.
This entailed 300m of crawl in about 7 minutes (annoyingly, I timed it, but the timer stopped halfway through), and 5 sets of 100m at 2 mins 30 secs each. All done in about 25 minutes, after which I literally couldn't move my arms for about 15 minutes.
In fact, it still hurts to type this. Still, I'll be back in the pool at 8am tomorrow morning. BECAUSE I'M NOT A WUSS.
Went for my traditional Wednesday evening swim with Corporaless Odd, however the Corporaless cried off on medical grounds, leaving me to my own devices. Which, being me, meant going as fast as I could until I was unable to move.
This entailed 300m of crawl in about 7 minutes (annoyingly, I timed it, but the timer stopped halfway through), and 5 sets of 100m at 2 mins 30 secs each. All done in about 25 minutes, after which I literally couldn't move my arms for about 15 minutes.
In fact, it still hurts to type this. Still, I'll be back in the pool at 8am tomorrow morning. BECAUSE I'M NOT A WUSS.
Tuesday, 14 October 2008
Bleh
Veg obviously hasn't been eating enough Veg as she has the evil cold-thing that is stalking YBS. All morning and some of the afternoon in bed, then an essential-oil steam session and a curry and she'll be back at work tomorrow.
No exercise today though! Just the Internet, and it would seem, Battlestar Galactica (thanks, Nom!).
No exercise today though! Just the Internet, and it would seem, Battlestar Galactica (thanks, Nom!).
Monday, 13 October 2008
Dynamic housework
Veg awoke this morning and stepped gently out of bed whilst still holding on, expecting her legs to protest and leave her in a big pile on the floor. Amazingly, despite her best efforts to the contrary yesterday they were still attached and still responding. However, she did decline to escort the Nom up to work - that hill between Nom/Veg Towers and Odd Barracks is the - ahem - second-worst hill in Bradford after Whitehall Road.
After miles of washing, ironing, hoovering (do you know how many calories that burns?) http://www.weightlossresources.co.uk/exercise/tips/housework_workouts.htm Veg finally admitted defeat at 2pm and fell asleep for two hours!
Too knackered for bendy lessons tonight, although I have cycled five miles (Cleckheaton and back, again) after work with the Nom. Just to keep my hand - er, leg in.
Note to self (and the Corporal) next time Fromage leads the ride! And we eat more paninis. People say it's all about the protein. Incorrect. It's all about the panini.
After miles of washing, ironing, hoovering (do you know how many calories that burns?) http://www.weightlossresources.co.uk/exercise/tips/housework_workouts.htm Veg finally admitted defeat at 2pm and fell asleep for two hours!
Too knackered for bendy lessons tonight, although I have cycled five miles (Cleckheaton and back, again) after work with the Nom. Just to keep my hand - er, leg in.
Note to self (and the Corporal) next time Fromage leads the ride! And we eat more paninis. People say it's all about the protein. Incorrect. It's all about the panini.
The afternoon after the...er...afternoon before
Wow, that was some bike ride...
Woke up today feeling extremely creaky. Somehow shambled to work to be faced with Nom (didn't ride, not aching) and Fromage (did ride, not aching). Bah, humbug. Fromage kindly pointed out that the hardest part of yesterday for him was riding slowly enough to keep behind me on the hills. Well, I suppose a bike as heavy as mine must create a lot of slipstream. (Why was I in the front all the time, anyway?)
Another shout out must go to the paninis yesterday, which were magnificent, despite the adjacent presence of cucumber (bah, humbug, again.) Cleckheaton may turn out to be a popular cycling stopoff in the 12 months to come (oh God, another 12 months of this...)
Anyway, recovered slightly during the day, aided by pie and spiral fries, so decided to have a little run after work. As I have no imagination whatsoever, it was B&Q and back as previously. Finished in 12 minutes, so tired that I couldn't make it through the door, even through Corporaless Odd had opened it about 15 seconds before.
I was, however, pleasantly surprised to load up Google Earth (NEW TOY!!!) to find that my route was a whopping 1.4 miles long! Much further than I had thought, and at a rate of 8.6 mins/mile, better than the end-of-year objectives I'd set myself a couple of hours before.
Hurrah.
New item of desire: http://www.raleigh.co.uk/p_details.aspx?id=976 <--- birthday present \o/
Woke up today feeling extremely creaky. Somehow shambled to work to be faced with Nom (didn't ride, not aching) and Fromage (did ride, not aching). Bah, humbug. Fromage kindly pointed out that the hardest part of yesterday for him was riding slowly enough to keep behind me on the hills. Well, I suppose a bike as heavy as mine must create a lot of slipstream. (Why was I in the front all the time, anyway?)
Another shout out must go to the paninis yesterday, which were magnificent, despite the adjacent presence of cucumber (bah, humbug, again.) Cleckheaton may turn out to be a popular cycling stopoff in the 12 months to come (oh God, another 12 months of this...)
Anyway, recovered slightly during the day, aided by pie and spiral fries, so decided to have a little run after work. As I have no imagination whatsoever, it was B&Q and back as previously. Finished in 12 minutes, so tired that I couldn't make it through the door, even through Corporaless Odd had opened it about 15 seconds before.
I was, however, pleasantly surprised to load up Google Earth (NEW TOY!!!) to find that my route was a whopping 1.4 miles long! Much further than I had thought, and at a rate of 8.6 mins/mile, better than the end-of-year objectives I'd set myself a couple of hours before.
Hurrah.
New item of desire: http://www.raleigh.co.uk/p_details.aspx?id=976 <--- birthday present \o/
Sunday, 12 October 2008
TG-N
I'm sitting down and it is not friendly. The only thing that's worse is the thought of going to bed then waking up tomorrow when there will be 100% more pain. DO NOT WANT!!
Or perhaps cycling up Whitehall Road again. Oooh. Oooouwwch. AAARRRGH...wibble wibble crash!
Anyway, Team Gravy have cycled 30 miles today. This afternoon. Team Gravy, that is, minus the power of Nom (squared or otherwise). Team Gravy minus Nom (TG-N) have done (in order of ouch) Wibsey (Fromage) - Bierley - Oakenshaw - Wyke - Bailiff Bridge - Brighouse - Mirfield - Ravensthorpe - Heckmondwike - Spenborough - Cleckheaton (pub) - Oakenshaw - Bierley - Oakenshaw. Nom was probably wise.
We arrived at the Wickham Arms looking so pathetic that they were obliged to extend the food serving hours just for us. Mmm. Nom nom nom nom. Panini-licious. Of course, Veg was the only one to eat the salad - the Corporal just complained that his tortilla chips tasted 'bad' from touching the lettuce and cucumber (for bad - read 'healthy').
Fromage invested in a new water-bottle to go in his carrier, and a rear light that he has hitherto used for interrogation of Team Gravy. Also, a bottle of Gatorade (made from real Gators) that may well have saved his little cheesy life. Veg, on the other hand, for some strange reason, kept attracting old men. Hmmmm... Perhaps a comment on her advanced age?
Nom was very kind on our dramatic return ('Aaaargh! Ooouch! ZOMG WTF? * insert random internet geeky-pain stuffs here*) making us coffee and tea but being a bit short on the sympathy. Fromage had to get a taxi home from Veg/Nom Towers and Veg and Nom escorted the Corporal to Odd Barracks where Mrs Odd was sending out the Privates as it was getting dark (but enough on that later (hehehe...)
Or perhaps cycling up Whitehall Road again. Oooh. Oooouwwch. AAARRRGH...wibble wibble crash!
Anyway, Team Gravy have cycled 30 miles today. This afternoon. Team Gravy, that is, minus the power of Nom (squared or otherwise). Team Gravy minus Nom (TG-N) have done (in order of ouch) Wibsey (Fromage) - Bierley - Oakenshaw - Wyke - Bailiff Bridge - Brighouse - Mirfield - Ravensthorpe - Heckmondwike - Spenborough - Cleckheaton (pub) - Oakenshaw - Bierley - Oakenshaw. Nom was probably wise.
We arrived at the Wickham Arms looking so pathetic that they were obliged to extend the food serving hours just for us. Mmm. Nom nom nom nom. Panini-licious. Of course, Veg was the only one to eat the salad - the Corporal just complained that his tortilla chips tasted 'bad' from touching the lettuce and cucumber (for bad - read 'healthy').
Fromage invested in a new water-bottle to go in his carrier, and a rear light that he has hitherto used for interrogation of Team Gravy. Also, a bottle of Gatorade (made from real Gators) that may well have saved his little cheesy life. Veg, on the other hand, for some strange reason, kept attracting old men. Hmmmm... Perhaps a comment on her advanced age?
Nom was very kind on our dramatic return ('Aaaargh! Ooouch! ZOMG WTF? * insert random internet geeky-pain stuffs here*) making us coffee and tea but being a bit short on the sympathy. Fromage had to get a taxi home from Veg/Nom Towers and Veg and Nom escorted the Corporal to Odd Barracks where Mrs Odd was sending out the Privates as it was getting dark (but enough on that later (hehehe...)
Nom's quiet day
Had to be very careful with the title not to spell "Quite" when I meant "Quiet". I nearly always get it wrong...
Well, I had a nice quite day today while Veg, Fromage and Corporal Odd all went for a bike ride to infinity and beyond! I can be smug that all my joints are not aching and that my legs do not currently feel like jelly.
Still had a mini bike ride with Corporal Odd and Veg up to the Odd's abode. This gave Veg a chance to try out her new new bike lights. However, darkness was approaching faster than the Nom could fix said bike lights and only managed to fit the front light before we had to set off. The reason for the light fitting was that that the Corporal didn't have any lights so he had to get back pronto! We wanted to laugh and point too... He once again donned the head-torch of the Nom's to see him home. The journey was uneventful apart from the occasional "ow's" from the affore-mentioned people with aching joints.
I could do with starting a balanced diet as soon as possible because currently, pizza seems to be all that I'm eating. Not really the diet of a tri-novice!
Well, I had a nice quite day today while Veg, Fromage and Corporal Odd all went for a bike ride to infinity and beyond! I can be smug that all my joints are not aching and that my legs do not currently feel like jelly.
Still had a mini bike ride with Corporal Odd and Veg up to the Odd's abode. This gave Veg a chance to try out her new new bike lights. However, darkness was approaching faster than the Nom could fix said bike lights and only managed to fit the front light before we had to set off. The reason for the light fitting was that that the Corporal didn't have any lights so he had to get back pronto! We wanted to laugh and point too... He once again donned the head-torch of the Nom's to see him home. The journey was uneventful apart from the occasional "ow's" from the affore-mentioned people with aching joints.
I could do with starting a balanced diet as soon as possible because currently, pizza seems to be all that I'm eating. Not really the diet of a tri-novice!
Friday, 10 October 2008
hum? Morning, swimming, whats going on?
After failing spectacularly to wake up at 7:30 today Fromage crawled out of bed at 10:00. Realising that he had missed his chance to partake in the swimming training he decided that he should do something to make up for sleeping in. Fromage had his first "brick" training session.
A quick cycle upto Wibsey park and back followed by a run around the block and I realised that it's going to take longer than I though to get used to this particular part of the triathalon. After nearly falling over twice and actually falling over once getting to the end of the road I eventually had to accept the fact that running was out of the question and settled for a very mild jog.
One more area that I need to work on.
A quick cycle upto Wibsey park and back followed by a run around the block and I realised that it's going to take longer than I though to get used to this particular part of the triathalon. After nearly falling over twice and actually falling over once getting to the end of the road I eventually had to accept the fact that running was out of the question and settled for a very mild jog.
One more area that I need to work on.
Thursday, 9 October 2008
Dedicated 50% go 'oooowwww'
Veg, against her better judgement, set off at 7.30 this morning to meet the Corporal - again, Nom failed on the excuse of 'sleepy-tired...leavem'lone...zzzzzzz.....' and was left to snore. Fromage, on the other hand, was AWOL. Veg turned up at Odd Barracks too early, on account of leaving Nom to arrange the timings, but this week there were no crashes on the way and the training session was, I believe, successful. If by successful, we mean painful. Veg and the Corporal have decided that 'front crawl' is so named because when doing it successfully you have to crawl out of the pool.
Veg's thoughts: racing hurts. Corporal Odd is being unfair by using the power of laughter to stall Veg at the starting gate. It was a fun session though, until the bike ride back to work. And the full day at work. And the bike ride, not just home, but to Cleckheaton for food and back. Ow.
Nom is banning Veg from cycling tomorrow. Boo.
So to summarise:
Alarm set for 6.45 - ow
Cycle up to Corporal's house for 7.50 - oww
Was 10 minutes early - 10 minutes that could have been spent in bed - ouch
Cycle to swimming pool - why is everywhere in this city uphill - ooow
40-ish minutes front crawl (so called because you crawl out of the pool afterwards) including racing. Oooh oouch
Cycle to work - aaargh
Work all day then cycle to Cleckheaton - aroooouch!
Cycle home with very heavy groceries in rucksack - auooch!
So, 40-ish minutes swimming, ten miles cycling My bottom hurts. Good training day.
Veg's thoughts: racing hurts. Corporal Odd is being unfair by using the power of laughter to stall Veg at the starting gate. It was a fun session though, until the bike ride back to work. And the full day at work. And the bike ride, not just home, but to Cleckheaton for food and back. Ow.
Nom is banning Veg from cycling tomorrow. Boo.
So to summarise:
Alarm set for 6.45 - ow
Cycle up to Corporal's house for 7.50 - oww
Was 10 minutes early - 10 minutes that could have been spent in bed - ouch
Cycle to swimming pool - why is everywhere in this city uphill - ooow
40-ish minutes front crawl (so called because you crawl out of the pool afterwards) including racing. Oooh oouch
Cycle to work - aaargh
Work all day then cycle to Cleckheaton - aroooouch!
Cycle home with very heavy groceries in rucksack - auooch!
So, 40-ish minutes swimming, ten miles cycling My bottom hurts. Good training day.
Tuesday, 7 October 2008
Spork
Fromage is a speedy cheese. It was the bike, not his little legs that were the problem. Another trip to Dewsbury on the Greenway yesterday...in fact, Veg had a mega-day, with a 2-mile bike ride in the morning, then the 100mph trip down the Greenway and back, with Fromage and Nom, the human/bike hybrid. Another 'checking Fromage gets halfway home alive' stint up to Huddersfield Road, then 1.5 hours of yoga in the evening. No wonder Veg is in the bargain rack with slight bruising.
None of Team Gravy cycled to work today because it was raining. Poo. No, not raining poo, that would be horrible. You know what I mean.
The curious post title for today has come from arguably the best purchase of Veg's life. Yes, a Spork. How did she ever manage without one?
http://www.simplyhike.co.uk/ProductDetails.aspx?StockID=21255
If you can think of anything more amazing Veg would love to hear from you.
None of Team Gravy cycled to work today because it was raining. Poo. No, not raining poo, that would be horrible. You know what I mean.
The curious post title for today has come from arguably the best purchase of Veg's life. Yes, a Spork. How did she ever manage without one?
http://www.simplyhike.co.uk/ProductDetails.aspx?StockID=21255
If you can think of anything more amazing Veg would love to hear from you.
Monday, 6 October 2008
New bike!!
Fromage got his new bike today. After basically being told by Halfords that he should go away and stop bothing them he decided to drop in at a local bike shop. After a very convincing sales pitch by the guy in the shop Fromage left with his new road bike, plus one comfortable saddle.
One major advantage of the new bike is that I can use it today on the Greenway. Now we'll get to see if it was the bike or Fromage that couldn't handle the ride.
One major advantage of the new bike is that I can use it today on the Greenway. Now we'll get to see if it was the bike or Fromage that couldn't handle the ride.
Sunday, 5 October 2008
Training goes out of the window...
...and in what style. Nom and Veg have been living up to his name, er, nom and eating everything in sight this weekend! A trip to North Wales is incomplete without a meal at Pete's Eats (carb-loading for seasoned sportspeople and tea in pint pots!) but two meals in two days? To be fair, the ham, cheese and mushroom omelette (steady on, Fromage) probably saved them from the alcoholic onslaught that was to come in the form of Nom's childhood friend's engagement cocktail party. Yes, cocktails. With food colouring and Marmite, so I'm told. Nom and Veg very wisely did not partake and so did not vomit and groan this morning. To celebrate, they headed out to Pete's Eats for a second meal, to see us home. That was after cheese pizza this morning for breakfast. And we've just finished off veggie pasties with everything in them. Yes, even pasta. Yum.
Back on the training tomorrow - another bike ride on the Greenway with Fromage. The poor Corporal is at work, but he's probably glad after yesterday.
Back on the training tomorrow - another bike ride on the Greenway with Fromage. The poor Corporal is at work, but he's probably glad after yesterday.
Sunday Cycling Part 2 - This Time It's Functional!
Well, it's probably about time I kept Veg company on here...
Took Fromage on the Greenway this morning. After a significant initial disappointment (no Carrera TDFs in stock at Halfords), we set off for "somewhere just short of Dewsbury". Amazingly, nothing disastrous happened to us en route, which caused a significant amount of confusion and consternation. We stopped at the junction with the Calder Valley Greenway (note to self: investigate when fit), and after only a brief pause to watch some junior rugby, set off back.
The ever so slight uphill incline set about us at this point, and all pretensions to velocity were abandoned as we staggered to Cleckheaton for lunch. Of course, being Cleckheaton, everything was closed for Sunday, but eventually we settled down in Wetherspoon's with BBQ chicken, bacon and cheese paninis, which met with approval.
The last 3 miles back to base were probably the hardest I've ever cycled, in fact wheeling like last time was almost preferable. Nevertheless, we got some good miles under our belts, in amazingly clement weather considering, and back in time for dinner. Result.
Took Fromage on the Greenway this morning. After a significant initial disappointment (no Carrera TDFs in stock at Halfords), we set off for "somewhere just short of Dewsbury". Amazingly, nothing disastrous happened to us en route, which caused a significant amount of confusion and consternation. We stopped at the junction with the Calder Valley Greenway (note to self: investigate when fit), and after only a brief pause to watch some junior rugby, set off back.
The ever so slight uphill incline set about us at this point, and all pretensions to velocity were abandoned as we staggered to Cleckheaton for lunch. Of course, being Cleckheaton, everything was closed for Sunday, but eventually we settled down in Wetherspoon's with BBQ chicken, bacon and cheese paninis, which met with approval.
The last 3 miles back to base were probably the hardest I've ever cycled, in fact wheeling like last time was almost preferable. Nevertheless, we got some good miles under our belts, in amazingly clement weather considering, and back in time for dinner. Result.
Friday, 3 October 2008
D'oh!
It would appear that there are several different ways to spell 'alum' keys but only one way to spell 'wonky' and it isn't the way that I spelt it in the last post.
Veg has not collided with any walls today, but has had problems with the fight between cycling muscles and swimming muscles. However, I didn't stop to 'blow my nose' halfway up the big hill to work today. Success!
Is anyone else here any more? Veg is lonely, like a pea without the pod. Please post on the guestbook, or if you're one of Team Gravy, blog, blog, blog!
I've had someone trying to sell the association of Crohns Disease sufferers to me as a charity today (valid point) and then promptly talking themselves out of it (hmmm) - that was a comedy moment!
Veg has not collided with any walls today, but has had problems with the fight between cycling muscles and swimming muscles. However, I didn't stop to 'blow my nose' halfway up the big hill to work today. Success!
Is anyone else here any more? Veg is lonely, like a pea without the pod. Please post on the guestbook, or if you're one of Team Gravy, blog, blog, blog!
I've had someone trying to sell the association of Crohns Disease sufferers to me as a charity today (valid point) and then promptly talking themselves out of it (hmmm) - that was a comedy moment!
Thursday, 2 October 2008
Overkill
I thought we were supposed to worship Gravy Thursday?
No, instead my alarm went off at 7am this morning and I cycled up to Odd Barracks to meet the Corporal at 7.45. Nom didn't make it so far, failing on the first hurdle, that of finding a shirt and pants in time. My saddle was wet due to rain last night, thus I re-created the triathlon 'cycling in soggy pants' experience - another aspect of my training that I could have done without.
Fromage had 'things to do' at 7am on a Thursday morning, during his fortnight off, and was excused. So 50% of the team, to wit the Corporal and myself cycled to the local(ish) swimming pool to endure 35ish minutes of front crawl (aargh...blub blub blub...). I say cycled, but I had a small incident with a kerb and a wall, in which I, as the least valuable of myself and my bike, was voted to collide with the wall.
Exit pool (freeze, brrrrr!), cycle to work, drink coffee and punch ineffectually at keyboard for 7.5 hours, go to local carvery for large amount of gravy, cycle home in the rapidly approaching dark.
The sensible eating plan is on track because the staff restaurant had run out of calzone. Nom and Veg however had backup pizza: SUCCESS. Veg has actually had 7 of her 5-a-day today and the Corporal has had 37, assuming roast potatoes, Yorkshire puddings and gravy are vegetables.
There are more stories, but they belong to others. Watch this space for such narrative delights as:
- Fromage has discovered what the perplexing bit on the back of his helmet does
- Fromage has had his feet scrutinised by professionals and has new shoes
- Corporal Odd is reunited with FrankenOdd's Monster
- Veg's reflector has fallen off - curses to Halfords and their womky alum keys
- 4 spellings of 'alum key' have been discovered
Veg is cold now and is going to bed.
STOP PRESS: Nom is 31 tomorrow!
No, instead my alarm went off at 7am this morning and I cycled up to Odd Barracks to meet the Corporal at 7.45. Nom didn't make it so far, failing on the first hurdle, that of finding a shirt and pants in time. My saddle was wet due to rain last night, thus I re-created the triathlon 'cycling in soggy pants' experience - another aspect of my training that I could have done without.
Fromage had 'things to do' at 7am on a Thursday morning, during his fortnight off, and was excused. So 50% of the team, to wit the Corporal and myself cycled to the local(ish) swimming pool to endure 35ish minutes of front crawl (aargh...blub blub blub...). I say cycled, but I had a small incident with a kerb and a wall, in which I, as the least valuable of myself and my bike, was voted to collide with the wall.
Exit pool (freeze, brrrrr!), cycle to work, drink coffee and punch ineffectually at keyboard for 7.5 hours, go to local carvery for large amount of gravy, cycle home in the rapidly approaching dark.
The sensible eating plan is on track because the staff restaurant had run out of calzone. Nom and Veg however had backup pizza: SUCCESS. Veg has actually had 7 of her 5-a-day today and the Corporal has had 37, assuming roast potatoes, Yorkshire puddings and gravy are vegetables.
There are more stories, but they belong to others. Watch this space for such narrative delights as:
- Fromage has discovered what the perplexing bit on the back of his helmet does
- Fromage has had his feet scrutinised by professionals and has new shoes
- Corporal Odd is reunited with FrankenOdd's Monster
- Veg's reflector has fallen off - curses to Halfords and their womky alum keys
- 4 spellings of 'alum key' have been discovered
Veg is cold now and is going to bed.
STOP PRESS: Nom is 31 tomorrow!
Tuesday, 30 September 2008
I suppose I had better blog!
Hello everyone! Ha ha you thought the bloke in the silly Jafar costume was just a figment of your imagination! I am in fact very real and am just waking up to the fact (damn, I hate using the same word twice in the same sentence! (damn, just did it again!)) that I have agreed to take part in this triathlon. What was I thinking? I like cycling, can just about swim and can run OK so long as there's a pub where I'm running to. This is very different... It is good to be cycling again! Not good to have wonky cogs though!
Does building furniture count as exercise?
If building furniture doesn't count as exercise it should. After a 3 hour wait for Ikea to deliver promised goods Fromage was finally able to get to work, 2 hours later and the 4th and final bookcase is finally complete. With Only a wardrobe to go the question on everybodys lips is. Will Fromage be able to finish the wardrobe early enough tomorrow to do some running?
Well it's the question on my lips anyway.
Well it's the question on my lips anyway.
Monday, 29 September 2008
Feeling a little guilty...
Poor Fromage! But he did 20 miles today, after what was probably an unwise decision to cycle to Dewsbury and back after the mega-cycle yesterday. At least today was flat, and he got coffee and scones two-thirds of the way in (don't tell Nom and the Corporal).
Will he ever cycle again?
Veg did one and a half hours of yoga tonight and amazingly no bits dropped off. Yet.
From 1st October, the running begins. Aaargh!
I believe I have a week to live.
Will he ever cycle again?
Veg did one and a half hours of yoga tonight and amazingly no bits dropped off. Yet.
From 1st October, the running begins. Aaargh!
I believe I have a week to live.
Thoughts of a dying man
Oww, my legs. Oww, my bum. Oww, my legs. Oww, my bum
Fromage is in pain, serious pain. Nobody told him that getting fit was so painful.
Need to go have a soak in the tub, anyone know of anything more powerful that deep heat?
Fromage is in pain, serious pain. Nobody told him that getting fit was so painful.
Need to go have a soak in the tub, anyone know of anything more powerful that deep heat?
Sunday, 28 September 2008
Ilkley Triathlon Spying Mission
- Very short version: There's a bloody big hill.
Long version: It seems that not all of our gang were prepared for the shock of public transport actually departing on time. So it was to be that myself and Corporaless Odd (for whom we really should agree on a soubriquet) ventured alone on the train to Ilkley, after a moment of extreme pathos seeing Veg, Nom and Fromage miss out by the slimmest of margins. (NB. This is the first time ever that 'slim' and 'Fromage' have been used in the same sentence, ever.)
After a brief stop-off at that finest of Ilkley institutions, Greggs (sausage roll-mungous), we sought the triathlon by following the herds of parked cars. Sure enough, within a few minutes, the sound of a slightly moontouched public address system and the sight of an inflatable finishing archway were observed, we had reached Tri Central.
Having spent a few minutes drinking in the atmosphere (which was plentiful) and smelling the fried onions (which also seemed plentiful), we managed to work out how to reach the Lido for the swimming. This was around 1:30, firmly in non-elite athlete territory, and thus instructive for us, the very definitions of non-elitehood. The first thing which struck me was the paucity of front crawl. To be honest, I had expected a majority of swimmers to be doing front crawl, however breastroke was the preferred option for approx. 60% of athletes I observed.
A few more swimming observations:
We won't have to practise diving, as all competitors (including elites) start in the water. - None of the casual athletes did forward roll turns, much to my relief.
- Wetsuits were very much in the minority. Most people were wearing regular gender-appropriate swimsuits, which confused me a bit in the case of the men, who can't really hide a full set of cycling/running gear under swimming shorts. I guess they put that stuff on over the top, which to me sounds absolutely awful, but hey.
- For those who don't know, the starting times were staggered from about 10:30am to 4:30pm, in increasing order of swimming speed. The casuals are set off in groups of about 3, at about 5 minute intervals (actually, this might've been shorter). There's 2 or 3 to a lane, so even in a race, it's hard to find clear water :-(
- For Nom and myself, it seemed possible to leave glasses poolside. I didn't see anyone actually do this, but I did see one guy pick up a towel after finishing the swim, so I can't see why there couldn't be a pair of specs there as well. Either way, it'd be extremely hard to get lost, given the number of marshals around.
- The fans are awesome. We spent about 10 minutes cheering on a complete stranger because the person next to us knew them. Everyone is like this.
By around 2:15, the desire to see lovely blue sky overtook us, and we headed out onto the cycle/run route. I particularly wanted to see the dreaded 'Curly Hill,' responsible for more pain and hurt than Miss Whiplash and my Seattle Mariners combined. We ventured out onto what is really a very pleasant countryside road, with bonus river and bridge action, albeit without bonus pavement, for about half an hour, until, just after the first turning, we found it.
ZOMG.
My first thought was "We have to go up this?" My second thought was "Four times?" It's extremely long, and extremely steep, I took some photos but I doubt they'll do it justice. The only real consolation is that the rest of the course must be downhill, more or less by default.
The other thing I was observing at this point was the selection of bikes being used. I must sadly report that about 98% of competitors had extremely nice road bikes, I think we saw only 2 bikes that weren't ultra-fast. One rider even had a dedicated tri bike, the sort of thing which causes my tongue to loll unattractively, the sort of thing that costs roughly the same as a new car.
I. Want.
By now, it was time to head back for the elite swimmers. Most of these guys were pretty swift, although by no means all, and there was about a 50/50 split of roll turns (or whatever they're called) and grab turns. In particular, there was a 15-year-old kid and an adult which went in after everyone else had finished, these guys were going for race records and went like proverbs off a stick, about 6 minutes for the kid and 5:30 for the guy. Not exactly the sort of thing we can aspire to, but fun nontheless.
Back to Tri Central, and the finishing post. Not before a quick look at the various tri toys available for purchase, though. All the cool stuff I can't really justify at this stage. Massage too, excitingly. Anyway, the finishing line, complete with an MC-type calling out the names of finishing competitors, and orchestrating applause, which was lovely. The spectators lining the last few yards made a guard of honour. I am very much looking forward to this next year.
To our chagrin, we couldn't stay for the last finishers (bear in mind these were the elites) but I think we saw the winner, #316, who I believe beat 55 minutes. 55 minutes! Goodness me. Wandered off at 5:25, after a few Mexican waves (oh yes!), using the ancient Oriental technique of "being early for the train".
Finishing off with ice-cream and KFC (Boneless Banquet, awesome), we reflected on a day well spent.
Pictures below. Might be bandwidth-intensive, we'll see.
Sausages, burgers and cheese...
It all went wrong! Monsieur Fromage rendez-vous-ed at Nom/Veg Towers at 10am this morning to parkake in a saucisson, er...butty, and then on to town. Unfortunately they decided on reaching the town centre (well...mostly downhill) that they should stop for a beer. FAIL. It's quite comedic (in retrospect) to be pressing the 'door open' button on a train and wailing 'nnooooooooooo!!' as it pulls away from the station. Result: we couldn't get to Ilkley to see what we're up against next year and so Corporal Odd will be the only one waking in the night to think of the child who can swim 500m in 6 minutes.
After an imprompu trip to Halfords to cheer us up, where we learned that the beautiful yellow Carrera would never convert to 'town and trail', Veg left with an on-bike mini-computer thingy that only Nom can work due to it being too complicated for blondes. Fromage invested in a heart-rate monitor so he will be the first to know the damage - does it go up to 455bpm we wonder?
To cut the story short, we made it home alive. Veg and Nom ensured that Fromage had returned to the dairy and then charged down to Veg/Nom Towers shouting 'wheeeeee!' in true Fromage-tribute style. (It's all downhill!)
Donations to the Monsieur Fromage Thigh Replacement Fund will be gratefully received, but the cheese did well. He did very well.
*Veg has just noticed that Corporal Odd has made the ticker work properly as well as making the avatars link and basically everything else work right too. Veg will just stick to making pizza and gravy, but not together...Thanks Corporal Odd!!
After an imprompu trip to Halfords to cheer us up, where we learned that the beautiful yellow Carrera would never convert to 'town and trail', Veg left with an on-bike mini-computer thingy that only Nom can work due to it being too complicated for blondes. Fromage invested in a heart-rate monitor so he will be the first to know the damage - does it go up to 455bpm we wonder?
To cut the story short, we made it home alive. Veg and Nom ensured that Fromage had returned to the dairy and then charged down to Veg/Nom Towers shouting 'wheeeeee!' in true Fromage-tribute style. (It's all downhill!)
Donations to the Monsieur Fromage Thigh Replacement Fund will be gratefully received, but the cheese did well. He did very well.
*Veg has just noticed that Corporal Odd has made the ticker work properly as well as making the avatars link and basically everything else work right too. Veg will just stick to making pizza and gravy, but not together...Thanks Corporal Odd!!
Saturday, 27 September 2008
Eeeh up, that's a grand wall...
Nom and Veg have spent today in training...upper-body specific training. In fact they've been dry-stone walling all day like proper Yorkshire people. We have it on authority from the expert that dry-stone walling hurts in the thighs, so Nom and Veg may be crying tomorrow on the planned cycle.
Fromage has been enticed over to Nom/Veg Towers on the promise of sausage butties if he cycles to town (uphill, then downhill) and back (uphill, then downhill) afterwards. He hasn't been informed of the route. We're then going to see what we're letting ourselves in for triathlon-wise.
Corporal Odd and Mrs Odd are taking the sensible plan of getting the bus down, unless the Corporal goes for Nom and Veg's idea of giving Mrs Odd a croggie/backie respectively. (They're from East/West Yorkshire respectively...)
Hmm...updates later - if we haven't dropped dead from shock.
P.S - Do Sports Biscuits exist anywhere in the world any more?
Fromage has been enticed over to Nom/Veg Towers on the promise of sausage butties if he cycles to town (uphill, then downhill) and back (uphill, then downhill) afterwards. He hasn't been informed of the route. We're then going to see what we're letting ourselves in for triathlon-wise.
Corporal Odd and Mrs Odd are taking the sensible plan of getting the bus down, unless the Corporal goes for Nom and Veg's idea of giving Mrs Odd a croggie/backie respectively. (They're from East/West Yorkshire respectively...)
Hmm...updates later - if we haven't dropped dead from shock.
P.S - Do Sports Biscuits exist anywhere in the world any more?
Friday, 26 September 2008
An eyeful of bugs...
Nom and Veg cycled to work this morning and were very smug as they ate, respectively, a double sausage and egg buttie and a bacon buttie...mmmmm.....breakfast.....
People in work still think we're insane and poor Fromage is getting the brunt of the ridicule. The world will repent when he wins!
Tonight, Nom and Veg cycled from work to Heckmondwike and back on the Greenway. Heckmondwike may be the second-best name for a village ever...after Shelf, but it has a soft spot in the Nom's amusement anyway. It was an unbelievable buggy journey with most of the flying insects making a beeline (ho ho!) for Veg's eyeballs. Now I understand why cyclists wear sunglasses at night! Nom very kindly picked two mini flying gremlins out of Veg's eyes (along with a lot of glitter from her impractical eyeshadow) and they continued to the supermarket. The visit to Morrisons for lasagne ingredients was less than fun, (think zombies, but with trolleys) but the lasagne that Nom cooked up afterwards was more than worth it.
So, a good food day (in terms of taste, not health). And 13 miles of cycling. Good effort.
STOP PRESS: We have word that Corporal Odd's bike is ready! And it has a better than good bit that broke in the first place! He attends the release ceremony for his support group tonight and should hopefully be reunited with FrankenOdd's Monster before the weekend is out! Hooray! (And three cheers, says poor long-suffering Mrs Odd!)
People in work still think we're insane and poor Fromage is getting the brunt of the ridicule. The world will repent when he wins!
Tonight, Nom and Veg cycled from work to Heckmondwike and back on the Greenway. Heckmondwike may be the second-best name for a village ever...after Shelf, but it has a soft spot in the Nom's amusement anyway. It was an unbelievable buggy journey with most of the flying insects making a beeline (ho ho!) for Veg's eyeballs. Now I understand why cyclists wear sunglasses at night! Nom very kindly picked two mini flying gremlins out of Veg's eyes (along with a lot of glitter from her impractical eyeshadow) and they continued to the supermarket. The visit to Morrisons for lasagne ingredients was less than fun, (think zombies, but with trolleys) but the lasagne that Nom cooked up afterwards was more than worth it.
So, a good food day (in terms of taste, not health). And 13 miles of cycling. Good effort.
STOP PRESS: We have word that Corporal Odd's bike is ready! And it has a better than good bit that broke in the first place! He attends the release ceremony for his support group tonight and should hopefully be reunited with FrankenOdd's Monster before the weekend is out! Hooray! (And three cheers, says poor long-suffering Mrs Odd!)
Wednesday, 24 September 2008
Chained to t'laptop...Nom too tired to cycle
Veg and Nom cycled to work and back today, with Veg being a pain in the *parts where the saddle bruises* on account of being excited by her new bike. Did she tell the blog community about the disc brakes? They stop; ooh, do they stop, even when it takes 7 minutes to get home due to the solid downhillness...yay!
But Nom was too tired to cycle to Dewsbury and back as planned, due to a very, very busy day. However, it took 10-ish minutes to cycle home then 10-ish minutes to cross the road to get to our house. Grrr! If everyone cycled...
Fromage is doing well, despite learning that Nom's big blue helmet is too large when he was sure his shiny red one was the biggest. At least he managed a straight line (see below).
Corporal Odd is sadly still attending his support group. I'm sure it will all be worthwhile. Feeling sorry for Mrs Odd, as Odd Barracks must be a tense place to live as he awaits his orders. Still, his application for shortbread was accepted today, which must have raised troop morale a little.
We await Sunday when we learn for real what we have to be made of. Not cheese or Jaffa Cakes, I'm sure.
But Nom was too tired to cycle to Dewsbury and back as planned, due to a very, very busy day. However, it took 10-ish minutes to cycle home then 10-ish minutes to cross the road to get to our house. Grrr! If everyone cycled...
Fromage is doing well, despite learning that Nom's big blue helmet is too large when he was sure his shiny red one was the biggest. At least he managed a straight line (see below).
Corporal Odd is sadly still attending his support group. I'm sure it will all be worthwhile. Feeling sorry for Mrs Odd, as Odd Barracks must be a tense place to live as he awaits his orders. Still, his application for shortbread was accepted today, which must have raised troop morale a little.
We await Sunday when we learn for real what we have to be made of. Not cheese or Jaffa Cakes, I'm sure.
How do you ride a bike again?
After an excruciating 30 minute "get to know you" session Fromage was finally able to ride his bike in a straight line, feeling king of the world he set off down the street.
Obstacle 1, How to turn.
Despite the relative ease with which Fromage was able to turn the bike earlier it appear that in learning to ride in a straight line he has complete forgotten how to turn. After feeling very embarrassed and having to get off the bike Fromage returns home for more practice.
10 more minutes later and Fromage is off again, this time he get further than the end of his road. Once again feeling like master of the universe he sets out on his planned journey.
Obstacle 2, How does the highway code work to bikes again?
In comic fashion Fromage has completely forgotten how to indicate that he wants to turn, resulting in him having to take a rather "interesting" new route to avoid the cars who have no idea what he is doing.
Back of the quite roads Fromage decides he should cut his losses and head home. Now which way is home again.....
Obstacle 1, How to turn.
Despite the relative ease with which Fromage was able to turn the bike earlier it appear that in learning to ride in a straight line he has complete forgotten how to turn. After feeling very embarrassed and having to get off the bike Fromage returns home for more practice.
10 more minutes later and Fromage is off again, this time he get further than the end of his road. Once again feeling like master of the universe he sets out on his planned journey.
Obstacle 2, How does the highway code work to bikes again?
In comic fashion Fromage has completely forgotten how to indicate that he wants to turn, resulting in him having to take a rather "interesting" new route to avoid the cars who have no idea what he is doing.
Back of the quite roads Fromage decides he should cut his losses and head home. Now which way is home again.....
Tuesday, 23 September 2008
Oooh, dear, my bottom has gone dead!
Veg and Nom have to be honest; they couldn't get out of bed this morning, so the Vegmobile MkII (yay!!) and the Nom Travelling Device (NTD) were left in the care of the giant spider and they staggered up to work like big lazy lumps.
Meanwhile, Fromage had succeeded in cramming the Vegmobile Mk1 (hitherto known as the Cheesemobile or Brie-Velo) into the back of his car. Showing far more enthusiasm than any of us expected, he rushed to the local cycle shop and returned to display his shiny red helmet in the office (OK, if I hadn't said it, someone else would).
Corporal Odd attended his first squiffy handlebar support group tonight and will be frequenting their premises until the end of the week, when hopefully he will be reunited with Frankenodd's Monster, a half-steel, half-aluminium creation which will hopefully hold together better than the Oddsmobile Mk1. Alum keys, superglue and green stuff at the ready...
Veg and Nom cycled around 5 miles tonight, to Cleckheaton and back, but had to go home because Nom was cold. Blood like water that one...he doesn't know that he's leaving work early, cycling home and then across to Dewsbury tomorrow before he can have his tea.
Meanwhile, Fromage had succeeded in cramming the Vegmobile Mk1 (hitherto known as the Cheesemobile or Brie-Velo) into the back of his car. Showing far more enthusiasm than any of us expected, he rushed to the local cycle shop and returned to display his shiny red helmet in the office (OK, if I hadn't said it, someone else would).
Corporal Odd attended his first squiffy handlebar support group tonight and will be frequenting their premises until the end of the week, when hopefully he will be reunited with Frankenodd's Monster, a half-steel, half-aluminium creation which will hopefully hold together better than the Oddsmobile Mk1. Alum keys, superglue and green stuff at the ready...
Veg and Nom cycled around 5 miles tonight, to Cleckheaton and back, but had to go home because Nom was cold. Blood like water that one...he doesn't know that he's leaving work early, cycling home and then across to Dewsbury tomorrow before he can have his tea.
Monday, 22 September 2008
The Battle of Halfords, Part the First
Squiffy handlebars be damned! Corporal Odd was extremely unamused by the Oddmobile's motiveless suicide yesterday. He voiced his lack of amusement in Halfords today. They seemed moderately unimpressed actually, as if 5-day-old bikes careering out of control is a common occurrence. This worries me greatly. I was probably fractionally irrational in all honesty, although I think I was entitled to be irate (a collector's item in itself) seeing as the breakdown was responsible for not only myself, but Veg and Nom having to wheel for over two hours.
Anyway, after no little macho posturing between myself and the manager (name omitted as I've forgotten it), I settled, wearily, for replacement of the stem and handlebars by lovely aluminium parts. And not, say, a large amount of free stuff. Gngh. I'm not very good at this complaining lark.
Therefore, I am bikeless until the weekend, at which point I will be too busy to actually use it. Bah humbug. Still, managed to get some running in. (Some does not neccessarily equal a large amount.)
EPIC FAIL. (note to self - don't let this become a recurring theme.)
PS. My beloved Seattle Mariners have now lost 11 games in a row...
Anyway, after no little macho posturing between myself and the manager (name omitted as I've forgotten it), I settled, wearily, for replacement of the stem and handlebars by lovely aluminium parts. And not, say, a large amount of free stuff. Gngh. I'm not very good at this complaining lark.
Therefore, I am bikeless until the weekend, at which point I will be too busy to actually use it. Bah humbug. Still, managed to get some running in. (Some does not neccessarily equal a large amount.)
EPIC FAIL. (note to self - don't let this become a recurring theme.)
PS. My beloved Seattle Mariners have now lost 11 games in a row...
New Vegmobile!
After yesterday's setbacks, Nom and the Corporal walked in to work (no running yet - it's all uphill!) with the Corporal resolving to make Halfords pay: nobody, but nobody should give the Corporal squiffy handlebars. Oh yes, after 5pm tonight they will regret this grave error.
Meanwhile, Veg was jumping up and down happily because today was delivery day of her pretty new bike WITH DISC BRAKES!!! De-spidering the Veg-mobile Mk1 for the last time, she struggled up the road, realising as she passed the Corporal's house that the road levelled out between Odd Barracks and work. Report to follow on the Corporal cycling home from Veg/Nom Towers. Uphill is not the word. Well, it is, but very uphill, although two words, is a better description.
Vegmobile Mk1 was left in the work car park for Fromage to cram into his car (no more excuses - Vegmobile Mk1 is now the Cheesemobile) and Vegmobile MkII has disc brakes! It was a very happy Veg who struggled very very uphill on the first leg of the journey home. How can it be uphill both ways?
Veg has to do her first yoga class tonight, whilst we send the Corporal our prayers for a friendly Halfords. More to follow, but did I mention that Veg has disc brakes?!!!
Meanwhile, Veg was jumping up and down happily because today was delivery day of her pretty new bike WITH DISC BRAKES!!! De-spidering the Veg-mobile Mk1 for the last time, she struggled up the road, realising as she passed the Corporal's house that the road levelled out between Odd Barracks and work. Report to follow on the Corporal cycling home from Veg/Nom Towers. Uphill is not the word. Well, it is, but very uphill, although two words, is a better description.
Vegmobile Mk1 was left in the work car park for Fromage to cram into his car (no more excuses - Vegmobile Mk1 is now the Cheesemobile) and Vegmobile MkII has disc brakes! It was a very happy Veg who struggled very very uphill on the first leg of the journey home. How can it be uphill both ways?
Veg has to do her first yoga class tonight, whilst we send the Corporal our prayers for a friendly Halfords. More to follow, but did I mention that Veg has disc brakes?!!!
Thank you!
We'd like to say thanks to Mark Eccleston and his site http://thegreenfingeredphotographer.blogspot.com
for the pretty header (and not too girly - Veg was worrying!)
Thank you Mark!
for the pretty header (and not too girly - Veg was worrying!)
Thank you Mark!
Sunday, 21 September 2008
Giving Halfords a kick
It was a beautiful day, so this morning after Nom and Fromage had finished work (Sunday morning...bleugh), Fromage went home to sit on his new reclining sofa ("I don't have a bike...honest!") whilst Nom headed home to rescue Veg from a complicated situation involving a revolving pedal, some bike oil and a tabby cat.
Corporal Odd (the Instigator) turned up for drill at 12.30 and after Veg and Nom's bikes had been de-spidered, the show was, in effect, on the road...
...until four miles into the journey, when Corporal Odd's shiny new red bike began to show signs of renegade handlebars. Hmm...
Nom, the designated responsible adult attempted to tighten the nut (on the bike, not the Corporal) with a house key, but an alum key was needed. So Corporal Odd and Veg did the honourable thing; delegating Nom to cycle home for an alum key whilst they headed for the pub.
Ten minutes later, Nom turned up, having met a very organised friend from work just a few minutes down the Greenway. Organised friend had brought alum keys. Hooray!
We made it to Dewsbury in silly times, despite Veg and Nom stopping at Tesco in Cleckheaton and filling their rucksack with...yes, veg. Nom sneaked in a bottle of wine too, but nobody is sure how that happened. Oh well, he had to carry it. And the rucksack was pink.
Heckmondwike again and disaster struck Corporal Odd. The old war wound, in the form of the squiffy handlebars, struck again and he had a full relapse. Nom worked hard, but it was a terminal case. We walked home from Heckmondwike.
Training session one: Fail.
Corporal Odd (the Instigator) turned up for drill at 12.30 and after Veg and Nom's bikes had been de-spidered, the show was, in effect, on the road...
...until four miles into the journey, when Corporal Odd's shiny new red bike began to show signs of renegade handlebars. Hmm...
Nom, the designated responsible adult attempted to tighten the nut (on the bike, not the Corporal) with a house key, but an alum key was needed. So Corporal Odd and Veg did the honourable thing; delegating Nom to cycle home for an alum key whilst they headed for the pub.
Ten minutes later, Nom turned up, having met a very organised friend from work just a few minutes down the Greenway. Organised friend had brought alum keys. Hooray!
We made it to Dewsbury in silly times, despite Veg and Nom stopping at Tesco in Cleckheaton and filling their rucksack with...yes, veg. Nom sneaked in a bottle of wine too, but nobody is sure how that happened. Oh well, he had to carry it. And the rucksack was pink.
Heckmondwike again and disaster struck Corporal Odd. The old war wound, in the form of the squiffy handlebars, struck again and he had a full relapse. Nom worked hard, but it was a terminal case. We walked home from Heckmondwike.
Training session one: Fail.
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