Blackhound's blog

If I am going out on a Saturday night, a rare occurence, for 8.30pm then I can get out of my chair at 8.00pm have a shave and a shower and grab something to wear and out the door.

Going out for a ride always takes longer. Always a bit of making sure I take precautions and have tools, bars, pump etc and then what to wear! Will it cover the likely weather conditions, does it all match up, no clashing of logos's and colours. Helmet has to match as well.

I have always found it odd when wandering around Sainsbury's picking up my high carb, low fat groceries seeing people shopping still wearing there helmet worn to cycle to the supermarket. Now, I sometimes shop on a bike but I always carry tde helmet under my harm or put in the basket out of the way. Bright yellow tops as well look out of place under the bright lights, I would take mine off and put in a bag or something.

Went mountain biking in Wales this weekend wih friends. Rode the trails at Llandegla and Penmachno which were fun. I like natural trails but booking a weekend with friends just getting on with it is useful when it could be cold.

But the weather was nice and warm, 54km on Saturday and about 40km on Sunday. Couple of pints of Guinness and watching the Republic win at Rugby on Saturday night.

Will go to bed tired and happy tonight.

Did a lot of hours at work since last spring and consequently less cycling. New Years resolution was to finish work twice a week on time and go for a ride. This has rarely happened so far and today was another late night at work and no riding. So gets to the bike for the short ride home and a puncture, the sixth this year. I only had a standard size tube with me which was not quite long enough for the rim, lbs having sold out!

So got round to booking my entry and Eurostar ticket in the last couple of daysfor the Flanders sportif. Worried about my fitness, 140km is a long way in early April but plan to enjoy it. And the beer and frites while watching the pro's on Sunday.

Surprised at the entry fee of just 14 euro's, would be a lot more in the UK.

I don't mean just commuting on a 15 year old mtb, which I did today, but spend my Saturdays mornings riding round the Peak District when I could be in the Westfield centre. Or doing the tour of Flanders sportif the weekend of my partners birthday when we could go to Barcelona instead.

I wouldn't have that big bruise and graze on my thigh from coming down on ice last weekend or had a 10km walk home the other week.

Postie battled through the worst weather in years to bring me these.

Bit off topic really, being an mtb ride, and bought a bit early. 2010 was my aim but the recession means I may stay on working for a year. 2011 was supposed to be PBP and qualifying for PBP, The Great Divide and then PBP may be a bit much for an old beggar like me.

[for those who do not know the GDR is a 2,500 mile ride down the Rockies from the Canadian border to Mexican border] Had my eye on this for 7 or 8 years.

Not really dieted before but last spring my workload changed somewhat and I dida lot less riding. The weight crept up and I stepped on the scales over New Year. I was about a stone above where I should be so undertook to lose 12lbs in 12 weeks. Aim is to eat less / better and also to leave work on time 2 nights a week (I don't get paid for the extra hours).

So four weeks in I have lost 7lbs and upped my exercise a bit as well. Hope I can keep it up but I did weaken today and have a snickers.......

Last couple of long rides I got a punctures. After the last one I noticed a few small nicks in the tyre so bought a replacement. Its the rear so a bit of a faff to change so thought I would manage onemore ride.

Aimed to do 2+ hours this evening after work so made effort to get away on time. Just turning into the dark stretch with 10k and a few hills to go I felt something on rear wheel and tyre went down.

First day back on the bike after a week due to illness. I am usually reasonably healthy but an evening spent with a couple of mates with youung children may have been my undoing. I drove into work yesterday as I was not fully recovered - how do people cope with all the traffic every day?

Anyway, today was cold and a little foggy as I set off for the office. As I went over a foot/cycle bridge into the city looking at the inner ring road below seeing the cars below it was a good feeling, a little smile inside.