jimmythecuckoo's blog

Saturday promised much as a day of sport watching and partaking for me.

I recorded the Australia vs England rugby union international before heading out on my bike for some r+r (of sorts).

The rugby union match was ultimately a let down. It was nice to see England batter France in the rugby league international but it wasn't a good match as it was too one sided.

Ignoring the empty spaces at the side of the roads that I dont remember seeing last year, I have to say the 2010 Tour Series has been superb so far.

As per last year my anticipation is building for my local round in Peterborough, although this year I will spare you all the details of my (work permitting) participation in the pre main event time trial for local amateurs.

Despite being out of the country for the first week of the race, the 2010 Giro D'Italia has left a lasting memory on me.

It was a race domintaed by hard climbs and at times bad weather.

To see the riders led home off the 'White Roads' by a mud caked Cadel Evans is one of the great cycling images of all time.

It feels like ages since I have blogged consistently so I am now planning to knuckle down and get back to a decent level of output before the Tour de France.

Since getting back from honeymoon (where I lost a track stand competition on the cruise ship!) I have managed 180 miles (second half of May) and have got plenty of enthusiasm for cycling back.

Its all about time at the moment and the bank holiday weekend was a case in point.

Saturday London

Natural History museum and shops in Knightsbridge (it was both our birthdays last week too !)

What a great weekend to be on a bicycle and enjoying the countryside. It is incredible that all those rides in the cold and wind and rain are all preparation for when the sun shines and proper "Tour de France" weather descends on the UK.

I was out nice and early both mornings to get some relax time in for the afternoons, what with it being the first full week back after honeymoon.

I am not sure where I am with the sport of cycling at the moment.

Having had three weeks off for the wedding and honeymoon I have enjoyed some good riding this week. A great spin over the weekend with other riders chatting and some wonderful isloation in the fens working hard to find some speed in my legs.

It has been both socially rewarding and idyllic. Perfection on two wheels.

But all these romantic notions going around my brain are having to be reconciled against the latest storm of you know what hitting the fan in the professional sport.

Time for the last update of the blog before my wedding on Saturday (and hopefully honeymoon next week; ash permitting).

I haven't been riding that much due to all the last minute planning that seems to have come up and bitten our bums.

One thing I have insisted on doing is watching the classics on Eurosport and to stop the theme dying it was nice to see "the bold" Albert Timmer in a break at the Amstel and having his picture in the 'new look' procycling magazine. Go King Albert.

It wasn't planned to be this way. I was hoping to get a couple more weeks getting used to only having one gear on the flatter fenland roads.

The 48x16 gearing of the single speed is still moulding my legs into shape so I figured whilst setting out this morning to grab an hour that the riding would be flatter and faster.

Lots of interesting looking bicycles and a bloody awesome tune...

www.youtube.com/watch

Love it ...

After the tough conditions this winter and having spent as much time cleaning my bike after rides as pedalling it, the lower maintenance option of a single speed was looking more and more appealing to me.

So after consulting with Mr Farrelly of this very website and spending more time than was healthy on Google I decided to take the plunge and make a purchase.