Seven weeks from now I will be retired and I can start to realise some dreams. Or will they be nightmares? I have been made redundant but had planned to leave around now so the timing is good for me. At just 51 I am young enough to have a few years in me and I believe, hope, that I have sufficient funding. I should be fine. First really big target is the Great Divide a mountainbike route between Banff, Canada, to Antelope Wells on the Mexican / USA border. Race or tour? Not decided. Lets see how it goes.
- Opinion
Seven weeks
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The physics principle exploited is that opposing forces equal applied forces. Conventional power meters measure applied forces--very well but admittedly not cheaply. This app appears to measure acceleration and slope to determine two of four important opposing forces. Notice something missing? Wind...the dominant opposing force when riding on the flats or in a pack. This app assumes that wind speed equals bike speed in order to "guess" the critical opposing wind force it does not measure. If you always ride solo and never ride when the wind blows maybe this app will work OK for you. Otherwise you are wasting your money. There is no such thing as free power.
Not gonna lie, when I saw the name LAP I thought 'Here we go again, yet another pretentious brand like MAAP, PNS, ASOS and Rapha that wants to grab a piece of the 'bragging rights' cycling category. But, to my surprise, what they bring to the table seems pretty well considered. Let's see if this idea gets some traction.
The difference in the UK is that the police don't try to hide their pride in paying no attention to bicycle theft, in order to maintain credibility with their motorhead mates. When the British Transport Police actually declared they weren't interested (OK, there were some provisos to that, but what they really meant was: cyclists can get stuffed) in cycle theft, they were forced to retract that officially but continued in practice to teach cyclists a lesson by making no effort to catch the thieves (I assume - no personal experience of this particular police-encouraged crime wave)
Might have been usefull to describe the bike / brand etc..?
Operation "Sorry Not Attempting Prosecution"? Certainly some forces see it as a success!
I have some Assos gear and generally like it but at 295 GBP, trouser legs that slip upwards while riding are most definitely unacceptable. That's a kill right there in my book. Hell, I own several bib shorts that cost me 1/4 th of that amount and while they are not so supremely comfy as Assos where the pad is concerned, no slippage.
@mdavidford "We should all love one another and I know there are people who do not love their fellow man and I HATE people like that!" Tom Lehrer. Thing is Tom was being satirical...
Bristol City Council is hell bent on turning the former railway line into a so-called relief road for the A4. Van dweller pitches are simply a ruse to bide it time whilst it plots its next manoeuvrers.
@BaselGooner In the early '90s a friend of mine was working in Geneva, his girlfriend had her (unlocked) bike stolen one night and two days later it reappeared in the same rack outside her flat cleaned, oiled and with flowers and chocolates tied to the rear rack and a note saying, "I took your bike because I was drunk and had no money for taxi or bus. I thought it was funny but I was wrong. Sincerest apologies." I've always remembered that and thought what a great place Switzerland must be for cycle ownership if that's representative, sorry to hear it might not be.
Said motorists remain mentally ill when they aren't behind the wheel.
4 thoughts on “Seven weeks”
Best of luck Blackhound, a
Best of luck Blackhound, a world of riding awaits!
I am in the same situation
I am in the same situation Blackhound, although not quite retired, I was made redundant about 6 weeks ago, but I’m fairly financially stable (no mortgage or debts), so I’m aiming to get into the bike industry, but am finding it hard to be in a great rush.
We’ll have to get together for that ride we talked about last year, before I end up finding myself employment. Early retirement is calling me, but at 45 it may be just a bit too early.
My best mate is yearning to do the Great Divide too, he did the Cape Epic a few years ago (before they made it easy he likes to point out!), and thinks this is his next big one, so best of luck if you do decide to do it.
Kevin, is that you ?
If not
Kevin, is that you ?
If not then never mind :-0
if it is well
how much of a coincidence !
I’m being made redundant at some point in the next year and intending to take a year off, Great Divide is top of my list, followed by a very wiggly LEJOG, and then looking for work
If things work out I’m looking to go at the end of April next year, hopefully see you on the trail 🙂
I’m in exactly the opposite
I’m in exactly the opposite position. After being made redundant last year I took full advantage of the extra free time I had by riding at every opportunity – mainly to prepare for this summer’s Race Against Time LEJOG, which was one of the best experiences of my life.
Now, perhaps partly because I spent a little too much time cycling and not enough earning money, I’m contemplating a sheepish return to the job market and an almost inevitable falling away of cycling opportunities. Ah well, no regrets…I wouldn’t have swapped this last year for anything.