Well it aint a Garmin but...

 With all my tooing and frowing about whether to get a Garmin 800 for crimbo I have taken to exploring the expanse that is the Greater Chavingstoke area using OS map to route, then plot the roads onto a piece of paper, finally having waterproofed it and strapped it to the handlebars. It served me well.
Although no Garmin or mapping could prevent my first real tumble as I rounded a bend the wheels went from under in some compacted mud on the country road and down I went.I was not going fast and fortunately no one was behind me.

I did not realise until I got home that I had also ripped a small hole in the sleeve of my new waterproof jacket. Not impressed however sewing kit out and quick mend followed by a touch of glue to seel the repair.

I now have also come to realise why there is a vast array of clothing out there, the Dhb bib was not warm in the nether regions and the little fella was not a happy bunny down there. Time to shop again me thinks....

Ignorance or Arrogance from other riders

In the last week I have been out and about in the Basingstoke area. On my last two rides I have passed many a rider in the opposite direction than I. I smile, wave a hand and if I'm not breathing out my backside will say a hello. I can honestly say that only 3 have acknowledged my existence. 4 if you count the fella in a white jersey black tights who rode Huish Lane yesterday morning: http://app.strava.com/segments/1441705 . He looked at me as if I had a second head when I said Good Morning. 

I survived the night....

The road is long and arduous, my path to wellness bestrewn with many obstacles. Perils await by way demons who did malevolently fashion such an accursed malaise! Woe betide thee to enter my room, for I am but the fallen one! Fear not - Though death may stalk thee, it is death's sweet embrace that shall bring me comfort... And so I must gather my strength to run, to run towards the light.

MAN FLU suffering and cycle suffering challenge.

Well despite being full of cold (man flu) and not able to go out for a ride today, I signed up on Strava for:

Cannondale’s Oktoberfest with Tim Johnson

Can you match Tim Johnson’s fall training plan? 60 gritty hours in 3 weeks?

Between Oct 20th and Nov 10th knock down 60 hours of run ups, off camber turns, or standard gut wrenching hours in the saddle. 

This will certainly set me off in the right way. Although I cannot do the first day as I'm on a 12hrs 0700-1900hrs shift. But there again I might get up really early.

STRAVA OKTOBERFEST LINK

I seem to going backwards

When I started this hobby I quickly went from 10 miles to 17-23 miles. All of a sudden I am struggling to do 10 again and dying a death on inclines.
Take a look at my strava:
My Strava

But on the flip side I have ordered a winter jacket: dhb EQ2.5 Waterproof Cycling Jacket in black. 30% of the wiggle price.

Wiggle wriggled out...

I posted that I had ordered the new winter jersey. Only to find after 3 days of nothing I emailed wiggle to find out what was happening. Oh sorry they replied our supplier has failed to supply.... Is there anything else you want?
Really? Do you know how long it took me to decide on a top at a reasonable price. Reasonable being cheap but good.

Any ideas would help.

Lots More Money and Few More Miles

Today in the rain I went to Halfords to check on the progress of my replacement stem. Only to be told it will be the 5th Nov, more painful miles to put in for a wee while.
As it was raining I decided to invest in the Crud Mudguards. £26 later I was crouching in the Bikehut fixing them to the TDF. 1hrs 10mins later jobs a goodun...... Left the store a happy man only to find it had stopped raining and the ground was drying out, Oh well investment made.

I also ordered on Wiggle after much too-ing and fro-ing: I ordered a Spuik Race Jacket reduced from £75 to £37.
Hopefully all this lot will see me through the winter.....

I then went for a 7 mile spine to blow the cobwebs of last weeks drinking session.

Winter Brrr Too many choices!

With winter just round the corner and no real change from summer as in its still raining!!  I thought I would invest in some winter gear. I checked out all the usuals; Wiggle, Chain Reaction Cycles etc  I found Autumn wear on the shelves. I cannot afford to have four seasons of cycle wear and there is no room in my one bed apartment.

I now am in a quandary do I get Autumn wear and pad it out in the winter or wait and pad out the summer wear for now? So on the sites again and when I look its all Baselayers, thermals, windproof, waterproof, Merino wool, long sleeve short sleeve with arm and leg warmers. WHERE DO I START?

One thing I do know is I'm getting some CRUD...... Believe it or not their mudguards. It looked like I'd diarrhea sprayed my back the other day.

New life in the saddle

About a year ago I nose dived out of  fitness when my feet decided they had had enough of keeping me moving and I spent 5 months on the sick sorting them out. 

I went from going running and doing the Military style boot camp to keep me from being stressed to nothing. Then in August I had had enough of sitting round (resting my feet) time had come to get of my idle stressed out arse and buy a bike. 

I thought long and hard about how much to spend I could have jumped in with a grand and get a decent road bike plus equipment. BUT and there always is a but; what if I didn't like it then £1000 would be wasted. So I halved it and spent £299 on a Carrera TDF  and some bits and pieces for safety total spend £500 on the cycle2work scheme.

Almost 2 months in and I love it. I'm on Strava  http://app.strava.com/athletes/996800 . Bike Radar is visited all the time. Now though I wish I got a better bike but will have to wait. I spent another £200 on summer clothing only now I have to get winter wear another £100 will soon be spent on warmer clothing.    

THIS IS BECOMING AN EXPENSIVE HOBBY.

Jill rolls her eyes and switches off whenever I mention the word "cycle" and is not impressed at my spending because we are supposed to be saving for a house.