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Wednesday, February 14, 2024

Week 6 - Another 50 miles

Monday

So I cycled in to work after a fairly rubbish night's sleep. In the classroom, my eyes were stinging and I was so tired that I felt myself nodding off at my desk between lessons. I managed to cycle home, but when I was faced with the prospect of an hour of weight training, my willpower wasn't enough. To not feel entirely useless, I did some ironing instead.

No exercise, no junkfood, no alcohol


Tuesday

I woke up feeling much better!

In the evening, Lucy and I went along to wish happy birthday to Jess. Of course, I had a beer with Jonnie. Unfortunately, there was no time for exercise today.

No exercise, no junkfood, alcohol


Wednesday

Not a great night's sleep, but I got up feeling okay. I cycled in to college. It was a lot colder than I expected and I was glad I was wearing two pairs of gloves. When I arrived at college, I discovered there had been a power-cut in the area! Staff and students were standing around in the car park. I got to hang out with James and talk about brake pads. 

It wasn't long before the power was back on and the college day could continue.

After lessons, Michael and I did another workout in the college gym. I then cycled home to make a protein-rich dinner and to drink some milk.

Weight training, no junkfood, no alcohol


Thursday

I woke up feeling pretty good and looking forward to breakfast.

It was a very cold and wet day! I used the car. 

After lessons, I went along to the college gym for another session. Later, I took Fred the dog to the vets. Back home, then back to fetch Martha from work, then back home again for two bowls of homemade spaghetti bolognese.

College workout, no junkfood, no alcohol


Friday

I cycled to work while Lucy went swimming. In the afternoon, we had some training on a teaching and learning method know as interleaving - where the students have different tasks to do which require lots of different skills, rather than just focusing on one skill (e.g. division). After this, I cycled home and then got ready for dojo.

Sensei Jason was in charge today and he did a great lesson for young people - they didn't get chance to get bored! We started off with some intense stretching followed by some fast-paced combinations. Then a blast through Kihon Kata. Suddenly, he had the crash mats out and we were doing break falls! Just as I was getting in to that, the focus pads came out and the young people were practising their punches and kicks. Then we were in groups for kata, and then the lesson was over! Phew. One hour flashed by in what seemed like 10 minutes. It was obvious to me that this lesson was a sort of example of interleaving - we didn't focus on developing one skill, but did a session that required several different skills to complete. Maybe Sensei Jason was at our teacher training and I didn't spot him?!

Home for dinner and glasses of water.

Karate, no junkfood, no alcohol


Saturday

Today I washed the car. It was a mild and sunny day, and I enjoyed being outside. When I'd finished, the car was still hideous to look at, but at least it was gleaming in the sunshine.

Today's Karate session was a good one, mainly because Sensei Gary came along and got everyone working on the pads. He also demonstrated some self-defence techniques which meant that I spent a lot of time on the floor!

Back home, I decided that I needed to workout so I spent an hour throwing some weights around in my man cave.

Karate, weight training, no junkfood, no alcohol.


Sunday

Another long bike ride - today we had planned a fifty miler heading through Langley and Luddington, to end up at Wilmcote after 35 miles. It was a slightly chilly start but the day soon warmed up a little, which meant I was sweating in four layers, two pairs of gloves and a balaclava! 

As is often the case with us, we found it almost impossible to ride together! Today, Jonnie was either romping away off the front or about 50 metres off the back, depending on the terrain! At least James and I managed to have a nice chat as we rolled along. What we all noticed today was an increased level of aggression from drivers, a general disregard for our safety. We are travelling along wet, often muddy country lanes. However, Audi and Discovery drivers don't seem to care about this and will drive dangerously close and/or overtake on blind corners. It's just dangerous. The worst for me, however, was on the descent off the Widowmaker in Langley where a farmer in a pick-up truck dragging a trailer went blasting by on narrow lanes, overtaking myself and James on blind bends. If anything had been coming in the other direction there would have been an almighty smash. Some people are just idiots.

The big concern of the day was the ticking and clicking noise coming from the bike. I was 99% convinced that it was the bottom bracket that had finally cracked and given up the ghost. The bike had been completely silent for the first few miles but it got gradually louder and louder as the ride went on.

Anyway, I enjoyed today's ride mainly because I was feeling energetic and full of beans! When we turned west, James and I took it in turns to ride into the headwind. I dug in along the Luddington stretch but it was a real leg punisher and I was glad when James took over up Binton. By now the bike was ticking and clicking constantly. I was careful to ride it gently up The Wall so as not to crack the bearings completely. As soon as we arrived at Wilmocte I examined the bike and was stunned to find that the bottom bracket was solid and silent. The noise seemed to be coming from the front wheel. This was more expensive than a new bottom bracket...

After a quick visit to Yvonne and a slice of always excellent homemade cake, we leapt back up onto the bikes and headed north for the final 14 miles, the bike ticking and clicking annoyingly all through Aston Cantlow.

However, as the miles went by, the noises became less, to the point where the bike was almost completely silent for the last three miles - whirring like a new bicycle fresh from the shop! I have no explanation for the ticking and clicking noise that came and went in the space of 50 miles. If I think about it too much I'll drive myself barmy!

I was rather behind the chaps by the time we arrived at Jonnie's road and the sprint was on. I launched myself from the junction, turning myself inside out to get past James in the last few metres. Afterwards, James just giggled at me and said he wasn't sprinting anyway. Which is a shame because I always enjoy the sprint.

In the evening, Jane and Dodgy Debbie came over for dinner and I had one too many beers while playing some great music!

The first of too many!

Cycling: 50 miles, junkfood, beeeeer!