Be careful if your bars are old

Snapped handlebar
Originally uploaded by cyclingbob

These bars were probably 25 years old and I guess that the tiny grooves in the bar where it was rotated into the stem acted as stress risers. Needless to say the consequences were sudden and painful. Can't remember much about it but at least it happened at about 15mph and not 45 mph. No cycling for me during the rest of bike week :-( I'll be nursing my injuries for a little while yet.

Do I look cool in this?

Do I look cool in this?
Originally uploaded by cyclingbob

Went for a pootle along the Chesterfield Canal to escape the hassles of work and enjoy a bit of warm sunshine. Lots of canal boats out traversing the numerous locks between Shireoaks and Turnerwood and it made me consider some of the rules of canal boating:

1. Never leave a windlass on the paddle gear spindle of a lock when it is being used.
2. Keep right when passing other boats.
3. All dogs MUST wear neckerchiefs!

Ouch

IMAG0003
Originally uploaded by cyclingbob

Just part of the aftermath of coming off yesterday. This is starting to scab over now and looks horrible. I also have marvellous grazes on my arm and hip and, for some reason, a painful heel that I can't put weight on.

Bike isn't too bad - ravaged bar tape, knackered brake lever, few scratches and the like. My cycling jacket is ruined though.

No cycling for me for a few days.

Misty morning on the Chesterfield Canal

Misty morning on the Chesterfield Canal
Originally uploaded by rob.appleyard

Taken very early on Saturday morning on my way to Sheffield. Between Worksop and Shireoaks.

Creative hedging

Seen recently on a ride out east. Can't recall where exactly but I think it was somewhere near East Markham. There were a number of others too, including a rabbit and an owl.

Windy Winnats

Cycling up Winnats Pass is hard at the best of times but going up recently in to the teeth of a stupidly strong headwind made me question my sanity. It probably would have been almost as quick to get off and walk but Look pedals and cleats meant that wasn't really an option. Grinding, gurning and gritting of teeth were all required.

Muchos credit to my mate Pete who made it up (without stopping) with his arse on this:


And whilst I was 'honking' on the pedals, he was 'honking' on this :-)

C-C-C-C-C-Cold

Well below freezing on the commute in this morning. The combination of clear blue sky and fields covered in white made for a beautiful ride but by golly it was cold. Fingers and toes numb for a while afterwards, and as for the skin on my cheeks ... The cold does encourage you to ride faster though.

Forecast is for it to be about -3 on my way back to Worksop later this evening and about -8 tonight. Nice.

Bl**dy farmers

I knew I shouldn't have replied to Ian's email about his spate of punctures! I'm actually no believer in fate but its usually better to keep your counsel when talking about stuff like that. The sunny weather in the early part of this week didn't just bring out more cyclists. It also brought out the local farmers with their flail hedge cutters. Now if anyone else decides to chuck vegetation all over the road then I'm pretty sure that, at best, you'd be yelled at and, at worst, be fined (heavily) for littering. So WHY do farmers think it is perfectly OK to leave decimated hawthorn hedge in their wake and not clear it up. It was so bad near Kiveton that it was impossible to pick a way through it all. The only small silver lining was that by leaving all the thorns in the tyres I could get back and fix the punctures at home. GITS.

2008 cycling goals

OK, I'm going to commit this to virtual paper. This year I plan to:

• Ride an average of 600 miles per month
• Ride at least four 200k audaxes (plus whatever BP's I can fit in)
• Go touring for a week somewhere in the UK (camping and on the cheap)
• Do the Esteli ride in July
• Do the Phil and Friends ride in August
• Join a club, do a 10 mile TT and then do another one trying to beat my time
• Do a night ride

First ride of 2008

Back at work tomorrow and the nasty cold I've suffered with for a week had just about gone so off we jolly well go. Decided on a circular route of sleepy Nottinghamshire villages and lanes that would keep me occupied for about 4 hours or so. Route here if you are interested. 56 miles in total.

It felt really cold and the wind on some of the more exposed sections was fairly stiff. My midriff was bright red when I got back despite wearing a fleece and my 'boil in the bag' cycling jacket. The watery sun did put in an appearance of sorts in the latter part of the ride though. Keeping moving was the key. No cafe/pub stops today although I did sit in a bus shelter in Bothamsall to eat some sandwiches. Blimey I felt cold and stiff when I decided to get going again.

Most of the route was lovely; largely quiet, narrow lanes lined with hedges and woodland to keep the worst of the wind away. Only the busy drag between Retford and Worksop on the last leg sapped at my high spirits.

An enjoyable ride but it felt tougher than it should have done and my knees were a bit stiff and sore afterwards. Suppose I could blame the nasty cold I've just got rid of but in reality I'm just unfit having been off the bike since a week before Xmas. I aim to put that right though.