h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Day 6: same route as yesterday, with the extra mile and hill, and I did it in dead on the same time yesterday but it felt harder - I'm currently puffing and panting like an underpowered steam train. The headwind that was against me for most of the route (including the hill) can probably account for that.

Still I kept my speed up against the wind which is good. I also decided bout halfway up the hill to quit, get off the bike and walk and was moving to the kerb to do so. Then some small part of my brain disagreed, dropped down into a lower gear, kept my legs going and voila, I was up the hill and enjoying the downslope. I'm rather proud of that. I just have to keep reminding myself it's very early days: I'm very fat, very unfit and doing that distance with any gradient is an achievement, let alone doing it in a decent time with a strong headwind. There will come a day, and it'll probably be soon, where this route seems laughably simple but until then I need to chill out and give credit where it's due.

I also learned a valuable lesson this morning: if it's windy, don't go out with a loose overshirt on. I'd be looking over my shoulder and all I could see was my shirt billowing behind me.

Day 7: did the slightly longer ride again this morning. Still leaves me panting but I got up the hill somewhat easier than yesterday or Saturday which is cool. It'll be fine for being my normal morning ride at least until I start feeling comfortable doing it and then I'll change to something longer.

Weather was pretty nice too: first time I've ridden and there's been no wind or rain.

*Pays attention, and is impressed by the improvement over a very few days.


You mean an outbreak of periods of not-rain?

I've been having problems with the gears on my bike (the front guide is out of alignment and keeps knocking the chain off) and my knee (shooting pains through my left knee) so I decided to give them both an easy day today and only did the shorter ride, avoiding the hill. Conditions were glorious: clear sky, warm air and just a freshening breeze.

Last night before dinner I did the shorter ride, mainly because I was bored, and apart from the heckling chavs I enjoyed it so I might do that again tonight to make sure I keep my daily distance up.

Great job. I read a leaflet from the German Heart Foundation the other day, and they say that cycling is good for the knees because the circling movement you do when cycling helps supplying the articular cartilage with joint fluid because it doesn't have any blood vessels.
Cycling is good for the lower back, too, they say.

Really been struggling to get out of bed for the past couple of days - that's the hardest part of the ride right now. The gears are annoying me a lot but I'm taking it down the shop on Friday.

It's still rideable so I did the short ride this morning. I barely notice the bit that, only last week, was giving me hell. That makes me proud and hopeful for the future.

Day 11: blergh. I'm at the stage where I'm at most risk of quitting and abandoning the whole endeavour, it's that lull when the buzz/excitement/enthusiasm of first doing it has worn off but your body hasn't accepted the routine as a new habit (I'm told that takes about 3 weeks). I knew this would come, which is why I'm writing this journal/doing fitocracy.

Even though the ride is an absolute doddle, I'm just struggling with motivation and my body is thoroughly sick of going out at 5.30 in the cold wind/rain. I think I need some relentlessly cheery pop music: some Alphabeat, S Club 7 and Glee.

I'm only 10 days or thereabouts away from my body just giving up and accepting this as something that's happening: 10 days is nothing. If I have to physically pick up my legs to move them I will

I find music a great motivator too. Ladysmith Black Mambazo, oddly, are a group that make me smile in delight so they turn out to be great motivators for me. Not sure why.

Well done on persevering, HI. It is tough.

I speak as one who lacks any motivation to do anything physical at all these days. Walking and swimming are my two outlets for exercise, but its amazing how many excuses I think up - too hot, too windy, too early, too late. All are pathetic excuses, but my mind insists on coming up with these, and even more ridiculous get out excuses. Getting out of the house before 6am and riding in the rain sounds harsh, so you have my applause HI.

@Vip I love Ladysmith Black Mambazo, I've been lucky enough to have seen them live a couple of times too, and the energy they project through their music is palpable.

My bike was stolen about five years ago, and I never got around to replacing it. I really should. As it is, I walk everywhere, so I'm reasonably fit, but the past couple of weekends I've walked out of town along the canal, and then broken off onto country lanes which would be better navigated with a bike. I'm thinking more and more about getting one again. It would be good for me.

Keep it up!

TRiG.

Day 12: you all know the drill by now - cold, wet, windy. I thought that by starting in June I'd have nice weather to ease myself into the routine before autumn/winter hit: how daft was that?

At least when November does roll around the weather will hold no fears for me.

Just ridden away from work in a screaming gale. It's a steep downhill and my coat and hair were flying behind me: it was one of my favourite things ever.

Should have a solution to the bike's gears tomorrow.

Great you're braving the elements (and your reluctant body - we call that: innerer Schweinehund, btw). Very windy today here, too, but ca 20°C or more, so not too bad.

If it's any consolation: my whole body aches, but I forget about it once I cycle.

Day 15: didn't do any riding this weekend as the flooding around my friends house was too severe, plus the winds were a nightmare. I walked 10 miles over the two days though so I don't feel too bad.

Went out this morning on the short ride and it felt great: struggling against the wind a bit but I don't care that much. Having the full set of gears again was lovely (plus the guy did it for free "as consolation for dealing with those idiots at Halfords") and I'll look at getting up to the longer ride with the hill shortly.

Given how much better I feel (by Friday I was getting seriously achy) I might look at giving myself one weekend off the bike a month. It has helped with how I feel and my general motivation.

Having time off is a good idea as it helps your muscles develop. And if getting back on the bike was a joy, not a disappointment, that's a great sign!

Days 16/17: fairly standard short rides and pretty enjoyable. Had dense fog yesterday which was cool: I think before the month is out I'm going to experience pretty much every weather condition. Except warm sunshine of course, because it's June and we don't get that.

Will give the longer ride with hills a shot on Friday and I think on Saturday or Sunday I do the ride from Leeds city centre to my house. If I can do that happily (and I should, it's shorter than the ride I do with the hill) then I can look at hitting my goal of riding away from work.

That sounds great. I hate riding in fog, not only can't you look very far, but it condenses on my glasses, too, making it even more awkward (wait until it's DARK and foggy).

Having a rest one day per week is what I do (depending on what else I'm doing on weekends it may even be two days), and I think it is doing me good.

Are you going to transport the bicycle with you on the bus on the way in then?

Nah Vip, the chap who gives me a lift into work can take it in the boot of his massive car. That's what we did last week and it was fine.

Today it was extremely muggy, even at 6am, (we're going to have one hell of a thunderstorm today) and I stayed in my highest gear pretty much the whole time and it still felt a doddle. I'm working my leg muscles but I'm not getting particularly out of breath.

I really liked that I was exhausted this morning and had a slight lie-in and yet at no point was the ride in question: it's become automatic.

Day 19: I was going to do the longer ride this morning but then it started thundering so I turned tail and sprinted back once I'd done the short ride. I've been pretty good with going out in all weathers but I draw the line at massive bolts of electricity coming from the sky.