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

Oh, Noodles!


A480313

I think I've fixed it but I've been reminded how much I hate repairing punctures. I used to just have several inner tubes instead of repairing damaged ones.

HI, I was down by canal today and yesterday, the tow path is getting quite busy with those accessing the countryside on their bikes.
The tow path from Leeds is quite well maintained but it is still good practise to always carry a spare inner tube with you and the necessary tools to be able to change a tyre.
If you’ve not changed one in a while, it would be good to practice at home until you got it off to a fine art, that way , next time you get a puncture you’ll be changing the inner tube in a jiff and be back on your way before you know it

Day 29: it's been a full 4 weeks. This should feel like a celebration but the truth is I just feel ill, there's a stomach bug going around work and I think I have that. Had a rest day yesterday but I cleaned the house top-to-bottom so I'm counting that as exercise for my calendar (I have a calendar with little shiny star stickers for exercise).

I did the longer loop as is becoming my norm and I got up the first hill in a high gear but after that I just stopped caring and just wanted to get home so for the second hill I shifted down onto the second (of three) front gears. I still got the exercise and could feel the strain in my thighs in particular but I saw no point in puffing and panting.

I think tomorrow/Weds I'll post something like the first couple of posts to mark/celebrate a full calendar month but for now I'm going to change, shower and hope work today doesn't suck too much.

How disappointing to get sick almost as you reach the full month. On the other hand, you went out anyway and that's definitely dedication!

Day 30: still feeling poorly but not as bad as yesterday. Did my normal loop and I'm getting to the point where the first hill at least is feeling pretty comfortable, even in the higher gears. Again I decided to go up the second in a lower gear.

The conditions were awful, fog so dense I got completely soaked and my glasses were useless.

Day 31 : I woke up early this morning and decided that, since I had a little extra time, I'd do a slightly longer route. I did my normal loop (I love how that's become normal) and got up the hill in my 2nd gear and then near the end turned and did the original short ride. All told a distance of around 5 miles. Not bad before 5.30am. I won't be making that my regular ride just yet but I don't feel particularly rough for doing it.

So in the last 31 days I've only had 3 days where I haven't cycled and two of those were because of flooding. I'm so pleased with my consistency and determination and proud of the way I've continued to push myself without getting down on myself when I can't meet a particular challenge (which is a pretty big flaw of my normally). So what have I learned?

1.) The weather this summer has been truly awful. In 31 days there's only been 1 that was actually sunny when I was out and two more where it wasn't completely overcast. I cycled in hailstones before I cycled in sunshine. That ain't right for June/July.

2.) It's quite inspirational how quickly I've regained fitness. A month ago I was shattered by the ride to the end of the road, this morning I've just done that ride on a whim having already done a longer ride. Similarly, looking back to the first time I went up the hill on the longer loop and being in so much pain: now I can get up it in my top gears without breathing that heavily. The size of me, with my sheer unfitness means if I can do it, most people can do it.

3.) Related to the above post: I have calves! Pert, taut calves. It means there's a part of my body not swaddled in fat which is pretty cool. I can feel the same process happening to my thighs but it was nice to get such a vivid demonstration this is working.

4.) My favourite ride so far has been the run around my loop and then carrying on into Leeds. Really fun combination of exertion and screaming high speeds. I know I've said it a lot already but I love that ride into Leeds: perfect weekend treat.

5.) The challenge I set myself when I started, to be able to ride away from work, to the train station and then train station to home, is happening next Friday, the last day of term. I'm quite looking forward to it. I'll need to have a thing about the next challenge: I think it might be simply keeping up the routine during the summer holidays. Maybe slightly longer rides since I won't have to worry about going into work. I've also got my eye on riding into Bradford - might give that a first try this weekend.

6.) Fitocracy is really useful. Last week when I first did the Loop/Leeds ride I got a tonne of badges and stuff. Might sound daft but it made me feel great.

That's about it. I've got a job interview next week for a job that would mean me cycling into/away from Leeds every day, as well as a short ride at the other end. I'd actually become a proper commuter cyclist. This is just one of many reasons I want this job.

This last month has definitely been awful. I've had so much use of my waterproof trousers it's ridiculous.

I also agree with the Fitocracy thing. You feel very slightly silly, but it doesn't stop it feeling like an accomplishment, does it.

Well done, we are all capable of many things, it's often the case of first, addressing the negative mind set, and more importantly, putting in place a realistic plan to achieve your new found goal.

With success comes the drive to achieve more , keep your goals realistic, you and alot more about you will grow too.

The ride from your home to Bradford is up hill till Thornbury roundabout, then its downhill all the way. Cycling back out of BRadford up to THornbury is not for the faint hearted and you would not wish to put a dent in your new found confidence. Train from the interchange to Pudsey will allow you a levelish cycle home with a steady gradient to test your stamina.

Again, well done, as for the weather, dont expect any change there, so be prepared, waterproofs and make sure those lights are working on your bike

winternights that's my plan: Bramley to Bradford rather than vice versa. As far as I can tell from the bus/car, the trickiest bit will be from Dawsons Corner to Pudsey roundabout - the road looks to level out after that, before dropping after Thornbury roundabout. The bit I'm really not looking forward to is Dawsons Corner itself: will probably dismount and walk around it. Riding into Bradford is part of a wider, vague plan to cycle all the way into work: not on a regular basis, just once to show that I can

Day 32: the weather was perfect! Finally, beautiful sunshine, a little breeze and not a cloud in the sky. Also my mp3 player decided it was going to be a Kylie morning - it was heavenly. I wanted to stay out longer so I did the loop plus (as I'm calling it) again. I found the whole ride a little harder than yesterday but that's probably because it's nearly the end of the week and I'm tired.

Tomorrow I'll definitely just be doing the loop and I'll be pleased with that: last week a full 5 days of the loop was beyond me, this week I've done that and some extra.

Day 33: Today I learned that I can't cycle hungover. I feel rather unwell. mp3 players choice today was particularly apt: "I'm not dead just yet"

Did the regular loop and it was absolutely fine. Bit more tired than usual but I know why that is. The weather was pretty rubbish too, shame yesterdays lovely weather couldn't last.

Still I've done over 20 miles these past 5 days, I'm pretty pleased with that. Early night tonight and Bradford tomorrow.

Hmmm, cycling and dehydration through is not good, water, lots in small amounts often.
Exercise puts a big enough demand on your body with out giving it an unecessary chemical handicap first.
Diet is very important, a good breakfast cereal and fruit juice to start the day and dont frget to replenish your body when you get work after cycling there.

Hope the Bradford trip goes

Day 34: I'm currently sat on the train taking me home from Bradford. The climb up from Stanningley was hard - a long, constant rise but in one of my middle gears it was bearable. Then I reached Thornbury and entered heaven (probably not something that has ever been written before).

The road drops steeply and I was screaming along, incredibly relaxed and just buzzing. Wind was in my face, my eyes were streaming, and I was keeping pace with the cars on the road. Well worth the climb to get there.

Ooh, something thatvI found useful: a pair of clear safety specs helped keep bugs out of my eyes on runs like that.

Sounds like you had fun!

I just turned my head occasionally, it blew the tears away.

I had so much fun. It's just about conceivable that could become my regular ride towards the end of the summer holidays, maybe in alternation with the (longer but easier) Loop/Leeds ride.

I'm debating whether to go for a short spin before I have to leave for my interview on Monday, or should I take the bike out in the evening, or not at all. If I did go out it'd just be to the end of the road and back.

I would say yes, but only if you have time for a shower afterwards!

It's fantastic what you'v achieved in just a month!! Go for a short ride on Monday morning if you can mange time-wise, you'll feel all the better for it. Just don't take any risks. I find that cycling frees my head from stuff I tend to worry about/be annoyed by etc.

Day 35: I was going to ride to Bradford again but the strong headwind deterred me and I did the Loop/Leeds ride instead. I absolutely flew along, did the Leeds section of it in about 6/7 minutes, meaning I was going somewhere in the region of 25mph.

If the weather stays this nice I think this evening I'll try doing just the Leeds section, see how fast I can actually go.

Turns out the answer is fast! A little over 6 minutes, over 30mph.

Went out for a quick spin and it made me feel good. Now all that's left is to go for the interview.