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

Good luck!

I'm crossing my fingers for you as well Honest Iago - hope the interview is a success.

Day 37: I didn't get the job and that's put me in a bit of a sulk (I *really* wanted it). I didn't want to get out of bed this morning, let alone go out for a bike ride.

Still I went out and it was chucking it down - as you can imagine I felt wonderful. Then Florence + the Machine Heartlines came on as I approached the first hill and it all changed: the lyric "Keep it up, I know you can, just keep following the heartlines on your hand" really cheers me up generally and this morning it was just perfect. Get to the top and start flying down the hill, soaked to the skin and singing my head off (sorry local residents!), arms punching the air. Catharsis, I name thee Florence Welch.

Really sorry you didn't get the job.

I didn't cycle this morning but I'll go and cycle later today.

Too bad about the job

I love the mental image of you singing as you cycle! I hope you get a few days of proper summer weather now, the forecast seems a little better.

Two hands on those handle bars please, don’t wont to be ending up in the LGI, do we.

to hear about your interview response.

Day 38: it was pouring down with rain, a howling wind and I still feel rubbish (I may have a wicked case of end-of-term-itis) so I didn't enjoy todays ride. Just did half the loop - to the top of the first hill and back the way I came. Still, at least I got out the door - wasn't expecting to when I woke up this morning.

Day 39: my word it was cold this morning. Even with my coat on I was shivering. And it was wet - when is this summer we've been promised going to start?

Never, by October

Days 40/41. Yesterday morning I just couldn't summon up the will to do the full loop so I just did half. It was the last day of term, I knew I'd be doing loads of lifting and shifting in work and I was taking the bike into work so I could ride away. The ride was scary because of the standards of driving in Bradford but I survived.

This morning I couldn't decide whether to do the loop/Leeds ride or ride into Bradford so Sho ordered me to ride to Bradford. The first half is such a hard ride (didn't help that I was stuck behind a bus for most of it) but the second half is such a beauty: I was faster than most cars on the road. The weather is stunning too: warm, sunny and just a little bit of a breeze to keep the temperature down.

Rest day tomorrow.

I've just realised that tomorrow will be Day 42 and the 6 week mark. I kinda feel like I have to do something to mark it so no rest day. Truth be told I don't feel like I need one.

Day 42 Yesterday evening I did the run around the loop and into Leeds mainly because I was a bit bored and felt like I could. It's pretty cool that I'm doing rides like that on a whim,

This morning I did the same loop/Leeds and I have to say I struggled: wasn't tired per se, I just felt like I couldn't put down any power through the pedals or build up any speed. Still, I got the ride done in a respectable speed and I'll just have to take that rest day I owe myself soon.

Six weeks of exercise though: that's approximately 5 weeks and 6 days longer than I thought I'd last after that first ride. It's equally awesome/infuriating that at weekends my body has started waking me up around 6.30/7ish with the question "Shouldn't you be out cycling?".

Hi there

Congratulations! That's a really impressive record. It sounds like you're getting 'hooked' into it.

Keep it up.

Deke

Hiya Deke - cheers for the encouragement. What can I say, I seem to have found my magic fitness weapon.

Day 43: I think having the loop/Leeds ride as my daily ride during the holidays is do-able. Today I flew past two buses and two cyclists who looked much fitter than me and I didn't have to strain to do it.

The weather was lovely: hot and sunny but the wind was so strong it was slowing me down significantly coming down the first hill.

Day 44: the ride was fine today, got stuck behind a sit on mower at one point, but it may have been just a little too hot. I'm starting to have this issue where I get to Leeds station and I turn beetroot red and explode with sweat: not the most dignified look in the world and it makes the train ride home pretty uncomfortable.

Just walking to town to see the dentist rendered me quite sweaty, and that was at 8:30 this morning. I'm kinda dreading repeating the walk this afternoon to meet some friends.

Day 45: found it very hard going today, started to develop a stitch before I'd even reached the end of the road. I'd love to blame the weather but it was a lot cooler and more pleasant than yesterday (no sun though so my burgeoning tan hasn't developed any more).

Given how rough I feel, I still did the ride in a good time and this is the sixth consecutive day doing the loop/Leeds ride. I desperately need a rest day or two though: I think I'll give myself the weekend off.

Leeds station was absolutely packed, I think most of it is Olympic traffic so I reminded myself to smile and be patient when people can't use the ticket machines/automatic barriers. There was a real buzz about the place and that was nice to experience.

Day 46: I just had the back wheel blowout just as I was building up speed to get on the main road. It was scary! I was doing my normal loop/Leeds ride and finding it very hard going, just get to the fun part and the back wheel buckled and the inner was shredded.

I went flying but thankfully at that point there's a big chevronned area separating the bike lane from other traffic. No injuries worse than a small graze on my elbow. Now I'm off to get the wheel repaired - looks like I'll be having a day off tomorrow.

Thank goodness for this small mercy that you were only slightly grazed.

Do you wear protective gear? helmet, gloves etc? hi viz jacket?

Gloves and helmet but no high-vis: don't see the need for that at this time of year. When the days get shorter I'll be lit up like a Christmas tree though.

I'm more shaken than anything, just the surprise of riding along at a good clip one moment and then skidding on the tarmac the next.