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

Day 47: another day, another puncture. It was the incredibly poor condition of the road in central Leeds that did it this time: it's like a BMX track. I hit a divot and the tyre went straight down.

It feels like I'm over-inflating the inners, and that's causing these punctures, but that's the only way they can bear my weight - anything less and it feels like I'm riding on a flat. Are there extra strong inners for fatties like me? It's very depressing.

Both of the replacement inner tubes I bought yesterday are defective. One had a puncture in it straight out of the box, the other popped like a cheap children's balloon as soon as I started to pump it up.

I get the feeling someone is trying to tell me something (other than never, ever use Halfords for anything). Staying off the bike tomorrow and I'm playing on the trains on Sunday so no bike then either.

That is so unfortunate. Did you watch the Tour de France? The only stage I actually watched had a section where tacks had been deliberately scattered, it was such a callous and dangerous thing to do. Most of the leading group had delays because they needed to change wheels.

Days 48/49. Yesterday I had a long overdue rest day. I desperately needed it. Went on a short walk and did a bit of housework but that was it.

Today I did some pretty unusual exercise: I spent the day volunteering on the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway and I was given the job of looking after Oakworth station (made famous in the Railway Children film). Previous times I've volunteered there I've just been selling tickets and sat around drinking tea: today I was responsible for the entire station, the adjacent level crossing and the signals so there was a lot of walking around and the gates and signals have got some heft to them: I feel like I've had a good work out. Being around people who are so happy, and even being partially responsible for that happiness, makes me feel wonderful - I'm really buzzing.

I got called Mr Cripps a few times today which gives me an idea for the next Create.

How exciting!

I love old railways, there's one near us that sounds a bit like the one you describe. I must try and write a tiny Entry about it. You're so right about the volunteers - they all seem to have such fun, and everyone who goes to visit treats them with respect.

Days 50/51: no exercise yesterday on account of going to the Olympics (there's something ironic about that) but today I did a shortened version of my regular ride as a thunderstorm intervened.

Finding it very hard going at the moment but I think it's just a case of knuckling down and getting on with it.

Day 52: I got to Leeds train station, feeling fairly chipper, and then realise I don't have any train fare home. No cards, no cash, no nearby generous friends. So I had to cycle home - simple fact, no other choice and there would be no point in whining or complaining about it.

Decide there's no way I'm going back the way I came: too hilly and I feel far too pathetic at the moment to even try it. There's an alternative route where I can ride most of the way on a flat route and then push the bike up a short but very steep hill before a short ride home. Christ the hill nearly killed me!

The moral of the story is unless I want to be gasping for dear life, always take train fare home.

Day 53: narrowly avoided a nasty crash as two little kids ran out into the main road without looking and they ran out right in front of me. Had to swerve violently to avoid them and thankfully the car alongside me was aware and had good reactions as he gave me room to go in front of him.

I missed a violent downpour in Leeds by seconds: the road ahead of me was soaking wet, full of puddles and other cyclists who were only just ahead of me were drenched. The rides are starting to feel slightly more comfortable again after really struggling for the latter part of last week and the start of this week.

Day 54: did the ride into Bradford. I had a vague notion of extending that into Shipley and then even possibly back into Bradford but the climb up to Dawson's Corner knocked that out of me: it's only short but it's steep and it just kills me. I may have a slightly cheaty route around it though.

I'm going to set that ride into Shipley and back into Bradford as my goal for before the summer holidays end in 3 weeks time. It's just that climb - I think if I can get more comfortable with that I don't think the extra distance to Shipley and back will bother me.

And god my feet hurt! It always surprises me when my feet hurt after a bike ride.

Ah, yes, steep hills kill me, too. I mean, I can muster most of those around here, but I avoid them if possible.

What sort of shoes are you wearing for cycling? Maybe try different ones?

Just my regular trainers. They're not very comfortable at the best of times so maybe it's time to replace them.

Day 55: went out for my normal loop/Leeds ride with the mental instructions to go easy and slow. Ended up over-taking 3 proper cyclists (i.e. they were wearing lycra and cleats) on the second uphill section

The foot pain is starting to be a bit of an issue as I can barely walk. I tried to lessen the pressure my foot was under by leading with the other foot and cycling on the front of my injured foot but it doesn't seem to have made much of a difference. If my treatment of paracetamol/Voltarol and then rest/ice/elevation doesn't work I think I'll have to take a few days off the bike. Can't go on like this, barely able to walk.

Am impressed by the overtaking on the hill. Am worried by the foot pain. Is this why there are specialist cycle shoes?

I think it might just be a failing on the part of my body. When I used to use the exercise bike I'd get a slight ache in the same place but I never used the exercise bike for as long or as hard as I've been cycling recently.

I'm currently treating it like a sprain (rest, ice, elevation) and if there's no improvement I'll go down the docs with it.

Day 58: I took Monday and Tuesday off, trying to give my foot time to heal (it hasn't really worked so I think it's a case of going down the doctors). Felt really good going out today.

A slight nuisance is that my normal route is now blocked by some big roadworks that I don't feel safe negotiating (tried today) so I think for the next few weeks I'll be avoiding that bit and doing a slightly shorter ride.

Totally lost track of the days but this mornings ride was a bit notable so I thought I'd write about it.

I was doing my standard Sunday morning ride, going around the block and then speeding into Leeds, and I was halfway up the second hill when I get a tap on my back. See another cyclist, he says "tag, you're it" and starts pulling away. Naturally this slight can't go unpunished so I catch up with him and tag him back just before the downhill that I thought would give me an advantage. We spend the next 3 miles playing tag at speed.

The winner is disputed: he tagged me just on the edge of Leeds city centre and sped off but with heroic effort on my part (this guy was in seriously good shape) and some help from a bus, I get him back just before the entrance of Leeds station. I dismount, walk (well, stagger) off as stalwart hero of the land, and buy tickets. He tags me back just before the barriers and claimed that as a win. I attempt to murder the cheating but it turned out standing was about the limit of my exertions at that point.

Extremely random, but extremely fun.

Since I stopped daily postings in August, I have been keeping up the bike rides and I've extended my morning ride to 5 miles. I'm finding I don't have the discipline to go out in lousy weather though and that's meant I've missed a lot of days. I may have to start forcing myself and part of that may be posting here again.

That's brilliant! And such a glorious day for it (or it is here in Shropshire, no idea what it's like up your way).

This might become a regular occurrance on a Dontbry morning


lil xx