Over the past few months I have been taking part in the racing league up at Tameside circuit. It is certainly fun and a great thrill to be racing with what are some of the faster cyclists in the area. This week as I was pounding my way around the track, my legs on fire, my muscles screaming at me to stop. Even as I felt like I was turning my lungs inside out as I could hear my own pulse banging in my ears. I was still loving every minute.
Why?
I think the reason I love cycling and racing at the track is to know I can push myself and my machine (however mainly just myself) to my limit and keep on going.
I can do this safe in the knowledge that the only chance of me being killed will be my own doing. I will hopefully not be one of these office bound business types that manages to have a heart attack whilst playing squash etc. and with a good healthy lifestyle I am intending to live forever!
That is racing and living healthy.
Part of my good healthy living lifestyle is also cycling to work everyday (or near enough).
My daily commute takes me though Hyde. Down the A57 into Denton, across the M60, then again on the A57 all the way to the city centre.
A fairly straightforward and simple route that at 9 miles each way you would think shouldn't be a problem.
In actual fact I am more at risk on this route of being killed by a driver just not having a good morning, busy talking on their phone, in a rush so ignoring the lights today, or just have the attitude that cyclists should not get in their way.
This morning was a prime example of several of these in one fol swoop.
I driver using a mobile phone, passed me so close that the wing mirror hit my right hand. Thankfully I am quite good at my bike handling so thankfully I managed to stay up with only a minor wobble!
As I carried on down the road (no the driver didn't stop even after I shouted "TOO CLOSE!" I did eventually catch them at the lights in Denton. Not much effort involved driving by car is far slower than using a bike in real terms.
When I asked the driver why they got so close as usual I got the shouts of abuse and you shouldn't have been in the middle of the road, you don't pay road tax etc.
Really amazes me in all honesty that this is how some people think they can treat other human beings.
This type of behaviour is what I see daily.
Now I have previously worked as a professional driver. I hold a full HGV (class1), bus/coach licence, plus I even qualified and worked as transport manager. I obviously hold a car licence and have been driving since I passed my test back in 1996.
The drivers I see on the roads today have to be some of the worst I have ever seen. Not just as a motorist but as a cyclist too.
Its really not hard to give someone room. Slow down. Pay attention to the road markings. It's everyone's responsibility to look after each other. If your driving, walking, cycling or any other mode of transport. The bigger you are the more responsibility you have.
Cycling to work is something I love doing because I get to work feeling great, park for free. Have a nice shower when I get to work, it's cheaper and quicker than any other way of commuting. I kid you not! It would take me the best part of 1 1/2 hours to drive the 9 miles to work. Then I would have to find somewhere to park. Plus the cost of fuel and parking. Then I would have to continue on foot as unlike when I cycle I would not be able to park in the building I work in.
The only down point about cycling is having to put up with the abuse and murderous attitudes some drivers put out, plus having to slow down for all the motorists as they sit in metal boxes isolated from each other and the world outside.
When I cycle, I regularly have a quick chat with other cyclists as we sit at red lights, or just get stuck in traffic and are unable to filter past. It's a really nice social thing.
If you see me out there give me a nod or a wave and you will get one back. If I pass you or you pass me say hello, I always do.
It's great to have the community attitude, the communication, the recovery of the lost society! Of course the shared suffering too.
All cyclist love it, but for those that don't ride it just seems lost and they will never know what they are missing.
Happy cycling. :)
31 May 2014
19 May 2014
It's been a long road this month!!!
So far this month I have put in a good bit of mileage out on the road and even in the Gym!!!
That's right I have even joined a Gym in Manchester near where I work. Essentially I get to pop down at lunchtimes to thrash myself to death for 30 minutes work up a good sweat, then go back to sitting behind a desk for the rest of the day usually with burning legs. I have been going to one or two of the Spin classes (for obvious cycling related reasons) as well as doing some general leg strength and cardiac work. I really do want to get fit enough to not get dropped by the peloton at the races I take part in.
On the side of racing so far this month I have taken part in one race that I really did badly in. In short I am not finding my form this season and I am struggling with racing on tired legs. When I turned up last week to race I rode around the first warm-up lap and my legs already felt like lead!
As I raced around the circuit I suffered for commuting to work by bike that day and the day before.
Each time I tried to find the power and the strength I was used too I just found nothing. It was literally like I was empty and even though I finished I hardly felt like I achieved.
For my race next week I will train up to the weekend then make sure I am well rested and get as much fuel in as possible. When I am up to speed I am more than capable of holding a wheel and keeping up with the pack. I just feel that I am doing myself no favours at the minute by not really resting prior to a race and burning my legs a bit before I need too.
I want to see positive results.
The Sergeant Major wants blood!!!
I am still doing endurance training of course which is my main aim as I going to be cycling 310 miles in 15 weeks time. That in the great scheme of things is really not a long time at all...
In an effort to up my endurance I cycled to Blackpool and back on the Saturday of the May bank holiday
that took just short of 7 hours and was actually a very nice ride indeed. Apart from my bike breaking in the last 8 miles, I suddenly found I couldn't change gear. The weather was really nice and I even got a cyclists tan. (check out my legs if you see me!!).
Sunday I had planned to do something more and rack up some big miles but instead ended up having to spend most of the day figuring out how I was going to fix my bike without spending any money. That involved luck more than judgement as it was just a cable that had jammed and needed replacing.
Lucky I carry a spare!
Monday I went to meet the family up near York.
This ride took me over familiar ground towards Holmfirth heading out through Stalybridge then east up the hill!
I don't see it as a hill any more, more just a bit of a rise that I may have to work at then a nice fast flat followed by a rapid descent down the other side.
Once I got into Holmfirth however I was in having to remember my route territory!
My aim was to head to Wakefield then head north to finally meet the A64 York road turn right then end up in Copmandsthorpe (great name) where the family were staying.
Heading out of Holmfirth wasn't a problem, I even played good Samaritan to a fellow cyclist that was having gear issues and needed to figure out how to tune his rear dérailleur on the fly. Thankfully as I built my bike I know how it works so I was able to help him out and get him moving again.
5 minutes later however I snapped my chain so had to put it back together at the side of the road. Did that chap stop to help after I helped him out??? No he just sailed on by and actually looked away as he did so!
Clearly not a real cyclist.....
Anyway much grumbling and about 5 minutes later I had put my chain together (turns out I hadn't clipped the speed links back correctly) I was off and heading towards a very grey Wakefield.
It did strike me that even on such a nice sunny day I rode into the town and it was just grey and drab.
Then yet another issue hit me!
Thankfully not a bike related one (she was still holding up nicely), more a direction related one, ergo a lack of road signs.
Coming to junctions towards the town centre and where the road signs were supposed to be stood pair after pair of grey rusting metal poles. No signs!!!
Clearly the local council decided that everyone has satnav so why bother with road signs... Thank goodness that :-
A I have worked as a driver in the area (all be a number of years ago) so I recognised some of the landmarks,
B I had spent some time memorising the route so I knew the general direction I needed to go in and
C I also have a satnav on my phone and had to eventually resort to this too. Time wasted but necessary.
Once out of Wakefield I crossed the M62 and it was like I had crossed into a different country!
The fields were yellow for as far as I could see. The roads were smooth and all the colour had returned after the dreary passage through Wakefield. I almost felt as I had taken a breath of really fresh air. I even felt lighter on my bike and full of energy.
The miles seemed to fly by as I headed first towards Oulton, Swillington and Garforth then the long road to Tadcaster.
I thought that this may be a long and painful ride after my previous efforts in the weekend but in actual fact I was really happy and enjoying the ride in what I can only describe as Gods countryside!
I arrived in Tadcaster all happy and even refreshed, I found the lovely little village to be really nice and somewhere I would like to visit as it had a proper country village about it!
Next came the A64 however, This in effect is a motorway with no hard shoulder. Thankfully I didn't have to resort to cycling on the road (I did think this would be close to suicide) as the road was really very busy and I didn't fancy mingling with metal travelling at 70+ Mph.
I had done a Google Maps recce to ensure there was a path next to the road at the very least. Otherwise I did also have an alternate route that I could take as a plan B!!!
Always important to have a Plan B when out on your own!
So after just short of 4 hours I reached Copmandsthorpe to find the village was having a fair in the best English village way. It turned into a lovely afternoon with the wife and kids eating hot dogs and contributing to the local charities! certainly a lovely atmosphere and a great find indeed!
What's planned next???
Well I will either be cycling too or more probably from Centre Parks near Carlisle back to Manchester. That will be about 120 miles and have a bit of a hill in the way as I go through the Lake District down the A6 all the way!
Between now and then I am racing still, getting some long commutes in where I can , plus and when I get chance I may even have to put in a few more long rides to places of interest.
I will just have to make it up as I go along to be honest, with the chaos that is family life I am not really able to follow a training schedule. Just keep knocking out the miles and hopefully get faster at the same time.
Great fun in the process! I will keep you posted
Cheers :)
That's right I have even joined a Gym in Manchester near where I work. Essentially I get to pop down at lunchtimes to thrash myself to death for 30 minutes work up a good sweat, then go back to sitting behind a desk for the rest of the day usually with burning legs. I have been going to one or two of the Spin classes (for obvious cycling related reasons) as well as doing some general leg strength and cardiac work. I really do want to get fit enough to not get dropped by the peloton at the races I take part in.
On the side of racing so far this month I have taken part in one race that I really did badly in. In short I am not finding my form this season and I am struggling with racing on tired legs. When I turned up last week to race I rode around the first warm-up lap and my legs already felt like lead!
As I raced around the circuit I suffered for commuting to work by bike that day and the day before.
Each time I tried to find the power and the strength I was used too I just found nothing. It was literally like I was empty and even though I finished I hardly felt like I achieved.
For my race next week I will train up to the weekend then make sure I am well rested and get as much fuel in as possible. When I am up to speed I am more than capable of holding a wheel and keeping up with the pack. I just feel that I am doing myself no favours at the minute by not really resting prior to a race and burning my legs a bit before I need too.
I want to see positive results.
The Sergeant Major wants blood!!!
I am still doing endurance training of course which is my main aim as I going to be cycling 310 miles in 15 weeks time. That in the great scheme of things is really not a long time at all...
In an effort to up my endurance I cycled to Blackpool and back on the Saturday of the May bank holiday
that took just short of 7 hours and was actually a very nice ride indeed. Apart from my bike breaking in the last 8 miles, I suddenly found I couldn't change gear. The weather was really nice and I even got a cyclists tan. (check out my legs if you see me!!).
Sunday I had planned to do something more and rack up some big miles but instead ended up having to spend most of the day figuring out how I was going to fix my bike without spending any money. That involved luck more than judgement as it was just a cable that had jammed and needed replacing.
Lucky I carry a spare!
Monday I went to meet the family up near York.
This ride took me over familiar ground towards Holmfirth heading out through Stalybridge then east up the hill!
I don't see it as a hill any more, more just a bit of a rise that I may have to work at then a nice fast flat followed by a rapid descent down the other side.
Once I got into Holmfirth however I was in having to remember my route territory!
My aim was to head to Wakefield then head north to finally meet the A64 York road turn right then end up in Copmandsthorpe (great name) where the family were staying.
Heading out of Holmfirth wasn't a problem, I even played good Samaritan to a fellow cyclist that was having gear issues and needed to figure out how to tune his rear dérailleur on the fly. Thankfully as I built my bike I know how it works so I was able to help him out and get him moving again.
5 minutes later however I snapped my chain so had to put it back together at the side of the road. Did that chap stop to help after I helped him out??? No he just sailed on by and actually looked away as he did so!
Clearly not a real cyclist.....
Anyway much grumbling and about 5 minutes later I had put my chain together (turns out I hadn't clipped the speed links back correctly) I was off and heading towards a very grey Wakefield.
It did strike me that even on such a nice sunny day I rode into the town and it was just grey and drab.
Then yet another issue hit me!
Thankfully not a bike related one (she was still holding up nicely), more a direction related one, ergo a lack of road signs.
Coming to junctions towards the town centre and where the road signs were supposed to be stood pair after pair of grey rusting metal poles. No signs!!!
Clearly the local council decided that everyone has satnav so why bother with road signs... Thank goodness that :-
A I have worked as a driver in the area (all be a number of years ago) so I recognised some of the landmarks,
B I had spent some time memorising the route so I knew the general direction I needed to go in and
C I also have a satnav on my phone and had to eventually resort to this too. Time wasted but necessary.
Once out of Wakefield I crossed the M62 and it was like I had crossed into a different country!
The fields were yellow for as far as I could see. The roads were smooth and all the colour had returned after the dreary passage through Wakefield. I almost felt as I had taken a breath of really fresh air. I even felt lighter on my bike and full of energy.
The miles seemed to fly by as I headed first towards Oulton, Swillington and Garforth then the long road to Tadcaster.
I thought that this may be a long and painful ride after my previous efforts in the weekend but in actual fact I was really happy and enjoying the ride in what I can only describe as Gods countryside!
I arrived in Tadcaster all happy and even refreshed, I found the lovely little village to be really nice and somewhere I would like to visit as it had a proper country village about it!
Next came the A64 however, This in effect is a motorway with no hard shoulder. Thankfully I didn't have to resort to cycling on the road (I did think this would be close to suicide) as the road was really very busy and I didn't fancy mingling with metal travelling at 70+ Mph.
I had done a Google Maps recce to ensure there was a path next to the road at the very least. Otherwise I did also have an alternate route that I could take as a plan B!!!
Always important to have a Plan B when out on your own!
So after just short of 4 hours I reached Copmandsthorpe to find the village was having a fair in the best English village way. It turned into a lovely afternoon with the wife and kids eating hot dogs and contributing to the local charities! certainly a lovely atmosphere and a great find indeed!
What's planned next???
Well I will either be cycling too or more probably from Centre Parks near Carlisle back to Manchester. That will be about 120 miles and have a bit of a hill in the way as I go through the Lake District down the A6 all the way!
Between now and then I am racing still, getting some long commutes in where I can , plus and when I get chance I may even have to put in a few more long rides to places of interest.
I will just have to make it up as I go along to be honest, with the chaos that is family life I am not really able to follow a training schedule. Just keep knocking out the miles and hopefully get faster at the same time.
Great fun in the process! I will keep you posted
Cheers :)
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