Hello blog lovers.
Well, it has been a while since me and the Old Boy have been out for a ride together, and today was the day, or at least this evening was the evening that we went for a short plod about. I was planning on running about 3 miles, but the Old Boy suggested we go for a ride instead, he has been off his bike for a while and is wanting to get back to getting fit again. So we hastily made a quick route, a nice flattish one for us, just to get used to the riding again, and then we set off.
It was still light out when we started but I know that the night time is just a few minutes away, we made sure we had lights and they were working too. Then we set off. Our route was through Jubilee Park and then on to Bromley. Ok, so when I said it was flattish, it was as flat as we could get it. There is a couple of hills, just some gentle climbs, it's just the way Bromley is, there is a hill almost around every corner!
We rode on up to Bromley North, passing a very nice pub! Maybe next time we should ride around in the opposite direction and then end up here for a quick refresher, that's a Lime and Soda for me by the way! I am still determined with my healthy eating lifestyle and cutting out on my drinking for a few weeks! I am determined, I really want to do this, and I really want to succeed this time around! (again) Losing weight, keeping fit, it's a life long thing! I just need to stay focused all the time.
So from Bromley North we ride on through the town itself and on to Bromley South. We turn right to head towards Hayes, of course it's up hill, just small gradients though! We ride on and passed another favourite pub that we used to stop at, especially in the lighter summer months, The George! My legs were hurting, and wanted to just have a little break, but there is no rest for the wicked! I followed the Old Boys blinking red light up to Barnet wood Lane. That road is quite dark, he waited for me, we changed our front lights from 'blinking' to full beam to light the way. He rode a bit more slowly so I kept behind him either that or I managed to stay with him, well that bit was flat! Right to the end of the road and on to Oakley, and the Two Doves. This is where we stopped, just for a light refreshing drink. Then we rode on home from here.
A lovely little ride, it was tough, but then exercise is tough, and that was exercise. I really tried hard to get up the hills as fast as I could, to give me a nice work out!
Here's my geeky stats.
https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/1962567886
Wednesday, 6 September 2017
Wednesday, 16 August 2017
Hello blog lovers.
As you can see, it's a cycling blog! I just had to get out today before I took root on my chair! I have been having a week off, so I have really been lazy, getting up late, no running, not even on Club Night Tuesday, well it was NaggyNeighbours birthday ribs night!
So today I got up......late, but not as late as I have been doing. I had some errands to do and I had planned to do them early just so that I would have plenty of time to do a bike ride. I was in two minds as to which sort of ride I wanted to do. Whether it was to be a nice leisurely ride which means at least 15 - 20 miles at my own pace, or do the loops again, just push myself as hard as I could for an hour. I thought about it as I procrastinated doing 'stuff' in doors before I had to go out to do the errands.
I thought about it as I drove to Petts Wood to do the errands and thought about it again all the way home again. I still wasn't sure. I really had no motivation, I was feeling fat, frumpy and pretty down with that fact too. After I came back I sat down to just think about it, "I have a wedding to get ready for!" I thought to myself, I should be trying everything to lose these extra pounds I've put on, and that is not going to happen sitting of my arse! I am not going to be the 'fat mother of the bride' on the day! Well, I guess my arse sat down is going to get me fit, as long as that arse is on the bike! So the voice of reason finally broke through, "Just get out there and enjoy, while the weather is nice" Apparantely it's going to rain in London tomorrow, according to FaceBook, it told me to stay dry, so today is the better day to ride my bike. I got up straight away and got my bike out and then went to get myself ready!
I had decided that I need to 'exercise' rather than just a 'leisurely plod' around somewhere, which if I am honest I woult have cut short and come home. Now that I had decided, I was ready to do battle with the undulations of Petts Wood. I prefer this route rather than the Blackbrooke Lane loops as it has an undulation in the beginning and then at the end! No rest before you do the loop again. Times that by four and I should know that I've done a work out!
Just getting to the start of the loops I was puffing like an old steamd train, but I just thought "It'll all be over soon" because I am planning on getting under the hour! I know my motivation will drop to my boots if it's longer than the hour! This route is like doing a spin class without the music but also without the possibility for me to stop pedalling! There's a big chance that if I stop pedalling I will go backwards, downhill or...fall off!
I completed the first loop and mentally said "Just three more to go" I often talk to myself, or make up words to songs to keep a pace going! I usually make up words for the tune of "Mamma's little baby loves short'nin' bread" I know it's a silly song, but the words come to me as I'm riding up the hills, it helps me to stay focused and then when I'm at the top I take a deep breath and relax. Mind you, that forth loop was tough going! The air was blue, and I'm sure that particular verse is not one that I would sing to children!
I felt I had done really well but I didnt want to look at my Garmin until I got home and stopped it. I knew I couldn't pedal any better than what I was doing anyway so what will be will be. It really did feel as if I had done well though, maybe a pb. I carried on riding along the same streets that I had only an hour ago and rode onto my road and up to my house. Stopped my garmin and then looked at it, damn it, not a pb! I was blimmin lucky it was sitll under the hour otherwise I am sure I really would have whipped my ass!
Any hoo, heres the geeky stats for you,
<iframe src='https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/embed/1919529539' title='Petts Wood loops' width='465' height='500' frameborder='0'></iframe>
As you can see, it's a cycling blog! I just had to get out today before I took root on my chair! I have been having a week off, so I have really been lazy, getting up late, no running, not even on Club Night Tuesday, well it was NaggyNeighbours birthday ribs night!
So today I got up......late, but not as late as I have been doing. I had some errands to do and I had planned to do them early just so that I would have plenty of time to do a bike ride. I was in two minds as to which sort of ride I wanted to do. Whether it was to be a nice leisurely ride which means at least 15 - 20 miles at my own pace, or do the loops again, just push myself as hard as I could for an hour. I thought about it as I procrastinated doing 'stuff' in doors before I had to go out to do the errands.
I thought about it as I drove to Petts Wood to do the errands and thought about it again all the way home again. I still wasn't sure. I really had no motivation, I was feeling fat, frumpy and pretty down with that fact too. After I came back I sat down to just think about it, "I have a wedding to get ready for!" I thought to myself, I should be trying everything to lose these extra pounds I've put on, and that is not going to happen sitting of my arse! I am not going to be the 'fat mother of the bride' on the day! Well, I guess my arse sat down is going to get me fit, as long as that arse is on the bike! So the voice of reason finally broke through, "Just get out there and enjoy, while the weather is nice" Apparantely it's going to rain in London tomorrow, according to FaceBook, it told me to stay dry, so today is the better day to ride my bike. I got up straight away and got my bike out and then went to get myself ready!
I had decided that I need to 'exercise' rather than just a 'leisurely plod' around somewhere, which if I am honest I woult have cut short and come home. Now that I had decided, I was ready to do battle with the undulations of Petts Wood. I prefer this route rather than the Blackbrooke Lane loops as it has an undulation in the beginning and then at the end! No rest before you do the loop again. Times that by four and I should know that I've done a work out!
Just getting to the start of the loops I was puffing like an old steamd train, but I just thought "It'll all be over soon" because I am planning on getting under the hour! I know my motivation will drop to my boots if it's longer than the hour! This route is like doing a spin class without the music but also without the possibility for me to stop pedalling! There's a big chance that if I stop pedalling I will go backwards, downhill or...fall off!
I completed the first loop and mentally said "Just three more to go" I often talk to myself, or make up words to songs to keep a pace going! I usually make up words for the tune of "Mamma's little baby loves short'nin' bread" I know it's a silly song, but the words come to me as I'm riding up the hills, it helps me to stay focused and then when I'm at the top I take a deep breath and relax. Mind you, that forth loop was tough going! The air was blue, and I'm sure that particular verse is not one that I would sing to children!
I felt I had done really well but I didnt want to look at my Garmin until I got home and stopped it. I knew I couldn't pedal any better than what I was doing anyway so what will be will be. It really did feel as if I had done well though, maybe a pb. I carried on riding along the same streets that I had only an hour ago and rode onto my road and up to my house. Stopped my garmin and then looked at it, damn it, not a pb! I was blimmin lucky it was sitll under the hour otherwise I am sure I really would have whipped my ass!
Any hoo, heres the geeky stats for you,
<iframe src='https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/embed/1919529539' title='Petts Wood loops' width='465' height='500' frameborder='0'></iframe>
Sunday, 30 July 2017
Pint, Pee and Puncture! - Ride London(ish)
Hello blog lovers
I heard there was to be some sort of bike thing happening in London yesterday, DiscoRich told me that he and IllustriousLeader would be going, they would be taking the train and then they will be riding around London, traffic free! Before some other race that was happening I think! Anyway, the Old Boy had plans to do stuff and then take off for fishing, so I asked NaggyNeighbour if she fancied a ride out to London, spot of lunch, and then ride through the city. Well, who do you know that would say no, especially when they have a brand new bike to test out! So we made plans.
After parkrun in the morning we both went home, I had to do some housewifey stuff, tidy, push the shark around (that's my fabulous new vacuum by the way) and then get myself ready. I think it was about 12:30 by the time I went over the green to Naggy's house. "I'm not entirely sure of the nice quieter roads to Cator Park" I told her, "Don't worry, I know how to get to Beckenham and then between the two of us we will remember the rest" she said. I was pretty sure that once we were on the roads we will remember them and which way to turn.
We set off for Cator Park, Naggy in front of me with me following closely behind. We made our way, twisting and turning through the quieter roads of Bromley and Beckenham and we managed to get to Cator Park with no problems at. From here I know exactly where to go. We followed the WaterWay Link. Oh I forgot to say, it had started to rain! It started to rain when we were down Southborough lane, so very close to home that if it had been cold as well I am sure that we would both have called it a day, but actually at that time it felt quite refreshing, just a soft gently smattering of rain, but we still put on our jackets. Fortunately the Old Boy told me to take his pocket rocket, as I wasn't even going to take one!
The rain didn't last too long, in fact Naggy had shed her jacket when she waited for me as I had to negotiate traffic. I took mine of once we had got to Cator Park and we continued with our ride to London. We started chatting once we were on the WWL as there was no traffic to think about and were talking about things she will need for her bike, like a bike wedgie, full of stuff, like tubes, CO2 and bike leavers! An essential little pack actually! As we were heading for the Moby Dick for lunch we thought a quick ride over to Decathlon would be ideal timing actually.
The ride into London went smoothly, well, there was one tiny little hiccup, when we took the wrong road, but we soon got back to where we needed to be! At least the rain was just about holding off! I was think we were pretty lucky actually, it could have been so much worse. We found out way to the pub and chained our bikes up to the railings outside. Naggy had remembered to get a chunky lock for her bike, deffo an important part of cycling, especially when lunch is involved. We both ordered a sandwich and had a drink while we waited. A nice glass of coke for me, went down a blimmin treat, and then I ordered a beer! Seafarers it was, well, we was in the Moby Dick!
After our lunch we looked outside, there were hundreds of tiny little ripples in the river! Yup, we hadn't escaped the rain after all, we just beat it to London! So, the best thing to do.......have another drink, hope that it is just another passing shower! It didn't pass, it hung around and got worse! Back on with the coats it was and we headed home, we can do the bike shopping another time, and the ride around London, well, we shall have to try that again next year! Again Naggy was in the front with me behind. I was staying close to her, slip streaming, I am not sure it works with just one, although I wasn't right on her wheel, I don't like it when someone is that close to my back wheel so I make sure I am not that close to anyone in front of me. I had to have my usual 'comfort break' at the pub we pass by. I am sure it's in my psyche, because I hadn't even thought of it until I realised we were close by. I am just glad it's there! I guess it could We were about 2 miles away from Catford, where the Halfords is, and then the noise started on Naggys bike, a kind of flump, flump' noise. Yup, she had got a flat tyre! The 'P' word was never mentioned, but we did talk about getting all the bits and bobs that would be needed if the 'P' word occurred! She looked at her tyre and there was a piece of glass embedded in her tyre!
"What size is your tyre?" I said to Naggy, "Um, I don't know!" So I rang the Old Boy to check it out on google! Of course it's there on the tyre, and the tube that I had would fit no problem. I got out all my bits and bobs, tyre leavers, Co2 and thingy for Co2 canister. I only had the one cannister and one tube! We will not be mentioning the 'p' word again until we get home. So upended the bike and struggled to get the wheel off, thankfully she has quick release wheels, but I wasn't sure about the brake thingy, she has disc brakes and mine don't so wasn't sure if you had to 'loosen' the brakes. and of course it happened to be the back wheel too! So we had gears to sort out!
While we were trying to get the wheel off a cyclist came by "Are you ok there" he said. He looked a bit worried "Can you change a tyre" I said to him, "Well, I'm not sure really" and now I know why he looked worried, he though we might ask him to do it! "Don't worry, we got this" I said to him, and Naggy proceeded to leaver off the tyre like a professional! We changed the tube and then tried to blow the thing up! No gas! "Oh no, I've bought out an empty canister" I said to her! I took the little thing off and looked at the canister, it's fine, I realised that I had just handed it to Naggy and she just screwed it on but not tightly, to pierce the canister! Phew! Eventually we were all set to go, tyre changed in the pouring rain, and we needed no man, we can do this, we're cyclists! By then, however, the damp and chill seemed to affect my bladder, and I needed to pee again! I won't tell you where I eventually found a place to go but I was near a river!
 |
| Wheels off! |
We continued on our way and decided that we would skip Halfords and just keep on going, we I felt sure we would be fine. It was around this time that my headache had started, it was really bad, I am sure that all I needed was water and maybe I was just dehydrated! But the headache stayed with me for the rest of the ride.
Me and Naggy have done this route before, with Bims, and we met DiscoRich at the Moby Dick. On that occasion I noticed that When I was behind Naggy on the way to the Moby Dick I was right behind her all the time, even having to slow down so as not to get too close, but on the way back she was just way ahead. And yesterday wasn't any different! She just seemed to find her cycle legs and was blazing in front. I struggled to keep up with her, seriously, she was just so far in front of me. She said that she finds the journey home seems quicker! Quicker? Quicker? For a start we are heading upwards, all the time, right up to Southborough Lane, it think then it flattens out just a bit! Ok so it's not huge big steep climb out of London but there is pressure on your legs all the time!
We started to get a little fed up with the rain by the time we got to Shortlands, it wasn't feeling very pleasant, I was totally thankful for hot flushes.....I mean my power surges that kept my temperature up. I think Naggy was warmed up to, from when we had left the pub she had really cooled down. Nearly home, we took the back streets to get to Hayes Lane and then on to the A21 from there.
I was pleased to get home, and if it wasn't for that headache I would have felt terrific for doing a nice bike ride! Love my bike, and I will deffo try and do tons more!
Here's our geeky stats.
<iframe src='https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/embed/1885332076' title='Bike ride to London ' width='465' height='500' frameborder='0'></iframe>
Monday, 17 July 2017
Going Loopy Is Paying Off!
Hello blog lovers.
I finished my day early so I thought I would get in and ready straight away to go for a bike ride, before I even sat on my chair to relax! It's quite easy to get home, sit down and not do anything! I need to get out there and find my cycling mojo! It's out there, I know, along with my cycling fitness! It's going to take an awful lot of dedication, perseverance and determination, which at the moment seems to elude me, all three of them!
At least today I am out here, I am on my bike and ready to do the loops again. I need to try and beat my latest loop time which was over an hour. I know I can do it because I have done it before, just got to get back there and then do better! I guess that is the determination, I just got to find the other two necessary items!
I really wasn't feeling, it, I thought I would get that in right now, the ride up the little hills to Petts Wood felt tough, my legs felt like lead, so with that on my mind I just thought to myself "Oh well, 11 miles on a bike is better than no miles on a bike" as it's always said, exercise is better than just sitting on your back side. So I decided to do as best as I could. I got to the beginning of the first loop and looked up at the hill I needed to get to and then just went for it. Give it as much as I could on the down hill and then push hard on the way up, it sounds easy, don't it! Well that first one wasn't as bad as I thought, maybe I had warmed up enough on the way here. I got to the top of Petts Wood road and then turned left at the roundabout and then left again down BirchWood road. The two hills along here should warm me up for the second loop.
When I was on my second loop I heard "Good on ya Old Girl". It was Lynne from Panagua Ladies! I gave a call back to her. Maybe I will see her again on another loop, I still had two more to do! It was a little tougher on the second one but I kept the pressure on myself, well, as much as I dared without me thinking it's all a big huge chore. I love being on my bike, really, I do. I just know that to keep up with the Panagua ladies I am going to have to put in a bit more effort, and to do any cycling on Saturdays with the Old Boy, in the country side I am going to have to find the love of those flipping hills! That really does seem an impossibility, especially even when I am with my running buddies I just moan and groan all the way! On the bike it is a little harder, it's harder to stop for a start, especially if you are passing parked cars. It's not as if you can just suddenly stop and take a breather. I don't think the drivers behind would like that! So I just had to keep on going.
The third lap was just as hard, but I knew that it was nearly over, I even allowed myself a little smile, "Just one more Old Girl, and then it's on the way home". The fourth lap started, I flew down the hill and I just hoped that no cars would come out from the right to make me have to slow down, and then I saw Lynne again. "Fourth done!" I said to her, well in my mind it was done because I was on the way up. Unless I do a complete U Turn then there is only one way to go home and that is to finish the lap.
I was feeling ok as I got back to the corner, the start of the laps in Petts Wood, and I started my ride back home. I didn't want to look at my Garmin, I didn't want to think that I had gone slower, or indeed see that I could get a PB if I pushed harder. I just wanted to enjoy the ride home. It was a great feeling being on my bike, I think my mojo is coming back slowly, but then, do I ever do anything in a rush!
Geeky stats for you.
Garmin Connect
I finished my day early so I thought I would get in and ready straight away to go for a bike ride, before I even sat on my chair to relax! It's quite easy to get home, sit down and not do anything! I need to get out there and find my cycling mojo! It's out there, I know, along with my cycling fitness! It's going to take an awful lot of dedication, perseverance and determination, which at the moment seems to elude me, all three of them!
At least today I am out here, I am on my bike and ready to do the loops again. I need to try and beat my latest loop time which was over an hour. I know I can do it because I have done it before, just got to get back there and then do better! I guess that is the determination, I just got to find the other two necessary items!
I really wasn't feeling, it, I thought I would get that in right now, the ride up the little hills to Petts Wood felt tough, my legs felt like lead, so with that on my mind I just thought to myself "Oh well, 11 miles on a bike is better than no miles on a bike" as it's always said, exercise is better than just sitting on your back side. So I decided to do as best as I could. I got to the beginning of the first loop and looked up at the hill I needed to get to and then just went for it. Give it as much as I could on the down hill and then push hard on the way up, it sounds easy, don't it! Well that first one wasn't as bad as I thought, maybe I had warmed up enough on the way here. I got to the top of Petts Wood road and then turned left at the roundabout and then left again down BirchWood road. The two hills along here should warm me up for the second loop.
When I was on my second loop I heard "Good on ya Old Girl". It was Lynne from Panagua Ladies! I gave a call back to her. Maybe I will see her again on another loop, I still had two more to do! It was a little tougher on the second one but I kept the pressure on myself, well, as much as I dared without me thinking it's all a big huge chore. I love being on my bike, really, I do. I just know that to keep up with the Panagua ladies I am going to have to put in a bit more effort, and to do any cycling on Saturdays with the Old Boy, in the country side I am going to have to find the love of those flipping hills! That really does seem an impossibility, especially even when I am with my running buddies I just moan and groan all the way! On the bike it is a little harder, it's harder to stop for a start, especially if you are passing parked cars. It's not as if you can just suddenly stop and take a breather. I don't think the drivers behind would like that! So I just had to keep on going.
The third lap was just as hard, but I knew that it was nearly over, I even allowed myself a little smile, "Just one more Old Girl, and then it's on the way home". The fourth lap started, I flew down the hill and I just hoped that no cars would come out from the right to make me have to slow down, and then I saw Lynne again. "Fourth done!" I said to her, well in my mind it was done because I was on the way up. Unless I do a complete U Turn then there is only one way to go home and that is to finish the lap.
I was feeling ok as I got back to the corner, the start of the laps in Petts Wood, and I started my ride back home. I didn't want to look at my Garmin, I didn't want to think that I had gone slower, or indeed see that I could get a PB if I pushed harder. I just wanted to enjoy the ride home. It was a great feeling being on my bike, I think my mojo is coming back slowly, but then, do I ever do anything in a rush!
Geeky stats for you.
Garmin Connect
Thursday, 6 July 2017
Still Loopy!
Hello blog lovers.
Yesterday was a cycling day again for me, more of my loops! I am determined to get fit as the proverbial! So as soon as I could I was out of the door in my lycra before I could even think about sitting in front of the tv.! I really love Hollyoaks, I would've watched it. In fact I can't remember the last time I saw Hollyoaks, I am not sure if that's a good thing or bad thing! Just an hour, that's all I needed to cycle for, the hills will be doing me good.
Again I sat on the saddle and it still felt like I was sitting on pebbles! I am sure I will find my saddle ass soon! Off to do my loops, I had a song in my head, I don't know what it was, but the Old Boy had played a clip of a film, Southern Comfort, where they were all having some sort of barn dance! I don't know what the song was called, but it's in French I think! I had the tune rolling around my head as I pedalled along to the start of my loops.
I did the first one and I felt quite good, and then I saw J.J. just getting home from work. I stopped my Garmin to have a chat with her! Well, I am on a mission! I only chatted for a few minutes and I even resisted the invitation to go back for a quick drink! Three more loops to do and then back home. The second one went well too, maybe it was because I had that few minutes break! So now there is no break, it's straight up for the third and fourth loop!
I was very warm, I really don't know how I did it, but determination to do well does work. I was annoyed on the way home about how much traffic there was going along Tudor way, it will severely affect my time! Eventually I got across the round about and made my way home! I turned my Garmin off and then chatted to the neighbours who were in their garden. I didn't actually look at my geeky stats until after I got back into my house and and settled down for the evening!
I was quite pleased with it, 2 minutes quicker that the last time! Yup, I will have that!
Geeky stats.
<iframe src='https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/embed/1837263736' title='Petts Wood Loops' width='465' height='500' frameborder='0'></iframe>
Yesterday was a cycling day again for me, more of my loops! I am determined to get fit as the proverbial! So as soon as I could I was out of the door in my lycra before I could even think about sitting in front of the tv.! I really love Hollyoaks, I would've watched it. In fact I can't remember the last time I saw Hollyoaks, I am not sure if that's a good thing or bad thing! Just an hour, that's all I needed to cycle for, the hills will be doing me good.
Again I sat on the saddle and it still felt like I was sitting on pebbles! I am sure I will find my saddle ass soon! Off to do my loops, I had a song in my head, I don't know what it was, but the Old Boy had played a clip of a film, Southern Comfort, where they were all having some sort of barn dance! I don't know what the song was called, but it's in French I think! I had the tune rolling around my head as I pedalled along to the start of my loops.
I did the first one and I felt quite good, and then I saw J.J. just getting home from work. I stopped my Garmin to have a chat with her! Well, I am on a mission! I only chatted for a few minutes and I even resisted the invitation to go back for a quick drink! Three more loops to do and then back home. The second one went well too, maybe it was because I had that few minutes break! So now there is no break, it's straight up for the third and fourth loop!
I was very warm, I really don't know how I did it, but determination to do well does work. I was annoyed on the way home about how much traffic there was going along Tudor way, it will severely affect my time! Eventually I got across the round about and made my way home! I turned my Garmin off and then chatted to the neighbours who were in their garden. I didn't actually look at my geeky stats until after I got back into my house and and settled down for the evening!
I was quite pleased with it, 2 minutes quicker that the last time! Yup, I will have that!
Geeky stats.
<iframe src='https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/embed/1837263736' title='Petts Wood Loops' width='465' height='500' frameborder='0'></iframe>
Monday, 3 July 2017
Gone Loopy!
Hello blog lovers!
I am chasing my cycling mojo, I think I am seriously gaining on it! Today I went out by myself on one of my loops, trying to get 'match fit' as they say, and there isn't a hidden meaning in there, just in case you were wondering. My cycling is strictly for fun! But I have noticed that I am slower that I used to be, so I need to build it up again.
I procrastinated for the whole day, I found things to do, things to wash, things to change, look after little Deci (when the little fellow came to see me) but I really wanted to go. I just knew that when I sit on that saddle it's going to hurt! Naggy and me had only just done a 20 miler yesterday, and that was after having a week break from the 28 miler last weekend! I was just going to have to grin and bare it!
I got my cycling gear on, got my bike out of the shed and went outside! I looked at my saddle and I thought "This is gonna hurt!" I sat on my bike and I could feel the pain straight away! It's like sitting on a couple of huge peddles! Oh my goodness! But I just have to get over it. I know that eventually the pain will go! Just not today! I cycled out towards Petts Wood, I wanted to do that loop today. I thought that maybe the roads there will be quieter, even though with my procrastinating it was home time, so there was a bit more traffic on the road that I would have hoped!
I cycled to the start of my loops, just at the top of Petts Wood Road. The down hill bit looks good, but then there is the road that goes up! I start cycling down hill, trying to ignore the fact that I could quiet easily coast down, I do need a bit of speed to get up the hill using momentum! It's a good plan, and I was thinking that as I am not as light as I used to be the last time I did these loops I was hoping that it will 'flip' me right up the hill before I had to start coming down on my gears. That was my plan.
The first loop I thought "Yeah, I got this" as I remembered our ride yesterday to Downe Village. There was no forgetting my ride yesterday as every tiny little stone or bump in the road I was feeling! At the top of the first hill I was feeling a bit smug as I found it, well, not as much of a struggle as I thought! This is only the first hill though, only half a loop! I should not get so cocky just yet!
I rode along Orpington road before turning left to go down Birchwood. A nice down hill before the undulations of Great Thrift and the other roads that I need to do before I get back to the beginning of the loop. I felt that I did that first one ok, buy my bottom was not liking it at all! "Maybe I should just do one one and then go home" I thought, "What's the point of pushing yourself" was another thought that popped into my head! But I continued to do the second lap.
I know I was feeling so cock sure of myself on the second loop, but I was still enjoying it! That's good at least, I need to be able to enjoy my cycling and not find it a chore! Oh my bum! And I need it be pain free too! That is going to take time in the saddle to ease the pain! It's just like when I practised to play guitar, my fingers used to bleed and hurt like hell, but I was loving it so I continued practising! That's what I need to do with my cycling!
The second loop done, I was fairly happy with that and I also though that I could do the third one, and if after that I am not really feeling it at that then I will go home! So up again Petts Wood Road! This time a bus had decided to take up the whole road, right on the down hill bit, the bit that I needed to build up some speed to get up the other side! This one is going to hurt! I wasn't wrong! I had to dig deep to get to the top of the road! A bit of a rest at the top as I ride along Orpington Road and the nice down hill. I got back to the start of the loops and I thought "It's only one more to do, so go do it" and I took a drink and then started up for the last loop! It was tougher, I could feel my legs hurting....and my butt.....and I still have to do those other hills! But I was feeling good! Well I felt good when I got to the top of Petts Wood road, and I felt good after I did those other little inclines!
I was feeling really very satisfied! I did it, I missed Hollyoaks to do it, I was still totally bruised from Sundays ride, but I did it!
Check out my geeky stats! I was quite pleased actually! (not sure why I can't get it to do the usual map) but you can click on the link and check it out.
Garmin Connect
I am chasing my cycling mojo, I think I am seriously gaining on it! Today I went out by myself on one of my loops, trying to get 'match fit' as they say, and there isn't a hidden meaning in there, just in case you were wondering. My cycling is strictly for fun! But I have noticed that I am slower that I used to be, so I need to build it up again.
I procrastinated for the whole day, I found things to do, things to wash, things to change, look after little Deci (when the little fellow came to see me) but I really wanted to go. I just knew that when I sit on that saddle it's going to hurt! Naggy and me had only just done a 20 miler yesterday, and that was after having a week break from the 28 miler last weekend! I was just going to have to grin and bare it!
I got my cycling gear on, got my bike out of the shed and went outside! I looked at my saddle and I thought "This is gonna hurt!" I sat on my bike and I could feel the pain straight away! It's like sitting on a couple of huge peddles! Oh my goodness! But I just have to get over it. I know that eventually the pain will go! Just not today! I cycled out towards Petts Wood, I wanted to do that loop today. I thought that maybe the roads there will be quieter, even though with my procrastinating it was home time, so there was a bit more traffic on the road that I would have hoped!
I cycled to the start of my loops, just at the top of Petts Wood Road. The down hill bit looks good, but then there is the road that goes up! I start cycling down hill, trying to ignore the fact that I could quiet easily coast down, I do need a bit of speed to get up the hill using momentum! It's a good plan, and I was thinking that as I am not as light as I used to be the last time I did these loops I was hoping that it will 'flip' me right up the hill before I had to start coming down on my gears. That was my plan.
The first loop I thought "Yeah, I got this" as I remembered our ride yesterday to Downe Village. There was no forgetting my ride yesterday as every tiny little stone or bump in the road I was feeling! At the top of the first hill I was feeling a bit smug as I found it, well, not as much of a struggle as I thought! This is only the first hill though, only half a loop! I should not get so cocky just yet!
I rode along Orpington road before turning left to go down Birchwood. A nice down hill before the undulations of Great Thrift and the other roads that I need to do before I get back to the beginning of the loop. I felt that I did that first one ok, buy my bottom was not liking it at all! "Maybe I should just do one one and then go home" I thought, "What's the point of pushing yourself" was another thought that popped into my head! But I continued to do the second lap.
I know I was feeling so cock sure of myself on the second loop, but I was still enjoying it! That's good at least, I need to be able to enjoy my cycling and not find it a chore! Oh my bum! And I need it be pain free too! That is going to take time in the saddle to ease the pain! It's just like when I practised to play guitar, my fingers used to bleed and hurt like hell, but I was loving it so I continued practising! That's what I need to do with my cycling!
The second loop done, I was fairly happy with that and I also though that I could do the third one, and if after that I am not really feeling it at that then I will go home! So up again Petts Wood Road! This time a bus had decided to take up the whole road, right on the down hill bit, the bit that I needed to build up some speed to get up the other side! This one is going to hurt! I wasn't wrong! I had to dig deep to get to the top of the road! A bit of a rest at the top as I ride along Orpington Road and the nice down hill. I got back to the start of the loops and I thought "It's only one more to do, so go do it" and I took a drink and then started up for the last loop! It was tougher, I could feel my legs hurting....and my butt.....and I still have to do those other hills! But I was feeling good! Well I felt good when I got to the top of Petts Wood road, and I felt good after I did those other little inclines!
I was feeling really very satisfied! I did it, I missed Hollyoaks to do it, I was still totally bruised from Sundays ride, but I did it!
Check out my geeky stats! I was quite pleased actually! (not sure why I can't get it to do the usual map) but you can click on the link and check it out.
Garmin Connect
Sunday, 2 July 2017
A Short one!
Hello blog lovers
NaggyNeighbour seems to have enjoyed her bike ride last week, so much so that she will be getting herself a new bike at some point! We decided to go for just a shorter quicker ride today, just one of the usual routes I normally do.
After church I came home to get myself ready for our ride to Downe Village. I really didn't know how I was going to be when we start that hill to the village square! I had a plan of stopping off for a nice swift one at the Greyhound. So with plans, cash cards, bikes and everything else ready we set off.
NaggyNeighbour has never been to Downe village on the bikes before and wasn't quite sure of the route we would take. I decided to be leader from behind. I think me and Naggy were about the same paced cyclists at the moment! I am hoping that I will get faster because I know that she will! But for now I am quite happy plodding along behind screaching directions "Left! Right! Straight ahead!" I chose the quieter roads to get to Farnborough village. After riding through Petts Wood and just by McCalls I called out "Left" to her. This is the route that PWR's take too, and it's all zigzag for a few roads, so every couple of minutes I was say, "Left, Right" I think Naggy got slightly discombobulated as she was quite sure where she was!
By the time we got to Farnborough Village she had regained her sense of direction again. The nice down hill section now as we ride down Church road. It was quite dark with the trees shading the entire road, my sunglasses didn't help either! But we would soon be through this bit, it's down hill after all, we shall fly down! Shire Lane is at the bottom of this road and sometimes it can be quite busy, and sometimes drivers use it as a race track! But this afternoon after a particular driver saw that Naggy was just ahead of me, stopped to let me get over to catch her up! I think the driver must be a cyclist too!
So now we are on this horrible road, it's a climb all the way up to Downe Village! It starts of just fine, and I was even thinking, "Wow, this seems relatively easy at the mo!" But it was just the beginning! I knew just a little further up it will get steeper! I still stayed behind Naggy, I even said to wait at the top if I am lagging behind, but we kept the same pace together, so nice chatting to take our minds of this blimmin rising road! I started to flag a bit, I thought I was just not going to be able to do it in one go! I saw a little bit of space on my left and I said "I think I might just stop here!" Well, that didn't go down to well! Naggy is not called NaggyNeighbour for nothing! "Just because we are not running, doesn't mean I won't nag you" she called out to me. Flippin Nora! I was spitting feathers, I just need to grab a drink! But she wasn't standing for that, "Come on, we can do this, keep on pedalling!" And so I did! I managed to get to the village centre and I had to go and fill my water bottle up with fresh water from the pub! Oh my goodness, it tasted so good, so cold too! Perfect!
Next it was Single Street, it's still a slight climb, but not like the road we had just done. It was as I was riding down here that I suddenly realised that Cudham North Lane is not the road I wanted, as that is not they way to get to the Greyhound in Keston! So, you know it's a been a while since I've been on my bike, well apart from last weekend, and I got a little confused with my route. I was thinking that we need to go through Biggin Hill, which is right of course, to get us to the pub. But in my confusion I had decided that we didn't need to go through the foot path and up the road to the Shampan because we are not longer down Cudham N. Lane! We just went on through to Jail Lane and then all the way to the main road!
It wasn't until we were going through chicken farm bends that I though "Blimey we got here quick" and my other thought was "Where was Costas, did we miss it" The realisation dawned on me then. Oh well, we can always add a bit on after a refreshment stop instead! We continued to head to the Keston, Naggy still in front with me 'slip streaming' behind! The Greyhound was a welcome sight, and we pulled in and treated our selves to a cool drink and a sandwich!
After our lunch we got back on our bikes and headed towards Hayes. We were going to go through as many parks as we could between here and home! The first one was Normans Park, when we cycle through the gates and they, just on the end of the green field was an ice cream van. It had to be done! We deserved an ice cream, so two 99's for us and an extortionate price of £2.00 each (and the ice cream wasn't as big as the one pictured either!) but it did feel good as it went down.
Our next park was Whitehall recreation, last Saturday there was a beer festival happening! It's only a small park so we were soon out of there and riding to our next park which was Jubilee Park. I thought we might just head on back home from here, especially as Naggy turned left to go through Petts Wood. Then I remembered our park! "Let's go down to our park to get home" I said to her and so we did.
An excellent ride, perfectly paced for both of us, with a challenge of the bloody hill going to Downe thrown in! Excellent company too! We will get bike fitter, and I know we can get faster! But it's all going to take time! I've been off my bike for nearly or probably a year! Back to to the beginning and start again. Mind you, my first ride out was from my house was all the way to Farnborough and back! All of 6 miles! So I think this 19.41 miles is not bad for a second ride of getting back to bike fit!
Geeky stats I will load up when I can get them off my hubbys Garmin! My Garmin has lost power! I was so annoyed! NaggyNeighbour has geeky stats too!
NaggyNeighbour seems to have enjoyed her bike ride last week, so much so that she will be getting herself a new bike at some point! We decided to go for just a shorter quicker ride today, just one of the usual routes I normally do.
After church I came home to get myself ready for our ride to Downe Village. I really didn't know how I was going to be when we start that hill to the village square! I had a plan of stopping off for a nice swift one at the Greyhound. So with plans, cash cards, bikes and everything else ready we set off.
NaggyNeighbour has never been to Downe village on the bikes before and wasn't quite sure of the route we would take. I decided to be leader from behind. I think me and Naggy were about the same paced cyclists at the moment! I am hoping that I will get faster because I know that she will! But for now I am quite happy plodding along behind screaching directions "Left! Right! Straight ahead!" I chose the quieter roads to get to Farnborough village. After riding through Petts Wood and just by McCalls I called out "Left" to her. This is the route that PWR's take too, and it's all zigzag for a few roads, so every couple of minutes I was say, "Left, Right" I think Naggy got slightly discombobulated as she was quite sure where she was!
By the time we got to Farnborough Village she had regained her sense of direction again. The nice down hill section now as we ride down Church road. It was quite dark with the trees shading the entire road, my sunglasses didn't help either! But we would soon be through this bit, it's down hill after all, we shall fly down! Shire Lane is at the bottom of this road and sometimes it can be quite busy, and sometimes drivers use it as a race track! But this afternoon after a particular driver saw that Naggy was just ahead of me, stopped to let me get over to catch her up! I think the driver must be a cyclist too!
So now we are on this horrible road, it's a climb all the way up to Downe Village! It starts of just fine, and I was even thinking, "Wow, this seems relatively easy at the mo!" But it was just the beginning! I knew just a little further up it will get steeper! I still stayed behind Naggy, I even said to wait at the top if I am lagging behind, but we kept the same pace together, so nice chatting to take our minds of this blimmin rising road! I started to flag a bit, I thought I was just not going to be able to do it in one go! I saw a little bit of space on my left and I said "I think I might just stop here!" Well, that didn't go down to well! Naggy is not called NaggyNeighbour for nothing! "Just because we are not running, doesn't mean I won't nag you" she called out to me. Flippin Nora! I was spitting feathers, I just need to grab a drink! But she wasn't standing for that, "Come on, we can do this, keep on pedalling!" And so I did! I managed to get to the village centre and I had to go and fill my water bottle up with fresh water from the pub! Oh my goodness, it tasted so good, so cold too! Perfect!
Next it was Single Street, it's still a slight climb, but not like the road we had just done. It was as I was riding down here that I suddenly realised that Cudham North Lane is not the road I wanted, as that is not they way to get to the Greyhound in Keston! So, you know it's a been a while since I've been on my bike, well apart from last weekend, and I got a little confused with my route. I was thinking that we need to go through Biggin Hill, which is right of course, to get us to the pub. But in my confusion I had decided that we didn't need to go through the foot path and up the road to the Shampan because we are not longer down Cudham N. Lane! We just went on through to Jail Lane and then all the way to the main road!
It wasn't until we were going through chicken farm bends that I though "Blimey we got here quick" and my other thought was "Where was Costas, did we miss it" The realisation dawned on me then. Oh well, we can always add a bit on after a refreshment stop instead! We continued to head to the Keston, Naggy still in front with me 'slip streaming' behind! The Greyhound was a welcome sight, and we pulled in and treated our selves to a cool drink and a sandwich!
After our lunch we got back on our bikes and headed towards Hayes. We were going to go through as many parks as we could between here and home! The first one was Normans Park, when we cycle through the gates and they, just on the end of the green field was an ice cream van. It had to be done! We deserved an ice cream, so two 99's for us and an extortionate price of £2.00 each (and the ice cream wasn't as big as the one pictured either!) but it did feel good as it went down.
Our next park was Whitehall recreation, last Saturday there was a beer festival happening! It's only a small park so we were soon out of there and riding to our next park which was Jubilee Park. I thought we might just head on back home from here, especially as Naggy turned left to go through Petts Wood. Then I remembered our park! "Let's go down to our park to get home" I said to her and so we did.
An excellent ride, perfectly paced for both of us, with a challenge of the bloody hill going to Downe thrown in! Excellent company too! We will get bike fitter, and I know we can get faster! But it's all going to take time! I've been off my bike for nearly or probably a year! Back to to the beginning and start again. Mind you, my first ride out was from my house was all the way to Farnborough and back! All of 6 miles! So I think this 19.41 miles is not bad for a second ride of getting back to bike fit!
Geeky stats I will load up when I can get them off my hubbys Garmin! My Garmin has lost power! I was so annoyed! NaggyNeighbour has geeky stats too!
Wednesday, 28 June 2017
Oh My Goodness!
Hello blog lovers!
I'm back! Oh and what an awful long time it's been! Talk about lost mojo! It was a horrible year last year, and my cycling mojo was just nowhere to be seen! It was just as well I had my running to go to, at least that kept me in some sort of shape. Round comes to mind right about now! I was a little bit worried about sitting on my bike again! It has a very skinny HARD saddle, not to mention the clipless pedals. Will I still remember how to do it! Will I be really nervous, can I really ride all the way to London and back!
That was our destination by the way, London, the Moby Dick and Greenland Dock, I think that is where it is, all I know is that its not far from decathlon, the sports wear shop, and not that far from Greenwich either. It still seemed to me to be a bit of a mission. I often tell runners that they should expect to start running at the same speed and distance as they did before injury/absence, why do I think being on a bike is any different to running!
I was riding with my sister Bims and her bloke Terry and also NaggyNeighbour and DiscoRich! By the way, I am late in writing this, and it was just a few days ago that I went cycling, Sunday in fact, and today is Wednesday. I was at church and I was late in leaving so had to rush back and get the bikes ready, get changed into my cycling gear and get everything ready. I had planned to meet DiscoRich at 1. Well, I think that is going to be hard to do now!
Anyway, eventually gave naggy my white bike (her bike as a bit out of action!) and then we rode to meet up with DiscoRich. After letting them both know that we are meeting up with Bims and Terry at Bromley South we headed off. I took the lead, (goodness knows why, it's going to be slow anyway) and DiscoRich said he would go behind Naggy. Bromley South, it's not that far, everyone knows where it is so I just headed on one of the two roads it takes to get there, Southborough Lane and the Bromley Common. Bims and Terry should be waiting for us on the corner of Bromley Common and West Moreland Road. When I got there there though they were not there. I turned to look for Naggy and Disco but there were not there. Surely I couldn't have ridden that fast, I am not fast! Never have been!
Naggy soon caught up with me, and we had to wait for Bims and Terry. I then received a text from Disco, he had got a puncture! He had called out to us but neither of us heard him, he said that I had 'sped off'! That made me smile, not the puncture thing, but me speeding! That has to be a first. He had decided that he would walk home and then come along to the pub on the train! So that was the plan for him. He thought that he could be there with in about 1 hour or so, I thought it would take us about an hour, maybe hour and 15 minutes, depending on if we got lost!
Getting to Beckenham is always a mystery to me, I can never remember the roads to take to get to Cator Park. But Bims knew they way, and so did Naggy as I think she knew all the little roads to go down, less traffic, etc to get to where we needed to be. It seemed that we got there in real good time.
Maybe Disco was right and that I was a little bit quick! Being off the bike maybe I had just got a little over excited, and had forgotten how to pace myself. Mind you, we were heading down into the London basin, as I was told in school, that London sat in this basin shaped hole! Getting back home would be the decider on whether or not I was speedy. Talking about speeding, in my rush to get out of the house I had forgotten to pick up my Garmin that I had on charge! I was totally annoyed with myself for leaving it behind. It was just as well Naggy had hers going, especially as we live opposite one another!
From Cator Park it's a nice pleasant ride along the Water Way Link, a series of paths and very quiet roads all the way into London. I felt sure that I would still remember how to get there, and besides Bims has done this ride a couple of times, I felt sure that between the two of us we would get there. Naggy was quite impressed the route, it is exactly what she needed to get used to being on a bike, and also it's a perfect quiet route to get to Lewisham, should she chose to ride to work one day!
We all kept together quite well, sometimes I led, sometimes Bims, even Naggy took the lead with me or Bims calling out "Left....Right!" Before long we came to Creek road, the river just ahead of us, Greenwich to the right. After we crossed the road it was time for some more pictures, the the little man and the man with the small head! Although we didn't actually stand next to him, just this guy!
After about another 10 or 15 minutes riding we were at the Moby Dick, I was really ready for a pint, that's for sure. We chained our bikes up and then walked up the steps to the pub, and there, just supping on his first pint was DiscoRich! He had been there about 10 minutes, so not too bad timing wise! As it was Sunday there was only one thing to have, Sunday Roast. Naggy opted for the beef lasagna! In hind sight maybe I should have done the say, or maybe gone for the chicken instead!
After lunch we cycled home, exactly the same way as we cycled into London with a promise to meet DiscoRich in the Sovs in Petts Wood just to round the day off. Of course going back was a little tougher, it was all up hill, not huge climbs, but it was still a climb to get back of of the basin! With just a little bit of 'miffdom' from a very uptight driver and his Mrs, her car door and my bike chained to a lamppost could have spoilt the day, but, heck, life's to short!
Geeky stats from Naggys Garmin.
I'm back! Oh and what an awful long time it's been! Talk about lost mojo! It was a horrible year last year, and my cycling mojo was just nowhere to be seen! It was just as well I had my running to go to, at least that kept me in some sort of shape. Round comes to mind right about now! I was a little bit worried about sitting on my bike again! It has a very skinny HARD saddle, not to mention the clipless pedals. Will I still remember how to do it! Will I be really nervous, can I really ride all the way to London and back!
That was our destination by the way, London, the Moby Dick and Greenland Dock, I think that is where it is, all I know is that its not far from decathlon, the sports wear shop, and not that far from Greenwich either. It still seemed to me to be a bit of a mission. I often tell runners that they should expect to start running at the same speed and distance as they did before injury/absence, why do I think being on a bike is any different to running!
I was riding with my sister Bims and her bloke Terry and also NaggyNeighbour and DiscoRich! By the way, I am late in writing this, and it was just a few days ago that I went cycling, Sunday in fact, and today is Wednesday. I was at church and I was late in leaving so had to rush back and get the bikes ready, get changed into my cycling gear and get everything ready. I had planned to meet DiscoRich at 1. Well, I think that is going to be hard to do now!
Anyway, eventually gave naggy my white bike (her bike as a bit out of action!) and then we rode to meet up with DiscoRich. After letting them both know that we are meeting up with Bims and Terry at Bromley South we headed off. I took the lead, (goodness knows why, it's going to be slow anyway) and DiscoRich said he would go behind Naggy. Bromley South, it's not that far, everyone knows where it is so I just headed on one of the two roads it takes to get there, Southborough Lane and the Bromley Common. Bims and Terry should be waiting for us on the corner of Bromley Common and West Moreland Road. When I got there there though they were not there. I turned to look for Naggy and Disco but there were not there. Surely I couldn't have ridden that fast, I am not fast! Never have been!
Naggy soon caught up with me, and we had to wait for Bims and Terry. I then received a text from Disco, he had got a puncture! He had called out to us but neither of us heard him, he said that I had 'sped off'! That made me smile, not the puncture thing, but me speeding! That has to be a first. He had decided that he would walk home and then come along to the pub on the train! So that was the plan for him. He thought that he could be there with in about 1 hour or so, I thought it would take us about an hour, maybe hour and 15 minutes, depending on if we got lost!
Getting to Beckenham is always a mystery to me, I can never remember the roads to take to get to Cator Park. But Bims knew they way, and so did Naggy as I think she knew all the little roads to go down, less traffic, etc to get to where we needed to be. It seemed that we got there in real good time.
 |
| This is the crew, and my bike in the middle! Naggy, Bims and Terry! |
From Cator Park it's a nice pleasant ride along the Water Way Link, a series of paths and very quiet roads all the way into London. I felt sure that I would still remember how to get there, and besides Bims has done this ride a couple of times, I felt sure that between the two of us we would get there. Naggy was quite impressed the route, it is exactly what she needed to get used to being on a bike, and also it's a perfect quiet route to get to Lewisham, should she chose to ride to work one day!
We all kept together quite well, sometimes I led, sometimes Bims, even Naggy took the lead with me or Bims calling out "Left....Right!" Before long we came to Creek road, the river just ahead of us, Greenwich to the right. After we crossed the road it was time for some more pictures, the the little man and the man with the small head! Although we didn't actually stand next to him, just this guy!
 |
| We got some chap to photography us all toegher! |
 |
| And of course the comical shot! just look at those fat thighs! |
After about another 10 or 15 minutes riding we were at the Moby Dick, I was really ready for a pint, that's for sure. We chained our bikes up and then walked up the steps to the pub, and there, just supping on his first pint was DiscoRich! He had been there about 10 minutes, so not too bad timing wise! As it was Sunday there was only one thing to have, Sunday Roast. Naggy opted for the beef lasagna! In hind sight maybe I should have done the say, or maybe gone for the chicken instead!
 |
| Lunch! |
After lunch we cycled home, exactly the same way as we cycled into London with a promise to meet DiscoRich in the Sovs in Petts Wood just to round the day off. Of course going back was a little tougher, it was all up hill, not huge climbs, but it was still a climb to get back of of the basin! With just a little bit of 'miffdom' from a very uptight driver and his Mrs, her car door and my bike chained to a lamppost could have spoilt the day, but, heck, life's to short!
Geeky stats from Naggys Garmin.
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| Geeky stats, We did stop for lunch you know! |
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