An Interesting Evening!

Hello blog lovers.

What a glorious day it was today, a perfect day for a run or, in my case a lovely bike ride in the evening with the Old Boy. We quickly prepared our tea, put the oven on for timed cooking and went out as soon as we were dressed in our finery.

It was only going to be a little plod along, enjoying the unusually mild end of February weather, by the way, my car thermometer registered it at 17 degrees this afternoon! we were going for a nice pint of lager at the George. which means going off road, through Hayes common.

I think we were a little too eager to go off road! The ruts in the road, with the muddy puddles, was not good really, plus the night had truly drawn in my the time we got there. I was glad to get to the other side and back on to good old tarmac!

After our refreshment, and of course a lovely bowl of olives, we headed on towards Bromely. We had a mission in mind, we had to find a certain address in Bromley where I shall be sending our Big Son to tomorrow!

After we found the place we meandered on home, via the Red Lion. but before we got there, there was a slight incident. Just ever so small, and no one was hurt....to badly, and no bike was damaged! Somehow the Old Boy managed to be face down on the floor, on his knees, bike sort of underneath him. He had put on his front brakes a little too hard and sort of flew over the handlebars!! Of course, being the concerned wife and fellow cyclists, I just p****d my self laughing, before enquiring how he was. By this time the couple we had just passed came running up to see if he was alright! Which he was. Well, he is a little sore now, and he maybe even more sore in the morning. I do hope not. I know how it feels coming off your bike!!

Anyway, by now I was desperate for the loo, yet the Old boy was still keen to take a little longer route home than the direct one. But it was down hill, towards Shortlands. Now you know that whole Pain/pleasure thing, laugh/cry thing. I thought that because I absolutely cracked up laughing at the Old Boy, I was going to be very, very, very careful going down hill. Hold the brakes by all means, just to slow myself down.

Both of us got to the bottom of the hill safely. But by now my bladder needed to empty. We are not in the woods, we are on busy roads, no pub in sight. Then the OB said that my sisters house is not that far, so that is where we headed.

Withing 10 minutes we were banging on her door, she duly opened as I was throwing off my gloves, undoing the tie thingy on my cycling tights before I even said hello to Nagging Sister! Of course, once out of her loo I recounted the whole incident again! Boy was it funny.

Any way, both of us got back home safely, and our dinner was nicely cooked and waiting for us when we got home!! Perfect!

Geeky stats

On Me Bike!

Hello bloggees!

13 days since I last put on my padded cycling tights!! It's been a while! I was hoping for a nice gentle peddle around a nice flat(ish) route, but the Old Boy had Downe village in mind. Oh well, I'm stronger these days, I'm fitter these days, and...... I'm still kidding myself that hills get easier!

I am sure I am still suffering colds and what not, just by the nasties that are oozing out of my nose! But who worries eh!? If i am feeling ok, not coughing up and no headaches, pains or feeling tired, then being out doing a couple of miles on my bike is where I should be!

The road up to Downe Village is a slog though, and don't let anyone tell you otherwise, I am sure even the professionals are out of the seats pushing up here, albeit about 50 mph, but there is me, in my last 40 something year, ex couchie plodding away, not getting off my bike and walking up it, just doing it! You can imagine what I said to the old boy when he told me how many miles an hour I was doing that his super duper new Garmin was reading, (as he was cycling behind me!) Did I care, was I bothered! Nope! I was doing it.

In fact I hadn't stopped cycling from my house until we reached Keston, and stopped off for a lager! Not one stop, apart from traffic and junction's, obviously! so I was quite pleased with myself! Ok it took us 1 hour and 10 mins to ride 11.55 miles, but I did it not stop.

As we started to ride home from here it started to rain, it had become a bit colder as well, and the wind had picked up. I think time to go home! I love my cycling, I love my bike, and I love getting fit on my bike, I would like it to stay that way, and cycling in the cold getting wet is not my idea of fun!

So geeky stats,

Why Am I Out This Evening

Hello Bloggees

I have been freezing all morning and most of the afternoon due the heating not working! But that has all been rectified now, (I should say that very quietly, just in case things go awry) So after the guys managed to fix my boiler, even though there is still a temporary fix on some part of it, my house is finally warming up! And me and the Old Boy decid to leave the comfort of our home, with our boiler happily heating up our radiators, water, our home and our spirits and go for a shortish bike ride. ARE WE STARK STARING CRAZY!?

I think so too! It's this whole keep fit malarkey, once you start, you just don't want to stop! It needs to be kept going!! Otherwise the whole year behind is wasted, the money we spent of running and cycling goods, wasted! The effort wasted! No! we are not crazy, just determined.

We were only going to go for about ten miles today, local, stay near home. But by 6:30 we were still sitting, wrapped up in blankets, still talking about it. So with a determined effort we went up stairs to get changed, and put layers and layers on, to keep the cold away.

It was bloomin freezing!! On my goodness. I was so glad we were only doing a short ride. because even that is going to take about an hour, and being out for an hour, riding in this, is going to really chill me down. Just hope the temp fix on my boiler lasts at least until tomorrow!! It's going to take that long to thaw out.

We rode up to Princess Plain and the Old Boy said that we will ride to Chislehurst, I was thinking "Mmm the Tigers head", but quite frankly, I would refuse! There is no way I'm sitting outside after riding all that way, drinking a cold lager! I may like my lager, but I like my toes, and fingers and my nose, all of which I'm pretty attached to! I don't want any freezing off!

We arrived at Greenstreet Green, I'm sure in record time for me, and my bike then started to have 'issues' with the gear shifting thingy! It refused to go into top gear, and even took it's time shifting into gear after I had pushed it over!! Very strange indeed. The OB thinks it might be the cables, after all, things happene to metal in winter, it shrinks or something, so it could need adjusting.

Anyway, this is where the OB told me that we are going straight up to Crittals Corner, and not going up to Knol rise! Oh well, we're out now, I don't suppose its going to be much different! So onwards and upwards. Still freezing my ass off, and now my hands were hurting. My superduper new gloves are not working very well, and my feet are freezing, they feel like lumps of ice stuck on the peddles, and who remembers 'ice cream headaches' because that what I feel like I have, every so often!

I can't wait to get home now, definitely not stopping for any pint, in fact not stopping for anything, I just need to get home now.

I didn't think about anything else from about Crittals Corner onwards, I just wanted to get home, get into my (hopefully) warm house, and have a nice cuppa! But just as we were riding up towards Pettswood the OB pulled up at the kerb. His pocket was opened and he felt he had lost things from it. And he did! It was the little tyre irons that had fell out, but while we were looking for them I tried to walk, oh my goodness, I am sure my feet had become frozen solid. My toes refused to bend now, my thumbs were numb and my fingers were hurting!

Yet still, we did not ride straight home! We went through Jubilee park, down Blackbrook Lane and then through our park!

A good ride, a freezing ride, and ........... our heating is working!!

Geeky stats.

Why Did God Make Hills?

Hello Bloggers.

It was a pleasant sunning morning when we both woke up, it was a pity we didn't actually go out for our ride then. But the OB wanted to do some more bike maintenance and clean up our bikes as well, and also take a look at Nagging Sisters heavy old Jalopy! Which by the way, dear sister, needs a new tube!

So we eventually we set off about 1.30, our destination the Blacksmiths on Cudham Lane. but not the straight forward direct route, but taking a slight detour route! We were going through Farnbourough then head down Church Lane and head on to Downe Village.

Now you all know how much I love, love, love riding up hills!!! NOT, but it's always good to challenge yourselves, stop staying in the comfort zone, as the OB always tell me. But he did say "enjoy it, low gear, take your time, look around you". And that is exactly what I did. I wasn't going to push myself hard today, as I have ..... gulp...... organised with Nagging Sister, and maybe Mr. S to do the PWR Train Run. More on that tomorrow!

It flipping knackers me out getting up that hill, but it is a personal challenge to ride it all in one go, no getting off the bike to walk it. This is where I asked the question, "Why did God make hills!) Up, up and up, that's all I seem to have done. Keep on peddling, that's what I was saying, and I'm sure the Old boy said it to me as well. I have ridden it several times, so I felt quite secure in the fact that I will do it again. Me being smug now! Have I spoke to soon? I wonder.

From Downe Village, avoiding popping into the two pubs that are there! we turned right, then left into Single Street which turns into Jail Lane. I remember years ago getting Nagging Sister to take me here in her car to collect my wayward dog from Foal Farm! Boy was I pleased to see him, even burst into tears when I saw him, the daft mutt!.....Er that's the dog and not me that's the mutt! I even think NS had a teary eye as well.

Then there were more yet more hills as we headed up towards Biggin Hill. For a pleasure ride it really was quite challenging for me! But I still totally had fun. I had nice warm hands with my new cycling gloves, I'm hoping that they will sustain me through the winter, but being as they are light weight ones, (I can't stand big chunky gloves while I'm riding my bike) then I'm not sure.

Yet more hills once we get to the Spinning Wheel, and I did have a very short breather here, sniffing the air to try and smell the curry cooking, but I couldn't smell anything! More undulating roads to keep me fit, then I notice the fields, and the birds, and how beautiful it all is, even in the winter, with no leaves on the trees, and I start to think. "Actually, He made the hills because that way, we can see more of this gorgeous world of ours, not a flat boring expanse, where you cant see what is growing on there, or what animals or birds inhabit this place where we live." Yes, that is why God made the hills............... and it's a good way to keep us fit as well!

Not far now, just down the road now and we can stop for a refreshing drink, sitting next to a warming log burner! Oh, yes, and we have deciding that the end of the month stopped last night! But I may still keep to the no dairy and cheese thing, with the odd cup of tea without the guilts!

Heading on home, I thought we were going to go straight down Cudham Lane, but the OB put yet another challenge to me, ride to Downe Village again and then on to Keston. I took the bait!! Can you believe little old hill dodger me decided to ride down Downe Road, the beginning is a very steep curvy hill, but the other side, oh my goodness!! it's a long steep hill going up. I did something that I haven't done for ages and that's get off my bike and push it up the hill!! I know!! Shame on me.

Going through the village again and heading on to Keston. and the OB gave me another choice, Keston for a pint and a packet of poppadoms with the heaters, or the George in Hayes for a pint and some olives. Well, the heaters won! Of course they won! It's darn freezing out there!!

Then home! A lovely piece of steak, home cooked chips and salad. Can't beat it.

Geeky stats

Beat The Weather!

Hello blog lovers.

Easing my way back to the fitness trail. Still feeling tons better, well maybe just a little achy from yesterday's run, but still, feeling good is good! So just to beat the weather we are only doing a short ride and sticking local as well. Just in case we need to cut it even shorter.

It had this, hmm ...... well I can only describe it as a slight dusting of rain. Not enough to even notice really, it's just that I caught sight of it in my headlight.

We set off down the path towards the A21 and our route was going to take us up to Coney Hall and then through to Bromley. So a very local short ride indeed. But it's still good getting out. I did get tooted at today. From an impatient driver. Now I am under the impression that on the "pinch zones" i.e. through those bollards, only one vehicle can fit through at a time. Ok so I don't have an engine, but I am a road user! A healthy and green road user, but I am sure I am entitled to the same courtesy, so why do blooming van drivers try a squeeze past me, it's not as if I take forever to go through said obstacles! Or maybe I should be riding up close and personal to kerbs, with a danger of catching my peddles in high kerbs or verges, or feeling every single drain, (maybe that is why padded cycling tights were invented) or riding through all the debris that seems to collect in those places. Tell me, am I wrong!

There rant over, I know I should ride defensively, after all, there is only skin protecting me. It was still a lovely ride though, and the rain held off. It did get a little windier and we had a short stop at the Red Lion. And now here is my confession, I did fall from the wagon and indulged in a pint of lager today, but it's still not a bad month off from alcohol! I had to write this on my iPhone again, as the desk top is updating stuff! But hopefully it will all be done now so that I can add my geeky stats.

Yeah! desk top working, kind of, albeit slow, but here are the geeky stats.

Still Not Well!

Hello blog lovers.

I really wasn't feeling too good this evening. After yesterdays ride out I thought I would be getting better, but about 4 o'clock this evening I started to feel very tired and the cold like symptoms were well and truly back! But I thought maybe once I am out I shall feel so much better.

"We shall only go for another plod" the OB said, "It's not cold out, and I shall keep it flat" he continued. "Ok, I'm going, I'll go and get changed" I was soon ready, and it was quite late when we left as well, at least 7:15 by the time we got out of the door.

We headed on up the newly tarmacked road, boy does it feel so so good! No pot holes, no splits in the road, not even any debris! if only all roads were like this. We were going to stay local, no going up to Biggin hill or through the lanes because actually it was a little chilly out, and the wind had picked up as well. But again, we only going for about 10 miles, and its not going to take that long.

I did feel a little better as we rode along, but I knew that I could still only manage a short one today, and besides it is quite late really. I was looking forward to getting home really. And the stuff coming from my nose and lungs is not good. Maybe I was too eager to get out and stop being a couch potato.

Now in the area that I live, there really is no such thing as a flat route, there is always a hill that you have to go down and of course if you go down then you got to go up again. You can't odds it really, well, not doing a 10 miler anyway. I guess I could go round and round the park somewhere, but whats the point in that!

We did stop for a glass of diet coke, and I really did chill down quite quickly, and I really wanted to be back home under my blanket with a nice coffee (because I am trying so hard not to have dairy products this month as well, not too good on that one though) and to eat my dinner, hopefully cooked by the Old Boy!

SO from the Greyhound in Keston we rode up to the ponds, yet aonther hill, and then we were going to ride through to Locksbottom and them home. Of course when I say home, we have to go through Pettswood, then through Jubilee Park and then home.

Today I had my Garmin, and today I started it off, so I have my geeky stats with you, and you will notice that it wasn't 10 miles, or even 11 or 12, it was 15 and half miles today.

Geeky stats

Bloomin' Cold Virus!

Hello blog lovers.

After having almost a week off from doing any for of exercise due to 'kids disease', (I'm sure its the little darlings that I look after that keep giving me their colds!) I was really looking for to just getting out for a 'plod' as the Old Boy calls it. I am feeling better than I have done this week, but still the virus is in my body. I am just going to try and kill it with some gentle exercise.

I told the OB that I will only ride for about 10 miles today, I didn't want to push myself and probably make myself sick! so we stuck to the Old faithful route around Bromley. I had thought I had started by Garmin but when we got to the Red Lion I noticed that I hadn't actually started it at all! I was disappointed but then I do have the OB's Garmin stats to get all the details from.

I can't believe this weather we having today! Having a glass of diet coke in January was definitely on the cards this evening. But what I didn't expect was to go to Chislehurst to have another glass at the Tigers! Of course there is a hill involved getting up there, even though I had said to the OB that I could probably manage a nice easy, flat route. There is no flat route to get to Chislehurst, well none that I know of, nor the OB, because I'm sure he would have taken me that way.

I decided to try Yester Hill again, and feeling the way I was, I knew I wouldn't make it up to the top, but I tried my hardest. I tried not to think about it, and just plodded along. My bike was feeling bloody good since the OB did that thing that guys do, oh yes, maintenance, that's what its called, on my bike. New brake pads for a start!! Boy I didn't realise how bad they were, plus he oiled, cleaned lubed and generally gave my bike some TLC and it feels like I just ridden it out of the shop. Is that a word 'ridden' funny, it don't sound right. Hey ho.

I did the hill in three stages. I didn't walk the hill this time. I just took a ten to twenty second breather before starting again, and then rode the rest of the way to the Tigers, for my fav plate of olives.

So geeky stats, copied from the OB's Garmin

Distance 11.89 miles
Moving time 1 hour 20 mins
Avg Speed 8.82
Calories 634

What my max speed is I don't know, but coming down the hill I was going some, and on the flat the Old Boy said I was doing about 20 miles an hour

So all together not too bad consider I am still got this stupid cold.