Back to decent mileages

After a poor week, I’m back to some decent mileages.  Just work and back in the main.  I had a migraine on Thursday so missed the Thirsty Thursday ride.  Friday Karl was away, so no ride then.

Yesterday Jayne and I went out to the Courtyard Cafe at Great Ecc for a tea cake and a coffee.  It was a bit cold while riding, Autumn is definitely here, but really nice and sunny outside the cafe.

This morning was the Fleetwood triathlon.  I usually volunteer to manage the bike course.  This basically means riding the course constantly, making sure all the side streets have marshals.  We got off to a poor start with turn points only marked on the ground, no marshals or bollards/signs.  This was soon sorted and the majority had a good ride.  The real work for me started once the adults have finished.  Tim (the organizer) runs a youth and kids event as well, with 5 different age categories doing different distances.  My job was to make sure the turns were manned, sweep the previous wave and  get the marshals home and the roads opened.  These are not always mutually achievable tasks.  In the first two hours I rode about 12 miles.  In the last hour and a half I did another 25.  All on a 3 mile course!

We rode out to the Villa for a well earned pint tonight.

Total for the week – 133 miles

Total for the year – 4198 miles#

Tim

Wilco!

A very poor week mileage wise this week.

I rode to work on Monday but there was a howling gale and pooring rain. By Tuesday it had got worse, with 30mph winds gusting up to 50. I decided to drive. wednesday wasn't raining but the wind was still very high, so I drove again.

I was off Thursday and Friday to go up to Glasgow to see Wilco. My sister and her friend Kirsty came up on Wednesday. I cooked them lamb steaks in red wine, very nice. I was texting Ian with a pick up time for the next morning when there was a traffic bulletin on the radio. The Pope was in Edinburgh and driving to Glasgow for a mass on Thursday afternoon. All sorts of roads were closed. I quickly texted Ian with an earlier departure time. Ian's response F#@king Pope!.

We drove up Thursday morning and had no problems with the traffic, getting there nice and early. The drive up the M6 and M74 must be the nicest stretch of motorway in Britain, skirting the Lakes, the Howgills and the Borders. We checked in to the hotel and got something to eat. Then Jane and Kirsty went back to the hotel to freshen up and Ian and I headed across town to find somewhere to eat later and scout out the venue. After walking all round central Glasgow, we eventually found the venue and a nice looking Italian to eat.

If you are in Glasgow, the Fratelli Sarti restuarant on the corner of Renfield St and I think Bath St was very good. Their pre-theatre deal of two courses for £10 was great. Two courses plus two bottles of wine was £80 for 4.

We staggered out and walked down to th Barrowlands Ballroom. The support act was Phil Selway (SP?) from Radiohead. A bit samey, but highlights were a saw player and the finale where they gathered round the drum kit and all played some form of percussion.

Wilco came on about 9ish and played a blinding set. Nels Kline is the most demented guitar player I've seen in quite a while. Think Animal from the Muppets. They played a good mix of the new album plus stuff from right across their previous ones. Highlight had to be synthesiser Patel!

We wandered back to the hotel for a final drink before bed. Next morning we found a nice cafe that advertised Hot Porridge which Ian needs in order to function properly. Kirsty and I had the full fried, although I did make the mistake of asking for a full English, much to everyone's ammusement. Then it was back in the car for the 200 mile drive home.

This weekend has been rain and more rain, so apart from nipping up to the Villa on Friday, I've done no more miles.

Total for the week a dismal 19 miles.

Tim

Happy Birthday to Me!

47 today. Don't feel a day over 50

Poor mileage this week, just 81. Most of the guys were away mountain biking in Switzerland, and the weekend weather was poor.

Went to Mancheser on Saturday and got some new gloves and a Gore cap. Also bought Neu! and Neu! 2 on vynyl, white vynyl even. Very good,

Miles for the week - 81
Total for the year - 4046

Tim

4000 miles!

I passed 4000 miles on my way to work yesterday. Split roughly 1200 fixed, 1200 tandem, 1400 Hewitt and the rest MTB