Month: December 2009

Monday: First day off. Found some keys from work in my pocket so dropped them off. Went to see Ken Dodd with my mum. They said he would be on a long time but I didn’t think he would be on till 00.45 or quarter to one in the morning. 5 + hours in all, no wonder people left early.
Tuesday: Had planned to do a spinning class but nobody was answering the phones. Thought I had kerbed the alloys on the Mini so it was off to Chester for some touch up paint. Had a go of Sport mode away from the lights and it flies.
Wednesday:   Had planned to go on Barry’s ride from the Seven Stars but the torrential rain put me off, they were still talking about the last one two weeks later.

After waiting a couple of hours for rain to ease off it was time to hit Route 56. Had planned to call in at Wheelbase and put some air into the front tyre  but he was closed today. I twas a bit grim at Seacombe with a headwind and a choppy Mersey. The only good thing was it meant a tailwind once you got to New Brighton.
The new Floral Pavillion looked packed and then it dawned on me, all the cars coming down the other way were full of kids off to the panto.
Went through the wind blown sand at Harrison Drive and then on to the sea defences. Here I eventually stopped as a gritty rubbing noise was getting on my nerves. It’ been like this for a while now and I hadn’t found out what it was. I’ve been bending the mudguard while on the move but it wasn’t having it.
It  turned ot to be the tab that is bolted to the brake caliper was too low and every bit of grit on the front tyre would catch it.
The only downside of it is a silent bike means walkers and dog owners can’t hear you coming.
The first stop was Morrisons in West Kirby for an afternoon tea which comprises of a cup of tea, half an egg sandwhich and a small scone.
Booked some spinning classes on the way home and took to the Wirral Way.
No tacks and some good views over to snowcapped Wales.

Came off the Wirral Way at Lower Heswall and climbed Delavor Road. The Garmin 705 is throwing a wobbler with the Grade function showing a wobbler, it read everything but the correct gradient.
If your going to get knocked off this is the place as it’s awash with Mercs and Range Rovers as against lads in uninsured Saxos that passed me on the Four Bridges.

Washed bike and car only to discover I hadn’t kerbed the alloys (phew)
I’d booked a spinning class at West Kirby.
Sweated buckets, burnt 748 caloriesand had the Heartrate up to 180 BPM another on booked for tommorow.
Which will be the last of the year.
Thursday:  Last spinning class of the year which was full with 2 first timers.
743 calories for this one with the monitor freezing halfway through the class. Gym afterwards for weight machines an a 2 km row.
Parked in Aldi on the way home as Tesco’s looked chaotic. Picked up the comic and took District 9 back to Blockbuster.
Made some guys day in Marks an Spencer when I pointed out he was refunding me too much.
Washed the car yet again and thats about it for the year.
Work in the morning so it’s not such a good New Year.
Friday: Hard frost on the Mini was sorted in about a minute, the side windows needed the credit card, even so it heats up really quickly and so it shoukd given all the boxes I ticked.
Saturday:  Bloody grim weather through Brimstage followed by an Ice rink through Liverpool. Guess it’s a case of the coucil not wanting to pay out for gritters on New Years Day.

Monday: Spinning class at West Kirby with a few asking where I’d got to. Gym afterwards for weights, a kilometer on the rowing machine then the shower.
Callled in at my mums and watched the sqirells pinch the nuts out of the bird feeders.
The car got put through the carwash and it was a trip to Halliwell Jones to see why the windows opened on Sunday letting in the snow.
Booked in at the Oval for another Spinning class only to find the carpark empty and reception saying didn’t I get the message. It turns out the girls had all come in Santa hats and brought tinsel for the bikes.
Would have been a good class.
Did 45 minutes on the Exercise bike Cross Country program which was 540 calories, spent most of it looking at wattage seeing as I’d had a Wattbike leaflet through the post (£1600)
Tuesday: Another Spinning class at West Kirby followed by a trip to Chester for Christmas shopping. The black clouds that I’d seen in the morning had dumped about an inch of snow over Heswall with it turning to ice on the Chester High road. The traction control cutting in and out trying to get up the hill to Tesco’s.
Called off another spinning class and tommorows planned ride out to the Eureka looks very dodgy.
Wednesday:  Drove out to the Eureka where about 10 nutters had ridden out.  No one from anywhere north of Neston. Drank too much tea and headed home to do some xmas shopping.

Spinning class at West Kirby , my last for the year.
Thursday: Friday: Saturday: Sunday: Work. 12 Hours, possibly my worst xmas ever. Not looking forward to this one bit.
Eureka Cafe next open on 2nd January.

Monday: Cleaned the car, the bike didn’t go in vertically with the seat on so I’m going to have to rethink this one. If i’d have some common sense I’d have took a tape measure to the showroom before I bought it. A trip to Borders for some books now at a 40% discount. Car now dirty again.
Tuesday: Val not well with what could be swine flu symptoms despite having the vaccine. A trip out to see the rumoured Sky Pinarellos at the Bike Factory proved a waste so it was a drive through the lanes eventually ending up at the Plassey.
Spinning class at the Oval.
Had tried to book in at West Kirby but it was full, it probably wasn’t a wise move to tell Margaret but it was she that mentioned settling for second best so a hard time ensued.
Did 2km on the rowing machine beforehand in 8:47 which is average.
The class was 750 calories at the end  with a decent stretch. Spoke to Margaret at the end along with the woman that mentioned about the Santa run about 2 maybe 3 years ago. (Me not being a runner, EVER)
Starting to look scary if I look back at the history and where I am now.
Back to basics for the moment and next year will take care of itself.
Bike wise there are some nice bikes from around £500 if you think I’m ever getting ahead of myself. Loose 6 kg  and you’ve lost a bikes worth never mind spending £35 on a 23g bottlecage. Ditch the bottle and save 850g of water, times that by two and save 1.7 Kg.
Time for a reality check, every lb or Kg that I loose makes me better in every respect. I should know this but have let things slip of late. Probably a good time to set some 2010 goals, not some to be forgoten 2 months into the year.

Etape pictures at a 30% discount now if you couldn’t afford them.
 Wednesday: Work, booked a class at 8 after work so I’m starting to ramp up after a couple of slack months.
Didn’t happen as I was the only one booked on for the class. Girl running the class was on nights after doing the first class.
Tried the fitness level on the exercise bike which was a waste of time.
A score of 54 was acheived with not the perceived effort I had in mind.
45 Minutes travelling was wasted  and an exercise bike is no  substitute for an instructor led spinning class.
Shower and home.
Thursday: Work.Nothing of note.
Friday: Work. Had planned a ride after work, but with freezing conditions and commutors at work getting wiped out on Ice it’s not going to happpen.

Saturday: 30 miles to Chester and back. About as flat as it gets, returned via the Dee cyclepath.
Sunday: Jack day and a trip out in the new toy. Very impressed with it.
Monday: More work around the house and washed the new toy.
Tuesday: Work
Wednesday: Work
Thursday: Work
Friday: Course at the National Motorcycle Museum on Humidity, didn’t see many bikes  but it was worthwhile  until we hit the traffic on the way home.
Saturday: Ride day, late start. Flat tyre which was pumped up and would later come back and bite me and a stiff chain that needed lubing.  Eureka for breakfast and tales from the dog about the Peace race in Poland.
Should have headed out about an hour earlier , rode back with John as far as the turnoff for the front by Denhall Lane. Birdwatchers out in force today. Took to the Wirral Way at Parkgate to check out where the bench in memory of my my dad is going.
The tyre went soft on Hoylake Prom so I set about changing the tube. Two locals people offered help which is a first.
Called in at the Bike  shop in Moreton for a tube and use of the track pump.
By this time it’s dark so the lights go on only for the half a charge indicator to light up. This means a curtailed ride with a trip through Upton and Arrow park rather than round the coast.
Just past the Bassett Hound by the Reservoir there is another cyclist who I’m gaining on and pass him by Gills Lane going into Barston Dip. This didn’t go down too well as he passes me back on the climb out by the Fox and Hounds. I was too highly geared for it. He turns off down Station Road so nothing came of it.
32 miles.

The  new toy: A Mini Cooper S Clubman. A van for the bike I hope.