Month: November 2010

Last week only had a ride out to the Eureka on Wednesday doing a Course on the new Edge 800. Routing appeared on the top of the screen while the Coursepoints appeared on the bottom of the screen. I must have spent half an hour trying to get the multi screens to show what I wanted them to show.  You can have 10 bits of information on display  but it is hard to see that much while on the move. Did a few of Tex’s spinning classes at the Oval too.
Thursday to Sunday was work again so no ride.
This week is much the same with a sprinkling of snow probably ruling out a Wednesday ride.  The Magicshine bike lights have finally arrived from DealExtreme after 6 weeks of waiting.  I knew there was going to be a delay as soon as the toner bombs were found on the cargo planes.  The package had spent a month in Hong Kong post office. Sundays ride home the other week was changed because the much praised Cateye EL530 is useless as a light to ride by.
The MagicShine costs less comes with a battery pack and a charger too, is seriously bright with 5 modes including an insane strobe mode. Just charging the battery up as I write this.
One morning spinning class this week.  Looks like any ride on Wednesday will have to be on a main road as side roads aren’t gritted.
Dropped the ride for another of Tex’s spinning classes, then drove to the Eureka.  Only a few made it by bike. I drove along route 56 to see what it was like  and it’s just as well as there were patches of ice everywhere.

Thursday: Becky’s Spinning class at the Oval.
Looks like the bike is out for the next week or two.  I’ve only got to step out onto the pavement to see how bad things are.

Monday:  5 hour trip to Monmouthshire for Sussies funeral who passed away after a two year battle against cancer.  The first couple of hours were into rain and spray with a breakfast stop at Newtown.
Having passed the entrance to a Morrisons that looked like it served breakfast I opted for a Little Chef. Now I know they arn’t particular value for money but I mistakenly yes to an added tomato. Well half a tomato, when the bill came it was a quid for the bloody thing.
In true British fashion I didn’t complain. The irritating part was I didn’t even get the other half.  There was a series on the TV where Helston Blumenstall was trying to change the menu for the group. He failed and I can see why, why faff around with an upmarket menu when you can get a quid for half a tomato.
Newtown to Llandridod Wells is one twisty road and things were Ok until we met a Jaguar overtaking a tractor where he shouldn’t. It took a while to regain composure from a serious fright.
The next fright was getting buzzed by a Tornado at probaby 200ft, the whole car was shaking and felt like it was falling to bits. It made for an interesting drive. Glad of the satnav even if it did take some odd routes.
Quite a positive service considering.
Another 5 hour drive home up the coast and across to Bala put things into perspective. It’s really quiet with few signs of any life.

Tuesday to Friday: Work, not much to say really, job losses and hour reductions in the pipeline means no one is happy.
Saturday: Keith had phoned me Thursday to say the Edge 800 was in, so it was a ride out to pick it up via the Eureka Cafe. Picked up a puncture too bet only realised it when I came out of the shop. It’s time to put on some winter tyres as the carcass had a few cuts in it that would let grit in and cause another puncture.
Sunday: Jack day. Went to Blackpool and it was closed, literally nothing open. Trams closed , fair closed, Tower is a building site.