Overloading our car with bikes!

Our brilliant but overloaded VW Vento

When we go on holiday we normally take Rachel's VW as it's got a bigger boot than my car.  That has been fine for all kinds of camping trips with and without bikes but this year it's just been too much.  Sometimes we've had a roof box full of our gear, adding further to the weight!

When we arrived for our Cumbria holiday this year, we managed to scrape the bottom of the car along a raised ridge leading to our holiday farmhouse.  In doing so it pulled off some kind of brace that was bolted to the underside of the car.  The local garage said it wasn't a problem but might get picked up at the next MOT.  Phew.

While we were on holiday the clutch started to slip and this now has been the final straw.  This is the orginal clutch which has lasted for 163,000 miles so we can make an allowance here.  We had in mind replacing the car this year, having bought it way back in the last century.  So, with the new school term approaching we hopefully have another car coming this week (which we haven't even seen let alone test driving).  It was the "very reliable" and "not remotely exciting to drive" reports in Which? that helped us decide.  Besides, I reckon the new car will be able to carry even more bikes but I haven't mentioned that to Rachel yet!

Cycling and running in the mist

Early morning mist in August

Have you noticed we've been having some very beautiful early morning mists lately?  I think this has happened in many parts of England.  I just wanted to highlight these mornings as being ideal for getting out there, on two feet or on two wheels.

It is very tempting for me to peer out of the window and see a grey "nothingness" with everything looking cold and grey - then it's all too easy to slide back under the duvet.  And yet these can be the very mornings when the mists suddenly start to lift with the warmth of the rising morning sun.  I know it's a matter of taste but I think there's a real beauty to these mornings and can go for miles and miles without realising it.  Even over roads or trails that are well known to me, there is a new quality to them that makes them appear completely new to me.

If you visit my blog often you may have noticed I prefer to run, or perhaps cycle, early in the day.  This time of day is very special for me.  Sometimes they're times of real inspiration and magic in feeling like the only person awake and wonder in the day ahead.  These misty mornings have simply added to that, deepening an already wonderful experience.

Cycling over Kirkstone Pass

Looking north, towards Ullswater

For some time I had been looking forward to a really nice long bike ride while we were in Cumbria last week and I was not disappointed.

As luck would have it, with my family I negotiated my "bike day" and it turned out to be the best day in terms of the weather.  Pleasantly warm, just a very slight breeze and sunny, cloudy skies made it perfect.

I ascended from Ullswater, a steady climb which can be seen in the above photograph.  I was very pleased I had that 26T "Granny wheel" gear on the 1 in 4 steep part near the top!  It was nice keeping in a good pedalling rhythm and knowing there was one lower gear still further.  At the top there was a runner (followed by his dog!) but no other cyclists.  I remember having that satisfying feeling as I looked around, mostly enjoying those long distance views in the Windermere direction.

Descending was great fun but just too short!  I took the road to Windermere and the best bits were the corners which brought out the best in my bike's handling.  I could take those corners really fast and with complete confidence there would be no nasty surprises.  While my shades might look questionable, I needed them for keeping out flies and any other flying insects - I've had too many near misses following flies going into my eye at high speed.  When this happens it is very disconcerting!

This must count as one of my all-time great rides.  I'll map this out on Googlemaps sometime and put it on this post but in essence I did about 64+ miles that day with 3 big climbs, all using the 26T Granny gear at some point. I remember as I started to climb up out of Orton on the B6260 it was unexpectedly steep and I was feeling tired.  Momentarily I felt quite emotional almost expecting myself to declare I couldn't take anymore of this!  A second later and I was fine once again.

It was a demanding ride but so rewarding, uplifting and a wonderful memory to treasure.  I highly recommend it for a demanding ride with much variety in the surrounding landscape.

Map

Dealing with stress - some tips

Some of you will already know that I've had some work-related stress over recent years (click on the About page tab for more on this) but I thought it might be useful to give a few tips from my many strategies:

1. Go for a run - but you need to be accustomed to this for it to be effective.  From my own experience, this means being able to run for at least 30 minutes.  I've blogged about this before but it does work for me, really it does.  I can go out with a heavy burden, lots of worries and then return an hour later and I feel transformed.
2. Get a cheap digital watch with an alarm.  Mine is the one in the photo above and cost around £7 in Argos, that's all.  Becky my eldest daughter was fiddling with it a while back and managed to set the alarm to sound at 3.06pm and couldn't work out how to un-set it  One day at work, when I was in a tedious meeting the alarm went off.  Everyone looked at me as I in turn looked at my watch.  "Wow 3.06 already, my apologies I have to go".  Everyone was so amazed I planned my time so precisely, my exit from the meeting was never questioned.  A feeling of being in control, not out of control.
3. If you have faith then you know praying is exactly right.

Caption competition?

What are they saying / thinking?  Just leave a comment below....

Mick n Phil Marathon Lads

While we were in Cumbria last week, Rachel and I found ourselves talking to Mick and his wife, who were with their son Phil.  It was a chance conversation at the top of Kirkstone Pass (I'd cycled there the previous day - blog post to follow soon).

We said "hello" as we went passed, strolling around and before we knew it a conversation had struck up.

It was moving listening to Mick as he gave us a glimpse of his life - the ups and downs, the highs and the lows.  He said he'd be easy to find on the internet and sure enough, he was right.  It was a joy to meet him and his family - and who knows - we might meet once again at a future race.

Please take a look at their website for their story as I can't do it justice here.

http://micknphil-marathonlads.com/index.php

Early morning inspirational cycle ride

Near Dufton, Cumbria

Last week we were in Cumbria for a weeks holiday along with some friends, Paul & Steph and their kids.  Needless to say I took my bike and running shoes for some early morning inspiration.  We stayed just outside Appleby - as in Appleby-in-Westmorland - and the annual Appleby Horse Fair.

On Friday morning I peered out of the window at dawn and saw a misty field which looked inviting.  For a while I couldn't make up my mind whether to run or cycle.  Mentally I tossed a coin and cycling won.  Although I was out for just an hour, I only covered 10 miles.  It seemed every few yards there was something to stop and marvel at.  Some of those things are photographed here (hope you like them) others are memories in my mind.

It's hard, really hard, to sum it up.  It was beautiful, inspirational and magical.  I saw nobody, not one single car, just me, my bike and the road.

Appleby to Dufton Road, Cumbria

Appleby in the mist

Edge of Pennines, near Hilton, Cumbria

Caption competition?  Leave a comment below!

Review - Specialised BG Gel Mitts

If you are a regular reader you will know of my hand injury, which although slowly healing, was aggravated by cycling in holding my handlebars.  It was that which prompted me to invest in these one lunch time, in order to soften the ride and make cycling easier.

The big attraction as the gel inserts in various places on the palm, designed to cushion the ride.  After all, numerous road defects and tyres at 100psi will cause quite a bit of vibration up through the handlebars.  For this, they live up to expectations in the main.

They cost me £26 in a LBS less a CTC discount.  At the time of writing these were £19.99 at Evans Cycles.

Sizing wise they seem on the small size.  I have XL mitts but there's no way I can have XL sized hands.  Once on, they are a good fit but taking them off is quite a fiddle.

They are not sweaty at all.

The bit which disappoints the most with them being poorly made.  Already stitching is coming loose and a hole is gaping.

Would I buy these again?  No I woudn't.  Sorry.
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40's - the best decade (so far)

I remember people telling me "it's all down hill now you're 40 but happy birthday anyway".  I also remember in my mid 40's when my optician said it was time to have reading glasses because I was middle aged.

I didn't mind having to wear glasses but it was the middle aged bit that bothered me the most.  Surely middle aged people are old, boring, past it?  I couldn't possibly be like that!

If you've read the About page, you'll know why I started to take more care of myself.  It is because of that this decade has been fantastic for me.  I have aged of course, but I'm in better shape than I was almost 10 years ago.  I was reflecting on this as I found myself glancing through a Reader's Digest book we have.  It says (paraphrased)....

30s - by the end of the decade the first grey hairs will be appearing.  Bone breaks down faster than it builds up.  My response?  Grey hairs?  Couldn't care less.  Besides, they're not grey, they are blonde.  Comment about metabolism slowing and weight being gained.  Yes that happened to me and I didn't even realise it was happening.  I just bought new clothes as I fancied them, not giving the increasing size a thought.

40's - my eye sight has deteriorated significantly.  Partly through becoming naturally more long sighted and needing glasses for close - up work.  Retina problems have occurred through stress and it's all associated with this alleged Type A personality stuff.  I look much older but I just don't care.  I can put on weight far too easily as I believe my metabolism has continued to slow along with so many colleagues and friends of my age.

And yet as my 40s draw to a conclusion, I have never felt fitter, more healthy or as positive as this for ages.  Probably since I was in my 20s.  Whether I'm any wiser, well, that's another issue and not for here if you don't mind.  I'm calmer but more determined.  Harder on myself than ever before.

So yes, my 40s have been a fantastic decade.  I'm in better shape - physically, mentally and spiritually - than when I went in.  Can't wait until I'm 50!