@nthony

"and remove" it said. Okay.
*rummage / wrench / heeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeave.
*re reads manual.... mutters.
Design. Some things work, some things don't. Some things are designed well, some things are designed well until you have to do something to them. The latter is apparently true of my scooter. [ READ MORE ]

Grinning like a Cheshire cat I shouted FIVE as I passed the assembled at the bench. Breathing slowing, mouth closing, and coming to a halt down the road, sweat dripping onto the already blurred screen of the cycle computer, I wiped it clean and stopped the clock. First time trial proper since 2007 - done.

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Yesterday I attended a Fibrespeed providers meeting at Coed Llandegla (other side of the Nant Y Garth / Shelf to us on the way to Wrexham). We spent the morning chipping in things that had been bothering us, learning a little about each other, and a bunch about the layer two delivery of the network.Afterwards - we took out some hire bikes and went around the trail.

I have been back riding in an 'ouch ouch make it stop' kind of way now for about three weeks. This helped. Within the first 20 mins I was on the highest heart rate I have seen this year at 174bpm, and after getting lost on the Red Run, I made my way back through the last half on the Black Run. I am sore, bruised, tired, and don't mind admitting to walking two obstacles, but otherwise, on two hour completion - hell that was great! Maybe there is something to MTB... and living here is about as good as it gets with Penmachno, Marin, and Llandegla on your doorstep? After all these years, let it be said: I enjoyed mountain biking.

Tales of legendary long-way-in rides into work aplenty*. It's been a while since I was actually looking forward, nay, excited to head off in the morning. Negotiating placement of my porridge as I make my way uphill for all of 30 minutes from the door, before the meandering and descent, and the metronome of tyre noise along the flats **.

It's not hot out. But its bright, and warm 15C. Its blue too, and a mist hangs to the ground to a few hundred feet... stained blue from above. Darker and darker the further you look up. It fills you full of hope and energy.... which is pretty sweet.

I have discovered what I had lost, there all along, right where I left it. [ READ MORE ]

Note to self: ride more.
Promise to self: long ride in 3 times a week.

Weather warmed up, overshoes filed away, 3/4 length longs out, lights to be seen not see where you are going. Spring is coiled, waiting to unleash itself.

Okay so rain, hail, and high winds aplenty this week, but it all adds to the 30 min ride uphill to start the day :) Here is to better weather, and the wisdom in the flowers keeping their heads down for a bit.

More big rain today. From the other direction. I guess there is some master plan and balance to these things. Dark day. Home not only disappeared from view from the office (when it rains hard it does) - you could see actual clouds in the way. Lowness. Shrouding. Monochromatic Glumness.

On leaving it was apparent I was in for a soaking. But, you know, it was okay. It was better than okay, it was fine. Right clothes on the right day makes a hell of a difference.

Back road immersed again... adapt, evolve, overcome - head at it full tilt, unclip feet, keep to the middle (less potholes) and bingo through to the shallows. Righteous. For all its barking and gnashing of meteorological teeth... Friday last was much, much worse. Yuk. [ READ MORE ]

I had a wet ride in today. The most rain I have seen in years, and it wasnt making its way to the rivers anything like quickly enough.

Wet feet today, even in the goretex overshoes... I will have to dig out the socks if there is to be more of this! This bad boy was bottom bracket deep (and therefore as I slowed down had to either foot down or pedal into it to get through):

It was cold on the way in today, I admit it - it hurt. Even with my comedy skull cap on with ear flaps under my lid the wind was still being driven into my head and biting at my ears.. I could feel the cold radiating from my quads post shower, post change, sat-at-desk-with-cuppa... like some kind of screwed up radiator.

But it was great, even when it started to hail, and it sat on me dry, like bean bag pellets. Spotted all the ice in time, evaded all the sticky mud, and looked around in awe at the mist still clinging low, and the top of Moel Siadbod looking like a mini mount Fuji complete with pestering clouds.

In fact, the ride in was SO nice, despite the dark, despite the bighting cold, I took the loooong way home again - spoilt only by the infeasible brightness of headlamps when out in the sticks. Life should have more of such moments. I should hunt them down. Mercilessly.

This morning I emerged from the duvet, weary, rubbing eyes, focussing on the brightness outside out blast proof curtains.

Hail like marbles was being showered down from up on high, I returned back to the duvet, where I remained for another three hours.

I feel no shame.

Last weekend was one of those weeks where you head out hoping that no one is there. Descending down the hill in a mist of rain like a cold steam room. Moistness driving into every nook and cranny and suitably damp before even arriving at the gym. [ READ MORE ]

Yesterday evening the non full moon shone like a shiny thing from the cloudless sky as I made my way back home along the waen.

The ride home was with the wind, and roads looked shiny grey with or without lighting. Flick off the full beam and see over the hedgerows and into the fields flattened and blue with moonlight, such sacred, magical stuff.

The sweet oddity of going the rural route into work, shorter, steeper, wall to wall fields and hedges, but not even so much as a stray thorn to be found. Go figure. Reply from the council - jolly nice chap, must take the time to reply. [ READ MORE ]