Pair of 🎃

Back it seems by popular demand...my blog as usual will start with a Lee update and then all things cycling.

Lee & Nanny Iris

Lee's long slow recovery continues. She feels a little better each day but also has to be careful. She describes all of her limbs as permanently sore and easily gets out of breath. On Halloween she wore herself out answering the door to trick or testers! In the week Lee had another Tachycardia episode, sitting still her heart rate was at 140 bpm. Luckily this time the trick of holding her nose and puffing her cheeks worked. Lee has a sicknote that lasts until the 10th of January...that's a year and a day since she went into hospital with Covid19. Her hope is that she can start back at work after that!

There's no massive point to the picture above other than to say I'm enjoying my autumn walks with this pair and they look splendid in their poppies!

The last round of LCXL felt like a turning point for me. I've been really disappointed with my results until round 3. In the first two rounds I finished almost last and I didn't feel like I was in a race. In the picturesque grounds of Misterton Hall I improved by 12 places and definitely competed with others around me. 

I've been working hard on the bike and also trying to eat better. I used noom briefly but switched back to myfitnesspal. I think noom would help people who've never used a food tracker before or don't know much about cognitive behavioural therapy. However, for me it wasn't worth £22 a month. Its all working though as my weight in stones starts with a 13 for the first time since 2018!  The other thing that really helps are the Corby Capers CX training sessions. I'm hoping this all continues and I can pick up a few more places this season.

Yesterday I had a great group ride with my friends in the Cyclasylum. It's been a busy weekend and I nearly didn't go but I had a word with myself and got my kit on. As it was dryish I took my Giant Propel out for probably the last time this year.

A good group of us gathered at the swimming pool before heading towards Geddington. Bruce raced off the front, missed the planned turn and headed on oblivious that no one was with him. He joined back up with us at Bringhurst! 

 The Northamptonshire countryside was just gorgeous in its autumnal colours. The miles flowed by as we headed to the cafe in Brigstock. There's Richard G taking the wind bravely. Neil described Richard and I as the "units," to hide behind in a head wind! Happy to make holes in the air for you skinny lads Neil 😉😆😆🤣🤣🤣 It was also Richard who enquired about the blog, I couldn't let my fellow unit down could I?

 The last time we visited here was in lockdown and it wasn't the greatest experience. This time was so different I think I have a new favourite coffee stop. 

On the way out of Brigstock we passed this lovely war memorial. The poppies were knitted!!! Then we headed up the bumps to Grafton before I said goodbye and headed home. A quick glance at my wahoo showed 20 miles more for a 100km fondo...so I thought, why not?

On the way I had a lovely time taking pics of the kites and getting the job done!

On a day like yesterday why wouldn't you stay out for a bit longer. 

This morning I was run director again at Desborough Greenspace Junior Parkrun. It's a lot of work but also very rewarding! 

I finished my exercise for the week with a few circuits of cyclocross training. This tree in the woods makes good hurdles practise!

In elite cycling the cyclocross European 🇪🇺 championships have been excellent. Well worth watching on catch up if you can. 

If you want to see some cyclocross live, or have a go yourself, we have a race next Sunday at the Capers training venue, West Glebe Park, Corby. I've booked the day off of parkrun to help as much as possible. I'm sure it will be a great event...I can't wait!

Happy Pedalling 

Work hard, play hard, recover well...love life!!!

I had a couple of weeks break from blogging and probably will continue to write every few weeks from now on. Usual format, Lee first, then the cycling bits.

A couple of weekends ago Lee had a weekend at centre parks with friends. Here she is, gingerbread person painting! If you don't know the Queen of cakes is very creative and loves this sort of thing!

There's the cheeky chaps on the shelf at home! She had a great time with her good friends and I really must thank them for looking after Lee. Whilst it undoubtedly did her a lot of good she was exhausted for a week afterwards. 

The pattern of Lee's days remain constant. She still needs that afternoon nap every day. She's still very tired and very sore but this week I think we've seen a small improvement. For the first time since she went to hospital the Queen of cakes 🎂 has achieved her 8000 steps daily target one day this week.

So to summarise. No dramas (for Lee at least,) signs of improvement, the long slow recovery continues!!!

For me it's been the usual blend of dog walks, running, junior parkrun, and lots of cycling.

 I'm taking part in a sponsored challenge for the Cavell Trust. This organisation provides help for Nurses and Midwives facing hardship. The challenge is #10kForNursesAndMidwives and you decide for yourself how to do this. If it wasn't cx season I'd run 10k every day however that would not help my cycling so I'm just making sure I do 10k of activity every day in October. It's also worth looking up the story of Edith Cavell. She was executed by the German army in the 1st World War for assisting soldiers to escape from Belgium where she worked as a nurse. Edith_Cavell My sponsor page is available on either Facebook or on my Instagram bio and on Twitter.

Pesky little bolts 🔩 

As well as riding I've been doing a bit of maintenance. I'm quite pleased with myself for changing a bottom bracket and some other bits and bobs!

yuck!!!

gritty old bearings

all new!!!

There are two reasons why I look forward to the start of the week. The first is coaching KCC cyclones. The second is the Corby Capers CX training group on Tuesday nights. 

These two sessions look the same but they weren't!!!

I think Tuesday's session summed up whilst these are so good. Firstly we gathered at the start to discuss the race on Sunday. Then we were worked hard by Sean in a session of corners, hills, hurdles and intervals. At the end everyone helped to tidy the course and put the equipment away. It's just a wonderful group to belong to!

Last Sunday we had another dry fast race at Western Park Leicester. The course featured hurdles on a hill and some technical sections of single track and tree roots! I'm not massively happy with my ride, I was tired almost instantly and trudged round, finishing 2nd from last! I was hoping for better and think I could have picked up a few places by a 20 seconds a lap improvement. The truth is that I just couldn't push. My preparation was probably all wrong. I rode too hard in the club ride the day before, instead of then putting my feet up I did loads of garden work and then on Sunday morning I was the RD at parkrun! All of this after a very stressful week at work! Lesson learned (sounds unlikely doesn't it,) and I will try to do it all better next time. Or as Peter Cook said: "I've learned from my mistakes and could repeat them entirely!"

Don't get me wrong though. This was still fun and it was lovely to share the ride with clubmates from KCC and RFWCC and training mates from capers! #onecyclingfamily 

One of my other cycling families is the Cyclasylum. For the last two weeks we've had fantastic group rides. We enjoyed the countryside in reasonable weather. We've ridden hard and laughed harder. Just like the Capers, these lads keep me sane, which is kind of the point of the club name.

Yesterday's club ride was a lovely trip out into the beautiful Welland Valley. The route featured the horrible hills at Stoke Dry and the wall that is School Hill in Middleton. It also featured a glorious descent into Stockerston. On the fast downhill Scott lost his phone. We think it was deliberate so he could just get more climbing in. No one saw the phone fall out but amazingly with help from Neil ringing him, it took about five minutes to go back and find!

Happy birthday also yesterday for one of the best blokes I know Richard Golding! I think he's looking splendid for 56.

It was also Steve Minney's birthday the day before so happy birthday 🎂 to him too!

The last thing to mention is that I've written this watching the National Road Race championships. I've only seen the senior men's race so I need to find the highlights for the other races. Lots of people I ride with are there for what looks like fantastic racing. I believe Phil and Dave pictured rode there and are riding back, probably joined by the machine that is Ian Bird.

Happy Pedalling!

Lots of activity and a first for Lee!

Usual format. Lee update followed by some cycling. Lee hasn't felt her best this week but we've soldiered on. Cycling wise it's all about cyclocross!

So Lee came to junior parkrun today and helped out with marshalling! I made sure she had the shortest walk and a bench to sit on. Lee loved it and now knows what I've been going on about. Helping those kids to go for a run is an absolute joy! We've also been for dog walks together, which are always nice. That's the upside. The downside is that everything remains a struggle for Lee. She's still feeling tired and achey the whole time.

The good food theme continues. Some great healthy dishes this week.

Haddock in crisp crumb with stir fry veg

Spinach and tomato quiche

didn't get my own picture but this was great!

On Monday it was a super cyclones coaching session with Charlie Stockham taking the lead before he left for university. Then on Tuesday we had a Corby Capers at Weldon on the course for Sunday's cyclocross.

On Saturday I went to parkrun to save my cycling legs. Charity and I enjoyed a good run at Brixworth Country Park before i came home to give my cyclocross bike a thorough clean!

This cassette was particularly tricky due to several races worth of grass and mud encrusted onto the  cogs!

This morning after junior parkrun I made my way to Weldon for the cyclocross race. My friends from Rockingham Forest Wheelers organised todays race. It's a lot of work so kudos to them for a great day of racing.

I'm a bit disappointed with myself today. After the race at Silverstone and a good practise in the week I was feeling confident. I got a good start and after 3/4 of the first lap I'd moved up a lot of places. Then my legs just died. I think I probably went off too quick. Let's not put a dampner on the day though. This was a lot of fun and it was brilliant to see the whole cyclocrosss family again today. I am VERY tired now!!!

The official photographers Mick Brown and Wayne Holton got some fabulous shots, especially my "competitive," first lap. I guess I've learned that I have the pace, now I need the stamina to maintain. Lots of HIIT required!!!

In elite cycling its been the world champs this week. Always good and deserved winners in all categories.

Happy Pedalling