I had to smile at this, is Borris giving him a ticking off for not wearing a helmet?
Tuesday, May 21, 2013
Thursday, May 2, 2013
Garlic And Pie
Injuries healed, it's time to step up the training for London to Brighton
I got some speed up along the flat costal path and smiled as I passed The Minnis cafe, It was my first mile stone and a big achievement just a few months ago, now I'm comfortable traveling many times that distance before I even think about a stop for a coffee!
Onto Recolver and the road towards Hern Village, It wasn't the most direct route, ok i was lost in Hern. Who cares I was enjoying the ride. I hit a familiar road, and started to climb uphill towards Calcot. Traffic heaven, so I turned right, only to find I was spinning down hill through flower filled woodlands, carpeted with Blue bells and white flowers that i think is wild garlic?
What goes down, has to go up, the climb was not so steep, I ambled along through beautiful quiet road. Tyler Hill was a bit of a killer, but once I reached Canterbury university, it was all down hill to the city walls. I need to check if there is a cycle path around there, as the road stated to get busy.
Dorris my trusted bike, was dropped off for a service and left me feeling like a prat, as I waked around Canterbury in padded cycling shorts, killing time. I hid out a tiny little walled park near the Cornwall Pasty shop, stretched out in the sun and spelt freshly cut grass as I scoffed about six hundred calories and downed a coffee to the sound of birdsong.
The last couple of days, I've given some serious thought to this project, Plans of getting to the Start and home again, all need consideration and that occupied my mind. Shameless self promotion needed and ideas on how to promote what I'm doing, and the cause I'm fundraising for started to fill my mind.
Social Media policies where I work, restrict what I can say, so take a peek at their web site, The Avenues Trust do good work, and like all charities they need the money, So please did deep and donate what you can. The poster says three quid, now that's less than the pie :-)
I got some speed up along the flat costal path and smiled as I passed The Minnis cafe, It was my first mile stone and a big achievement just a few months ago, now I'm comfortable traveling many times that distance before I even think about a stop for a coffee!
Onto Recolver and the road towards Hern Village, It wasn't the most direct route, ok i was lost in Hern. Who cares I was enjoying the ride. I hit a familiar road, and started to climb uphill towards Calcot. Traffic heaven, so I turned right, only to find I was spinning down hill through flower filled woodlands, carpeted with Blue bells and white flowers that i think is wild garlic?
What goes down, has to go up, the climb was not so steep, I ambled along through beautiful quiet road. Tyler Hill was a bit of a killer, but once I reached Canterbury university, it was all down hill to the city walls. I need to check if there is a cycle path around there, as the road stated to get busy.
Dorris my trusted bike, was dropped off for a service and left me feeling like a prat, as I waked around Canterbury in padded cycling shorts, killing time. I hid out a tiny little walled park near the Cornwall Pasty shop, stretched out in the sun and spelt freshly cut grass as I scoffed about six hundred calories and downed a coffee to the sound of birdsong.
The last couple of days, I've given some serious thought to this project, Plans of getting to the Start and home again, all need consideration and that occupied my mind. Shameless self promotion needed and ideas on how to promote what I'm doing, and the cause I'm fundraising for started to fill my mind.
Social Media policies where I work, restrict what I can say, so take a peek at their web site, The Avenues Trust do good work, and like all charities they need the money, So please did deep and donate what you can. The poster says three quid, now that's less than the pie :-)
Sunday, April 28, 2013
New Personal Best
Today was a decent ride, breaking a personal distance record completing 65k. Starting out on the Viking Coastal Route, through Broadstairs and Ramsgate, In the spring sunshine, Pegwell bay look glorious. The Pfizer sight rather empty and sad, and tranquil Sandwich.
Heading along the coast to Deal, I change my route and turn inland, to find some hills. A bit mad, but I need to be able to tackle hills as there are a few on the London to Brighton ride, which is just six weeks away.
I was fine through the village of Eastry, and then got a bit lost.
Lambs in the Kentish country side were so cute, in full momentum and gaining speed on a down hill stretch, I put aside any idea of stopping to take a photo, my mind by now was thinking of food at Wingham Garden Center. Disappointed to realise food would mean a re-route, as I ended up in Wingham Main Street, on the wrong side of town.
Tired and hungry, I pushed on but had walk up Preston Hill, having broken the momentum, stopping to look at the map, it was hard to get going again. Here my legs were screaming at me to take the shortest route home, and it was another twelve miles.
Grove Ferry pub looked very inviting, I struggled uphill from the level crossing to the Canterbury Road and A28. I could have taken a straight road home, but wanted to get out of the traffic, so opted for the Sturry road, and cross country, around Thanet Earth and through the village of Acol.
The advantage of living on the coast, it was all downhill home, from the A28 ;-)
Heading along the coast to Deal, I change my route and turn inland, to find some hills. A bit mad, but I need to be able to tackle hills as there are a few on the London to Brighton ride, which is just six weeks away.
I was fine through the village of Eastry, and then got a bit lost.
Lambs in the Kentish country side were so cute, in full momentum and gaining speed on a down hill stretch, I put aside any idea of stopping to take a photo, my mind by now was thinking of food at Wingham Garden Center. Disappointed to realise food would mean a re-route, as I ended up in Wingham Main Street, on the wrong side of town.
Tired and hungry, I pushed on but had walk up Preston Hill, having broken the momentum, stopping to look at the map, it was hard to get going again. Here my legs were screaming at me to take the shortest route home, and it was another twelve miles.
Grove Ferry pub looked very inviting, I struggled uphill from the level crossing to the Canterbury Road and A28. I could have taken a straight road home, but wanted to get out of the traffic, so opted for the Sturry road, and cross country, around Thanet Earth and through the village of Acol.
The advantage of living on the coast, it was all downhill home, from the A28 ;-)
Saturday, April 13, 2013
First real ride, in a while
Struggled with the hills, breathless.
Cycling is a great way to recover from knee injury, but an hour in and my body was telling me to cut it short, go directly home, find a bag of peas.
Blue sky's and the sun sparkling on the sea, Thanet has beauty and you don't need to look far to find it.
I give apologies to my buddies, for holding them up, and walking up two of the hills, breaking off from the group at Ramsgate. It's it feels great to be out, and although not 100% over the stinking cold, lungs full of fresh air have helped, it would be silly to do too much too fast after recent injury, but I'm getting there at a slow plodding pace.
The last 4k was all downhill!
Cycling is a great way to recover from knee injury, but an hour in and my body was telling me to cut it short, go directly home, find a bag of peas.
Blue sky's and the sun sparkling on the sea, Thanet has beauty and you don't need to look far to find it.
I give apologies to my buddies, for holding them up, and walking up two of the hills, breaking off from the group at Ramsgate. It's it feels great to be out, and although not 100% over the stinking cold, lungs full of fresh air have helped, it would be silly to do too much too fast after recent injury, but I'm getting there at a slow plodding pace.
The last 4k was all downhill!
Thursday, April 11, 2013
Training Setbacks
A soft tissue knee injury, busy Easter with necessary paid extra work, family visits. DOCTOR'S advice to REST.
Gym sessions have been more chair aerobics than endurance challenge, the weather is a poor excuse, but with a hundred other things to do, is not helping.
Tomorrow's plan was to cycle to Medway, first real commuting, and I'm going to bed with a couple of paracetamol, half a packet of throat lozenges, and a fresh box of expensive Balsam scented tissues. Hopefully sleep better than last night.
Medicinal hot toddy, and steamy shower before bed, may help
Red nose, should be reserved for charity events. Ideas to save he world are on hold, and I'll be contributing to carbon emissions and take the car on the M2.
You can help, sponsor me and help me get motivation mojo.
www.justgiving.com/Lisa-Emms
Gym sessions have been more chair aerobics than endurance challenge, the weather is a poor excuse, but with a hundred other things to do, is not helping.
Tomorrow's plan was to cycle to Medway, first real commuting, and I'm going to bed with a couple of paracetamol, half a packet of throat lozenges, and a fresh box of expensive Balsam scented tissues. Hopefully sleep better than last night.
Medicinal hot toddy, and steamy shower before bed, may help
Red nose, should be reserved for charity events. Ideas to save he world are on hold, and I'll be contributing to carbon emissions and take the car on the M2.
You can help, sponsor me and help me get motivation mojo.
www.justgiving.com/Lisa-Emms
Friday, March 15, 2013
Getting into Rubber
Tyres Valves and Patches
Doris, my much loved bike, got her first puncture, so I changed the tube at the side of the road, changing my mind about a possible long walk home after about 500 meters. I finally got home to receive an email from Prudential ride London Marketing team on how to fix a flat! Ironic or what!
Armed with a bowl of water, half inflated tube, patches, glue, chalk and a marker pen, I set about mending the slow leaky puncture. The spare tube, that was fitted at the roadside had a different type of valve, so I read up in the Internet and learn something!
Valves
There are two types of valves in common use for bicycle tires:
Schrader valves are the same as the valves used on automobile tires. They are common on less-expensive bicycles, particularly those with wide rims and tires. Schrader valves are also sometimes called "American" or "automotive" valves.
Schrader valves have a removable valve core, which may be unscrewed with a special wrench that is often found on better valve caps. They have a spring-loaded valve mechanism. There is a small pin in the center of the valve opening which must be pushed in to put air in (or to let air out.) Before the introduction of the Zéfal HP pump in the 1970's, there was no portable pump that would do a decent job of inflating high-pressure tires with Schrader valves, which led to the popularity of:
Presta or "French" valves. These are smaller in diameter than Schraders. This makes them a bit lighter, and allows a smaller hole to be drilled in the rim (desirable for very narrow rims). Presta valves are used on most high-performance bicycles, and all tubulars. Presta-valve inner tubes come with valve stems of different lengths -- longer ones, for deep-section æro rims.
Presta valves don't use a spring, but they have a captive knurled nut to hold the core tight. Before you can pump up a Presta tube, you must loosen this knurled nut. It is also a good idea to tap the end of the pin, to break the seal loose, because they are sometimes sticky. After inflating the tube, you should re-tighten the valve nut to keep air from escaping.
I'm proud to say Doris still had air in the back wheel, I can fix a flat! It's all for a good cause
Doris, my much loved bike, got her first puncture, so I changed the tube at the side of the road, changing my mind about a possible long walk home after about 500 meters. I finally got home to receive an email from Prudential ride London Marketing team on how to fix a flat! Ironic or what!
Armed with a bowl of water, half inflated tube, patches, glue, chalk and a marker pen, I set about mending the slow leaky puncture. The spare tube, that was fitted at the roadside had a different type of valve, so I read up in the Internet and learn something!
Valves
There are two types of valves in common use for bicycle tires:
Schrader valves are the same as the valves used on automobile tires. They are common on less-expensive bicycles, particularly those with wide rims and tires. Schrader valves are also sometimes called "American" or "automotive" valves.
Schrader valves have a removable valve core, which may be unscrewed with a special wrench that is often found on better valve caps. They have a spring-loaded valve mechanism. There is a small pin in the center of the valve opening which must be pushed in to put air in (or to let air out.) Before the introduction of the Zéfal HP pump in the 1970's, there was no portable pump that would do a decent job of inflating high-pressure tires with Schrader valves, which led to the popularity of:
Presta or "French" valves. These are smaller in diameter than Schraders. This makes them a bit lighter, and allows a smaller hole to be drilled in the rim (desirable for very narrow rims). Presta valves are used on most high-performance bicycles, and all tubulars. Presta-valve inner tubes come with valve stems of different lengths -- longer ones, for deep-section æro rims.
Presta valves don't use a spring, but they have a captive knurled nut to hold the core tight. Before you can pump up a Presta tube, you must loosen this knurled nut. It is also a good idea to tap the end of the pin, to break the seal loose, because they are sometimes sticky. After inflating the tube, you should re-tighten the valve nut to keep air from escaping.
I'm proud to say Doris still had air in the back wheel, I can fix a flat! It's all for a good cause
Tuesday, March 12, 2013
Spin Sucks - or does it
Listening to party political broadcast, I switch off the TV and want to take Doris, my bike for a proper ride, because this political spin sucks.
News reports tells of people sleeping in cars all night, stationary vehicles, snow and ice. Hazardous roads, strong winds. Advice coming over the radio not to go out on the roads unless necessary. Only thing to do is wrap up warm, and walk across the park to the Gym and get on the stationary bike for some beneficial spin!
Besides burning between 400-500 kcal in 40 minutes, indoor cycling also strengthens the muscles of the lower body. It tones the quadriceps and hamstrings, along with working the back and hips.
Seated Flat, with hands at the center part of the handlebars. This is Hand Position one. This position should be used only when seated, for flat road simulations and during the warm-up and cool down. Cadence between 80 and 110 RPM.
Standing Flat (also known as running), with hands wide on the back 12-14" part of the handlebars that crosses the rider's body. This is hand position two. Proper form for standing while running requires the body to be more upright and the back of the legs touching or enveloping the point of the saddle, with the center of gravity directly over the crank. The pressure of body weight should never rest excessively on the handlebars. Cadence is between 80 and 110 RPM
Jumps, (also known as Lifts), a combination of seated and standing with riders hands at position two for durations of between two and eight seconds. Cadence between 80 and 110 RPM.
Seated Climb with hands at position two, increased resistance and lower cadence of 60-80 RPM.
Standing Climb with hands wide and forward so the thumb tips are touching the far end of the handlebars (hand position three)and the rider is canted slightly forward so that maximum force can be exerted onto the pedals with heavy resistance and a cadence of 60-80 RPM.
I'll ready for London to Brighton by June
News reports tells of people sleeping in cars all night, stationary vehicles, snow and ice. Hazardous roads, strong winds. Advice coming over the radio not to go out on the roads unless necessary. Only thing to do is wrap up warm, and walk across the park to the Gym and get on the stationary bike for some beneficial spin!
Besides burning between 400-500 kcal in 40 minutes, indoor cycling also strengthens the muscles of the lower body. It tones the quadriceps and hamstrings, along with working the back and hips.
Seated Flat, with hands at the center part of the handlebars. This is Hand Position one. This position should be used only when seated, for flat road simulations and during the warm-up and cool down. Cadence between 80 and 110 RPM.
Standing Flat (also known as running), with hands wide on the back 12-14" part of the handlebars that crosses the rider's body. This is hand position two. Proper form for standing while running requires the body to be more upright and the back of the legs touching or enveloping the point of the saddle, with the center of gravity directly over the crank. The pressure of body weight should never rest excessively on the handlebars. Cadence is between 80 and 110 RPM
Jumps, (also known as Lifts), a combination of seated and standing with riders hands at position two for durations of between two and eight seconds. Cadence between 80 and 110 RPM.
Seated Climb with hands at position two, increased resistance and lower cadence of 60-80 RPM.
Standing Climb with hands wide and forward so the thumb tips are touching the far end of the handlebars (hand position three)and the rider is canted slightly forward so that maximum force can be exerted onto the pedals with heavy resistance and a cadence of 60-80 RPM.
I'll ready for London to Brighton by June
Sunday, March 10, 2013
New Style
I am changing a few things to make my blog look a little better or maybe just a little different. My blog is a few years old and I suppose it’s time to evaluate what I like about it and what I don’t like. The style has changed a little, I've edited the ABOUT page as it was long winded, my Gravatar picture, with me in blue glasses is my brand and ubiquitous on the net, so my colours are chosen to match this.
I added a Flickr link, I can post pictures and not necessarily have to write a post about them. Please check that out when you get a chance. Just a few things to make my blog a little more inviting and fun to read.
Does it work? What do you think?
I added a Flickr link, I can post pictures and not necessarily have to write a post about them. Please check that out when you get a chance. Just a few things to make my blog a little more inviting and fun to read.
Does it work? What do you think?
Sunday, February 24, 2013
Preparing for London to Brighton, #L2B
The satisfaction of finishing your first long cycle ride never fails to give a smug glow, my distances are improving as I stick to the training programme, but there is still a very long way to go.
Training for cycling 54 miles London to Brighton, has mostly been inside because of the freezing conditions. A mix of long steady rides on the stationary bike at the gym, interval training sessions where I'm watching the RPM on the electronic clocks, sweaty spin classes, that I'm starting to enjoy.
I'm told, on a long rides 'your pace should be steady and you should be able to maintain a conversation at all times. On hills use your gears to keep you in the saddle and spin.' Makes me laugh because I arrive at work breathless, following a two mile sprint across town.
The gym gives an all round feel of fitter, developing the strength to tackle those hills, I'm still not sure about the mile long climb at Ditchling, I'll be ready for London to Brighton in June, if I walk up that hill so be it, but if I take it steady and slow, just maybe the strength training will pay off.
Please sponsor me on my first cycle sportive and raise money for, The Avenues Group, a small charity that helps others get out and enjoy life too.
Training for cycling 54 miles London to Brighton, has mostly been inside because of the freezing conditions. A mix of long steady rides on the stationary bike at the gym, interval training sessions where I'm watching the RPM on the electronic clocks, sweaty spin classes, that I'm starting to enjoy.
I'm told, on a long rides 'your pace should be steady and you should be able to maintain a conversation at all times. On hills use your gears to keep you in the saddle and spin.' Makes me laugh because I arrive at work breathless, following a two mile sprint across town.
The gym gives an all round feel of fitter, developing the strength to tackle those hills, I'm still not sure about the mile long climb at Ditchling, I'll be ready for London to Brighton in June, if I walk up that hill so be it, but if I take it steady and slow, just maybe the strength training will pay off.
Please sponsor me on my first cycle sportive and raise money for, The Avenues Group, a small charity that helps others get out and enjoy life too.
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