Monday 26 December 2011

Ho Ho Ho Cough Cough Cough

Boxing Day's great isn't it? Lie in...fiddle with presents, eat a big lunch of leftover Christmas Dinner, maybe watch a film, eat some more and generally just chill out. Sadly, cyclists seem to not understand this version of Boxing Day. We seem to inhabit an alternate Universe were non-white Christmasses are the dream and Christmas Dinner is seen as the ultimate Carbo-loading opportunity. To make it even more bizarre, we often go out on Christmas day itself. Or Boxing Day. Or if we're really keen, both. Judging by the looks I got off some pedestrians today, they must have thought I was 'keen'. Boxing Day Time Trials/Comedy Races/Group Rides are a bit of a tradition, with many long running events being found up and down the country. Whether or not this is true for Southport CC I am unsure, but one thing I do know is that this is my 3rd Christmas with the club, and I've done two Boxing Day TTs in that time. First one I came Nth. Which translates roughly as I can't remember. Last year it was called off due to 'weather'. Not just any weather, proper Northern Winter weather. Just as well really, I wouldn't have been able to get down my road let alone get myself to Southport and do a TT. 


This morning I got up, bummed around killing time for a bit 'I've got loads of time' I said to myself. Error. It was windy. Very windy. Exceptionally windy. 25mph gusts or something. And I had to get myself out over the Moss to Southport. To those of you who don't know the Moss, trust me, you do not want to have a strict time frame in which to drag yourself across on a day like today. Well, I got a good warm up anyway that's for sure!


The Bike was looking particularly festive today, in addition to the Tinsel that has been hanging around for a couple of weeks now it was today sporting a rather fetching set of Tesco Battery powered Fairy Lights. Sadly (or not?) it was too sunny to see them. Sadface. I calculated that these modifications would probably cost me at least 5 Watts over the distance, so decided to offset that loss by wearing my skinsuit. Tongue ever so slightly in cheek there. But I actually did wear the skinsuit; largely because I've only worn it twice and wanted to wear it again, and it does feel fast. What can I say? Marginal gains central here. 


So to the competition (I don't like calling TTs races, but that's just me). It was windy. Oh boy was it windy. Boyohboyohboyohboy was it windy. You get the picture. That translated roughly into PAIN on the way out and PAIN on the way back. Basic TT equation really. Human Engine+Bike+TT=PAIN. I must admit though, the return leg was completed rather faster than the outward. A steady 33mph compared to a steady 18-20. So yeah, posted the fastest time, tasted blood, coughed a bit, admired some Christmas Bike Porn, was happy. Tested out my new Christmas Pressie as well! I got a mini bike camera-y thingy. Prepare yourselves for some ride video bombardment :D Good morning's work! A win is a win as they say...




Yuletide Thoughts:

  • Felt good to do my first proper effort on the bike for a few months, pleased to say there was more than a little there to be used!
  • If you want to go faster, just add Tinsel.
  • Thorntons Chocolate Reindeer do not put up much of a fight, mine was destroyed in less than 2 minutes yesterday.
  • Black Country Communion on Vinyl (Pressie from me to my Dad...that I will directly benefit from as well :D) sounds even better than on CD (predictably).

Oh I almost forgot, I got a Bonsai tree for Christmas! How cool is that? Love it :D

Hope everyone has had/is having a good holiday/Christmas/Booze-up/Film overload/Lego Construction marathon etc.

It's nearly 2012. Let's make the most of what's left of 2011!

2 comments:

  1. Hello John,
    Why the picture jumps ever?
    Yes there is so much wind and the cyclist don't like it!
    When the film was shot ?
    Good evening
    Guy

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  2. Bonjour! L'appareil photo était sur mon cintre-donc la vitesse+une route rugeuse ne donnaient pas un bon resultat final! C'était hier :)

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