Not a very good bike courier

What I was doing yesterday at work kept changing and in the end I wasn't needed in a school so I volunteered to drop off all the Bolton files for the schools next week. I'd collected them on Thursday and then spent some time plotting a route, it was great fun and reminded me of how much I had enjoyed Critical Path Analysis when I had studied Decision Maths.

Friday morning, files in my panniers in order I set off, school one done I rode back past my house to school two. This was fun, another couple of schools and then it was school six, riding up and down the road it was meant to be on but there was no sign. I asked a couple of people but they couldn't even think of a primary school nearby. In the end I rang the office, turns out the school had moved.

A couple more schools and a shortcut through Moss Bank Park and I was on my way to the office, two files dropped off in Salford and I was done. A quick look at my average speed, wow how slow? Don't think I could make my living doing it but it was good fun and much better than someone dropping them off in a car!

Commuting and Caching

As I was working over in formby again today it was an early start for me. I had decided to try and grab a couple of caches on my commute so found two that were right on the route and downloaded them. I set off in the dark but by the time I got to Parbold Hill it was light and time for my first cache. A short walk from the road and I had the log signed. Continuing with my commute the little bit of off-road clogged my bike up less this week, I think the gravel was new and its now been packed down. A couple of miles from the school I found a bigg cache, I nearly missed it as well! That done it was time to get to work and teach some bikeability.

Adventures round work

I was working only 5miles from home today and last week I went along the road but my Garmin kept trying to send me through Moses Gate Country Park. This morning I decided to explore and follow the Garmin. I knew where I was the whole way having rode it on my mountain bike numerous times and I have to say my mountain bike would have been the better bike for the job. It was a little muddy and by the time I got to the school my wheels weren't turning very well and I had to use my keys for some un -clogging. Still I think a bit of off-roading on an unsuitable bike is the ideal way to start the day!

My other aim was to do a bit of geocaching, Ali is getting in the habit of doing one or two when she is out and my recent adventures with Jen have been great fun. Yesterday I was over in merseyside and tried and failed to find a cache. So today at lunch I was determined. A ten minute walk took me there and I found it straight away, it was a nano as well. New log in it so I was the first name. Then a nice walk back to finish teaching level 2 bikeability.
Now what shall I plan for tomorrow?

September round-up

So September, on the 1st I started a new job (which to be fair isn't that different to the old one but is permanent!) It was also the kielder100, which I finished. I then went away for a week and left the bike at home followed by another week of using the brompton and keeping the miles down. It wasn't long before the miles to schools went up (at first I was based close to home) and I was adding up the miles.

The end of September wasn't great with no three peaks due to illness and then this injury to my back. The good news being it is a lot better today! Heat treatment seemed to really help yesterday so I'll keep going with that and the ibruprofen as that is apparently meant to help. Fingers crossed that it will be fine.

So the numbers:

Mountain Bike: 123.1miles (24.67singlespeed)
Cyclocross Bike 157.55miles
Road Bike: 352.92miles (267.01miles fixed)

Total Cycling: 634miles
Running: 0miles - oh dear but obviously till my back is sorted no running

Onto October and depending on my back mileage may be low. I guess its just wait and see.

The Runcorn Bridge

After the bad news of last night I knew I had to be careful today, that didn't change the fact that I had to do a recce ride today. Fortunately the ride itself was quite short and flat. I met Jen on the train and we headed over to Merseyside, this time the ride started in Speke. Once we got on the trans-pennine trail Jen started demanding geocaches (I think someone is hooked!

The first couple were fine, although I let Jen do the scrrambling through the bushes this time. But then we got stuck, the clue being a slab and no slab nearby. Never mind we moved on to the next by the bridge. No luck again but time I think it was us as it was a difficult one, one I'd like to retun to. One last one had me scratched to pieces and then we got the train home. (before I broke myself we had talked about riding).

Next week I have two days in schools in merseyside so train times are planned, work is giving me an easy week mileage wise the week after so hopefully the back will improve. I've even taken the advice on ibuprofen and I'm taking it. So heal back heal!

Broken

Well it seems I really am broken this time. I had the weird bum/leg/back pain again so tried massage/exercises/stretching with no luck. So after another night of waking up in the night I emailed mills physio with a help fix me plea. Today I headed over to hebden bridge after work, ok riding up the road to her house on my fixie my not have been sensible but it was too much of a challenge (i made it just!)

Anyway she poked, prodded and did lots of clever and painful things but the muscles in spasm just wouldn't relax. So i'm now taped up and have to try and rest as much as possible including no long rides where 5miles counts as long! I'm still hobbling when walking but no way can this get worse so I'm being sensible, already asked for an easy rota for next week at work to cut down the miles. Anti-inflamitories taken, tomorrow will be heat/ice etc.

Guess that means the end of exploring on my commute like this morning, just followed my garmin and found a nice path. Although I wasn't quite on the right bike for it!

Commuting with lights

I was ready for some dark commutes with rear lights all attached and front light in my pannier at all times. But it seems to haave suddenly happened. Monday I left for work just as it got light, tuesday we had to finish a session early as it was dark and then today I left in the pitch dark. If it wasn't for how warm it is I'd say it is definitely winter!

No Three Peaks for me

The day before I got my bike ready, kit laid out and I was feeling ready. My aim was to finish so there was no real pressue. My back was doing the thing that sent shooting pains through my leg and bum but I was sure I'd get through the race. I went to bed early as I was feeling a little under the weather but once again I thought an early night would sort me out.

During the night I woke up a few times but that was normal before a race. My alarm went off at 6am and I felt pretty rubbish but thought I'd be fine once i'd eaten. That was when I realised I really wasn't right, I couldn't eat my breakfast. That was so unlike me that I went to talk to Ali. She told me to try again so I did but no still couldn't. I also had a banging headache and was burning up I had to make the sensible decision and not race. It was back to bed with paracetamol.

I spent most of the day in bed and by the evening managed to eat and was beginning to feel a bit better, although still grotty so I knew I had made the right decision.

It was pretty gutting not to do the three peaks, but I guess it just means i'll have to enter again next year!

Fettling

Last week on thursday I sprinted to Cooksons when I finished work to collect some cables for my cross bike. The plan was to fit them that evening as I was going to ride the bike for a recce ride over in Merseyside the next day. In my usual fashion that didn't happen and I got sidetracked and instead shared a bottle of wine with Ali that evening and then did the ride on kiwi. Since then I've kept meaning to do them but other things and my laziness have got in the way. Today I had no choice, tomorrow is the three peaks, without brakes it would be impossible. So workstand up and I did my own fettling. Now its fingers crossed they all work tomorrow as it'll be a little different to a workstand!

Working, caching, trains and beer

I had another merseyside recce ride to do today, this time from St Helen's to Southport. I was a little worried about the ride as it was longer than we would have liked and I was yet to find a cafe stop on the way. Fortunately I was out with Jen so I knew problems would be sorted.
We met at Manchester Victoria and the first cache was in the station car park when we got off the train. Then it was time to head off on the route. Some cycle paths but mainly road and a change in route meant I spotted a cafe at 10miles, perfect. Bacon butties and we were ready to find the trans pennine trail. I had quite a few caches downloaded that were right on the route and we had quite a few find, unfortunately two we failed to find.
After that we had chips at Southport before beginning the long journey back by train, our tickets were via liverpool! Once we arrived in Manchester we rewarded ourselves with a beer and I decided on the train home since it was gone 7pm already.