Blog Entries for June 09

29th June

I've just got back from the hospital, my arm has been giving me a lot of bother since the bump, but the Doctor assures me there's nothing broken. just muscle and ligament damage which will take a while to heal.

Thanks to Allan, Steve and all the lads for a great 2 days riding on the weekend. We were blessed with some great weather, though the midges were out in force in the hills on Saturday and I'd left the 'skin so soft' at home !

26th June

I know I've said it many times, but there is something special about being out in the hills. Whilst the Trail Centres are great and provide their own challenges, there's nothing quite like the feeling gained from riding a rocky single track for the first time as it drops off the top and continues it's way down the hill. Stream crossings, small jumps off natural lips and sinewy sheep tracks that seem to go on forever.

Then to bivvy out under the stars is a great way to end a days riding. Must have a fire though ! It's almost a primal thing, lying in your bag listening to the wood crackling as it burns. A fire not only provides warmth but also offers a sense of security and seems to draw the eye, I find the endless flickering of the flames better than any film.    

I almost forgot. Whilst out on the bike on Monday, I was looking at the map by a road junction near Myddfai when a Police car came towards me, followed by a Jaguar and a Police out rider. In the back seat of the Jag was Prince Charles, I thought he was going to stop and ask me for a leaflet, but they drove on past, he didn't even wave !  

21st June - Solstice Day

Tomorrow I will ride ! I mentioned in the last entry that I have some routes to put together for somebody. So the next 3 days I will be wandering around the hills and forests, no watch, just me and the bike. It's great to be free of the constraints of time, not having to be at such and such a place at a certain time, not being late, not being early. Sleeping out under stars and waking with the day, living life as it should be. Unfortunately, it's only for 3 days and then it's time to listen the rat calling as it races past. 

18th June

Well the new Helmet's arrived, but I still haven't been out. Fortunately I have the weekend off so I'll hang on until Saturday, then go out for a gentle spin. I'm putting some routes together for somebody next week so I need to be fit for that. That's always good fun; riding in an area you don't know that well and discovering new trails. It's surprising how long it takes to put a good loop together. I might ride something then think it would be better the other way as that would lead into that great bit of singletrack I rode earlier..... and so it goes on. 

Don't forget, it's the Solstice Sunday !

15th June

This last fall has really taken it out of me, I feel very weak and seem to have no energy. Worryingly though I still have pins and needles in my left arm. Time to pay a visit to Mark, a great sports injury therapist I know.

I went to see Mark earlier and feel a little better now - I'm on the mend !

I'm out of pain killers so tonight I opened a bottle of Red instead. I've spent the last few hours watching a snail slowly working it's way up the wall and trying to figure out why, what is going through the snail's mind ? I'm none the wiser, but the bottle is empty and the pain has gone !

13th June

Going on from yesterday, Chris has just brought my helmet back - I know I've said it before, but I was incredibly lucky - the inner foam is broken in several places and the helmet is cracked right through on the side and back !

On a lighter note, I've just had some sausage sandwiches, aren't they great ? They were the final nail in the coffin when I was a vegetarian in a previous life. Have you tried those squeezable sauce bottles ? ( red sauce with sausage's !) There seems to be a very fine line between no sauce and loads of sauce, it's something I need to practice on !

12th June

I took a little tumble recently and have been laid up in bed the last 2 days. I owe 3 good friends some beers ! Tom, for getting me and the bike off the hill and Chris and Ambrose for taking and staying with me whilst I was in casualty. Thinking back, it's a little ironic as just before the descent we were talking about accidents and how if you ride outside your comfort zone you increase your chances of taking a fall. I was just unlucky; I hit a rather large log which was hidden in the grass, the bike stopped dead whilst I travelled a little further before landing on my head. Whilst I was unlucky to hit the log, I was incredibly lucky not to break anything, though I admit I did suffer some pain. We were travelling at a fair pace and I suppose you could argue that if I'd been going slower, maybe I wouldn't have drifted out on the bend and.... but life's not like that. Will it slow me down ? I don't know, I'll tell you next week when my new helmet arrives.

2nd June

 An unusual occurence tonight. Mark was descending when his front brake pad popped out of the caliper ! Mark runs Avid Juicy 7's; the autopsy showed that the spring clip which keeps the pads apart had broken so there was nothing to keep the pads apart. Strange it popped out though, still better it popped out than locked on. If this has ever happened to you, please, let me know, thanks.

1st June

Have you tried badger Golden Glory ? A Real Ale that doesn't taste like beer, sounds too good to be true. Honestly try it and you'll be hooked. If you find it a little too sweet, try Badger Champion Ale.

Golden Glory - the inspiration for many an epic ride and many a false promise !