Back to life

Back to reality. It always takes a day or two to get back into it but we are getting there.

Work is hectic and nothing is easy these days with the economic gloom and the general lack of consumer confidence but, being a salesman, I remain positive of mind in all matters.

We bimbled round our little 'road' loop on Tuesday night (complete with photo-call during the woodland detour), went to a Body Pump / Spin class combo Wednesday, did Body Balance (Yoga-style flexibility and core strength training for saga athletes) on Thursday and then dived into a busy and social Bank Holiday weekend. Must get the balance right, ride lots and tick a few jobs off - the answer is to cram it all in.


Dinner with friends on Friday night was planned and there was just enough time for me to hammer (more of a 'gentle tap' really) the little road curcuit on the ARC before my shower. We then enjoyed some well-earned relaxation, good food, great company and the chance to look at a million underwater pictures from their latest diving holiday in the Maldives.

Saturday - we had planned a long ride in the morning, lunch at a local farm shop / cafe and then Molly was to drive to visit her Dad and I would cycle there. Don't you love plan B .. it honked down, so we had a lie in and re-joined the plan at the cafe and I rode in the rain with a murderous head-wind that appeared to be there no matter which way I was facing. Really poor visibility on the South Downs, less than 100 yds in places, but a surprising number of hardy souls out stretching their legs. I helped two foreign ladies with some directions because they had missed Alfriston completely ! Feeling pleased with myself, I put the ear phones back in and carried on .. but at the cut off point for the Alfriston path, I noticed the old bridleway marker post (that I referred to during my directions) was missing. So I stopped again, waited for them to catch up and made sure they went in the right direction - they should have made Badgers tea room an hour later with luck.

The twenty odd miles was hard work but the rain stopped at the skin and I got some miles in the bank before Saturday's BBQ. Er, also in the rain.

Sunday was Golf early on and I played OK (to handicap) and then straight to an afternoon BBQ with excessive red wine, which turned into an evening BBQ with more red wine. Kind friends collected us mid-afternoon and another set of kind friends poured us out at the house afterwards. Arrived home 20:50, in bed 20:55, asleep two minutes later ...

We decided to crack a few chores on Monday and dived headlong into gardening, tidying up and hedge trimming. The neighbour came out and, mistaking me for a contractor, asked me to cut hers .. Molly then told her I had been living there, with her, for over a year ! I hadn't seen her during that time either.

With a couple of hours spare before we left for the Rose of Bengal in Crowborough (+ 44 1892 653183) I changed to summer rubber (Conti Race Kings) on the ARC and went round the little road loop twice. 18 miles in 66 minutes. Ok I guess, could try harder.

This was the first full week back to exercise with the repaired knee. It's not back to normal and perhaps never will be. Most of the back of the left medial has been removed, so I guess I just have to manage it and be realistic. Back at work and not too sore, so I guess all is going in the right direction.

Spain

The Volcano was in benign mood and we got to Spain and back; and roughly on time too.

What's to say .. not much because Golf only interests those who play golf and it's a last-resort sport for those running out of mates who can ride bikes. I never thought I would play Golf, never thought I would enjoy Golf, but there we are !


A week in the sun with no (real) exercise, plus I ate / drank more than normal - to return home and find out I hadn't put any weight on. Result. Let's assume it was a rest week in my Durango build-up.

The Golf ? Well, it was pretty good. I came second (out of sixteen) overall, third in both the par 3 and the par 5 competition(s) - very pleased with the result as it was my highest placing so far, and I am playing off a (four shot) lower handicap than last year.

Back on the bike for a quick hour-long road loop from the house tonight and to re-start the ongoing fitness gain / weight loss project.

It's nearly mid-way through the year and I am on track with my size-reduction targets. Let's see if I hit the Durango milestone ?

All going to plan so far, keep it up tubby.

Beacon Hill

I had been rushing around up north all week and the last thing needed was a meeting on a Friday afternoon. Late home, bugger ...

Then I found out where the meeting was and spirits lifted. A 13:00 meeting in Southampton would mean not getting back to work, but riding the western end of the Downs was an option.

Molly came along and, after work, we headed off to Stoughton, near Chichester to ride half of an excellent XC route that takes in Beacon Hill (overlooking South Harting). It's a route I found in WMB and have used it, and many variations of it, several times over the last few years.

This route takes in some lovely English countryside and this being my favourite time of year, we are treated to the dappled sunlight shining down through the budding canopy and lighting up the spring flowers. I guess you have to be as old as me to appreciate how beautiful it all is.

The route starts with a short warm up and then the climb up Stoughton Down. There are several options but none too onerous and it's middle ring stuff, even for us old folk. Over the top and then there is a fast downhill under / through the trees and over the roots, with a nice bit of singletrack thrown in at the bottom for good measure. Across the B1421 and head North up the backroads and then through the woods past the gorgeous wild plant sanctuary towards the SDW. (I'll look up the name of the wood later!)

This area is sooooo different this time of year. I last rode this in the rain with Adrian and Andrew, came off twice after losing control on the wet and compacted chalk and cut my head and arm when I landed on a bit of broken flint. There was so much blood, and such a big bump, that the chaps even washed my bike and cleaned my gear for me while I had a beer ! This time it was bone-dry and we were flat out.

We left the road again and tackled the long but gentle climb up onto the Downs and then along the SDW. It's not all as boring as it looks here by the way, but you get the quick miles in on the way to next good bit.

A fast drop down to Hooksway led us back to tarmac and we made our way by road back to Stoughton as the light faded.

Stoughton is home to the Hare & Hounds (+ 44 2392 631433). Nice, try it - but bring your credit card though, because it's restaurant prices. You do, however, get what you pay for.

A great end to a great day.

Next ? Golf in Spain for a week. Volcano permitting. I'm just off to see if Alicante is still open.

Chase the monkey.

I was due to make a 'comedy' diversion from Liverpool to Cumbria on the way to Rugby this afternoon, but the appointment was cancelled. I had planned to ride the North Face trail in Grizedale after work but, no matter, I opted to visit Cannock Chase and ride the bite-sized 'Follow the Dog' instead - it was en route.

They have been busy. The section at the start has been re-opened, complete with repaired board-walk and they have installed some new rock steps to stave off the inevitable erosion on the run-in.

I had thought that I would take it steady and see how the knee is and, all being well, may go round it twice. A few funny twinges under the knee-cap, but no real problem, although I was careful to keep it smooth (ish).

Now, there's no point being poncy about Trail Centres. We all ride bikes, so why criticize what turns someone else on ? This area has been developed to allow bike riding along side the commercial operation of farming trees. What's to dislike ?

What I really like are these trail markers. The key to 'follow the dot' riding. First bit of info is the grid reference, especially for those of us that know what a map is - excellent. If the sun's out I can generally keep track of orientation, if it's dull I have no idea which direction I'm heading after threading through trees for an hour !

'Bikes only' is a good message, walkers have their own paths too and the details of nearest escape route and hospital (with telephone number) completes the picture. I approve.

Half an hour in, I stumbled across the relatively new additional loop 'Chase the Monkey' and decided to give it a go and, I have to say, I was very impressed. It's early days and the trail doesn't suffer from the braking bumps created on the Dog - no doubt by people going much faster than me - but I reckon they have done a good job. There is some great singletrack, good climbs with tight switch-backs and some cracking downhill with wonderful flow (listen to me...).

The finale, before you rejoin the Dog, is a roller coaster down a steep hillside, through the trees with big fast berms and some nice tabletops and rollers. This was my first foray on such a route with flat pedals and what an education ! Obviously I cannot really ride a bike at all and envy those who can sample some air and not lose touch with the bike. Having said that, a few more rides on the hardtail with flats and I will be much faster clipped into the 575, both up and down :-)

I arrived at the hotel to be denied car parking because the hotel appears to have more rooms than car parking spaces. They suggested I park on the road, I decided that would be fine if I could make provision to secure the bike. Negotiations faltered, so I am now sharing my room with the Giant, much to the disgust of the apoplectic manager. They should think themselves lucky, if i had a Yeti with me, it would have been on the bed !

All that remains is to enjoy my glass of wine, relax and see how it all feels when I wake up. I hope the recovery continues.