N=X+1 :-)

If you don't know what it means, you don't ride bikes !

Things are looking up and we are definitely getting there. Sure, we have lots to do on the house, but we are being realistic and getting outdoor jobs done now before the poor weather re-appears and, even though we have about 76 unfinished jobs, 60 of them are NEARLY finished. 

The major work is complete on the kitchen and it is just the last bits - blinds, splash-back and so on - to do. 

The next job inside that will make a big difference is the door fitting. We have a stack of light oak doors waiting to be hung throughout the downstairs. Some solid and some with vertical glass panes that should get even more light into the middle of the house. 

Scarifying the moss patch continues outside and then I get a call from Mr Bloody Russell asking where his hardcore is, so I need to divert temporarily and dismantle the 'ornamental' fountain and take a couple of brick courses off the patio wall in order to provide the base for his latest bit of farm-yard construction.  

After the long lay-off, I get the chance to ride. The usual early start, several hundred miles driving and a presentation later, I rock up at the Forest of Dean and jump onto the Whippet single-speed. Round the Verderers trail (Blue grade, like it a lot) and then keen for some more, despite feeling a bit tired, round the red trail too.

Oops. I got my ar$e kicked about by the Carbon framed Whippet and struggled to straighten up the following day - that lower back pain thing that happens when you least expect it. It was a full two weeks before the body was working correctly again.

By the time I had stopped hurting and, after a period of frantic socializing, non-stop DIY and a few short local rides, we realize that we have both ridden each of our bikes over the last seven days. Result. A good local MTB route (involving coffee and cake), followed by a road ride and then a fast spin with the Club roadies round off a frantic few days. I then find out I have some trips to do and in quick succession I visit the Mendips for the first time and sample the riding around Cheddar Gorge ..

then it is off to the Surrey Hills on Saturday to ride a long Milford loop with my extra-special riding buddy Adrian and his equally special 1 x 11, Yeti SB95c. 

then I'm in Lichfield, so it's off to Cannock Chase for a tour of the Monkey and the Dog ..

followed by an unexpected opportunity to  re-visit BPW. By the time I finish work, I am not sure how much I can cram in or when the gates close, but I pay the £6.00 and set off at a measured old-bloke-just-got-out-of-car speed up The Beast of Burden XC climb. I manage to climb to the top in a shade over 25 minutes (average, I reckon) and then do four runs down to the half-way fire road with climbs back up. Finally, with tired legs after Saturday and Monday, I climb back up and nail one final descent right to the bottom for latte and cake. As I enjoy the coffee, I can't resist messaging Adrian and Jon with a 'wish you were here' picture. They sent back a 'thanks' but not sure they meant it !  

Back home just in time to get out with Club on the spinning session - cadence training with efficient use of gears - in preparation for the Autumn events. We have booked in for the New Forest Sportif and are looking forward to it a lot.

Oh, N is the number of bikes I need, X is the number currently owned.