Creaking arms

Just returned from 2 days riding bits of the south downs way and meeting one of the most interesting people in the world - who is both the current 'South Downs Double' record holder AND the person being the most helpful in advising Rob on his attempt. He is fascinating. The whole experience has given me renewed vigour about cycling. The camp he comes from couldn't be more different to Rob's but the 2 of them are united in their basic love of bikes and beautiful places - and challenging themselves. And a friendship has been struck up which is wonderful.

At the end of the day it's about riding bikes - and things like the SDD just provide wonderful testament to human nature. We like competition and challenge and we have been attracted to the perfect wholeness of riding 200 miles in less than 24 hours. It is attainable but tricky - and the SDW is attainable for almost everyone! I loves it.

But as for me - my riding has collapsed into a weak heap. I am tired. The 12 hour race followed by a weekend of chasing friends up and down the Welsh mountains has left me lack lustre and washed out. My riding is rubbish. Rob said he's never seen me climb so slowly! And what's worse is that I've picked up an injury. My wrist/forearm on my right hand is extremely painful and CREAKS! I'm hoping nothing serious but clattering over rocky singletrack is out for a while!

Cake, shortbread and trails

Just got back from riding with Jenn Hopkins, Lorraine Staley and Nigel Foskett at Afan for the weekend. We had a really good time, riding Skyline, The Wall and Penhydd on Saturday and then, tired and sore, riding White's Level on Sunday. I have a memory of blue skies, smiles and lots of cake stops.

The riding wasn't slack though, and we had some testosterone battles to reach the top of some hills (me and Jenn that is!) and some rattling decents that left us grinning foolishly from ear to ear.

I am left with a wet tent to dry out (it rained on Sunday), tendonitis in my wrist (those blasted forks kept locking out) and a weird sun tan where the mud splatters stayed pasty-white and the rest of my arms turned golden brown!

Here are some pics. Note the large number of food shots!

flip flops

Just rode back from Frenchay to Portishead in full IronHorse Extreme team kit... and flip flops. What a numptie. I forgot my bike shoes and ended up having to look like a complete wannabe cycling my single speed in all the gear... no shoes. My feet are now filthy and raw between the toes and the soles of my flip flops are worn away!

But the legs felt good and I'm really looking forward to a weekend at Afan riding FOR FUN!!! And then it's back to proper training and getting my head around Mayhem which is my next race. Seems like a long way away but is only a few months.

Back to work...

Questions

A new life, new house, new start. But rather than feeling secure and settled, I have too many questions.

Like what's the point in racing around in circles in the dark, not really enjoying yourself? I won the Nightrider 12 hr, my first target race of the season. But I didn't enjoy it. I just kept thinking 'I don't want to do Mayhem' and 'What's the point?'

I train hard, I focus. But why? I miss out on riding with my friends, on seeing beautiful places, on laughter and solidarity and friendship. I miss out on a lot. And I sacrifice it so that I can be the best? But I'm never going to be the best. I'm not made that way. I am going to be 'above average' and that is going to be a struggle.

But is there a way I can enjoy training more AND do fairly well at the events. Or will I be constantly tormented by 'you could be better if you trained properly'.

Do I have to leave this world altogether to find happiness? I feel like someone is trying to squeeze me (a square peg) into a round hole. I just don't belong here. The life of me has been bashed out. The energy and enthusiasm. I am trying to be someone I'm not. And last night at the race I was the closest I have ever been to being that person. The competition may not have been up to Mayhem standards but I raced well. I rode hard and consistently and made few mistakes. I smashed the field and should have patted myself on the back and said 'there you are, it's all paying off'.

But no. I feel empty, pointless, like a fraud. The best bit of the race was talking to friends before and after. So what should I do?

Koalas, gorrillas, Matts and superheros

Right: Daley Thompson and Daisy Duke get it on



Am exhausted today. Just got back from 3 hours of off road (with a quick shimmy to Portishead half way through to check it's still there - we're moving there on Wednesday!) and am now trying to work but can hardly keep my eyes open.





We didn't have a hugely late night but it was the straw that broke the camel's back. I was tired first... and then dressed up like Matt Carr and went to a fancy dress party, thinking it was clever to walk through Bristol in the rain in flip flops, shorts, a floppy mohican and a fake beard. As Rob would say 'my days!'





Next week is Nightrider, the first 'proper' race of my season so this week I need to sleep, sleep, sleep.





So when am I going to move house then? Erm...

Rob and I both as 'Matt Carr'

Perfection

I am at my desk. Tired stinging eyes. Mountains of washing surrounding me. Mountains of books to be read.

I shut my eyes and remember the perfectist of perfect weekends. Scottish singletrack, Lake District logs and climbs, berms and roots. Sunshine and snow. We had it all. No music on the road trip, just laughter and chatting and sleeping and weird ways of eating apples. And Mint Sauce jersies and babies and hugs and fruit loaf and sliced cheese and puffy fingers and broken chains and dusty trails.

Did I mention the snow?

Miles and Miles

I had a weird ride last night. 4hrs on the road bike. It started with me failing to get my ipod to work, then spending nearly an hour trying to get my tyre off the rim, blistering my finger and splitting my thumb nail in the process. The ride itself was perculiar. Time just seemed to stand still. I wasn't bored at all, in fact the opposite. It was just like the seconds were 3 seconds long in 'normal' time.

And although I was never lost - and in fact always knew exactly where I was on the road - I just didn't recognise anything. It was like being on holiday. The sunset was beautiful and the air was sort of story-book misty and I just pedalled along at a hell of a lick just wonding what gorgeous planet I had woken up in.

I seemed to go miles. I might work out how far it was because I seemed to go so fast and so far. It was amazing. I crawled up the hill back to Rob's house at 9pm feeling strange but happy. I saw a fire-fly just as I was getting off my bike - which made my evening.

Today I have a rest day and puncture-fixing and chain-fixing practice. Not sure what bike I'm going to do it on though...

Then it's packing for Scotland - 3 days of rinsing trails with my beloved. Heaven!

x

Winner

Came 1st out of 1 at the Midlands XC.





result.





Not "Result!" you understand. Just "result".

Thought for the day - "I have a long way to go."

Whiskers

Miaooowwwwwwwwwwww...

Lost

Anyone who knows me knows I have the worst sense of direction imaginable. But I'm not bad with a map. So what sense was there launching myself on a 4 hour ride across Exmoor with no map?

None.

I ended up in Barnstaple rather than Woolacombe and had the climb from hell to get back to where I should have been. The ride took 5 hrs in stead of 4. Pretty tough - all into a head wind.

My body was fine. I hate being lost so my heart sunk a bit but as soon as I knew Rob wasn't cross with me I felt ok. We had a great few hours in Woolacombe looking at the sea, bimbling around, eating pancakes (made by a real Dutchman didn't you know) and just generally being daft. It was great.

The few days to follow have been far from great but sometimes you have to be on the cusp of total disaster to realise how lucky you are. I do.

So in a few weeks Rob and I will be moving to our new house in Portishead, complete with garage, spare room, marina and beautiful garden views. And peace. And I will read and write and generally be completely geeky as well as a superfit athlete.

Can't wait.

Getting tougher

I have come to the conclusion that I don't actually know what it's supposed to feel like to be in physical discomfort. I mean really hard physical duress from intense training. I can go fairly hard for a long time but when I'm pushing any harder than 'up a hill where I can see the top' my body slams its fist on the table and says 'no, this will not do'.

So my 2 x 20 this week was far more successful than last week. Well I finished it for a start. But it was decidedly uncomfortable. My heart rate hovered around the high 150s and threatened to tip into the terrible 160s a few times, ending on 161. So generally pretty tough (made tougher by my paranoia that I WASN'T going to make it again).

But when Rob does it, his legs spin at 100 rpm, his muscles go taught and he cannot breathe, let alone blow his nose, grumpily whisper requests for more water or contemplate the work that needs doing on the bike. I can. So quite honestly I don't think I'm trying hard enough.

I need to get to the point where I accept and embrace the pain as part of the training, not worry that it's hurting too much. I actually felt better when Rob said 'it's too easy for you, you're supposed to be crying for your mother'.

So, Mum, I hope you're on standby because next up is 240 watts for 40 minutes. Bring... it... on...

Choose an identity

If you leave a comment on someone's blog (not that you lot'd know because I never get any comments) it asks you to 'choose an identity'.

This made me chuckle and spit pumpkin seeds all over the carpet.

:)

Learning Curve

Today I failed.

I have been doing turbo sessions to try and boost my muscular endurance. Yesterday I was feeling a bit icky so I didn't do my recovery ride. Today I felt a bit better so climbed on the bike and started but from the word go felt odd and it was far harder than it should have been based on last week's attempt.

So I got to the point where I couldn't turn the pedals and crawled off, ashamed. I had only done half.

Rob said he was disappointed. Not because I'd stopped but because I'd got on the bike in the first place. Your health is everything. Without it, no amount of training is going to make you faster.

So now I'm in bed, laptop on, well, lap. I'm doing some PhD work today and will chill for 48 hours before even going near the pedals again. And if I ain't right, I ain't bikin'!

So have I learnt my lesson? Well I want to be a pro so I need to act like one. I'm eating right, dressing right and I've got to treat my body right.

Here endeth the lesson.

Derbyshire

Rach, John, Isobel and Harriet.

I had the most stunning ride in Derbyshire last weekend. I stayed with my friends Rach and John on the way home from working in Stockport and took myself off for a 4 hour 'fun' ride from their home in Belper. It was blustery but dry and I creeped higher and higher up the map towards the High Peak, eventually ending up in Heathersage after 2.5 hours.

I only had to return to Cromford not Belper, so I thought I'd have enough time, and my planning was perfect as I rolled into the Wharf at Cromford after 4hrs and 2 minutes! I had lost my map earlier whilst blowing down a steep hill so had to find the last bit of my route by memory. It was fine. My heart rate looked like a mountain range when I downloaded it!

I am very fond of Derbyshire and in the future would like to move up there. It would be so great to be near Rach and John. They are amazing friends and have a lovely family. Isobel was learning to ride her bike and John had her doing figure of eights in the carpark in Cromford! She only fell of half a dozen times but was full of smiles afterwards! Harriet isn't quit there yet (being only 8 months) but we'll have her signed up for her first triathlon in no time.

Harriet and I bonding. 'She won't be sick, honest...'

Let the pain begin

I can't believe that the endless slow miles are over. Now the real pain begins. This is what you dream about - when you see Rocky and it's all high impact, sweat-soaked intense workouts with a big grin, all set to music. That's what you think training is. And that's what it's going to be for me right now. But no music and lots of teeth-gritting.

I started with a ten mile time trial on the turbo trainer which was really painful but enjoyable in a strange sadistic kind of a way. I really knew I'd done it the next day. I need to be clever about nutrition going in to this next phase. But we have that covered too.

The next phase is about building muscular endurance. My legs are so far behind my cardiovascular endurance now it's not funny. They need whipping into shape.

And I'm working hard at getting paid work. One more week of paid work then a I have a meeting with my PhD supervisor and it's nose to the academic grindstone once again. All very structured.

At the moment I am liking life a lot.

Fact

PS The knee is ok. Bit tender at times but last night was the first time it didn't wake me up when I stretched out my legs mid-snooze so that has to be a good sign. I'm off for a recovery spin while there's still daylight in the sky.

Ouch!

What a total and utter balls up. Not only did I fall off my bike on the stickiest, mud (well it wasn't all mud if you get my meaning) but I actually did the wrong session today. I was supposed to be mountain biking and road riding tomorrow. What a numptie. So now I have a bloody leg (see below), stiff knees, a filthy bike and I have to go and pick up my mountain bike from Rob's so I can do the session tomorrow.

Such is life.

Gower weekend

This past weekend Rob and I went riding our road bikes round the Gower Peninsula. It was beautiful weather and despite a little bit too much traffic for our liking, we had a great time. A four hour ride on Saturday basically enabled us to 'bag' the Gower completely and we got to know our way around pretty well.

A few highlights:

Sheep on the road - it is Wales!Daft moment!

Totally in control...

One of the many stunning views.

Early morning rides

I have been training at the crack of dawn recently. Getting up in the dark and riding out just as the dawn breaks is totally magical. Then you creep home through the queues of traffic, refreshed and ready to grab the day with both hands.

I pity people who don't ride bikes.

Poppit Sands

I have just got back from 2 days away at Poppit Sands near Cardigan Bay. You drive down the M4 until it runs out, get on the A road until that runs out, then keep going on roads with grass down the middle until they run out and you get there. The YHA overlooks the sea and the weather was absolutely perfect - summery in fact. We had a working 'team building' away days and on Tuesday afternoon when the hoards had piled back into their minibus for the 6 hour trip back to London a friend Ewen and I went for a long bike ride around the local lanes.

It was stunnerama.

The views were sensational and it felt like mid summer it was so hot. We were out for nearly 4 hours but kept stopping to chat to people and take pictures. Bessie Davies was my personal favourite - a perfectly round woman sat on a bench outside her pub with her bloomers drying on the line for all to see.

Today I have to finish my assignment - better get on!

Singlespeed

So I rode for 3hrs 40ish on Sunday morning through the wind and dodging showers with Rob. I rode my brand new-to-me singlespeed cross bike. It will be my tool for bringing on the oomph and bringing on the force (May it be with me). Tomorrow I am using it to do some hill power sessions. Hopefully Rob can sort me out with some aggressive American rock to get me going!

Now I'll let you into a little secret. Next time someone you overtake says 'it's alright for you, you've got gears', remember this - singlspeeding isn't actually any harder than gears. In fact, my heart rate was averagely lower over the course of the ride. There are the odd moment when your legs are twiddling helplessly because you're on the flat or down hill slightly and you don't have the bite (and the odd hill where you wish you had a few extra lbs of muscle to push down) but on the whole there was not much difference. My heart rate was smoother, my pedalling felt normal and overall it was actually less work, I think.

PS. The sheep. I forgot to mention the sheep. These 2 little lambs had us melting with cutitude. They were the sweetiest little things ever.

Recovery week

This week has been all about my assignment. I can now see the light of my reading - a month of pretty intensive study. On Monday I start to write. I can't wait. I have reams of notes and hundreds of book and paper reviews to summarise into a piddly 7500 words so that'll be the hard bit.

So it has been just as well that this is a recovery week. On Monday I had a 2hr blast on the road (during which I was King of the Mountains I felt so fast). Tuesday was a recovery ride, Wednesday a day off and this morning just an hour on the mtb in the mud. Unlike last week I enjoyed my slip-sliding around Leigh Woods today. I was calm and steady and just re-rode anything I didn't clean. Having done a cross country race now, I know that it is technical riding around here and great practice. I'll be doing this every week from now on. Just an hour and concentrating on smoothness and clean lines.

Other news? I had my hair massacred by a pre-menstrual hairdresser and Rob got some great new glasses. Fact.

The practice lap

Make me a 'real' mountain biker.

Today I rode my first Gorrick mtb race. I RACED my first cross-country race. It was fast, furious, tough, heart-popping, lung-bursting effort.

But bleedin' good fun.

Rob came and cheered me on and told me what was what - the rules, the etiquette, the warm ups and cool downs, the nutrition, the tactics on the practice lap - and the hugs. And Johnny Russell came amd added a touch of style to the Masters race. 5th after a 10-15 year break from mtb racing. That's class!

It was a fun day catching up with various friends from the mtb scene. I enjoyed the vibe, the weater was beautiful, the course was technical and really fun...

... and I won my category, which was the icing on the cake! (And Rob says I'm a 'real' mountain biker now because I've gritted my teeth through an xc race!)
Picture: A smiling tired but happy racer!

Today was an unparalleled disaster. I rode like a muppet and slipped on everything. But be strong Fi and get with it. I'll have to put it behind me and just look forward to Sunday's race. Onwards...

This was my arse after I slid down the muddy slope.

It's nice to be home and dry now and ready for work. Took me forever to clean my bike!

The calm after the storm

It... has... stopped... raining.

It seems like I have had wet socks and soggy gloves for months but I reckon it's more like a few weeks. It has not stopped raining. Although I've generally been lucky with my rides I have, like everyone, reached the point of saturation (excusing the pun) with the rain. The curtains were never open in the flat - there was no light to let in - and the clatter of rain against the windows and doors was most offputting.

Today the sun is out and it is cold and fresh and bright. I had a perfect start to the day - Rob and I whizzed down the hill and zipped between the grumpy looking car drivers to overtake them and dive up Belmont Hill into the woods, through Ashton Court and back down through the village to Mud Dock for a hot frothy coffee. It was beautiful and I felt so overwhelmingly glad to be there it was incredible. The sunrise was stunning and the air was fresh and cool.

This is us - riding bikes through the air, chatting and laughing and looking ever forwards to more and more experiences.

Today I am working hard at my assignment, reading all sorts of incomprehensible stuff about class and critical realism and obesity. I love it. Tonight I am working at the running shop and then later will curl up for an early night with my book, ready for another early ride.

Life... is... sweet.

IronHorse Extreme Rules...

James Leavesley has just won the Strathpuffer 24hr mtb race in Inverness. He lapped the whole field twice or more and won with style and class. It was brilliant speaking to Rob every few hours to get updates - I really feel like part of a team. Our sponsor - Martin - was there too and delighted, sending pictures of James to his boss at IronHorse Towers (or wherever!) Rob is over the moon, despite not racing himself and we are all hopping up and down with excitement at our first win of the season and the first win under the new IronHorse flag.

It's particularly exciting because although James is one of the best and most experienced 24hr soloists in the UK, he has never won a race. He's come second a host of times but never got that top spot. This was his moment I hope he enjoyed every second. He's off to Alaska to do the Iditarod Invitational in a few months and I have good feelings about that too (as long as he learns how to use a compass before then...)

One day I hope to have that feeling that James is experiencing right now. That elation, pride, exhaustion and gratitude all mixed into one and so intense it overwhelms you and knocks the wind out of you.

We really do have the best team in the world and I am so so pleased to be part of it. It's magical.

Tap, tap, tap

Been out for 4 hours this morning. All but the last 30 minutes was fairly dry and then it made up for it, raining hard like needles on your face, water finding any gap to trickle inside socks and jackets. A mountain of soggy kit is now whizzing round and round in the washing machine, exchanging soapy suds for sweat and rain.

The ride was fine. Nice chat and 60 steady miles of tapping away, duracel-bunny slow. Plodding on. I am thinking a lot about Strathpuffer and whether or not I would like to be riding around an icey, treacherous and windy course in Inverness for 24 hours with 18 hours of darkness and few people other than Rob cheering me on.

I decided that yes, I probably would.

Ps: As I write this James is in the lead by 2 minutes. Go on Leavesley!

Training, raining...

Picture: View of the Quantocks from a lovely lane winding its way along the edge of Exmoor. Sigh...

I have had a great few days training, despite the weather. I seem to have a knack for picking the break in the rain to zip out on my bike. My road bike is covered in thick oily sludge and needs a good scrub but I'll do that today before I go to work.


I have ridden all over the Mendips lately. Rob and I had a beautiful ride early on Sunday morning. We beat the traffic and got up onto Cheddar early. The air was drowned and we were blown sideways at times but it was invigorating.


A few times I have had to reroute my rides to avoid floods - England seems to be under water at the moment - but on the whole my riding has been smooth and uneventful. I still have no oomph but Rob assures me I don't need any and that we are still building the base of my tower so it can go higher and higher (so that when I jump off I land a long way from the base). It all makes sense, honest!
This is a road, honest...


I feel very engaged with life at the moment. In contrast to some other female riders I know, my kit is clean, my bikes are working, my work is fulfilling, my life is in order and I am marching forwards WITH cycling - as a pleasure and a discipline - rather than flopping helplessly with cycling as an escape.

My kit - clean, washed and drying... I love the battle, not just the victory.

PS. Good luck James at Strathpuffer. Go get 'em!

Roadie style...

Picture: Nearly at the top of Burrington Combe, Chew Valley Lake in the background.

Road riding has it's moments. Today was cool and yellow, sunshine pouring through the hazy winter clouds (in stark contrast to yesterday's horizontal snow). I could have ridden with the tri club this morning but fancied some time to myself so headed off to the Mendips on the road bike. It was peaceful and bright and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I rode strong and consistently, climbed steadily and practiced cornering on the descents.

The only thorn in my side was, well, a thorn in my tyre. I'm not sure what it was, actually, but I got a puncture in the same place as Thursday and found a slash in the tyre. I am guessing they weren't the highest quality tyres in the world. I managed to break my pump in the process of fixing it and had to wobble back to Mud Dock with 15psi in my rear tyre. Matt Carr then gave me one of his own tyres and I changed it there in the shop, destroying the last of my beautifully manicured nails!

Now I'm in bed and will spend the afternoon getting on with some reading before popping out for a glass of sherry with some friends later!

Picture: Bright blue sky and a long road descent down the side of the Mendips.

Endurance challenge

Yesterday I pulled on 6 layers and went out for a 4 hour ride in torrential rain and gail force winds. It was grim - struggling to stay verticle let alone move at any sensible pace. I struggled on and gradually felt my body freezing as the water penetrated through each layer and got closer to my skin. Just when I thought I the weather was turning and I would be fine - given the soon approaching long hill that I knew would warm me up - I got a flat.

I have never fixed a road puncture before - not on the side of a road anyway - but had that tyre off and new tube in within seconds. Needs must... I was extraordinarily proud of myself (and laughed heartily (inside) at my male companion who struggled feebly before I took over).

4 hours seems like a long ride but my legs felt pleasingly strong. I got my nutrition and hydration spot on and coped with the weather with the resolve and commitment required of a 24 hour racer. No point wishing the time away - just get on with it.

Today the weather is worse but I only have a recover ride to worry about plus a few car trips (which stress me out far more).

Bring on the summer.

Oh the mud

Split training session today so I awoke very early and read for 2 hours before the sun came up and then did an interval session round the woods for an hour. You always feel a little begrudged when it takes 20 minutes to clean your bike and you've only been on it an hour, but it WAS fun.

Mountain biking just has that edge over road riding. Like when the back wheel slips and sends little jolts of adrenaline up your spine or when you pick the perfect line and descend fast and smooth or when you climb something slippery and steep and you know it is only the grit of your determination that got you up there.

I love it.

But boy was it muddy.

Relaxation

How to relax...

1. cook

2. movies

3. reading

Granny has sent me Great Granny Arthur's chutney recipe so this weekend I'm going to give it a go. In the mean time I must find something new to make for tomorrow night. Any ideas?

Rob has lent me the Flying Scotsman cycling book so I aim to get stuck in but also have 2 books I must finish before a meeting on Friday.

No training today, just study. Had a delicious lunch with Rob and have worked hard all afternoon. Thoughts smoke around in my head and gradual form solid shapes. Catching them in words is a great feeling. Watching them slip away is eternally frustrating.

I'm so cold. I'm huddled in a duvet sitting at the desk. Brrrr....

Bleedin' Brake Blocks

Had a lovely fun bimble this morning with Zandy and Faye. Faye has literally just bought a mtb and was sporting running tights and trainers but despite her inexperience showed impressive stamina, resolve and calmness. She took the muddy trails, steep descents and slippery roots in her stride and raised one metaphorical eyebrow at log jumps and drop offs, overcoming most obstacles with panache.

So having had a genuine social ride with some good mates I headed home to warm up and tinker. I love tinkering with my bikes - although tend to do it in the middle of winter rather than on nice bright warm days (when I'm riding them not fixing them). But today I made great strides at moving towards my indepenence resolution. I:
- changed a puncture
- cleaned all 3 bikes
- fitted a mudguard
- changed some pedals
- fitted 3 out of 4 brake blocks (my coach fitted the 4th which was being particularly irregular)

Not bad, eh?

Tonight is my housemate's first New Recipe of our One New Recipe Per Week resolution. Love new year, gives you an excuse to change stuff.

Head wind

Today was a road ride to Taunton. I got up early - it was still dark. I examined the dark circles under my eyes, drank 3 cups of tea, ate 4 weatabix and set off towards Ashton Court. Riding through the park is the favourite part of my ride. No cars, few people and a bit of peace above the bustle of the awakening city.

But then you fly down towards the main road and you're back in the fast lane; cars flying inches from you, water spraying up your back and onto your face, tarmac climb after tarmac climb, the headwind halving the effect of every watt you push out.

So, turn up the ipod and sing your way down the A38. I had a bit of Jose Gonzalez this morning and a few sketches of Blackadder. The old'uns are the best.

Now I'm at home with my housemate in the warm, watching the rain trickle down the window and hearing the wind batter the garden outside. I will fall asleep this afternoon and I can't wait. Sometimes I wish I could sleep forever.

Relaxation

Today is a rest day. Today is a sort out those nitty gritty areas of life day: arrange finances, change brake pads, tidy up consultancy project, send emails and now, at last, study.

This is NOT relaxation. It took me a long time to work this out. NOT training does not mean you are relaxing and for every quantity of physical, emotional or mental stress you put on yourself you need to counter it with physical, emotional and mental recovery. I may be resting physically but mentally and emotionally I am at work.

Tonight I will be actively relaxing (mentally and emotionally) by having 3 very good friends around for supper. I may not find cooking quite so relaxing but it will be fun and they know me well enough to not stay late. I am up early in the morning to train again and then hopefully have time to pop in and see my Dad. As long as I get 8-10 hours sleep I will be well rested for a good session in the morning. I have good tunes on the ipod and some comedy sketches which keep me smiling up those hills - I am looking forward to the ride.

Beautiful places

Here are some photos of some of the most beautiful places I know and of me exploring them on 2 wheels.
Secret singletrack on the Quantocks

Top of Becon Hill on the way to West Quantoxhead

The Quantocks by Lydeard Hill

Early morning Christmas 2007 near Foxton (Cambs)

As above.