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.