Inevitability
Just as the winter mileage was building up nicely I was taken out by a seasonal bug and have subsequently spent the last two weeks off the bike. Very frustrating especially since November had been such a good month on the bike. Oh well, given the subject of my previous post it was bound to happen. Thankfully it was business as usual this weekend, out and about in the Surrey Hills with a triathlete colleague, who has persuaded me to take part in my first triathlon next May. I have to admit I'm a little apprehensive but I'm looking forward to giving it a go and you know what they say about variety...
More on the triathlon in later posts.
Time off the bike as given me a little more time to browse around and catch up on the online cycling world. I have had a chance to check out bikespace, a social networking site set up for cyclist in the US. There are quite a few of these types of site around at the moment but this is one of the most well developed and provides some great features. It seems that the States have a much more developed online cycling community than over here in Europe. Not really sure why, maybe the US has just embraced the technology quicker. It's a great idea and one that would work for everyone from the casual weekenders through to the more serious riders. Perhaps you have to be pretty up to speed with the latest internet technologies to get the best out of this type of site but it wouldn't long for a novice to get to grips with the essentials for logging rides and mapping routes. I will keep on eye on this to see how things develop. It would be great to see a UK version.
Comments:
Had an interesting experience today - new tyre I fitted yesterday at great expense exploded. Tube stayed inflated and the whole lot got tangled around chains, gears etc. Left a 20m trail down the road which completely flat-spotted the rim, so that is toast too! I will be taking the tyre back!
The guy behind me nearly cr*pped himself as he saw me snake down the road, and pronounced it a good save when I didn't pile up.
I'd be scary on a road bike :-)
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The mechanical sounds a little scary, but also lucky. Any idea how the tyre came to blow but not the inner? Let me know if they replace it free. My mechanical today was a little less eventful, just a loose spoke!
Better luck with the replacement tyre.
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iainlike the recent photo.
Richy
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I am looking forward to it. I'll have to do a bit of swimming and running in the New Year to prepare. I haven't swum (that word looks odd in print) for ages.
I have put in a link to a bigger version of the photo.
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iain