Over the hills but not too far away...

Finally, after the past few weeks of family commitments and holidays I headed out on a cycle run with the guys again today. The plan was to do a route called the Greenock Cut which goes along the route of the old aquaduct leading from the reservoir which supplies water to Greenock.

We started off in the Morrisons car park in Greenock and preceded to cycle up a lot of steep hills to the start of the Cut. Actually, by the time we reached the start of the Cut we were exhausted. I would love to see the gradient on that one. Maybe it's just me getting old (no comments Mauro). Anyway, after that the trail itself was pretty plain sailing.

The route itself was offroad, for a change, and was kindly decorated with little presents from the local ovine population. Let's just say it was like walking a long an old pavement and trying not to step on the cracks. Anyway, the view was pretty amazing high up on the hill looking out over Greenock and the surrounding area. There was quite a bit of mist as we crossed the countryside which was quite welcome as it shielded us from the glaring sun overhead.

We reached the Cornalees Centre beside Loch Thom where we had a welcome break before continuing our trek across the Cut. Grass and sand under wheel became more compact and we were able to pick up the speed a little. We eventually found some downhill sections which were fun. During one particular section Mauro tried to pretend he was a bird and flew off his bike landing in a hedge when he hit some grass trying to avoid a pothole. Luckily he escaped with only a few cuts and a story to tell everyone later on. We used to say that if you didn't crash at least once then you weren't trying hard enough. Not sure I feel like that anymore.

We stopped off in Wemyss Bay for some welcome refreshments at the tea room across from the railway station. The food was excellent and set us up a treat for the rest of the journey back to Greenock via Loch Thom. Luckily the trip back was all on the road but once again we were faced with some tiring hill climbs. At one point, I admit I was a lightweight and walked a little. Shameful to admit I know but it was exhausting.

Anyway, once we reached Loch Thom it was pretty much plain sailing. There was some excellent downhill road sections before we hit Greenock which allowed us to take a rest and also cool down a little. Once we reached the town centre we celebrated in time honoured fashion with a quick drink in a local watering hole before heading back to to Glasgow.

Wipeout!!!!

Just back from a week's long holiday in Newquay down in Cornwall. 525 miles door to door which amazingly I managed on one tank full of diesel. Still, being stuck in a car for the best part of 9 hours is not the most fun I have had in my life and my legs are a little stiff.

Anyway, while I was on holiday I wasn't completely lazy. Spent three days trying to learn how to surf. Now, when you see those guys on the TV surfing these massive waves in somewhere like Hawaii or Australia they make it look so easy and effortless. They glide across the waves as if held up by some magical force. In reality though, the complete opposite is true... well at least for me it was.

The theory behind it is fine. You lie on your board and wait for a big enough wave to come up behind you. When you see it coming you paddle as fast as you can and then hopefully the wave will catch you and propel you forward. As soon as that happens you have to get up on to your knees, being careful not to lean back as that slows you down. Finally you bring your front leg up before turning side on and hopefully riding the wave to the shore or thereabouts.

The reality is this. On shore the practice sessions you do rehearsing the steps you have to take are pretty simple. As soon as you add waves into the equation all the practice goes out of the window. First of all you have to battle your way through the surf and get far enough out from the shore so that you can meet the waves as they start to form. Now, I am just over 6' tall and weigh around 16 stone which means I am fairly solid. Waves don't care. They have no regard for size, shape, weight or any other attribute. When they hit you, you move backwards... no arguments. The trick is to move as far forward in between the waves crashing in to you so that the net result is that you are still going forward.

Okay, so you've made it out far enough to catch the big waves as they start to form. The next trick is to lie on your board and wait for a big enough wave. Now, you would think that lying on a surf board would be pretty easy. However, these things are not the most stable of objects laterally and so it is quite tricky to stop yourself from falling off sideways, especially when you are in less than stable conditions.

Next, you are on your board facing towards the beach and waiting for that wave to come along and carry you off. When it's a couple of metres behind you you have to start paddling as fast as you can to build up some speed otherwise the wave just passes under you and heads for the beach. Now, inertia is not eactly something you would think you have to worry about in the water but, again for me at least, it was a consideration. The first day I was out, the waves were pretty small and didn't have any real power behind them and so I found it really difficult being able to generate any momentum. This meant I was constantly becoming frustrated at my lack motion. The second day was better and the third better still. I managed to get myself moving and caught a few waves in the process. Now comes the tricky bit...

Standing up on a surfboard, to me at least, is a bit like the first time you go on ice wearing skates. You just accept that you are going to fall over at some point. Like I said before, once you have caught a wave you have then got to try getting up on your knees and then get your front foot up before standing up. As well as doing this you have to remain mindful of keeping weight over the front of the board so that it doesn't slow down, letting the wave pass underneath you. In the end I think I may have only briefly managed to stand up on my board once. The rest of the time I just couldn't get my balance and then try and get up as well as keeping my balance. When you fall and a wave hits you, sea water gets forced in your mouth, nose, ears, etc. Not pleasant.

After 3 days I had had enough. The wet suit look isn't a glamourous look on me at present and when the sun is beating down on you as well it isn't the most comfortable thing to wear. Still, I am glad I tried surfing and if I was ever back down in that neck of the woods again I might give it another go. Don't think it's ever going to replace cycling though.

Aches and Pains... Update.

Just an update on my post from last month about comfort and all that is painful. Yesterday I bought the final pieces of kit to transform my bike from a cross-country bike into something a little more suitable (and comfortable) for the roads.

First of all, a few weeks back I bought a set of Giant anatomical bar ends. Yesterday, I completed my customisation by buying a pair of Specialized Body Geometry locking grips. I also bought PowerPlay adjustable stem which is shorter than the Bontrager one I currently have on my bike. It also allows me to adjust the angle at which the stem sits at (0 - 60°). This should mean that I can sit more upright instead of prone which on the long journey ahead will be such a bonus.

Special Day!!!

Yesterday was our 3rd wedding anniversary. Yeah, I know, the irony of getting married on Independence Day is still a source of amusement. Tomorrow, I should be heading off to Edinburgh with the guys from Team Sweden where they are going to cycle back to Glasgow via Falkirk; a distance of some 66 miles. I am actually jealous of them as I would have loved to be out on the road doing some miles, especially as I missed the last run as well because of family commitments. Anyway, I have something more important to attend. Tomorrow, my brother-in-law Richard is getting married to his fiancé Barbara. The rest of this entry is really for them.

We've been married now for 3 years and I can honestly say that they have been the happiest and most content years of my life. Tomorrow will be somewhat of a blur. The day passes so very quickly. One minute you are waking up, the next your guests are leaving for home. At some point you need to take a step back and take stock of all that has gone on and what is happening at that time. That way, you can allow it all to sink in. For us (Kirsty and I) it was the happiest day of our lives. I hope it is too for both of you and that it will be the start of the happiest time of your life. All I really want to say is that we both wish you all the very best for tomorrow and that you both have a long and happy life together.