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Post by Deleted on May 24, 2019 9:14:23 GMT
So, I managed to get into work. Google Maps said it would take 1hr 9mins and I did it in 1hr 15mins, mainly because I took a wrong turn towards the end which led me on a slightly longer path. Never mind, I fully expect to get that time down as my fitness improves, and I make some minor changes to the route. I swear I was 'flashed' by a speed camera, but it may have just been sunlight reflecting off some glass. I could also go faster along the section which runs alongside the river, but there are so many Swans, Geese and Duck there that it seems wrong just to flash past them. It's nicer to go a bit slower and appreciate them, especially as they all seem to have their Ducklings waddling along with them. All-in-all it was a good run. The sun was shining, temperature about 15 degrees, lot's of bright young things (and some not so young) going for their morning run alongside the river, so there was plenty to perve look at. Sounds nicer than my cycle from emersons green to temple meads. You get slowed down by ducks and swans, I get slowed down by asshole kids piling in and out of scumbag college (aka City Academy). |
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Post by Deleted on May 24, 2019 9:22:33 GMT
So, I managed to get into work. Google Maps said it would take 1hr 9mins and I did it in 1hr 15mins, mainly because I took a wrong turn towards the end which led me on a slightly longer path. Never mind, I fully expect to get that time down as my fitness improves, and I make some minor changes to the route. I swear I was 'flashed' by a speed camera, but it may have just been sunlight reflecting off some glass. I could also go faster along the section which runs alongside the river, but there are so many Swans, Geese and Duck there that it seems wrong just to flash past them. It's nicer to go a bit slower and appreciate them, especially as they all seem to have their Ducklings waddling along with them. All-in-all it was a good run. The sun was shining, temperature about 15 degrees, lot's of bright young things (and some not so young) going for their morning run alongside the river, so there was plenty to perve look at. Sounds nicer than my cycle from emersons green to temple meads. You get slowed down by ducks and swans, I get slowed down by asshole kids piling in and out of scumbag college (aka City Academy). I know what you mean. I sometimes wonder why it's illegal to fit a Gimpy onto the front of the bike. The German's here have built around the river very nicely. They've avoided having any buildings going up right next to the river, so there is a wide area where you can walk/ride/roller skate etc alongside the river, and in fact you can travel for miles. Approx. half my trip to work was along the river. How much nicer would Bristol City Centre be if they uncovered the river and made it a nice place to be. |
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Fitness
May 24, 2019 11:22:45 GMT
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Post by baggins on May 24, 2019 11:22:45 GMT
I'm 6' 1" and currently weigh-in at around 14st 11lbs (94Kg). In the past 14st was my 'fighting' weight. I'm not overweight, but the middle is thickening up a bit. My Doc suggested to me that sex is a good way to lose weight. I had to tell him that 30 seconds every nine months was not going to help much ! 30 seconds your pushing the boundaries! ! And he's on his own when that happens. |
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Fitness
May 24, 2019 11:23:27 GMT
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Post by baggins on May 24, 2019 11:23:27 GMT
So, I managed to get into work. Google Maps said it would take 1hr 9mins and I did it in 1hr 15mins, mainly because I took a wrong turn towards the end which led me on a slightly longer path. Never mind, I fully expect to get that time down as my fitness improves, and I make some minor changes to the route. I swear I was 'flashed' by a speed camera, but it may have just been sunlight reflecting off some glass. I could also go faster along the section which runs alongside the river, but there are so many Swans, Geese and Duck there that it seems wrong just to flash past them. It's nicer to go a bit slower and appreciate them, especially as they all seem to have their Ducklings waddling along with them. All-in-all it was a good run. The sun was shining, temperature about 15 degrees, lot's of bright young things (and some not so young) going for their morning run alongside the river, so there was plenty to perve look at. Sounds nicer than my cycle from emersons green to temple meads. You get slowed down by ducks and swans, I get slowed down by asshole kids piling in and out of scumbag college (aka City Academy). Emersons Green? Lived there. |
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Post by Deleted on May 24, 2019 12:37:33 GMT
Sounds nicer than my cycle from emersons green to temple meads. You get slowed down by ducks and swans, I get slowed down by asshole kids piling in and out of scumbag college (aka City Academy). Emersons Green? Lived there. Downsized to here last year to get rid of the mortgage. Like it here so far - in a very quiet bit on the lane that would have been the original emersons green before the 2000 onwards development. Handy for the cycle track too so lucky to be able to commute without having to use many roads at all. |
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Post by Deleted on May 24, 2019 12:42:00 GMT
Sounds nicer than my cycle from emersons green to temple meads. You get slowed down by ducks and swans, I get slowed down by asshole kids piling in and out of scumbag college (aka City Academy). Emersons Green? Lived there. Sleeping on a park bench is not "lived there" Bags. |
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Post by Deleted on May 27, 2019 7:00:14 GMT
Well, I managed to make it home on Friday. Generally it was ok, but the last 5k were a bit of a struggle. Friday evening I could hardly sit down as my arse felt like it had spent the night with Bolders and some Rohypnol....again.
I drove the car in today as it looks like there is some rain about, but I'll be back in the saddle again tomorrow, sore arse permitting!
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Post by Deleted on May 27, 2019 7:08:55 GMT
Well, I managed to make it home on Friday. Generally it was ok, but the last 5k were a bit of a struggle. Friday evening I could hardly sit down as my arse felt like it had spent the night with Bolders and some Rohypnol....again. I drove the car in today as it looks like there is some rain about, but I'll be back in the saddle again tomorrow, sore arse permitting! That feeling of having attended a Michael Barrymore pool party will soon wear off the more rides you do. A good quality pair of padded shorts helps too. |
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Post by Deleted on May 27, 2019 7:59:37 GMT
Well, I managed to make it home on Friday. Generally it was ok, but the last 5k were a bit of a struggle. Friday evening I could hardly sit down as my arse felt like it had spent the night with Bolders and some Rohypnol....again. I drove the car in today as it looks like there is some rain about, but I'll be back in the saddle again tomorrow, sore arse permitting! That feeling of having attended a Michael Barrymore pool party will soon wear off the more rides you do. A good quality pair of padded shorts helps too. Padded shorts? I need a full-blown soft cushion! The last 5k, every time I went over a bump I winced. |
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Fitness
May 27, 2019 17:09:38 GMT
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Post by aghast on May 27, 2019 17:09:38 GMT
That feeling of having attended a Michael Barrymore pool party will soon wear off the more rides you do. A good quality pair of padded shorts helps too. Padded shorts? I need a full-blown soft cushion! The last 5k, every time I went over a bump I winced. That's so true. My first ride for years last summer was fine, but I had to ride the last 15 minutes raised up a bit off the saddle coz me crotch hurt so much. |
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Post by Deleted on Jun 7, 2019 5:34:51 GMT
Update: I've been on the bike to work four times now. I didn't do it this week as I work shifts, and this week I've on the 6am to 2pm shift, so there is no way I am getting on the bike at 4.30am! There are limits to my stupidity.
Next week it's a Bank Holiday on Monday, and I'm working normal hours, so the intention is to ride the bike on Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday. Thursday will be a rest day as I intend to meet up with a couple of friends in the afternoon for a beer or two at the Farmer's Market in Frankfurt, as you do. So that should be a total next week of 120km (approx. 72 miles). I've no doubt that before long I will have Greek Artists knocking on my door demanding that I model for them as they sculpt their latest Greek God statue. The padded pants are working a treat. Well, it's that or my arse is now so toughened up that I could withstand a kicking from the Thai Kick Boxing World Champion. Ha, I would laugh in his face.
I'm also getting more professional. Yesterday, I bought a little bracket to hold a water bottle so I can have a little drink along the way. This will stop me falling into the office gasping as though I'd just walked across the Sahara Desert.
I should also mention the route I take a bit more. Previously I have mentioned about cycling alongside the River Main, with the countless Swans, Ducks and Geese that line the route, and very pleasant it is, especially if the sun is shining. That covers about 50% of the route. However, I then have to travel through central Frankfurt, past the main railway station and past the main concert/trade fair halls (which are huge). That part isn't so bad, but the worst part is that I have to cycle through the main Red Light District! In the mornings it's not too bad, just a couple of druggies laying around, but in the afternoons, when the brothels are open, it's a different story. Fair to say it's not a nice place. Seeing some of the 'working girls' walking around fair makes the front wheels wobble I can tell you.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 12, 2019 7:09:33 GMT
On the way I have to pass the new ECB (European Central Bank) building. This costs something like 3 billion to build. It went way way over budget and there was a lot of controversy over the contracts awarded to build it. Apparently there were a lot of backhanders paid out, which resulted in the overspend, plus it was about two years late being built. This site has a lot of history attached to it. Originally it was a huge concrete fruit market (keeping things topical to Rovers) built by Hitler. It was also the main collection point for Jewish people before being sent to the camps. In the basement of this new building they have kept a lot of the original building and there is a museum detailing what went on here.  This is the view as I approach the city of Frankfurt. The big buildings are the financial centre. On the right are some apartments. Being South facing and right by the river, these sell for approx. one million each! On the river Main (pronounced Mine) you can see that it is actually a working river, with large cargo barges constantly going up and down. On the left you can see the large path for cycling/walking/running/inline skating etc.  |
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Fitness
Jun 12, 2019 15:41:47 GMT
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Post by aghast on Jun 12, 2019 15:41:47 GMT
"Ah, Herr Architect. For the new ECB building, we want something big, and square, and made of glass and steel, like so many other big buildings. Oh, and make sure it doesn't blend in with the surroundings in any way".
...........
"We'll do our best, sir".
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Post by Deleted on Jun 14, 2019 12:05:56 GMT
"Ah, Herr Architect. For the new ECB building, we want something big, and square, and made of glass and steel, like so many other big buildings. Oh, and make sure it doesn't blend in with the surroundings in any way". ........... "We'll do our best, sir". It's not actually square. It has lots of different sides and angles to it. It couldn't blend in with the surroundings as it is located in the east end of the city, and like all east ends in every city, it was a bit of a dump. The whole area around the ECB is being transformed with new bars/cafes/restaurants etc. My friend has an apartment which is about 200 metres away from the ECB entrance and it practically doubled in value when the ECB opened for business. The bit I hate though is that if you work for the ECB you pay hardly any tax, just like EU employees. |
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Post by Deleted on Jun 17, 2019 19:37:02 GMT
I wasn't due to ride into work this week as I'm on the 4pm to midnight shift, and with the best will in the world I'm not riding home at midnight!
So this morning, I leapt out of bed all bright eyed and bushy tailed and hopped onto the bike, which I have named Bucephalus (I may have told some porkies in that last sentence). I did a 'quick' 20kms on Bucephalus, which was rather pleasant.
However, due to unforeseen circumstances I've had to change my shift for Tuesday, meaning I will now cycle into work tomorrow (Tuesday). It's hot here at the moment with the temperature reaching just over 30 degrees during the day, so a nice ride in the morning but a sticky one to come home.
The good news is that I have lost 3 kilos in weight, and my back is feeling better. For a while I've been getting back pains which I put down to just not being fit enough. The bike work seems to be doing the trick and my back feels much stronger and better. My arse is now also tough enough to withstand a night in the Bristol Bears Bar and not flinch.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 24, 2019 11:17:54 GMT
This week, the temperature forecast is that it will be 40c on Wednesday. The schools will be shut as it's too hot for the kiddies.
I did suggest to my boss that I should stay at home and be paid as he always says that I am the oldest child in the office, and it will be too hot to cycle into work. His reply involved a lot of the "off" word, with a suggestion that he "couldn't give a toss if you rode your bike, drove your car, caught a train or even came by hot air balloon but you have to get your lazy arse into work".....or words to that effect.
We're good friends really, me and my boss.
I think I'll take the car. It has very good air conditioning.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 28, 2019 13:21:26 GMT
Back in the saddle today! I've adjusted the saddle to give my legs greater extension and this morning I knocked a whole 5 minutes off my Personal Best !
One problem though. My legs from just above the knees downwards, my arms from just above the elbow downwards and my face have great colour from the windburn of my blistering pace. The rest of me is a bit whitish. I've developed a cyclist tan ! I might have to walk around the ´garden naked this weekend to improve matters. Might upset the Mother-In-Law though, who lives in an attached bungalow!
I'm beginning to get worried that I'm turning into a cycling nerd. If any of the regular readers (Hello Mum) find that I suddenly start talking about something like Carbon Fibre Pedals you have my permission to come to my house and thwack me with a baseball bat....twice !
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Post by Deleted on Jun 28, 2019 17:18:31 GMT
Back in the saddle today! I've adjusted the saddle to give my legs greater extension and this morning I knocked a whole 5 minutes off my Personal Best ! One problem though. My legs from just above the knees downwards, my arms from just above the elbow downwards and my face have great colour from the windburn of my blistering pace. The rest of me is a bit whitish. I've developed a cyclist tan ! I might have to walk around the ´garden naked this weekend to improve matters. Might upset the Mother-In-Law though, who lives in an attached bungalow! I'm beginning to get worried that I'm turning into a cycling nerd. If any of the regular readers (Hello Mum) find that I suddenly start talking about something like Carbon Fibre Pedals you have my permission to come to my house and thwack me with a baseball bat....twice ! I cycled into work today. Lovely and cool cycling in at 7am but bloody hot cycling home which is slightly uphill too. The tunnel under staple hill provides a minute of relief - like riding into a fridge. Not as good at the twin tunnels under Midford, Bath though. Hot where you are Nobby? |
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Post by Deleted on Jun 28, 2019 21:33:20 GMT
Back in the saddle today! I've adjusted the saddle to give my legs greater extension and this morning I knocked a whole 5 minutes off my Personal Best ! One problem though. My legs from just above the knees downwards, my arms from just above the elbow downwards and my face have great colour from the windburn of my blistering pace. The rest of me is a bit whitish. I've developed a cyclist tan ! I might have to walk around the ´garden naked this weekend to improve matters. Might upset the Mother-In-Law though, who lives in an attached bungalow! I'm beginning to get worried that I'm turning into a cycling nerd. If any of the regular readers (Hello Mum) find that I suddenly start talking about something like Carbon Fibre Pedals you have my permission to come to my house and thwack me with a baseball bat....twice ! I cycled into work today. Lovely and cool cycling in at 7am but bloody hot cycling home which is slightly uphill too. The tunnel under staple hill provides a minute of relief - like riding into a fridge. Not as good at the twin tunnels under Midford, Bath though. Hot where you are Nobby? Today was the coolest this week at 29c. Wednesday it was 40c! Going up to 38c on Sunday. It's too hot to fart! |
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Fitness
Jun 29, 2019 22:28:52 GMT
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Post by aghast on Jun 29, 2019 22:28:52 GMT
I've always been told that the saddle should be at the height where you can put you toes, but not your heels to the ground when stopped.
Today I did a 15 mile ride with a serious lycra clad cycling fanatic, who told me this is bollox.
The saddle should be at the level of your hip bone, and to reach the ground, you need to tilt the bike. So up the saddle must go.
I've tried this, and observations:
a) it's much more efficient when going uphill because you extend your leg almost, but not quite, completely.
b) the feckin saddle is so high now that I can't get off without falling off the bike in a very embarrassing way.
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