why have i left it so long?

hello all,

i am so so so sorry

i am still here

i am still cycling

i have completed a 160 mile charity , cycle , i have lost over 6 stone and i am still going

i will do a full update soon

xxx

72 miles today!

the longest ride so far...

Amazing!

I am very proud and can't wait to do more miles. i could have continued and the great thing is after 10 mins back home i was ready to go out.

some major learnings...

i am still learning how to climb and on occasions i do stop and have to take a breather and walk a lil... stamina for a long ride seems to work well for me so i need to combine this mind set with being a stronger climber... each time it will improve.

i need some cycling gear that is closer fitting... after losing over five stone in weight, tops, jackets do not fit well and rattle in the wind and do not keep me warm or dry! i need some arm and leg warmers as my arm warmers from the states and hidden somewhere by my dog.. sigh... so i may need alil internet shop tonight.

i am still working out what food and drinks work for me...

im convinced and know bananas work great for me as does pasta the night before. coffee has a good effect. as far as what d rink mix i am still experimenting... i remember trying some of boston bike gurus drink whilst in ny this year and thinking yuck... now im thinking i need that sort of sugar taste and kick!

but sugar and my diet don't mix that well... what should i try?

power blocks cola chews are great and certainly add a kick of energy when needed and for the last 20 miles of this ride worked well.

the new bike is quite wonderful and i am very proud to have such a piece of equipment to use and love.

the handling is so responsive and i noticed i am able to take sharper corners and get a lot lower on the drops which is wonderful.

ohhh and i got a £100 voucher to use still for new cycling gear...

any advice or comments please add them, i need all the help i can get...

c

yorkshire dales hills....

38 miles in the dales

no flats up and down all the way... in fact more up than down!

adrian with his sore bum did amazingly well and kept up well.

I cycled hard and we got lost...big time... at the top of a dale...light fading, wind blowing, rain splashing... and no mobile signal or money... and only a hill farmer to help us...

on reflection this was a tough ride, the constant climbs and drops were hard word but amazingly satisfying. the scenery was amazing and however hard the climbs were the drops were intense, scary and mind blowing. really worked on cornering at speed and resisting touching the brakes.. ohhhh it was goood.

adrian on his first ride like this did brill.. much better than i ever would have done on my first biggie.

its also good to know that he lived in the dales and would never get us lost and send us 16 miles in the wrong direction, up a dale, in the wind, driving rain and bitter cold, with no mobile signal, money or humour!

still he tries...

i could tell my climbing improved the next week for the big 72 miler, it was still tough but i am able to get out the saddle quickly and for longer periods and when i choose the right gear i am able to keep it smooth and steady and solid...

here are some piccys to have some fun with....

more to follow!

60.7 miles!

yes that's right...

miles increased again today. 60.7

was a fab ride hard work into strong headwind for over 35 miles which made progress interesting. but all great training.

the weather was hot hot hot and tan lines look great!

and to top it off cycling took place in lycra shorts and no over shorts... first time and was brill!

will give a full run down very soon.

craig

oh yes...52 miles!

52 miles achieved today with bags to spare in the tank...

oh yes and weight loss again and bmi down.. in fact weight has dropped nearly five stone since starting!

what an amazing ride. Loved it was a tough one!

so, I even managed to ride out of the saddle up a hill (well ok part of a hill) and this was so cool... except choosing a wrong gear firstly caused my legs to spin round so quick I felt like I was shaking my booty!

some great climbs on this ride, all of which I completed. Some were very tough and I felt like I was walking backwards... but I completed every single way, slowly at times but completed!

suffered severe numbness in the toes after 3 hours of both feet, tried looseining shoes but that didnt work... may need to check this out further as it was painful.

the bike was cool, two water bottles makes a difference (ok I know that obvious).

I got a 'road bikers lesson in style' and was ceremoniously encouraged to tear my reflectors off the bike. I felt liberated almost free...

apparently if I put a bell on my road bike I am going over a bridge...

so... next steps...

over 75 miles this weekend, next weekend I am determined to achieve more.

so far there are four of us ready for the 100 miler and then lands end to john o groats

possibly five... if boston bike guru joins us... you know it makes sense bbg...do it!

damaged tendon...

ouch...

it official i have damaged a tendon in my right foot...

from the centre of the heel to outside edge of the foot.

it painful.

i cant cycle for a few days... this is gutting.

could it be i suddenly feel confident to wear the lycra shorts without over shorts.? did the gods of taste n decency see my legs in the lycra and blow chunks??

either way i sad and wanna cycle....

weight loss and lycra...

oh yes...

i have lost more weight, ave 2-3 pds per week so i am well happy over 55 pounds so far... muscles building which is great and I took my first cycle ride in lycra shorts without cover shorts...

very liberating and feels so much better....

this was in Spain I am not sure if the uk will manage seeing me in lycra... i wld hate to cause peoole to complain..

see ya!

hola!

Yes I am in Spain again and have been taking advantage of life, sun, pool, cycling and doing nothing!

well cycling...

man I have had a nightmare of late with my gorgoeus Bianchi...

knackered the shifters - sora shifters are not that great anyway... so they needed changing after my LBS - local bike store for those of you wondering - had suggested it was the front mech...

anyway one front mech sold in the wrong size later and servicing and new ultegra shifters the bike was ready..after eleven friggin days...

great news... ready for my first ride...

wonderful same as before except with new shifters and more clunking. hmmm

LBS re look and adjust and get her working...

bike ride 2... wonderful can shift rear mech gears - smooth as silk excellent - front mech still shagged... feels like someone has taken some sand mixed with broken glass and rubbed it all over the mech to make it so so so smooth...not...

so i made a decision...

off with the knackered sora front mech and on with a new right size ultgra mech... and the same with the rear mech... - amazing deal at www.chainreactioncycles.co.uk ...

new wheels with ultegra cassette and new bar tape- bright green lizzard tape - amazing...

when I arrive home I need to get bike into LBS for repairs and then ...finally... i will be out later this week on a long ride on my updated Bianchi... which will become the best damn winter bike in history...

oh, did i not mention... winter bike means new road bike could happen due to my reward for weight success and absolute love for this sport...

cycle hard.... cycle long... and smile!

latest scribbles from my hand...

ok quicky for you...

lots of great cycles this week, including two longish this weekend... resulting in a sunny day, pot holes missed from sun glare and knackered front mechanism ...ouch...

my bianchi is in for repairs and I am frustrated...

however...

cadence is upto 80 bpm and ave speed over 14 mph...

mid june it was taking me 1 hour 10 mins to achieve 12 miles on a slightly hilly ride

yesterday was 49 minutes on hillier ride...

im quite shocked...

new wheels... waiting to be fitted some gorgeous mavics mmm thanks again boston bike guru ...

ok time to go now but will be back soon, folding bike in car as i am away for few days...

oh yes if you are reading this be a chum and add yourself to a follower , also tell your friends please!

take care

craig

oh yes lost more weight 2 pounds wooohoooooo

cycling update...

ok...

the cycling is increasing now and i am aiming to get out at least 4 times per week.

a minimum of 16 miles to keep me ticking over during the week with a couple of biggies at the weekend.

this coupled with drumming is helping the stamina and muscle to fat growth!

this weekend sun 19th July was a brilliant 35 mile cycle, longest so far and with bags of room to spare at the end...

a very challenging ride with many hills of different challenge and some very busy roads to contend with also.

my garmin gps re set itself last night so i am unable to upload the data which is a real pain...

my cadence was up to a steady 77 rpm and my speed up to 11.2 mph which for this ride in wind, rain and many hills pleased me!

suffered a couple of punctures over the weekend and managed to perform a clipped in topple in front of a coffee drinking crowd - excellent!

looking forward to getting out again, took today as a rest day and will have a gentle ride tomorrow night all being well.

will add some new pics to help you laugh..

i am very sorry...

well hello,

it has been a little while since i have said Hi and shared my thoughts...

there is a reason for this... cycling, drumming, travel, work and more cycling!

so let me delight you with an update...

ready?

weight down by a total of near 4 stone now! bmi has dropped by a total of 9.5 points since the end of March which is brilliant...

clothes are way too big and my suits look like i have borrowed them! i am wearing shirts i have never been able to get into , all of this is wonderfully exciting...

i am however refusing to buy new clothes until i have lost a couple more stone... so i guess im gonna look daft for a little while longer yet!

exciting crazy assed goal news soon

yes thats right

im about to be daft and i have had a couple of ideas...

just working them out, they involve me, padded shorts, bikes and cream for my areas.

Most importantly they will involve charity...

i shall let you know more soon.

c

gosh it's on the blog now... it gonna happen!

sun, spain, cycling and backwards brakes...

hmmm...

ok a quick hello from the sun of Spain...

El cheapo road bike is actually quite good, the sponge brakes make for interesting stopping as do the fact the UK have the brakes opposite to anywhere else in the world .... eg > uk back brake left , anywhere else the front brake is left... imagine my surpise... oh well what fun...

loads of great mini and long climbs here and a wonderful moutanous type road which i will attempt later in the year when I return... and have changed the brakes from sponges to er... brakes.

adios amigos.

cycling... garmin...and mountain bikes (mtb)

well the cycling is going really well.

each ride is a great mix of pushing it hard to my max heart rate and quick recovery.

i am out for an average of 2-3 times a week and where possible gym cycling in between.

i guess an ave. ride is about 20-25 miles which is very comfortable to achieve and i always finish knowing i can do a hell of a lot more.

i will begin building up the miles over the coming weeks now i have the garmin edge gps thingy and i can work out where to go...

cadence... oh i love knowing how fast i am pedaling ha! last week was the first time i used the garmin and i achieved an ave. of 78 rpm for the ride which seems a little low to me... so i am aiming to get it up to the 80's.

i have just bought a 'el cheapo' road bike for spain and this is now waiting for me... when i get out there i can take 'el cheapo' to the quiet mountain/ coast roads and have some fun! i reckon a little daily cycling in 100 degree heat will keep the blood pumping...

mountain bikes...

damn... this was not meant to happen.

but for some reason i can't begin to explain i am suddenly craving going off road on some gentle ish tracks/ canal paths/railway tracks/woodland as i live out in the stixs.

the idea of road and mountain biking has me even more hooked than i was before! i have just seen some pics of mtb in nevada and also the spanish mountains -omg amazing!

asa far as buying a mountain bike, this is on the radar, i won't bore you with any details...i will scream for my boston bike guru to help me right now please...

so there you go,

chat soon, feel free to comment.

c

the weighty issue...

hello,

have ya missed me?

it has been a week or so since my last brain dump so here ya go!

well this week has seen a grand loss of 3 pounds which is great news and if my maths is correct it's nearly a 3 stone loss in total since i began this change mid March.

I of course am pleased and frustrated all at the same time as i have an amount to shift still..i know i will get there... eventually!

BMI is still dropping which in itself is great news and my heart recovery rate is actually rather good!

birthdays, cycling and stuff...

hey all

not been on last week or so been a lil crazy...

ok quick update...

had birthday and was kindly given a garmin edge 705 which is wonderful news...

i only wish i could work the bloody thing lol

couple fo bike rides in between gigs, and feelign quite yuckkkkk...

looking forward to this weekend to get out and cycle more

thoughts are with my gurus in Boston - loves u both xx

chat soon

C

Flies to the back of the throat please...

Hello all...

Quick update for now...

Weight down by a further 3 pounds this week -YES!

BMI down....

Cycle was a cool 19.7 miles at a good pace with absolutely no stops... not even for the person who really does think they own the road...

Sun was amazingly hot and had a great time and dehydrated loads - massive lesson...

Some great advice this week from some great people including BHD and Mr B in Heaton - thanks gents

Gig was amazing - burnt loads of calories

and my birthday is tomorrow... woo h o o - sigh....

oh yess i swallowed two flies - one of them didn't even stop and smashed into the back of my throat.... ewwwwwww

and my Boston Guru is very quiet hmmmm..... hiding after champions league?

chat soon

ONLY 12.8 MILES...

Had a good ride today, as usual I really enjoyed myself...

I have discovered my cycling clicks into rhythm and feels really good at around 5 miles...

So i have decided to drive 5 miles and then begin my cycle therefore i will be riding in my rhythm... cool thinking...

Well ok i talking a load of shite but it been a slow day lol

Next ride will be Saturday as I am away all week...

btw... those who read this... get others to read this blog and i will buy you a big can of red bull.

I thank you..

Over 21 miles again...

So yesterday I cycled for 21.7 miles... yet again uncertain of where I was - my geography is crap ...hurry up sat nav!

What pleased me loads...

• small but significant - learning to drink whilst cycling, drunk loads more and found loads more energy towards end of ride.
• better gear use - making things a lot easier for myself, pro active gear selection.
• Cornering better - top tip in books by guru Geoff gave me ref pedal position

Also yesterday was the first warm sunny day... my glasses are shockingly bad - well they are golf glasses just rubbish at lkeeping the rays ut - I squinted like a dirty old man in a bad shop lol

The warm sun allowed me to use shorts for the first time DA DA DAHHHHHH and no jacket... but a top lol

Today is damn warm, and I am thinking about doing another cycle later ....

Oh.... calories this week is loads big cycle and very sweaty gig lol

cadence feels smoother now and I can sense when I am pedaling too hard due to the feeling in my legs, body before my watch tells me I am working too hard...

anyway all useful and sorry if this bores you...


c

THE WEIGHTY ISSUE...

This is the moment each week..

every Saturday am I weigh myself...

This week - 3 pounds lost!

fantastic...

BMI down again - total of over 7 points so far.

I pleased

still a weigh to go (see what I did there? lol) but it going in the right direction.