Ok its time to update as its around ten days since my last post but better late than never or never for some :-)
For most of us who have being out and about cycling, the wind seems to be the biggest curse of late and despite the glorious sunshine the wind keeps punishing us.......unless you're one of those elite ones whom it doesn't bother.
Today I had planned to head towards Wexford but the wind soon changed that and it ended up being just to up to New Ross and back.
At the end of the day its time in the saddle and more kilometres in the legs. While out today I met the young man in picture opposite.
We spent a some time with each other at the side of the road. We talked about bikes and touring and when wind was mentioned, he said..."the wind never lasts forever", a brilliant way at looking at things.
He's currently on the road for three months on this present trip and what a load of gear he was carrying on his bike. I thought upping mine to over 30 kg today was a lot but Michael from California put me to shame. After we said our good byes, off he went towards Waterford and I towards New Ross . Looking back at him pedalling off it was no bother to him at all....he has done many tours including twice across America, so those legs of his are well used to all this cycling and the load of gear.
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I've had a good few weeks of late and things are going in the right direction....I'm feeling great in myself and have returned to the club again which is fantastic as I love the social element never mind the cycling
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I'm training four or five days on the bike including returning to cycling the beast regular again with a 108k last Tuesday. I've slowly upped the weight in the panniers too so that it's not a sudden shock when I head off for my trip.. I feel I'm starting to get stronger again, although the long spin on beast really hurt me and I was unable to walk for a day and a half. I soon discovered it was the spds (legs clipped too straight with no floating). I've changed to BMX platform petals and the problem is solved. The best thing about training with the bike loaded is that I find any issues before I go on my trip.
Lumpy roads are my main stay of late and are really helping me improve. This as well as not spending all my cycles on the beast it what's working for me. The last two weeks I've started back on my solo rides so that I'm used to it for France. No point being always with people when I'm touring alone albeit I'm sure I'll meet plenty of others on the Euro Velo route.
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The only other thing that was slipping away was my diet but with pressure from one or two of my friends (and/or their kids), I'm back on track from yesterday and today I ate my first ever salad........ok I can feel your shock....but to date if I had a salad it was the ham, chicken or eggs I ate.......why doesn't everyone else ? :-)
Those green stuff and messy other stuff are for rabbits. However I ate them all today, greens red, foreign objects, dressings the lot....did I enjoy it.....can't say I didn't but equally can't say I did.
I ate it and the deal was I wasn't to be told what anything was until I finished it. I will try it again and hopefully I'll learn to like it as it's just too awkward being a fussy eater.
I'm a work in progress.....as they used to say in the 6 million dollar man....we have the power to rebuild him :-)
Only 45 days left now to France and I'm more or less organised with things....except I must put up my tent. Can you imagine me on my first night trying to figure it out. As for my camp cooking......guess it'll be pasta and baked beans :-)
Keep smiling talk soon :-)
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