Plans for 2015! not posted since 2012! woops....

So...

not posted anything since 2012 eh? oh dear.

Anyway, this will be remedied from today onwards as i plan on using my blog posts are a method of tracking progress for the goals I plan on setting for the year. Hopefully it'll see the return of the Friday panoramic! Not today though, unless I get a chance to go outside later - busy day taking Christmas decorations down!

Right then, goals for the year so far:


24/12 in July
bigdog in august
lose weight before holiday in may
ride twice a week
run twice a week.
Ride each Muddyarse end of month ride.


Last I checked id let myself get up to 17.5 stone which I'm horrified about. I'm aiming to be close to 15 by May. I'll weigh myself later on so I can keep a track on here too.

Until the next post, here's a pic from the summer.

ttfn
Jim.

Woops!

I didnt realise I hadnt posted a blog since before going on holiday! bugger! Lots to catch up upon then!

Firstly, a good holiday was had, the children loved it and I had a crack at fencing and archery; I can see myself taking a more serious interest in fencing in the future...
Hopefully, going back for more next year and exploring the surrounding area a bit more.

Next up was the Brighton BigDog, which i was racing as a last minute solo rider. High hopes for a dry race where looking good the monday before but heavy rain leading up to it left its a tad slippery to say the least. None the less the day dawned dry and warm and the race went well, by the third lap a nice dry line had been cut through most of the boggy sections. Towards the end of my third lap i started cramping a little bit and that would eventually end my race as my calves cramped horribly and I inadvertantly crashed into a tree. With my head. Ow. A bit of a head ache later and after picking myself up I noticed id snapped the shifter mount ( not the shifter itself, thankfully ) so game over! If it had been the left hand one it wouldnt have been terminal but alas, it was not to be.

Taking positives from it, I rode a measured and consistent race and forced myself to keep a steady pace, I think in hindsight I couldve gone a bit quicker but hey ho. It also demonstrated that the Whyte was looking after my back as that was fresh as a daisy. A far cry from my last 12 hour solo attempt. So, I think a visit to newnham next year is on the cards.

The weather has been a consistent thorn in my side this year, Ive struggled to motivate myself on occasion but i think im coming through that, so looking a strong winter hopefully!


Speaking of winter, its September next weekend! thats bonkers! where has the year gone? oh well, enjoying some nice weather at the moment but that wont last long i suspect. Hoping to ride the maxx enduro 40 miler at the end of September, but we'll have to see how the weather hold for that, if it rains it would suck balls.

Right, nothing too much else to say, going to stick some of my fave pics of the past month up and we'll take it from there.

the required friday panaoramic. ( im know, its a thursday...)

The Whyte at the stanmer tea rooms, after showing a mate around the trails. Hadnt ridden that well or quick in ages, good for the legs and soul. It also happened to be the first sunday off ive had since i can remember so ill be doing more of that in the future.

Lastly, Id like to dedicate this one to Gilly Baker, who lost her fight with a brain tumor recently, never have i met a star that shined as bright as hers. RIP gillybeans. 

Oh look, it raining. Again.

The post title says it all really doesnt it! Although at the moment its sunny here and im relaxing after a good mornings run around Devils Dyke and the surrounding downs. It was nice to do some exploring too, instead of pounding the same old tracks, so hopefully I'll spread out further and keep things fresh.



Any attempts to get out this week and last have been rumbled by the shitty weather, its been utterly diabolical so ive been on the turbo trainer mostly, trying to do something prior to the bigdog race which is increasingly likey to be a swamp. Oh well, the mud is a great leveller so hopefully things will go well. My last actual ride was last week and i had alovely time looking at some new trails that i normaly ride past. A couple of shots from the ride and the route:

Going on holiday next week to exmoor, not going to be much scope for riding ( none at all! ) but im planning on taking my running shoes and doing a couple of laps around the site, but we'll see what the weather has in store for us! If its anything like it has been, we'll be doing indoor activities not out!

I really hope this weather improves, aside from limiting getting out on the mountain bike its sucks when you have to work in it too, riding motorcyces in the rain isnt all that much fun! You know its got bad when the winter mud tires are on in July:

Still, plenty of mud clearance eh?!

Right, I'll leave you with the regular friday panaorama and bid you all a safe week! I'll try and post when i get back from holiday and tell you all about it, until then, stay dry!

Three in a row! check me out for being all regular and stuff!

A few little things this week, been a good one weather wise; managed to get out and not get too muddy! Its been mega muggy though, lots of sweating and a few bouts of cramp so in an effort to keep on top of this Ive got some Nuun tablets to try:

Hopefully they'll do the trick!

The most exciting thing to occur is confirmation of my entry to the Brighton BigDog as a solo competitor, which im really looking forward to and praying for good weather! Ive done absoloutley zero preperation for this so fully expect to suffer greatly but it needs to be done! Im going to join the brightonmtb tuesday night rides to get my legs suitably ripped off in an effort to shock my body into a degree of readiness. Or a heart attack...

I've had the Whyte nearly one whole month now, so im getting ready to write a review of the bike, which will be next week or the week after. Im loving the new machine, though it is taking a while to readjust my riding style to it, and im still making small tweaks to the saddle position and height and I cant wait till the bigdog to give it its competition debut. Hopefully it'll prove my theories from last years 24/12 correct and if so i reckon another crack at that solo will be had for 2013.

Im stretching nice and regular at the moment, and on the reccomendation of a friend ive got some pilates videos on youtube to try, that should be a laugh...

Right, time to put away some washing and a wuick tidy up. Heres a couple of pics from the weeks adventures:

till next friday, take it easy.
J

So, here we are, another week gone and an blog post to boot! I hope we're all well the one or two people that might actually read this.

Been a good week on the bike, managed two rides so far and hoping to get out tonight or tomorow, depending on the weather. Tuesday night saw me do a proper cross country ride on the Whyte, and it managed it with aplomb. Loving the bike so far. 23 miles ridden on a fantastic summers evening on some nice dry south downs hills. The new bike got up these with not a wander or a twitch; the front end is alot less wander prone than the stiffee and its 130mm fork. Naturally the way back down was very enjoyable and importantly, my back was happy the morning after. I need to reset my garmin forerunner to display in miles and after riding 40k i was hoping to have hit 30miles but turns out my estimates was way off, by 10k! hoping to ramp up the distances to closer to 35 miles in the next couple of months in preperation for the maxx exposure 40 mile ride in late september. Knowing my legs are good for the distance will help mentally and I can focus on worrying about lights and falling off! I have a plan to add a little bit on to the half way point of the previous ride and towards the end to make the distance but i'm waiting for the epic wind we're having at the moment to die down. Or point in the right direction!

The other problem stopping me running or riding has been some grotty sunburn on my shoulders, cleaning the company bikes on wednesday it was lovley and sunny so i dared bare some flesh and paid the price! I'll see how they feel and get out asap.

In other news, four weeks till I go on holiday to exmoor with the tribe. Looking forward to it as it'll be the first proper family holiday we've had, touch wood the summer might have got its act together weather wise!

Right, the boys are watching the best of Thomas and friends on DVD and I have a house to clean! So here is a photo from Tuesdays ride and I'll post up again next friday.

cheers
J

 

new look, new focus

A new post, a new title and new outlook...

Been a while since I posted, just after the nenham60 by the looks of it. Decided to give it a rest for a bit, most of the winter and spring were spent being ill or broken in various forms but im back to full health and now striving to get myself back into shape.

Most of the goals i outlined in my previous post fell by the way side due to poor health so its time for a few new ones...

Im hoping to ride the maxx exposure 40mile enduro in september, i enjoyed the newnham 60 format and it'll be nice to do something closer to home. Fingers crossed I can revisit newnham again this coming january in better health. I also have a plan to race the final round of the Enduro1 gravity enduro race but we'll have to see how work and life pan out.

My motivation to do anything this year has taken a nose dive with poor health and pretty shitty weather but my enthusiasm has returned thanks to the release of the strava website; it records routes and allows you to divide the route into segments and then compare with other users. Its been good to see improvments in my times and as a guage to how other riders are doing. Its been quite humbling also.

I also have a new bike; a Whyte t-120s full suspension bike and its bloody marvelous! I'll post up a full review in a couple of weeks as ive only had it a week. In the mean time, here is a picture:

 Not a great one as its been instgramed and my mobile phone seems to take issue with that program...

Right, im going to leave it at that and i'll report back next friday with another post showing some of the rides ive been on. HOPEFULLY!

cheers
Jim.

Happy new year!

Wow, holy not posting very often! Im not going to apologise cos I dont feel sorry, I've just had nothing to say really...


This will be a quick post detailing objectives for 2012 and whats new with me.

So, what have i got instore for 2012? The usual events: http://www.brightonbigdog.com/  and the http://www.twentyfour12.com/ aswell as a few others. I kick started this year with the the newnham60 enduro race, it was very very very muddy and it turned out I rode the event with pneumonia, so glad i finished!

 Once back in brighton I saw the doc who advised lots of anti-biotics and rest! I dont do rest very well!

The next event is the stinger: http://www.xcracer.com/The-Stinger-2011-Newnham-Park-Plymouth.html which after this bout of illness, im just hoping to finish.

After this a little break and im hoping to do my first running only event, the bluebell run in angerming. http://www.rawenergypursuits.co.uk/events/angmering-bluebell-10km-trail-run/ Ive been enjoying running offroad but its been tricky recently as ive only had a pair of cheap road shoes - no grip at all! In the january sales i picked up some adidas trail shoes and cant wait to try them!

The latter half of the year Im hoping to do the maxxexposure 40 mile enduro, and im still debating dusk till dawn, after two very wet years im not sure i can be bothered to do that to myself or my bike. We'll have to see...

So, thats my year planned. Lets roll the dice and see what comes up!