ysp

i've never really thought about the work of henry moore before. it's almost that it's so ubiquitous i haven't noticed. previously i've been drawn to more conceptual art. objects that shock and ideas that polarise. but that was when i was a teenage art student.

you'd never catch me on a bike back then, let alone a damp fell side. but through running and biking i'm discovering a love of wild places. seeing landscapes as potential adventures. putting myself against nature and reveling in the sense of insignificance that brings. the frailty of life and the exhilaration of living.

i wasn't expecting these feelings to bubble to the surface today. almost like a jolt of clarity and inspiration. if you're in the area, go to the yorkshire sculpture park. if not, make plans. i'm certainly going back.

warm and dry

yup, this evenings ride was positively balmy. today i chased 2 fixies and a bouncy bike. however chris did mention that he thinks i'm getting faster, "when we're waiting for you, we measure the time in seconds rather than minutes". he was invited to call in for cake on the way home.

still about 4 portions left.

addicted to sugar

been feeling a bit fed up the past few days. putting it down to a hangover plus high sugar intake. jane thinks it's the lack of running. a weekend of fells, log fires and good food awaits though. i've also been making the final adjustments to 'the plan', soon to be unveiled...

help yourself...

thanks for all the birthday wishes, much appreciated.

the longest-shortest birthday ride

tomorrow i slip cleanly into the 30+ age category and what better way the put off impending gifferdom than to go and play on bikes. my vague plan of riding somewhere in hayfield was given a sprinkle of magic, secret trail dust thanks to
rich. local trails for local people.

normally when we get together our rides tend to be long affairs, early starts, late finishes, mile munching terrain and ending up sleeping on the fell side. today's ride was a different beast. the distance was short, so short in fact, that jane actually ran further than us.

but no mile was easily won. winching ourselves up, faces gnarled into the headwind. divert from the path, seeking the easy line. there is no easy line. tyres sinking into peat, then the boots. keep on pushing. a warning of such is given, "you can give it the beans but there are some drops". i get to the back of the queue. brakes squealing like a pig, trying to make the turn. too steep, too scared.

a promise of the best singletrack in the peaks. a bold statement. today, i think we where shown a glimpse of it. some excelled, some pushed too hard. me, i excepted defeat too soon. but to get better you have try what you can't. it's just playing on bikes really. i felt like a big kid. thanks for coming guys...

the booze ride

rain didn't stop play, just altered plans. no 'street' ride this evening. instead, all singletrack leads to the pub. a birthday pint for simon. some muddy trails, cupcakes and a whiskey stop. rode home with a slow puncture and a sugar high. bike still needs cleaning and hip flask will need replenishing.

glory scones

back in september, whist struggling around keilder, i met rosemary. emails have since been exchanged and some 'racing' plans made. today was the first of such outings. thankfully it was going to be much sorter than the last time we met, a trailquest in the dark peak.

the objective is the same as orienteering, visit as many check points as you can, picking up the most points and don't be late back. you just have to do it on a bike. rosemary took charge and was a brilliant navigator. all i had to do was keep up, not drop the control descriptions and make sure i bib at the check points. i managed all three but only just!

we rode some great trails, had a good laugh, gasped for breath, squeeled our brakes, didn't eat enough and made one fatal error. up and over is very rarely quicker, despite some fearless descending by rosemary. death or glory. we should at least get a prize for the most penalty points gained!

jane had a slightly more successful day of racing. running in the leg it round lathkill race, her main objective was to not come last. which she easily achieved. photographic evidence here. in fact i don't think she tried hard enough, she still energy to bake scones when she got home. me, well, my bike still needs cleaning.