July - Recap

This month is the month that Ben died.  He was one of my best friends in Cardiff - a great guy, a great cyclist, a great friend.  I haven't been blogging lately because everything I do, every day, is less good now that Ben isn't around.  

The Wednesday after Brewer half and I got back from Luxembourg we woke up with a message that Ben was in a cycling crash during a race. This wasn't too uncommon as he had certainly been in a fair share of crashes and accidents before - once he got bit by a dog while cycling and came home with teeth marks in his leg.  But soon we found out it was serious, and when the news was confirmed it felt like a piece me had been ripped away suddenly - I can't (and won't) write about that too much.

I think about Ben every day, and things are not the same, and every happiness is less good when I can't share it with him.  The successes I have on the bike are less grand when he's not there to tell, the Strava segments I blast are less exciting when Ben won't be giving me kudos.  There were so many adventures we had left in our lives, so many things we were supposed to do.  He was supposed to be in our lives forever.

But at the same time I've been inspired this month to cycle more, to try harder, to get better and to get stronger.  Ben (and most male cyclists) are often jealous of Lady cyclists because it is easier for us - we are small fishes in a small pool but with some training could be medium or even big fish in that same pool!  With that in mind I've tried to do more - to cycle more - to exercise more - to be a stronger version of me.  I also hope that being physically stronger will make me mentally stronger, and my victories will be a small sample of the success ben must have felt.

 This month I cycled 315 Miles.

This month I ran 13 Miles

This month I competed in the Cymmer Triathlon 

And this month we said goodbye to Ben Carroll after a quick blast up his local Gower climb with 200 cyclists and friends clapping him over the finishing line.

MTB Ben

MTB Ben

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-23272820

Ajax Cardiff Summer Club 10 Time Trial Series (7.4 mile TT) - attempt 2

A few weeks ago the Summer series of the time trials started.  Time trials are a cycling things where you cycle a certain distance as fast as you can.  Then you do that same distance again the next week, and the week after.

The first week they set me off first, and I did my 7.4 miles in 24:50.  It was hard.

The second week they set me off first again, but this time I had three female riders following me.  Every one sets off a minute apart, which means that if you get passed whichever rider passes is that many minutes ahead.  My competitive nature sprung up more than before and I didn't want to get passed.

I was flying on the way out, my speedo was reaching 26mph and I was gunning it down the hills.  On the turn around I was hit by a blast of wind, and realized why the outward was so easy - the wind was now pushing me back and I was struggling to keep above 17mph on the flats.

On the final hill the first rider overtook me - but it wasn't one of the three girls, it was Ben, who had started in 5th and was now 4 minutes ahead of me and making silly faces:

I really didn't want to be passed again so I pushed hard  and was positively gasping when I crossed the finish line:

I knocked a minute off my time and came in at 23:40, which was about 18mph for the whole route.  The Time Trials run all summer and are only £3 to enter, they happen on Friday nights which is awesome for keeping me out of the pub!

Unfortunately this week I havent got my motivation back and have not been out since that time trial, but next week I am back on track and will try and knock another minute off my time next Friday!

Ajax Sunday Ride - Up the Rhigos in the Sunshine!

On Sunday I went out with Ajax for another Sunday Social Ride.  The routes had been put out on Tuesday (they're always ranked 1-4, 1 being fastest and 4 being slowest) and group 4 was going to Chepstow and back - a flat ride I have done loads.  I was all excited for the flat ride but when I got to the start MTB Ben told me to go with the faster ride (group 3) which was going up a massive mountain.

I said no.

Then I joined the group

We made it up the Rhigos fine, I was the 2nd from slowest but mostly from fear of not knowing how long the mountain was going to be, by the top I was moving quick again.  Next time I will try harder and next time I will go faster!

At the top everyone was waiting for me and also enjoying the sun

I decided to practice posing like a poser!

So comfortable! so natural!

After the ascent was the decent - 3.5 miles down the other side of the mountain with and average speed of 29.4mph and a max speed of 37.5mph.  SWEET!

Then we stopped at a cafe to refuel, where I dined on the competitive snack of champions:

Dark chocolate kit kat and full fat coke - YUM!

Unfortunately I had a bit of a mechanical problem at the end of the ride - 12 miles outside of Cardiff my pedal fell off.  2 miles later it fell off for good.  Despite the best help of my group I had accidentally destroyed my crank, partially from the sheer power and strength of my legs and mostly from cross threading my pedal until it was destroyed

I tried to cycle 1 legged for a while (there was no pedal anymore for leftie!) but it was painful and uncomfortable and I got a lot of odd stares so eventually I waited for Brewer half to pick me up from a town about 6 miles outside of Cardiff.

Brewer half earned some major beer credit from me on that ride - a lift home from Tongwynlais (lol at welsh town names!) and this dinner when I got back!

Yes I ate the whole bowl, and then a bit more, and then some stir fry, and then some crackers and cheese.  55 mile cycles make Hungry Rachel hungry!

And in case you are interested... here is the Strava:

And the Strava of my 1 footed ride

Mountain Biking Castle Coch - my first trip to my properly local trails

The other week MTB Ben took the Brewer half and me up to some of the local trails at Castle Coch.  It was a sunny day and MTB Ben was set on teaching us some new skills.  I'de never really been up Castle Coch but knew there was biking there - it turned out there was much more than I expected!

After grinding to the top (with a bit of pushing) ben took us to some little jump-y courses.  MTB Ben took us to a steep downhill bit and encouraged us to go down it.

I did not want to go down, neither did Brewer half.  But after some coaxing I gave it a go, and It was actually fine!  I practiced shifting my weight back to try and control the bike, and did not crash at all.

In fact, MTB Ben took a photo that was kind of awesome

It doesn't even look that steep!

After playing on the jumps we cycled to the top of the ridgeway overlooking Caerphilly...

...where MTB Ben fondled his bike...

...And then took some class photos

Check it out, here's me going over a very small bit of down!

And here's MTB Ben, going over a much larger bit of down!

A Sleepy Saturday in Roath: A trip to Roath Market and Allen's Bakery

On a recent Saturday my Brewer Half and MTB Ben and I went on an Adventure through Roath.

First we looked for the mystical bread-heaven of Allen's Bakery - or The Secret Bakery as I've heard it called.  A lot of walking later and down an alleyway we saw it!

Unfortunately by the time we arrived (11am - we are not morning creatures) most of the days breads were sold, but what was left still looked amazing!

We bought some tasty rolls and then headed to Roath Market.  A few weeks ago I tried duck eggs for the first time, and they were delicious!  I was a bit tipsy as well when we ate them (I know, strange drink-snack) but I wanted to try them again!  £1.80 later I had a lovely box of 6.  Brewer half bought some fresh butter, which was the most tasty butter I've ever tried.

 We also stopped by the Blaencamel Farm stand - happiest veg stall in the world!

Recently I ordered a Blaencamel Box - fresh veg delivered to my door.  It was so good - lots of different greens I'de never tried before.  In ordere to use everything I made some lovely indian meatballs which are still waiting in my freezer - nothing goest to waste if I can help it!

Blaencamel had some stunning greens for sale

 Wild Garlic & Winter Purslane

While on our adventures we also spotted the most ridiculous bike hack - tri-bars with gears and brakes.  Amazing.

Photopost: Hangfire Smokehouse - Cardiff BBQ - The Canadian Pub in Splott

I did a review last week of Hangfire Smokehouse last week.  I went again this week, and this time with a better camera!  So a few photos of this weeks deliciousness:

Love them pigs!  And 4 Anchor Steams to go around

Pulled Pork Platter, Loves it!

MOAR POARK

New sauce!  South Carolina Mustard! I think the bottle was full before I ate it all.  So good!

Best Ribs in Wales! 

More shots from above so you can see the beans.  SEE HOW GOOD THEY TASTE!

Back to regularly scheduled posts soon.  I've been playing with my new camera.  I took this amazing photo of my housemates:

I think I need a photography course.

My first trip to Whites Level - Mountain Biking at Glyncorrwg (Afan Argoed)

Today I was supposed to rent a car to go see my sister who lives in Oxford, I was supposed to help her move, and I was supposed to pick things up from Oxford and bring them back to Cardiff.  But when I woke up the sun was out, and the weather was supposed to get up to the high 50's (8 degrees C), and my brewer half and friends were all headed to Whites Level for a morning of mountain biking.  I called my sister at 7:30am to see if we could reschedule, and when she didn't answer (probably due to sleeping) I assumed she was okay with my change of plans and I packed my bike and jumped in the car to Glyncorrwg!

The initial ascent was closed due to forest things, but after treking my bike up a hill I was back on the trails.  It was a truly stunning day!

Dave says "look, blue sky!"

I was a bit nervous on the single track because I had never been before and I was by myself - I try not to slow the boys down when they are biking and I am very slow on the ascents so I usually just head off before them and then let them pass me.  Whites level seemed a bit more technical than Y Wal - mostly because of the stones and pebbly bits.  I'm just figuring out how to ride over roots, riding over stones is a whole different story.  

Here's me looking happy and pale and with my eyes shut after the final ascent:

Then we hit the descents together. It's well noted that I love Y Wal - but Whites level is a serious contender.  It had a bit of everything - some steep, some fast, some flow-y, some rocks.  It even had some awesome boardwalk bits!

(I stole this picture from the internet)

Whites level had something for everyone.  I've never been anywhere that was so custom built for mountain bikers.  The final descent was the best I've ever done - straight across the side of a mountain, looking over the beautiful Welsh valleys.  I felt like I was roaring down but Strava tells me it was 10mph - I'm sure I will go even quicker next time.

I managed the whole trail without any crashes today, which would possibly indicate I'm not pushing myself enough.  There was one bit that I didn't like - too many rocks and I couldn't see my line (line = the path I'll cycle to not fall off) but instead of slowing down I pedaled faster and made it over without any problems.  

As a wise man once said "If in doubt, go flat out!"

Today I watched this same wise man take the trail without working back brakes.  He went flat out.

Then he got to the bottom and tried to do a wheelie.  You can't do a wheelie without a back brake.  He ended up flat out... on the ground. We all laughed.

All in all another excellent day at Afan!  And I'm sure my most loveliest sister (who also is my blog editor), will understand a Californian in Wales's need to be outside on a bike when the sun is out!

Ben is top 50 on Strava now for the final descent. Nailed it!

Winter Walkies up Pen-Y-Fan

It's snowing in Wales!

This is exciting, because it never snows in South Wales.  Ever.  This is what I was told when I moved here 3 years ago.  Since then, it has snowed every year.

At first the snow is fun!  It is for making snow men and enjoying life!

Now the snow is annoying - it is for limiting outdoor activities and causing travel disruptions.

On Sunday, before the snow was annoying, we went for a hike up Pen-y-fan

Pen-y-fan is the tallest peak in south wales - almost 3,000 feet high.  Sometimes it looks like this:

When we got to the top, it looked like this:

I have a little pet project of headstands around the world, and I managed another:

Headstands in hiking boots are hard!

This week I'm away with work again, unlikely I'll get much gym time in (especially since I'm backdating this entry and know I won't gym for the first 2 days!) so it will be one of those fabeled "rest" periods.  Huzzah!

January 1st, 2013 - A Walk on the Gower

It didn't stop raining for the last 10 days of 2012.  Every day it rained.  Some days I went for a run in the rain, some days I went for a cycle in the rain.  But by Dec 28th I had enough and I didn't go out in the rain.  I sorted my clothes and I listed things on eBay and I cleaned my kitchen and I slept a lot.  I figured I gave it a good shot - the world was telling me to not exercise and who was I to argue with the weather.

On Dec 31st we sat around a sometimes rainy fire on the Gower - one of the most lovely places in South Wales.  It rained in splotches all evening, but dried around 9pm.  At 12:05 I went to bed, because I am not a party animal.  I hibernate.

When we woke up there was a yellow orb in the sky!  It was blue all around, and green, and not wet at all!  Happy January 1st!

So we went for a bit of a walk:

Ben was our guide.

The sun was out, but it was cold!  I dont think my camera knows how to photograph really white skin in a really bright sun!

There was a sand dune, and some of our group ran up it.  The small black lump is one of our group sliding down it.  I did not have the energy, so I was photographer.

Here's hoping for more SUN in 2013!