Toddler Takeover at Mountain View Ranch

It's been a wet christmas, as usual in Wales.  

My Brother commented that he was the most content to sit in the house of any of us, and it's true.  I am going stir crazy.  The kids started to go a bit crazy.  The husband got out on the mountain bike on Sunday but is still going a bit stir crazy.

This morning we decided to attempt toddler takeover at Mountain View Bike Park.  The website said there were coached lessons on Wednesdays at 9am during school breaks... and it is a school break.

When we arrive at 9am there was no one there, which was a slightly bad sign.  Perhaps it was the yellow warning of rain, or perhaps it was the actual rain.  Here's some photographic evidence.  It was wet, but both kids had fun.

Lilah has a strange habit of taking corners so sharply she leaves the pump track and skids into the mud.  Then she cries because she wants to be back on the bike.  She is made of tough stuff!

After 45 minutes we all went inside for hot chocolates:

We were back home by 11.  This afternoon we are visiting friends for a toddler tea party.  My brother heads home tomorrow (5am wakeup for the airport adventure...) and then hopefully Andy and I might get a day of catch up ourselves with the kids in Nursery.  

Christmas holiday has been fun and busy.  I love the bit after Christmas when you get to really start thinking about 2023.  I can't wait to read all the goals posts in the blogosphere and solidify our 2023 plans fir fun and adventure.

Also, I finished another book.  Really enjoyed A Psalm for the Wild Built by Becky Chambers.  

Updated book list here - I think I'm ending this year on 58 books which is no small achievement for a former non-reader.

Sunday Report

Sunday involved everything good about at home life:

Garden time, duplo in the lounge, a walk to the park with our friends, Lilah learning some fundamentals of bike repair:

The toddler did amazing at sleeping on her first night here.

We managed a Sunday Roast - it turns out my kids love gravy.  Isaac even eats chicken with gravy.  I am watching my children British-ify before my own eyes.

Evening was more beer and chats.  We've really missed real people.  It's weird catching up on three years in one go, and made even weirder when those 3 years have involved such... weirdness.

I didn't check email all day because life was too interesting.  Need to make that an aim/goal for more weekend days or weekdays. I still love the idea of internet free time 1 day a week and 1 week a year (or something like that... is is 1 hour a day, 1 day a week, 1 week a month, 1 month a year?  That seems unlikely)

Goodbye Denmark!

Today is my last day in Denmark.  It's been good here - I managed 5 rides in 7 days.  It's been awesome to finish 20 miles by 8am every day, but I don't think I can keep going to bed by 10pm to make the 6am wake up calls possible when I'm back in the UK.  I've packed up the bike now into it's fancy travel box and this evening we fly back to the UK.  Bike goes back to Cardiff and I go up to North Wales for another work-adventure - but this time at a hotel with a gym.  Yippee!

It only rained 1 morning but I think that was better than the heat - I was doing a good 19mph average.  I came home very muddy tho!

 I cycled past this weird store every day.  I'm not sure what they sell but it scared me the first time - looked like people stuck in a glass bird cage!

These cows also kept me company in the mornings

This was one of my favourite parts of the cycle.  Big long roads stretching flat and far. Intermittent trees for interval sprints (not that I did many!) and blue skies.  I wish I had hours to cycle in Denmark!

On one of the days we went into Copenhagen and I saw this copy of lady and the tramp.  I thought the translation was funny, but "Tramp" is kind of a funny word anyways!

I did get 110 miles done this week, which is really good, but I just wish I could do more.  One of the mornings I found some other cyclists and we had a mini chain-gang.  Cycling with others is much more fun than cycling alone.  I also noticed I was easily doing 22mph when I cycled other people whereas I was often pushing slowly when by myself.  It wasn't just the benefit of drafting - it was the benefit of trying to keep up!

Oh and I got a Queen of the Mountain!! That's right Denmark, Ajax riders are coming for your Queen! (of the mountain).

NAILED IT!

Cycling in Denmark - Bike Faff that is so worth it.

On Saturday I left for a week long trip to Denmark with work.  I brought a bike with me this time, which involved learning the basic mechanics of my bike.  I had to take the wheels, stem, and pedals off for transit.  After a 45 minute oily mess I got the bike back together:

On Monday I went for my first cycle in Denmark. Denmark is awesome.  It is pretty flat but green and interesting.  We are staying right on the water, so I get to cycle the coast road with loads of other cyclists.  There are loads of people on nice bikes - more time trial setups than I've ever seen. There were loads of cute houses but I only took this fairly average photo:

When I'm away with work we have very long hours - 8am to 10pm usually.  On Monday I got up at 6am for a ride and just did an easy 20 miles down the coast and back again.

This morning I got up at 6 again and did 25 miles in 1hr 40, which is very slow but I think the tiredness is kicking in.

On the way I passed Louisiana!

I wish I had days to cycle here - I would love to do a long ride!  Unfortunately I probably will not get that opportunity, so my trips up and down the coast will have to suffice.  It's very handy staying on the coast - I definitely won't get lost!

I even managed to take a ridiculous cycling "selfie" on the ride this morning.

Fact: I need a better helmet.  MTB helmet and Road bike is such a faux pas!!

Dark Chocolate and swimming: an update on my weekend.

I had a week off exercise.  It was fun.  I went to Scotland with work and I did work and I did not exercise at all.  I tried to eat healthy but I also ate a whole bar of dark chocolate because Asda sold me what I thought was a bar of 70% dark chocolate but was actually 70% cocoa solids and 30% crunchy bits of sugar and it tasted amazing.  In A bad way.  I like my chocolate dark... so dark.

How dark?  This dark:

On Sunday I overslept the Ajax ride so went to swim practice with Cardiff Tri instead.  Apparently my plan of not swimming for 6 months while everyone else swims loads for 6 months did not make me any better of a swimmer.  I was the slowest person in the slowest group.  I'm pretty sure a dude with 1 arm lapped me 3 times. 

I might by my parents this shirt, if I can find the right gendered one:

It was interesting because usually I kind of like all the exercise I do, but I really did not like the swimming at all.  However I now want to swim more, which is possibly a strange reaction.

In douch-y swimming news, I need to learn how to breathe bilaterally, before my clicky shoulders fall off entirely.

Did you know swimming was super complicated?  Look at this picture.  This is complicated:

And today I went track cycling again.  I did not crash.  I did not get a PB.  I cycled for 20 miles in a circle.  It was pretty fun.

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!

I love cycling.

I forgot something a few months ago - I forgot I love cycling.

It was cold and wet and dark, and I was cold and wet and on a bike, and I did not enjoy the rides.

I went out with Ajax a bit, but I was pretty certain that the best part of biking was when I stopped being on a bike.  My favorite part of the sunday ride was finishing the Sunday ride.

However this has changed now!

Why?

Because we are having awesome weather here in wales.  A full week of glorious sunshine!

On Monday I tried Track Cycling for the first time - Ajax run sessions and let you borrow bikes for only £2!  The bikes are all fixed wheel and it's a great chance to push until you can't push anymore - if you fall off the back you can get back on when the group comes around again.

We played a load of fun cycling games - sometimes 2 groups would start on opposite sides of the track and try to catch up with the group in front, sometimes a larger group would pursue a smaller and faster group.  There were some silly races at the end (I'm pretty sure I came in last) but all in all it was a really fun session.  With a very silly looking map:



In other news, I found a picture of me getting help putting my "race" number on from the Barnardos ride:

And here's a picture of me from Saturdays Parkrun!

This is one of the better running photos I've seen of myself.  It was right next to one of the most horrific running photos I've seen of myself.  But also, it's better than the first parkrun photo of me (which is also a bit horrific!)

Sunshine is meant to be ending next week... then it's going to be raining again :( So I better enjoy while I have the chance!

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

I've got internet! and the South Wales Echo On Your Bike for Barnardo's

Did you miss me?  I missed me!  Not having internet is the worst! Luckily I now have the internet, and so i can write things and do things and do things then write about the things I do!

Its a sign of the times that a house is not a home until there is internet.  It's also a sign of the times that I complained about not having internet on twitter.  The irony was not lost on me...

So what have I been doing besides moving?

I did the Barnardos ride!!

37 Miles through the lovely Vale of Glamorgan - It was the first big group ride I've done (about 350 people) and it was just awesome... the sun was out and I got to play tail-hog on cyclists a lot faster than me.  In the end I finished in 2 hours 10 minutes, next year I will definitely do sub 2 hours!!

And they put me in the news paper!! (I'm on the right in the group of 3)

Other than that I've been mountain biking, and I tried track cycling (on fixed wheel bikes) and I remembered that cycling in the sunshine is completely awesome and it's the whole reason I started cycling in the first place.  Cycling fast in the sunshine is even better so I think it's time to get my training on... more.

Back to unpacking...

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!

Cardiff Ajax Sunday Club Ride - Steady Group 24th February.

Today was Sunday, and as such it was time for a SUNDAY CLUB RIDE! The local cycling club - Ajax - puts on Club rides every Sunday for varying skill levels.  One of Ajax's own - Elinor Barker, just won Gold at the UCI Track World Championships.

Here is Elinor Barker with Ajax Kit

(Elinor Barker in Ajax Kit)

But today I did a ride that was not for Elinor Barker.  It was mostly flat and 60 miles and was the "steady group" which is the "slow group" but longer than the "steady steady" group which does 30 miles.  

I haven't bene on a long ride since before Christmas and was very nervous to start.  For Christmas my housemate got me a cycling stem bag for holding snacks:

 Like a true athlete I filled it with Jelly Babies

Hypothetically I can now eat jelly babies while cycling for added fuel.  I tried to eat while riding today but it's not very pleasant, and I like eating so much that eating unpleasantly feels defeatist to me.

I was feeling good until the "cake stop" which was after 35 miles at the Chepstow Garden Centre.  I had a snickers and about a litre of water and when we got back on the bikes 20 minute later I felt like my legs had hit a wall.  The last 25 miles were hard - there were good bits but I was often off the back and couldn't seem to get my desired middle-pack position back.  About 15 miles out I contemplated giving up, but the group was nice and the leaders were taking care of people me so I couldn't just sneak away quietly.  Also I was still 15 miles from home, so where would I go?

I did make it home at last, and in an attempt to not fall asleep immediately I ate a powerbar recovery bar

And then I had a grilled cheese sandwich with a fried egg.  And went to Marks and Spencers to do some fancy shopping with my £15 gift card from Living Social.  And then I came home, and sat in my room, and did nothing.

Cycling takes it out of me - I'm useless after a Sunday ride.  But being able to ride 60 miles is not to shabby, so let's hope the legs work tomorrow!

Strava from today:

Mountain Biking Sunday - a trip to Glyncorrwg and an abandonment of W2

Sunday was beautiful!  The sun came out and it stopped raining and I managed to get my bike in the car by 8:30am for a trip to one of the most beautiful parts of South Wales - Afan Argoed!  I was trying to complete the (overly) ambitious Wall 2 - 27 miles of black grade trail with 3,000 feet of climbing and  "two of the most demanding descents in the UK" according to the website.

To be honest, if I had looked at the website before I started I probably wouldn't have tried.

But I did it!  Well I did some of it.  I did half of it. But this doesn't really matter - I'll only do better next time!  The important bit was this:

The view was amazing!  Many people call the South Wales Valleys "Gods Country" and though that's often mocked by Cardiff people, they have a point.  It's beautiful!

My Strava was less impressive - I'm getting quicker downhill, but my climbing and stamina are crap.  I also forget that unlike road biking, going downhill on a mountain bike takes almost as much effort as going up hill. 

The only rest was when I took a gently sloped fire road down a hill for a while.  This was counteracted by realizing I missed a turn and grinding it back up the hill for a while.  

Next time I'll probably just do Whites Level - It's about 15 miles and will probably tire me out enough.  Looking forward to the next nice weekend!

PS - I'm sorry about the stupid shirt that I'm wearing.  I once went on a mission to get a shirt from every state.  I had a few, but the only one left is the above "Idaho? No, Udaho" shirt.  Embarassing!

Wednesday Workouts!

You read that right - workoutS!  I'm away with work at the moment which means I'm working bizarre and continuous hours.  Todays schedule ran from 8am to 10pm, but I managed to run to the gym 3 times.  I also have the added benefit of working with sports people, so when I'm away there's loads of healthy food on offer.  I've decided to try another bread detox (I was on one before I got sick, but when sick I ate everything I could because my theory is the body needs lots of food to make it better.  Or, I feel terrible so at least I can eat comfort foods that make *me* feel better).  Today is day 3.  I've been eating loads of veggies and chicken and fish - and loads of fruit.  I had 2 bananas today!

So this morning I was up at 6am to do my Weights Routine 1 though I only did 2 sets and the weights were a bit off because I'm not used to this gym equipment.

Then after lunch I snuck downstairs for 25 minutes on the stationary bike, Level 10, and I managed something around 8miles.  Obviously the resistance is to low.  I need to look into stationary bike workouts.

And after dinner I snuck down again and managed to run 2 miles in 20 minutes, then spent 10 minutes on the cross-trainer  and then practiced headstands for a while.  I want to be able to come in and out of headstand without falling - ie no thumping feet to the floor.  At least I don't fall backwards much anymore.

I'm completely addicted to this song at the moment.  It makes me want to run and jump and dance and be really good at stuff.  I know it's misogynistic and also from like 10 years ago, but I don't care, I love GirlTalk!


Tomorow is my last day away with work, then it's back home and back on that bicycle!

Friday Ride

Happy friday!  I'm still off work for that Christmas - New Years break, so today all I had to do was go see my good friend Jen and her adorable baby in Risca.  I looked on the internet and Risca is only 12 miles from me - "Up the valleys" as they say, so I decided to cycle.

I got ready and looked like a douchy cyclist, wearing my new bib and cold weather gear! So I put on a tee-shirt (from another cycle - the Taff Trail ride 2012) to look less like a douche.

The first bit of the ride was fine, a bit rainy, and unseasonably warm.  

 After the first 8 miles I had a bit of a nightmare when the road became steeper and steeper - apparently there are 2 fairly big hills between Cardiff and Risca.   Here is the elevation chart (the middle bar is 500, the top line is 750):

I took this photo because it was really steep and rocky and horrible and I ended up walking down a mountain about 2 miles.  But the photo looks nice so I'm not sure why I didn't ride down :/

It felt more like this. 

Except with more gravel, and I was walking, and wearing clip shoes, and holding a road bike.

 This is what Risca looked like.

 And this is me thinking "what the hell am I doing:

And this is my bike on the train home, because that ride was 8 miles of ouch and 4 miles of terrible. 

I should do it again sometime, I couldn't ride much worse than I did.  Maybe with a mountain bike next time.

Or a big heaping slice of RULE 5