Thumper Club Forum
Club House => Chatter => Topic started by: guest7 on January 01, 2012, 03:03:52 PM
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Sorry I went MIA in 2011 guys. Things got on top of me and I decided to make my life simpler.
I promise to take more interest in the club from now on.
You all well?
GC
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Nothing wrong with a simple life, but glad you're back. You need a bike working now :)
Plan for 2012 here is to get the MZ back on the road and do some mileage other than going to work.
Andy
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Yes, indeed, a working bike :(
GC
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Aye GC,
KISS! {Keep it simple ,stupid!}
Make sure you do plenty of kissing! ;)
Good health, Bill.
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you've been away??... simple life?... whats that??... give me a hint, I could do with some of that....
well #1... hope you (and everyone in the TC) have a good 2012, look forward to your posts
pip pip
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simple life?... whats that??... give me a hint, I could do with some of that....
LOL. Yeah, if only it was as easy as saying that you want a simple life...
I just trimmed off some of the things that got me down and/or soaked up valuable family time. It then seemed like all the other ******* just filled up the gaps that were left so it was hard to think I was better off. However, this year has been a stand-out year for two reasons:
My marriage is still strong and I've spent much more time with my boys.
I finally started to address my weight gain and since early July I've been running regularly and enjoying it a lot. Here are some pics of my last running event: http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150534062365987.429752.596035986&type=3 (http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150534062365987.429752.596035986&type=3)
I still need to lose some weight, but it's all going the right way.
It's also been nice enjoying life without petty bickering and childish behaviour except on the part of my children who are, after all, children. My wife still nags me like a bugger though.
On the down side it was horrible losing club member Bruce Pollard earlier this year. That one event changed my outlook on all sorts of things. Sorry if it sounds melodramatic and don't think I'm trying to say that Bruce was a close friend or anything. However, he was a fantastic bloke and it was sobering to see how quickly your expectations can be changed by an unexpected illness.
Cheers
GC
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Welcome "back" Graham
Ian :)
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Hello Ian, wasn't Stafford a hoot this year eh?
Surely if I am the least involved club member this year then you are in the running for most involved. Your efforts at Uttoxeter in particular were extraordinary. Mind you all those involved in the shows and the rally (and this website) did great work.
GC
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Welcome back GC, now sort out some 'ME' time in the garage.
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Message rec'd and understood ;)
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Yeah GC we've missed your antics and smile.. You need to get out there and ride, ride like the wind. err well as best as you can mate... Nice to see you are back.
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ride like the wind.
But not the wind we got outside right now.
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Well, like you #1 i had made a decision several months ago, that A) i was watching the scales creep up past 13 1/2 stone, a problem which needed adressing and B) i had really done nothing much in the way of serious excercise for 15 years when i stopped racing a pushbike after a crash which left me in hospital.
With 4 Mike Burrows bikes in the garage (still) including my recumbent.... i figured I should resurrect them and get out...
IT WAS HARD!... bloody hell, my arse hurt my lungs hurt in fact... everything hurt.. but i stuck with it doing about 60 road miles a week and 2 hours on the turbo trainer (which i found under my now derelict caravan) and i entered my clubs new years day 10 mile time trial. satisfying in as much as I completed it...and didn't fall off, and averaged over 20 miles an hour... somewhat depressing that when i stopped racing 15 years ago my best time for a '10' was 21:49, still, i think i'll manage better than the 29:38 which was my time the other day, as the season progresses.... it gives me a target, and for some reason I can't just go out for a ride.... i need to compete (probably why i'm a bit of a track day junkie on the srx) ... anyway.. less of this rubbish... good to have you back in the swim GC... keep up the running
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Good to hear you're back in the saddle. I wasn't a great racer, I just don't have the killer competitive urge. I actually enjoy a bimble on my bicycles and I really miss my recumbent.
Yesterday I went on a 'Harris Tweed' cycle ride, inspired by this current fad for 3-speed and single-speed 'sit up and beg' bikes and edwardian riding gear.
(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7162/6627471325_c02d12e238.jpg)
Erm... not my best look ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
GC
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I say young man... very dapper if i may say so... the old plus fours look a treat (pity about the bloke wearing 'em :D v)
I've not been out on the recumbent... in fact i shall probably fettle it and bung it on Ebay in the spring...
I wa round Mike Burrows workshop before Christmas, getting my Off Road bike fixed... love his workshop... literally hundreds of his creations lying about... he really is brilliant innovative engineer
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GC,
You been in 'em charity shops again.
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If the recumbent (Ratcatcher?) is Ebay bound then I'd appreciate being considered first... you never know the old finances may have improved by then.
Cheers
GC
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I can think of a better way to get exercise laying down than some odd pedal cycle. ;)
The riding gear picture could have been worse though. I do hope neither of you are seen in public wearing lycra. I though the fat and forty Rossi wannabees at Squires cafe were funny until the local cycling club went by :o
;D ;D ;D
Andy
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Haven't worn full lycra since my 30s... and even then it wasn't a pretty sight :o
GC
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GC,
You been in 'em charity shops again.
Er... surprisingly no. Jacket was £15 on Ebay a couple of years ago (geuine Harris tweed).
Shirt was new, a present from my dad after one of his forays to the Cotswolds (he likes farm shops).
The socks are sea socks bought cheap from the local branch of 'Tool Station'.
The britches are cut down and re-hemmed moleskin trousers (a nice excuse to drag my sewing machine out) and they came from... a charity shop!
The shoes (Diadora cycling shoes with SPD cleats) probably cost 4 times the cost of the rest of my clothing!
(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7004/6629402251_ba1b7e48dc.jpg)
My charity shop run of luck seems to have dried up lately, no more Rohan jackets for £8 ;)
GC
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GC... the recumbent is a 'Speedy' 'Windcheetah' i.e. 3 wheeler... not a 'ratcatcher' which, looking round Mikes workshop, are all 2 wheelers (now all carbon fibre, with hub center steering!)
cheers
Having said that, this particular 'Speedy' Mike made for himself, and does have some nice lightweight special features.
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And WHAT a workshop!
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@Steve, bl**dy h*ll, TWO HOUR sessions on the turbo? :o
I've been commuting most of the year with a couple of longer runs thrown in (total measured pedal mileage on the road last year was 2,422 miles), decided late December to start doing a weekly turbo session and an hour nearly broke me :-[
Incidentally, the "sufferfest" videos help take my mind off the pain and add structure to my training, worth a try if the boredom of turbo is getting to you :)
Mind you, I'm not nearly as competitive as you sound, done one Audax and no races!
GC, about time you reappeared! Only about one motorised bike ride a week here but it's keeping my hand in. Was in Llandridnod Wells at New Year but the bike museum was shut, went down to the local village and the butchers next to the pub had a couple of older style bikes sitting rotting outside, was tempting to make an offer for the roadster but SWMBO was watching and there was no space in the car anyway!
Happy New year to all anyway, hope you are all escaping the worst of the storms (I need to go shopping for fence materiels tomorrow :( )
Best,
S
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No Smudge.... 2 x 1hr sessions is the best i can do....
1st session is start at 14mph, up 1 mph per 5 mins, until i reach a pulse rate of 172, then maintain pulse rate as close to 170 as poss for the rest of the hour.... slowly getting the final speed up as recovery rate improves and cardiovascular system tunes up.... the biggest problem i have at present is that i just don't seem to be able to deal with the inevitable build up of lactic acid (intense burning and pain in legs) as i approach a pulse rate of 172 or over.... its all down to age, 15 years ago (when i last did any serious training my MHR was 188, and i seemed to deal with lactic acid build up very well, which would bear out why i won the club hill climb 3 years in succession.)
2nd session... warm up as in session 1, but then do the rest of the hour at a steady 20 mph... will up the mph as fitness improves.
then, if the weather is ok....a 60(ish) mile clubrun on sunday mornings... with a half way tea stop where we loaf about eating buns and bragging.
I swear the older I get, the better I was ;D
pip pip
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Haven't worn full lycra since my 30s... and even then it wasn't a pretty sight :o
GC
Thanks for not uploading the photos.
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Thanks for not uploading the photos.
It's a threat I can still carry through if you're not careful lol, though it has to be said, I tend only to wear Lycra on "serious" rides. (and the ladies like it even if you lot don't ;) :P )
Normally my high tech modern cycling gear consists of a cycle clip and a waterproof jacket with reflective panels :) (Not as much high viz as I tend to have on the motorbike these days though ??? )
ps, if you thought us "normal" cyclists were weird, check out the "vélos spéciaux" machines leaving on the Paris-Brest-Paris run last year 8) &feature=youtu.be
Mind you, that's what rush hour in central London could look like in a decade or so the way things are going!
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But wait, there's more: ;)
(http://cardiffcyclechic.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/image-11.jpg?w=370&h=)
Very rare shot of me with my mouth shut
GC
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What curious metals your roadster seems to be made of, and there is definately something funny going on with your brogues!
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I did the CTC National 400km Randonee a few ( many) years ago when it was hosted in Lincolnshire. Finished in 23hr 50min for 256 miles as I recall...it'd kill me now!!
I just checked, it was 1991!!!!
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I say #1... didn't know you could get brogues with SPD soles???... very natty! :D
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Talking of new starts, just finished my first turbo session of the new year :'(
For Steve L's benefit... (because he will understand the pain involved lol) ;
6min 30 warm up
10 mins of over/under intervals (ie over sustainable heartrate then under and repeat)
3 minutes of "rest" (ie continuous light effort)
3 x 8 minute "climbs" (with frequent short sprints inside the 8 min period) along with 4 minutes recovery riding after each, increased effort level on each culminating in a max effort 30sec sprint at the end of the last "climb".
4 min warm down
That's flushed out a fair bit of christmas eating and drinking! :o :o :'(
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I hope you put a towel over the top tube... it's amazing what sweat can do to a steel bike.
GC
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My roadbike is alloy ;)
which is just as well :o (drip...drip...drip...)
But yes, I did :)
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completely and utterly impressed smudge!!.... not been near bike/turbo since the '10' on nyd.... probably won't be 'til the weekend...well done mate... keep it up
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Thanks :) but really no need to be impressed, I just had to grit my teeth and do what the video told me to. I was following the Sufferfest training video "angels". I think I'm going to get some more of their vids, they're a hammering (I'm feeling muscles I didn't know I had just now lol) but max benefit for the time invested 8)
The video list is here btw:
http://www.thesufferfest.com/video-sufferfests/
But I wouldn't download them over a wireless connection, they're *big* lol
(damhikijkok ;) ::) )
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What curious metals your roadster seems to be made of...
Oh no, it's a very rare 1938 Hurley Pugh 'Featherlite'
From (made up in my head) Wikipedia
"...Hurley Pugh were very early adopters of aluminium as a frame material, initially using it for their trademark umbrella rack on all gents models from 1927. The firm was impressed with the results and, emboldened by the favourable pulic response, they decided to instigate a development project to assess the feasibility of making the bicycle frame entirely of aluminium.
"The first difficulty was to obtain aluminium in suitable grades and tube diameters. However, during a trade meeting at the German Embassy in late 1933, Lionel Hurley had a chance meeting with the head the Dornier aircraft construction company, Gunter Schmidt. Due to strict restrictions on German aircraft manufacture after the first world war Dornier found themselves with a massive surplus of aluminium wing struts of exactly the dimensions required for the bicycle project. The one drawback was that each had been stamped with a symbol that Herr Schmidt assured Lionel was a Hindu good luck charm.
"In June 1934 Hurley Pugh unveiled the revolutionary 'Featherlight' model at a joint launch in London and Berlin. Although the British Prime Minister Ramsay MacDonald had declined an invitation to attend the launch at the Crystal Palace, the German Chancellor, Herr Hitler, was photographed riding the new bicycle under the Brandenburg Gate. This image came to haunt Frederick Pugh, but Lionel Hurley was reputed to have a framed copy of the picture in his bedroom until his death in 1953.
"Sales of the new model were initially very slow, but some early racing successes helped allay public distrust of the new material and by 1937 the Featherlight sports bicycle was on the brink of outselling the company's more mundane ride-to-work models. In fact, at the 1937 Earls Court Bicycle Show, Hurley Pugh announced a new aluminium model as their flagship sports touring machine, the 'Gossamer'. But the company's optimism was misplaced. On August 28th 1939 the Times carried the banner headline "Nazi aggressors poised to invade Poland on English bicycles". In a reciprocal arrangement HP had been supplying bikes to be resold under the Dornier brand in Germany and Dornier had indeed secured a contract to supply bicycles to German army reconnaissance units. This deal had been helped by the fact that each tube of the HP Featherlight was stamped with the swastika that Gunter Schnidt had, in 1933, assured Lionel Hurley was a good luck symbol.
With the coming of war, sales of the Featherlight and Gossamer crashed and by 1941 it was estimated that over 95% of the models already made and sold had been sent off as scrap metal to make spitfires.
"The company seemed on the brink of collapse until another of Lionel Hurley's famed chance meetings, at a party in the Savoy Hotel's bomb shelter in June 1940. A General regaled the party with an account of a recent visit to a regiment housed at a distant barracks at Ty Croes, Anglesey. He had been horrified to find that his intended transport around the base was a spartan open-topped Bren Gun carrier. He turned to Lionel and said "The bally thing didn't even have an umbrella holder". Within three weeks Lionel had lobbied the MOD and been awarded a contract to make the first 1,000 umbrella holders for army staff cars. By 1945 over 2 million umbrella holders had been produced. This contract, along with a fortunate sale of the brand names 'Featherlite' and 'Gossamer' to the London Rubber Company, secured the company's future."