TT

Today was my first real session on the Turbo Trainer.  I've used them before, but not in the same way.
It hurt today, a good hurt as well, the pain that wasn't just in my mind, but was in my lungs and legs.

The hardest thing about TT is the mind set.  You are sat inside, pedalling, it is, one of the most hardest forms of torture known to man.  The problem is though, we do this by choice.
Some people can sit on it for hours, my longest time is 2 hours, then the movie is finished, along with my brain, which by then, has turned to some mush or other.

Today though, was different, in that I actually did a structured session and kept to it, and hurt.
It's a very good feeling when you have completed something like this.

I hope that this is the start of something good, outside is -12 (was today) tomorrow, it is going to be warmer (-9) and if there isn't any wind (as that adds about another -10 to it) I'm going to go and venture outside.
Even after today's success, I'm still prefer being outside.

Christmas is almost here, and it seems that everybody I know is working, so I have bought myself a wee dram of whiskey and plan to cycle to top of the local mountains, warm up my insides, and descend down.
Now don't worry, it's no more than a sip, I can't afford to be injured.
I'll take my camera, and hopefully we'll have a blue sky, freeze your butt off day, and I'll take some pics.

Hopefully, I'll speak to you before then.
Laters....

weekend ramblings

Yesterday, my mad Ozie friend and me went up to the local moungtains, average temperature was around 1c, which was quiet pleasant for the ride up.
We hammered it quite well for the weather, and only stopping once for a quick bite to eat.
It was the first time for a whie that my legs felt the strain of it all.
Today the weather has dropped, it is now -12c outside, which is okay, but the wind is just down right not fair.  It's so strong and blustery, that even walking in it, is just miserable.

So it's now a sunday afternoon, and I'm watching Far North, 

and drinking some copious amounts of red wine.

The film so far isn't bad, and if I can manage to stay coherent long enough, I'll try and report about the film later.
Ir I might just have to watch it again (without the bonus of red wine), so that I can get a true picture of the film.

winter wonderland

Well, not exactly Winter Wonderland, not like fellow blogger Jill, who really does live in Winter Wonderland.

Today did a nice 2 hour ride on the fixed gear, actually I've been having problems with my left crank, so I took it to my not so local bike store. Most people have a bike or one which is local to them, not me.
Mine is exactly 25.01km away from my house, involves me cycling passed Tian'an men square, China Military museum, and the Olympic Basketball, Baseball and MTB course (which is a driving centre, more about this another post)
I enjoy this ride, for one, it just means I get to ride at least 50km. Even with weather like today 3c and really, really windy, so windy, that I had to turn the volume up high on my mp3 player.
This then brings me nicely to my first ever product review.

Nike Vapour Headphones

Now I know I shouldn't ride whilst listening to music, because your riding does very to the tempo to which you are listening to.
I quite listening to the freebie downloads on itunes for spinning classes, anyway, it keeps me going, and with headwind like today, riding my fixed, turned into a spinning class anyway, you know, when you have to stand on the pedals, because the resistance is to hard, it's the only way to turn the pedals. Anyway, I digress, these headphones are designed for sport, coming from Nike, you wouldn't expect anything less than professional sport equipment, right?

I chose these earphones, as I had rather large ears (think FA cup, or wing nut for comparison), but my ear hole, seems to be small, so I have to use ear clasp earphones. Using them for a combination of both running and cycling, I can't use over the ear ones, as my helmet (whilst riding) will get in the way.

First problem, don't use white plastic products where sweat is concerned, it doesn't stay white for long, and realistically, who is going to wipe them down after a hard training session, it's good that they don't end up on the floor for an hour or so after whilst I catch my breath!

Secondly, who ever thought of having a screw joint on a headphone designed for sport use! It's so frustrating, the slightest little knock, and they come out of place, they just aren't stiff enough at all. Walking is fine, but then again, anything a dog can do, isn't a sport (football)

Thirdly, sound. Actually they aren't bad here, but I would prefer something with a little more bass noise to it, it would help drum out some of the hooting cars as they go past. Saying that, they are MP3 earphones, and MP3 sound quality isn't the best in the world.

Fourthly, plus point. I like the shorter cable it comes with, with an extension cord as well, this is good for putting your MP3 player up high, so it doesn't get knocked around, or that you cable gets twisted up in your handle bars, or arms whilst running.

Would I buy them again.
Probably not, the frustration of them being easily knocked out of alignment, position is bad enough. I am now looking for alternative options.

finally made it

Yesterday I finally made it up to the local Hills.
This is monumental for me as it's been 6 weeks or so that I have been off the bike.

The foot didn't feel to bad, still had a little discomfort, but worst of all, was that in the back of my mind, I was frightened of falling.
Not actually falling, but more of the case of, if I did fall, I'd would have to make a drastic and probably aggressive manoeuvre with the foot, and probably end up striking it hard on the ground. This thought, the pain that would endure, frightened me.

So if it worries me so much, should I be cycling at all?

The weather yesterday was perfect for cycling, we had wonderful blue skies, the type of sky that entice you wrap up warm and go out, even though you know it's going to be cold.
My friends were keen and eager to go out to, although I did have to push one to come out, but she was happy that she did. Even though she did remark, on why they are called 'push bikes' :D I did my best with my brief and little knowledge behind the meaning.

The temperature was around 3c. Beijing is built on the Feng Shui 风水 (wind, water) principle, with Hills to the West, and Water to the East. The city of old was developed on this principle so therefore the wind whips through the city, keeping the air clean (before industrialisation.)

This makes winter, cold.

The temperature isn't that bad, yesterdays forecast threatened us with a low of -10c, this I can cope with, but when the wind starts to blow, that is a different kettle of fish.

I won't go out, just because I savour my lungs. The cold air rips apart my bronchial tubes with force, and leaves behind a green flem that must be outted in the typical Beijing manner.

So before the wind comes, which should be any day now, and the fact that I have been off the bike for 6 weeks, with blue skies above, and thought of Turbo Training daily in the near future, I had to escape.
To climb the hills, descend the ridge, ride to Grannies have the obligatory Instant Noodles and then descend, the best descent EVER.

This is why I had to cycle.

First Day Back

It was the letter E that was missing, yeah I know I'm weird, but that can't be helped.

Today was my first day back on the bike, I know I've been out cycling to the Cyclo Cross, but that wasn't the same.  Well for a start today I was on my own.  Not that cycling on my own makes me a big boy, but I can go at a pace that I want, and not controlled by others.

Today, was also the first time I road my fixed gear bike.  I need to check what gear inches it is, because either it's a lot harder than what I am used to, or the fact that 6 weeks off the bike, has had a big impact.

Anyway, todays ride, in a temperature of -6c was only 40km, and took me 1 1/2 hours.  Yes it wasn't that quick, but with only a front brake, it's a little difficult to weave in and out of traffic.

I've decided to fix the rear brake back on, so that I can go faster.  Yes a rear brake will make me go faster, because I will have to confidence to stop quicker, and not just relying on back pushing on the pedals to slow down.

I have to say, I quite like using this website to log my miles and other training that I do, it's almost there, and if you train at all, check it out.  They also do Tri specific ones as well.

Tonight the wife is out Christmas partying it.  I'm not allowed to go, it's more of a thankyou for a huge group of secretarys that organise functions at the hotel.  So lots of girls.... wonder why she won't let me go, probably because I haven't shaven for a few days and look rather uncūth in my appereance :D