Late night final! Read all about it.

This is the last edition of my blog "On My BIke 2019". Will need a new title for next year.

Only one ride to report but I have added a new page for my Data 2019 and updated My Bikes page too.

Check them out! (See the link tabs below my heading picture.)

Here is today's ride:

Tuesday 31st December 2019.

My average weekly mileage for the year finished at 92.8 miles per week.

A Very Happy New Year to All My Readers.

Gridironman.

Festive Season Rides

Tuesday 24th December 2019.

Christmas Eve.

With none of the Pedallers being available to ride I decided to join the Winchester CTC's Tuesday ride led by Ian.

Friday December 27th 2019.

Paddy and I went for an easy ride to work of a few of the excess Christmas calories. We needed to get back before 2 p.m. so we shortened our planned route accordingly. Our first and second choice of cafe were both closed so we went into the Anvil which was pleasantly quiet with just a few other customers.  Unusual nice cakes too. We were amused when the young lady serving us checked whether we were clean to avoid dirtying the carpets and furniture. We passed muster! We made it home in plenty of time.

 Sunday 29th December 2019.

Once again I was without riding pals so I set off without any clear destination, other than to go North. When I got to Dummer I decided to cut across to the B3046 and descend to the outskirts of Basingstoke and then head for Conkers. Exciting descent into Cliddesden topping 41 mph. Apart from getting lost on a cycle path through an estate near to the A30 I was soon at Conkers where I enjoyed a nice break before resuming my ride suitably fortified with Sussex Fruit Cake and a large coffee. Plenty of other cyclists about in groups both family and club, some on road bikes others on hybrids or mountain bikes. A fair size group from Alton, but no one I recognised.

Pleased that I have been able to top the "Ton" once more with a total of 116 Miles for the week. All of it on Txiki. The E-power has certainly helped me to keep going. My knee is back to normal aches & pains!

Still time for more rides in 2019, maybe with the Pedallers on Tuesday. 

Gridironman.

Sunshine with Flooded Roads & a Little Rain.

Just a few flints.
Did they all come off one field?

Reminds me of the story told by Eric Newby in his book "Love and War in the Apennines". Whilst escaping from the Germans during the war he was sheltered by an Italian family. He worked to pay for his keep clearing a field of stones. He thought "What a lazy bunch, why haven't they done this before". In the night it rained and the following morning the field was once more full of stones!

For my cycling friends:- "Where is the pile?"

Because of the very wet weather and other reasons I have only managed two rides this week.

Wednesday 18th December 2019.

Sunday 22nd December 2019.

Two more easy rides to aid recovery.

With the end of the year fast approaching I am a little disappointed that I will not achieve my aim to average 100 miles per week. However, I feel really blessed that I have managed my second-highest annual mileage already and have far outstripped my original target of 4,500 miles. This is partly due to my successful plan to combine Cycling with Motor-Caravanning during which I rode 777 miles over 8 away trips. I was not lucky with the weather on some of those trips or I would have done more. I did enjoy some good walks on those trips too and visited many National Trust properties. Apart from three weeks when I couldn't ride due to illness or injury I have ridden every week throughout the year.  Still over two weeks to go, hope the weather stays mild.

Wednesday 11th December 2019.

Saturday 14th December 2019.

Total miles this year to date: 4621.

Gridironman.

On the road to recovery.

Saturday 7th December 2019.

As my knee is much better I decided to test myself with a ride with Winchester CTC. I planned to ride into Winchester, with the option that I could, if necessary, abort at Kings Worthy and leave my bike there at my daughter's home. All went well and I made the rendezvous in good time to join Kate and six others. The ride was an easy one, with the help of E-power I lead the way a lot of the time. Our coffee stop was at The Village Cafe, Micheldever Station. Here we were joined by Ian and after our stop Clive and John left us. As we neared Alresford I was beginning to think I'd had enough and left the group to return home. No ill effects from the ride, after a warm bath and a pizza for lunch I was fully fit and ready to watch the UK Championship Snooker semi-finals.

I was very happy with my progress but I was glad of the help from the E-power as it kept any stress to the knee at a low level for even after just four weeks since my tumble my fitness was noticeably low. 

Sadly, I think I still need to take it easy a little longer and skip the Pedallers ride & lunch on Tuesday. 

On Thursday the HCMF meet is at The Brushmakers, Upham, so I think I will be OK for that.

Gridironman.

Face Plant & all that!

For those of you who haven't seen the news on FaceBook the reason I've not been active on my blog since 10th November is that on the 11th I tripped and fell flat on my face when walking up a neighbours path. The damage to my face was quite painful and I also knocked my knee badly. However, my "good looks" are almost back to normal whilst my knee is only slowly doing so.

It looked even more colourful the next day!

Fortunately I was able to get home with the help of my friend who brought me home in her car (100yds or so). She made me a cuppa and came back later to check I was OK. Thanks Angie.

On Thursday I drove for the first time since my tumble and took part in the HCMF Festive Lunch at the Cart & Horses. Kings Worthy. A most enjoyable day with 25 or so friends.

Then on Friday I tried a small bike ride. To the library just to check if I could still ride. My biggest problem was getting on and off the bike and getting started after temporary stops in traffic but on the whole it went well.

Today, I decided to try a little longer ride but avoided any hills. What better way to do this than to pop to the "Flower Pots".

Once more things have gone well but I am very careful not to overdo it. 

A big thanks to my many friends & family who have been so supportive and kept me from going stir-crazy when I could only hobble around at home. 

Looking forward to adding to my mileage for 2019, even though I will not be expecting to reach my target of 5,200 miles.

Gridironman.