Today's Bike Ride

Having been unable to shake off a tight hamstring since Lads Leap I have eased off on the running and in order to keep the fitness up, early last Sunday went for my first bike ride in nearly 3 months.

Out on the Arkose on tarmac to Chelmorton and then off road on a combination of bridleways, the High Peak and Tissington Trails to Biggin, over to Minninglow, back to Chelmorton and the road home.

36 miles, 1'667 feet in 2hrs 43 min.

The only incident of note was that as I was heading to Parsley Hay on a narrower section of trail, through a cutting that goes under the A515, I saw two horses galloping side by side towards me. Our combined speed was around 40 mph and the gap was closing fast. Not really having anywhere to go I noticed that they fell into single file but still galloping. As the first one was a few feet away I could see that both riders were struggling to hold them back and were straight legged in the stirrups, leaning back and pulling like hell on the reins. A scary moment as they went by in a flash, only 2 feet at most away from me. A mile later, when I stopped at Parsley Hay for a Latte, my heart was still pounding!

Yesterday morning I got the Scott road bike out and although cool and breezy had an enjoyable ride out to Flagg, High Needham, Hartington, Heathcote, Biggin, Friden, Arbor Low, Monyash, Magpie Mine and home. No equine scares just heaps of potholes to avoid.

31 miles, 2,431 feet in 2hrs 2mins. Arse a bit sore!

Went over Greenhow to the craven arms yesterday, there was a biting wind and i had my cag on all the way. The parcevall hall tea room is open again, so i had something to eat there.

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Originally Posted by mr brightside

Went over Greenhow to the craven arms yesterday, there was a biting wind and i had my cag on all the way. The parcevall hall tea room is open again, so i had something to eat there.

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Ran past Parcevall Hall on Saturday whilst competing in the Burnsall Trail half marathon. Nice route and I was pleased to finish in the top half of the field. It was won by Ted Mason - the route passed his farm. I wonder if he had time to stop for a cup of tea?

With my sensible head on after my visit to Charlie, I took his advice and did not take my place on the start line Of Kinder Downfall yesterday. He said I could run it if I took it easy but there would have been no chance of that once a number was pinned to my chest!

So the Scott Solace 10 was out again on a chilly but sunny morning. Out to Monyash and into and out of the Dove valley at Crowdecote. Along the ridge towards Sheen and down into the Manifold valley at Brund with its magnificently refurbished mill. Up the other side to Reaps Moor on the Staffordshire Moorlands where I was treated to the wheeling, whirling and haunting cry of numerous Curlews. Steadily up to The Mermaid and along Morridge to the Winking Man. Across the A53 and along the back of the Roaches towards Gradbach. Up to Flash where Tea and Lemon Drizzle Cake was taken at Flash Bar Stores.

Nicely refueled it was down the A53 to Buxton, in order to get a phone signal so I could wish my friend good luck in her Inter Counties race. Uphill to Harpur Hill and over to Earl Sterndale. Up past Hatch-a-Way and Harley Grange to Buxton Raceway then back down to Glutton Bridge via Dowel Dale. Up to Longnor via the "temporary" traffic lights that have been there for at least 25 years and that never stay on green long enough for a cyclist to safely make it to the top of the hill where one is likely to meet a vehicle speeding towards one, its driver usually very irate in having to slow down or stop.

Into Longnor and back in and out of the Dove at Crowdecote again, but this time in the opposite direction. Left at High Needham to Wheeldon Trees then over to Sparklow. Along the A515 to Pomeroy, then Chelmorton, Magpie Mine and home. A glorious 51 miles, 5,702 feet in 3hrs 48mins.

One moment of note was that when going downhill near Crowdecote, around 25 mph, I was confronted with a pothole ahead. Before I could decide which side of it to pass I could see it was more of a trench across the road. With no time to stop I just clenched everything and tried to jump in the air. It worked and I landed gently and upright on the other side. I had done my first ever "bunny hop"! I have seen the pro's do it in races over high kerbs and always wondered how they do it. Now I know but don't wish to make a habit of it.

The Mistal Kitchen is not a cycling cafe. I felt terrible when I set off this morning, depression has gripped me like a vice since I had to stop running, mainly because I don't know if I'll make it back. I still don't have a reason to be alive. The wind was punishing and I bonked at strid wood, the earliest I have ever run out of steam on this ride. It was self preservation all the way to the craven arms, where I demolished a huge bowl of chips and gravy. I had 3 pints of Lamb brewery cream pale ale, hoping it might keep the black dog at bay, but I was sick of it by the top of the chevin and stopped at the Mistal Kitchen. I had tea and cake which cost 6.75...the cake was GF so it tasted like it had been frozen and defrosted in a microwave. The Mistal Kitchen is not a cycling cafe.

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Originally Posted by mr brightside

The Mistal Kitchen is not a cycling cafe. I felt terrible when I set off this morning, depression has gripped me like a vice since I had to stop running, mainly because I don't know if I'll make it back. I still don't have a reason to be alive. The wind was punishing and I bonked at strid wood, the earliest I have ever run out of steam on this ride. It was self preservation all the way to the craven arms, where I demolished a huge bowl of chips and gravy. I had 3 pints of Lamb brewery cream pale ale, hoping it might keep the black dog at bay, but I was sick of it by the top of the chevin and stopped at the Mistal Kitchen. I had tea and cake which cost 6.75...the cake was GF so it tasted like it had been frozen and defrosted in a microwave. The Mistal Kitchen is not a cycling cafe.

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Chips, gravy, ale, tea, cake. Doesn't sound like the ideal diet. [Note: this comment is from a bloke whose wife was telling him earlier today that he was obsessed with needing loads of vegetables at every meal.]

I'm not sure if diet has much connection with mental state (although I suspect it does), and I don't know what to recommend, but I think you should seek help. Depression is a horrible condition.

Stick in there Mr B. The sun will shine and there will be brighter days.

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Originally Posted by anthonykay

I'm not sure if diet has much connection with mental state (although I suspect it does), and I don't know what to recommend, but I think you should seek help. Depression is a horrible condition.

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I was in therapy at one stage, but they stopped offering me sessions because they weren't getting the results, and no alternative was presented. They said if i wanted to continue it there was a place down the road that had a competitive pricing scheme.

I don't think my diet is to blame; my mother didn't show me any love as a child, so i grew up thinking i was worthless and it's a permanent belief system now. I was stupid and complacent when i was younger and didn't get a woman in the bag, and now it's too late. All there is now is internet shit where you get looked upon as a commodity and evaluated based on your physical appearance.

I'm acutely aware that many people learn to live alone and that they are doing and thinking things i'm not. I don't really know where to begin when it comes to dealing with loneliness, and i can't break the link between it and worthlessness. When you ask people's advice they are just full of platitudes like, 'there's somebody out there for everybody', and 'there's nothing wrong with your character'. Very few people make any sort of sense which leads me mainly to dispair; that or the obvious alternative of a lifelong dependency on pharmaceutical medication, which is what i'll get if i go on meds like stagger did.

I'm by absolutely no means an authority to speak about depression, mental stuff, or being single...

From what i know about you MrB you can easily hold a conversation, and some might say you even have "the gift of the gab"..... i know of a couple of people who have openly described you as "a real character"..... all i can say is don't be afraid to strike up a conversation with anyone, however small... its all good practice

I'd always seen myself as quite a shy guy but just striking up conversations with random people in daily life, doesn't half make you feel like you can chat to anyone.... and if you do get round to asking a woman out, if they're anyway decent people, even if they're not interested they won't take offence... i know from experience, and one of my better friends at the moment is a woman who i asked out and she said no!

I've recently been chatting to a woman in the gym who is an absolute stunner... beautiful, Italian descent, nice to talk to... i doubt i'll get round to asking her out (mainly because i don't think its heading in that direction), but if you told me 5 years ago i'd be bowling up to some gorgeous woman in the gym and just start chatting to her with no hesitation, i'd have not believed it... it really is just small steps.

I guarantee next time you're queueing in the bar at the Craven Arms and you see some woman you recognise, just say hello... you might surprise yourself!

Yesterday's ride was to the south-west, the most hilly direction from here. Reached Barton-in-the-Beans, almost halfway to Travs's domain, then Swepstone, about one-third of the distance from my place to Marco's. Total distance 36 miles. Then, less than three miles from home, I avoided being wiped out when a motorist thought better of going through a red light, and came to a screeching halt.