Batblog T minus not very much

"Chim-chiminee chim-chiminee chim chim cheroo
Good luck will rub off when I shake hands with you"
(Damion's cycling song)


Cyclists do it standing up


Yay! So can I. Stand up and pedal, that is. So what, you may say, but I've never been able to do it before due to my pathetic, arthritic knees. But I've been covetting the skill as bad as a chocolate and peanut butter Baskin & Robbins. It looks so effective. Strong arm the bike up a hill. Then I had a chat with Milos and we looked at what powers it. Core strength, upper body muscles and balance are key, whereas I'd always assumed it was legs and knees. So I tried it out this morning. Up and lean right over the handlebars and push, allowing the bike to sway and take the resistance. First time was too wobbly, so add a couple of gears. Result! Well, a bit, anyway. I can do about 8 revolutions before I have to sit and drop down the gears again. Still, it's a start.

Doing intervals this week. It hurts! 30 secs. max then 30 secs. recovery. Repeat endlessly until you drop off the bike. It's not nice at all and Milos didn't seem sure if he should start me on it. Well you wouldn't do it to your granny would you? Sympathy looks from him, and wild blasé optimism from me... until I hop on the bike and die, that is. Yesterday 25 mins. cycling at my 75%. Actually easy (ish). Tonight we'll do 60 secs/60 secs. I'm convinced it'll be easier, Milos just laughs. Lots of bananas and coffee, he advises.

Took my bike computer back into Rides last weekend. Told them the altimeter keeps showing different readings for my house. So the technician fiddled, trying to zero the altimeter. No, that's not the problem, it keeps changing its mind about the altitude of my house. Technician smiles, keeps trying to zero the altimeter. You're missing the point, says I. "Oh? What's that?" he asks, politely. "Well, when I ride out and come back each day it says my house is at a different altitude. So... either my house is moving, or the sea level keeps moving, or there's something not right with the altimeter." Technician and his mate laugh heartily at funny joke. And then returns to the task of zero-ing the altimeter. "OK, I'm just going to leave it with you until it's fixed." That panicked him, return of (expensive) goods by customer! 15 minutes' drive out of Dubai and I had a call from another technician saying please come back, they'd fixed it.