Cycling – Page 2 – Boadicea's Chariot

Pedal(o) power

You’ll no doubt feel completely indifferent to the news that my pedalo blister has almost gone.

Its arrival was unexpected and quite painful. I was just getting over another injury (thrown by wave against coral-covered rock of St Nicholas Island causing v painful weals on thigh) when it I got the foot pain. I binned a pair of sandals thinking they were responsible, then discovered the cause was actually a squash ball-sized blister on the ball of one foot.

When you think about it, I suppose it was inevitable, really; two cyclists on holiday without bikes. Continue reading “Pedal(o) power”

Ferry good cider

I’m not very imaginative with my cycle rides – at least, the ones from home that I fit in before or after work during the week.

They are all within the same fifteen mile radius with innumerable variations; some off-road, some on road, some circular, some there-and-backs, some figures of eight, some routes reminiscent of tangled knitting wool, some no-hands practice, some little hills several times. Continue reading “Ferry good cider”

Mud, mud, glorious mud….

I got caught in a bog yesterday on the bike.

I thought it was just a bit of soft ground but it was genuine pedal-stopping, smelly bog. For a couple of seconds, I was balanced there stationary, thinking “Bugger. This hasn’t happened for years!” before gloop – one foot went deep down into the soft stuff above the ankle.

There are some things you can ride through and some things you can’t.

I haven’t encountered unrideable territory for some time. I blame the expedition leader, Bob, who was determined to go off-piste to stop me and my pal V. slacking and chatting. He was successful in that, at least.

CB’s pic of the bridge with the mud pool underneath it reminded me how things used to be in the Forest of Dean, before they constructed the cycle trails and invited the world and his wife and kids to come and cycle there. Continue reading “Mud, mud, glorious mud….”