Beware the fallen leaves you ride over
They may or may not
Be a dead rat instead
Gave the legs a refresher ride this morning, a few miles on road and then decided to take the offroad route back along the cliffs. I think it’s my new mantra. When given an option always take the harder route.
Sadly as it was impromptu I had no camera with me but luckily I had a bad of jelly beans provided by my mother (thats what mums are for) which I ate not because I particulary needed the fuel but because I like jelly beans.
So in lieu of cliff photos google provided me with an unexpected panorama of yesterdays run around Pen Y Fan
Buzzard, broken bough, bike, bovines, buttercups, blue.
This buzzard just would not let me get close enough for a good photo, as soon as I approached he’d fly to the next post …. outwitted by a bird!Not entirely sure what happened to this tree. I kinda hope it was the work of a lightning strike as thats far more exciting than woodwormBike – Need I say moreSuch a nice day even the cows are just chillin’They start with B – I was getting desperateBlue skies -beautiful day
Foot’s still semi-buggered. Time to rethink – and i’m rethinking it’s rest time …. as in no running at all.
So a quick jaunt along the cliffs and down to the beach on the bike (plus a few circuits of the sand =)
It felt good just to get out and get some exercise. Who woulda thought that cycling uses so many different muscles to running – they’re all in the legs but the aches are all different.
I must admit I like cycling but for me it’s just no competition to which I prefer. Cycling feels somehow artificial, somehow cheating (and before anyone leaps on me to tell me its not true and here are the facts to prove it this is entirely a personal statement – I’m not claiming superiority of one over ‘tother in general)Â On a bike I don’t feel connected to the land around me, I pass through it but at a distance, even off the road I feel like a tourist rather than a native. My feet aren’t feeling the ground. the effort doesn’t feel like it’s all mine.
It’s a substitute …. but so much better than nothing!  And next week I’m off all week and already planning a ride which will allow me to scout out more running spots when i’m recovered … and maybe a cheeky bike/pint escapade 😉
Anyway I managed to grab some nice photos. Days like this I feel I named the blog well
Suck it up buttercup … or just plough straight through themSome sort of huge cargo ship in the Bristol Channel waiting for the tide to turnHow green is my valley?Clear blue skies
I never actually think to myself “I have an idea” instead they just pop into my head and I do them. Today was a bit like that. I felt like some exercise after a day spent indoors at work and so headed out on my new steed for a quick jaunt to Marcross and then back along the cliffs ala saturday.
The wind was blowing pretty hard up top and it was quite hard going combined with the subtle hill along the clifftops. When I reached Monknash I took the secenic route down …
For scenic route read suicidal route
Arriving at the bottom the adrenaline was flowing a little and with time on my hands and more energy to burn I figured that as the tide was out I could always take my bike on the beach couldn’t I? I mean it’s an off road bike – a beach is offroad right?
Not as easy to ride as they look – especially into the wind
The rocks were a pain and the steeper parts I had to carry the bike but eventually ….
We made it to the sand!
And how much fun is riding a bike on soft wet sand? Not a lot into the wind but on thew way back it was epic fun! Zig zagging and zag zigging all over the place, everyone should give it a go.
So although the ankle isn’t fixed and although I’d rather be running life is what you make it. I’m making it a bit o’fun!
Oh and it was also despite the wind a beautiful afternoon.
Saturday mornings – How I miss running around in the sunshine with you. How I miss the views, the fresh air, the freedom, the sun, the sand, the rocks, the pain and exhaustion.
But no wallowing in ankle pity for me – I have a new toy to play with. Cheering myself up I ordered one of these through a work scheme.
New toys make Gareth happy
I could have gone for a road bike or hybrid thingy but went for the full off road type as I figured if thats what I like running then thats what I will like cycling.
Off I went on a test run …. ride
Found myself at Marcross admiring the view…
Marcross beach and oooh look a hill!And a new friend!And I thought …. hill sprints! Half a dozen up here nearly killed me
So after my hill exercise I was going to turn and ride home on the road and the thought strck me … I have an offroad bike with like suspension and everything, why not ride the cliff path to Monknash and home that way. There are a few stiles to cross but how hard can it be to lift the bike over.
No match for my powerlifting skills!Riding towards blue skies!The ride along the cliffs was beautiful and easy enough to do – I discovered why the gear ratios are so low on these bikes once I was off roadAt the Monknash end there was a tricky descent which I managed with superb braking control and a lot of luck.Looking back at the cliffs I rode
The route is all rocky and uphill from the beach to the road. I was about to ride the path I have run a hundred times but realised I could well do damage to the path on a bike, it might have only been slight if any at all but being a responsible adult (haha) and wanting to protect the environment I love and have the privilege to enjoy I walked the bike back up the path until I got to the road.
All in all a good mornings work-out. I came, I saw, I conquered and protected my ankle!
After a visit to the doctors yesterday who reckons its a ligament strain not a fracture I decided bugger complete rest it’s impact that hurts so let’s try non impact – cycling! (For non impact I mean on the hfoot, impact may well occur into the front of a bus or over a hedge). So off I went this morning for a rummage and to dig out the old mountain bike I own.
It’s not the prettiest, in fact it’s built like some sort of bike-tank hybrid judging by the weight of it, if I do crash into any buses they may well be the ones to come off worse. I spent an hour or so fixing up the minor faults, ignoring others and smashing a few bits off it with a hammer (I reasoned it was making it lighter at least). The gears dont work very well, if at all if I’m honest, it likes to stay between gear 7 and 12 and pretty much likes 10 best, any other and it clicks madly in protest and then slips back to 10 anyway. The brakes rub a bit as the wheels are slightly buckled – This is of course great resistance training! Every cloud has a silver lining and all that jazz.
Here she is in all her half working glory! I’d like to get rid of the lock but don’t have the key or a hacksaw
The sun was shining, I put my new ankle supporty thing on and off I went. I found that the best way of dealing with unhappy gears is to give in, stay in 10th and when hills approach hammer up them in the same gear and pray my legs don’t buckle before the hill ends. I’m alive to write this post so my technique clearly works (I will studiously be avoiding any long hills)
First stop Marcross. It was weird cycling places where I run to normally. Almost felt like cheating.
Marcross beach on a spring day – Opposite is the hill I train on – I’ll be back you bastard!
On my way to Llantwit I passed lots of other cyclists, they usually gave a friendly nod or greeting but I could see what they were thinking – What is that idiot riding and why doesn’t that idiot have a helmet on? Well guys you answered your own question – Idiot but an idiot with the wind blowing through his locks! Yes I may die but it will be stylish (For stylish read painful and splattered over the front of a bus)
Llantwit beach at high tideLLantwit beach looking toward Atlantic CollegeView of the Bristol Channel on the way homeAwwwwwww fluffy lamb thinking “wear a helmet you dick”
Things I noticed –
Cycling uses some different muscles to running.
My foot and ankle felt fine so it seems cycling can be a substitute while I recover.
As nice as it was to exercise cycling is no substitute for running trails.
Pheasants crack me up when they run.
Blue Green Gold Grey, Awyr Maes Tywod Aarreg 