"Big wheel up. big wheel up"

I guess it's been a while since i wrote anything on the blog, i've been madly busy settling into my new job, and training around it at the evenings and weekends. I'm now settled down on the sofa with a nice piece of chocolate and the Wire on DVD, so it must be time to update my virtual diary. So, since i last wrote, i've done quite a lot of riding on the road and the rollers, and arguably not enough offroad (you can never have too much right?!). It was all leading up to the third round of the NPS at Margam Park in South Wales; in theory a really good course for little scrawny people like me, but you've got to have the power as well as lacking the bodyfat. I guess that's where i might have been a bit lacking, as although i really enjoyed the climbs, descents and sunshine out on the course, i didn't really turn in a great result to be proud of. On the plus side, thanks to Rich's sage advice, i "tickled" the course, and didn't blow up, which is more than many people managed through the course of the day. I was tempted to race the marathon champs the day after, but margam is a place that easily gives you enough rope to hang yourself, and 100km there is not something to undertake too lightly. So in the end, given that i'm not in great shape at the moment, i'm glad i didn't do it; there's always next year, or even better the big single-loop euro marathons.
On the Sunday, we headed back to Rachel's parent's house in Worcester for a barbecue, and decided to make something of our day off in terms of skills. Now, i'm not proud to admit this, but then those of you that know me know that i didn't really come into the sport in a way that could be considered conventional. So, i'll just say it. I can't bunny hop. Not even slightly. I can hardly clear an ant on the trail. It's ok though, because neither can Rachel :). Anyway, it made for an obvious thing to work on for the two of us. So we headed down to the local laying fields, all kitted up, and practiced first lifting the front wheel, then the rear wheel, then following one with the other. Whilst neither of us was much cop, even by the end of the session, it was some of the best fun i've had on a bike in a long time. So much fun, in fact, that in spite of the fact that i was aching all across my shoulders and arms, Rachel and I headed out to do it all again this evening on a little gravel road near our house. And better still, we were both getting airborne, the proper way, no cheating with the spds. We had a go with hopping a log, and then a bigger stone, which we were both clearing comfortably, so i guess you can teach an old dog new tricks. Ever since, i've been thinking that wheelies are next...maybe like "the maggot" from the GLC i can do a wheelie on a penny farthing next...!