T
The 13th Man
Guest
After a long abscence from cycling, I decided I needed to get myself a bike again, for
pleasure/excercise and eventually riding back and forth from work. A couple of weeks ago, I picked
up my Marin Muirwoods from my LBS. I had two little rides on the day I picked it up and the day
after and it was probably just as well that I was going overseas for a week for I was aching like
hell! Saddle soreness was a new sensation to me since from the time I was a dot up until I was in my
early 20's, I'd never not ridden before.
Anyhow, since coming back from my vacation, I've been out all bar one evening after work, doing
a 5-7km ride just to get used to it all again, the intention being to build up a level of
fitness so that I can eventually take the ride to work in my stride rather than arrive all
knackered and sweaty!
Cycling around busy city roads takes it out of you when you're not in fantastic shape and haven't
cycled for so long. Trying to whizz about at a reasonable pace is gonna get me mega-fit! So far, I
have been fortunate enough not to be on the end of any mega-bad driving, and long may it continue,
though from what I read in this NG, it would seem that near- misses are only a matter of time You
really notice how **** the surface of most roads are when you're on a bike! I have also noticed how
woeful the provision of cycling lanes/tracks is in my city (Cardiff) too. Mostly nothing, then a red
strip for a while, then nothing again. Do they really expect us to ride in that red strip in the
gutter? It's full of bloody stones and shite! Are all cities in the UK the same? It's a disgrace.
Governments make you laugh - banging on about being green, traffic pollution, less cars, getting
people fitter etc but it's all talk. If they were serious about getting people out of cars and on
cycles, they really need to invest in proper provision for cyclists.
Anyhow, today being a nice day, I was obviously chomping at the bit to get out on the bike for the
first time in day-time hours; the intention being to get out and ride around for a while then
return. I ended up taking the Taff Trail from Central Cardiff to Castell Coch. I know that this
hardly constitutes earth shattering distance for most people in this NG, but I was quite
pleased/surprised, given what I had been doing until now. I must say it was a nice ride, overall.
Some of the views are nice and there are some places to stop on a day with such good weather. Having
said that, although it's listed as a cycling route (8) to me it could do with some resurfacing in
places, it seems to border on off-road in places! Having bought the Muirwoods as a rigid bike for
road use, there were times today when I wished I had front suspension! It sure is a bit gravelly &
stony. However, it's not a route I will be taking on a daily basis, so no worries there.
I must say that I'm so glad I've bought the bike now. As long as I'm not aching tomorrow, another
ride awaits me! I don't remember cycling ever being this addictive! It's good to be back!
pleasure/excercise and eventually riding back and forth from work. A couple of weeks ago, I picked
up my Marin Muirwoods from my LBS. I had two little rides on the day I picked it up and the day
after and it was probably just as well that I was going overseas for a week for I was aching like
hell! Saddle soreness was a new sensation to me since from the time I was a dot up until I was in my
early 20's, I'd never not ridden before.
Anyhow, since coming back from my vacation, I've been out all bar one evening after work, doing
a 5-7km ride just to get used to it all again, the intention being to build up a level of
fitness so that I can eventually take the ride to work in my stride rather than arrive all
knackered and sweaty!
Cycling around busy city roads takes it out of you when you're not in fantastic shape and haven't
cycled for so long. Trying to whizz about at a reasonable pace is gonna get me mega-fit! So far, I
have been fortunate enough not to be on the end of any mega-bad driving, and long may it continue,
though from what I read in this NG, it would seem that near- misses are only a matter of time You
really notice how **** the surface of most roads are when you're on a bike! I have also noticed how
woeful the provision of cycling lanes/tracks is in my city (Cardiff) too. Mostly nothing, then a red
strip for a while, then nothing again. Do they really expect us to ride in that red strip in the
gutter? It's full of bloody stones and shite! Are all cities in the UK the same? It's a disgrace.
Governments make you laugh - banging on about being green, traffic pollution, less cars, getting
people fitter etc but it's all talk. If they were serious about getting people out of cars and on
cycles, they really need to invest in proper provision for cyclists.
Anyhow, today being a nice day, I was obviously chomping at the bit to get out on the bike for the
first time in day-time hours; the intention being to get out and ride around for a while then
return. I ended up taking the Taff Trail from Central Cardiff to Castell Coch. I know that this
hardly constitutes earth shattering distance for most people in this NG, but I was quite
pleased/surprised, given what I had been doing until now. I must say it was a nice ride, overall.
Some of the views are nice and there are some places to stop on a day with such good weather. Having
said that, although it's listed as a cycling route (8) to me it could do with some resurfacing in
places, it seems to border on off-road in places! Having bought the Muirwoods as a rigid bike for
road use, there were times today when I wished I had front suspension! It sure is a bit gravelly &
stony. However, it's not a route I will be taking on a daily basis, so no worries there.
I must say that I'm so glad I've bought the bike now. As long as I'm not aching tomorrow, another
ride awaits me! I don't remember cycling ever being this addictive! It's good to be back!