I say big but now I’m not so sure. Was it easier to do that distance a couple of years ago? I think it probably was but heck, it’s heading in the right direction, I made it round! Perhaps the quickest way to help it get easier is to go on something like a diet?

I was thinking this a couple of miles outside of Henley but I don’t know. I can’t convince myself, I’m sure it would be good and all but at the same time my diet is fairly balanced now. I’m certainly eating more fruit more often now and I’ve reduced my sugar intake (although I am tempted by a couple of spoonfuls of ice cream right now!).

I think what it really comes down to is impatience. I just want to lose the beer gut now, to be able to enjoy cycling for the views and fresh air. Instead it’s real hard work, far harder for far longer than I remember from before. Still now I’m doing regular exercise hopefully the pounds will slip off, Kita even said I look a little slimmer earlier in the week

So I’m expecting to be very stiff tomorrow, hopefully it’ll be quiet in the office!

Dan

Read on if you’re not eating breakfast….

15 minutes later I was ill, self-induced ill and my body really wasn’t too happy about the 2.5 miles we’d just done, so yeah, I saw Saturday’s breakfast twice. Still, I was fairly determined to do more than 2.5 miles and so we pressed on (cycling with Ben, I say we pressed on, it was mainly me pressing and Ben getting a bit bored following some little fat man who was struggling to make it into double digit mph!). I managed another mile perhaps two before I chugged up again, this time no breakfast but a good litre of water, the water that I had been gulping down earlier trying to keep cool.

The aim of the ride was to where I work, HP in Bracknell and it should be a little over 10 miles from our house. Fairly easy ride, I used to do that kind of distance regularly, 2 years ago. I could not believe how unfit I was. I knew it would be tough but not chucking up tough. After about 5 miles I settled down apart from some seriously bad cramp in my calf’s. As I said the aim was 10 miles to the destination, 20 mile round trip including a stop for lunch and then head home. In the end I knew that if we went for the 10 miles then I was going to really struggle to get home again and so we set a target of 6 miles.

We made the 6 miles and I was feeling well(ish) so we cycled on to a convenient place to turn around, a roundabout. A few miles further on we found a pub had lunch, cycled home and everything was a lot easier for the remaining 4 miles or so, it wasn’t fast but at least I only saw lunch once on Saturday!

On reflection I’m guessing the nasty first few miles were purely down to my body being so unprepared for anything like cycling and I almost certainly started off to quick when I should have tried to ease into the ride but on the plus side as we went on it did feel easier. My aim is to cycle one day at the weekend, gradually increasing the distance and speed and one possibly two regular, shorter evening rides as I’m fairly sure that it is more about frequency then distance. My goal is to get back down to a 32″ waist for the wedding as in truth I don’t really want to be entirely flabby on my wedding night.

So that’s the plan, wish me luck!

Dan

For those who are unsure whether the link is for them, a few excerpts:

While testing for Ferrari, Michael Schumacher accidentally wins the Spanish GP.

Ex-F1 star Jos Verstappen starts the Le Mans 24 Hours. Unfortunately he falls out with his entire team before turn one and announces he is off to Champ Cars. Again.

Meanwhile, Bernie Ecclestone savages Silverstone for being in Northamptonshire.

Enjoy,

Dan

Stirring I know, but come on, after everything F1 has been through this season, cant we just look forward to ’08?

Dan

PS I was chuffed McLaren didn’t win as well!

Also Kita is arriving at 11 so how romantic willl that/could that be, a little kiss under a red moon

Hope everyone is ok and that Liverpool beat Man Utd later :P

Dan

Took me a while to make him whilst watching the snooker final, the snooker is brilliant btw.

Dan

Christmas 2005 my Dad and I had a bet as to whether my dog Candy would make it to 2007. Thankfully she did Sadly although perhaps sensibly there was no money on it and in the middle of last year I was kind of thankful! Although as 07 loomed perhaps I should have put a little money where my mouth is?

2007 seems to be going well, Liverpool beat Bolton 3 – 0, I’m sat next to Kita and I got to play some music really loudly at 2am Long may it all continue!

Talking of Kita she got a new mobile on contract, finally! But due to her leaving her handbag at mine and so having no ID to start a contract her phone is in my name, as I had my driving license with me. So me and Kita are in contract for 18 months

Anyway back to my rest, relaxation and Poirot (on T.V.).

God bless, and I hope everyone has a great 2007.

Happy New Year everybody.

Dan

Why?

Well he did bowl the best innings of any English spinner at the Waca whilst I was sleeping and (it would be a good excuse to simply not shave)

Seriously though, how great would it be at 2-0 down to even draw and after the first two tests surely that is the best we can hope for?

Dan