Sometimes my job is great. I didn't get to mention the ride.

Weather won't stop me!!!!!

I'm afraid that this cold snap is affecting our preparations. It is eating into our training program. it looks like the turbo trainer this week and the gym if I can get there. (Steve)

My Gloves

Seeing as you've got an issue with my gloves Mr Warner, next time you are in Matty's shop can you pick me out a pair of decent (black) winter cycling gloves if he has any. (They should be

Hands?

Love the gloves Lee! Did you raid ITV's props department and steal Fozzy Bear's hands?

Guess who I saw today?

Yes, I got out today with a new chain and enthusiasm renewed. Headed for Richmond Park and as I was nearing said cycling mecca I saw my Aussie friend running along, waving......now I'm starting to worry she's a plant by Steve Warner to make sure I'm riding correctly, or maybe she's just making sure all my bike bits are in the right place. Steve you can tell your girlfriend I'm all sorted now and she can stop following me around. it's getting ridiculous. Clocked up 37 miles today and I'm feeling it in my legs now, but that could be as much due to me chasing Ava around the South Bank this afternoon as the cycling. She can't half run. By the way on the cycle back from the Park I was obviously a bit knackered, especially having been passed constantly by other riders in the park even though I tried to stay with them, when I felt a prescence behind me, I looked back half expecting to see Steve's girlfriend again but it was some old bloke and a rickerty old paper round bike....but he was closing fast.....shit I thought I can't let him pass me as well, so I put my head down for a few hundred metres. I looked back and he was still closing in, head down again, but now I could even see his shadow and he was overtaking....oh well give in to it I thought, after all he's probably been riding for 200 years......as he was passing he gave me a little nod as if to say......bit more practice son I'll you'll be alright....it was then that I looked down and he had one of those electric motors on the back wheel........panic over, but the last 400 metres had completely done me in. I rode the last 3 miles at a snails pace.

Too fast for the camera shutter? I think not.

Hills and ice

Set off on a last training ride before reality bites and we are back to work. It was freezing throughout the ride, with all extremities (and I mean ALL) quickly going numb with cold. Took Kev over a few hills today, skirted Billinge, climbed Ashurst Beacon and a few around Parbold area. There were patches of ice over the tops and we had to be really careful. Cafe stop was like a scene from that film Cocoon, blue rinses everywhere. Fuelled up with Flapjack and Tiffin then continued to clock up another 40 miler. Came home a little light headed, but soon wakened up when I switched on the TV and found Leeds knocking Man U out of the FA Cup. Get in there. (Pic on left shows Kev avoiding skid marks in the ice, I mean skid marks on the road!). Wonder what Lee has been up to today? Breaking chains? Fitting wheels (the right way around)? Maybe counselling Australian female joggers?