20 October 2010
Moved
Oh oh, its been 2 years since I updated this blog last, that's not good but I've moved mosttly onto Facebook.
I've moved away from the joys of London in April this year and am now living in South Norfolk with my partner. I haven't been handcycling much at all this year due to being a right lazy git and spending time with my family. Started working for Aviva recently so that is a step in the right direction, just need to get a permant contract and then find something to really get my teeth into.
Speak soon, Ollie.
I've moved away from the joys of London in April this year and am now living in South Norfolk with my partner. I haven't been handcycling much at all this year due to being a right lazy git and spending time with my family. Started working for Aviva recently so that is a step in the right direction, just need to get a permant contract and then find something to really get my teeth into.
Speak soon, Ollie.
18 October 2008
What has been going on since August?
Hmmm, been a bit slack with my blog but I see to be spending time on Facebook but that is a crap excuse.
What have I been up to between then and now, not much but some bits and bobs.
I started a new job at the beginning of August in the Social Services department for Barnet, not a bad job and the place isn't bad, a little soulless for my liking but beggars and choosers!
Last weekend I went up to Peterborough for the Great Eastern Run as there were going to be quite a few handcyclist making the trek there from all over the UK, so I couldn't wimp out. The course was nice and flat (relatively) and so a good time was in order. I had a minor mechanical issue 5 mins before the start, it became apparent that 4 of the 5 bolts holding on the large chain ring went AWOL so I was limited to the middle chain ring, I just had to spin the crank faster, simple right!
The start was a frenzy as the faster riders got out front. I tagged onto the back of Andy Clanahan and then we joined Marc Poolman and Dave Sandles for the 4 of use to work as a group for a while. In the meantime Rob Wickham had disappeared up the road and didn't want any wheel suckers to tow around, what a spoil sport! Mean while Dave Sandles took a tumble on a corner but I had started to loose contact with the 3 others for a bit, they slowed down and I tried to tag on but without success, back on my own again. Dave got himself up and in the race again and caught up with me, I tagged on and we worked our way back towards Andy. I then swapped wheels to Andy as Dave was on a mission to catch Marc and battle it out but for me, Andy was a strong rider that I could just about stay with, my heart rate was redlining at 199bpm for most of the time and the average overall was 191bpm. Andy and I were working well and I managed to stay with him until the 12 mile marker, just as I was thinking (that stuff kills me) of the finish and maybe a sprint, Andy put in a kick and I couldn't stay with him. So I had to bring it in over the last mile by myself for a 5th place in 52 mins. Not bad as I was thinking I would be aiming for a 1 hour ride time.
The overall results
And some pictures from Flickr and some one Facebook from John Osbourne (there maybe some taken from Flickr)
What have I been up to between then and now, not much but some bits and bobs.
I started a new job at the beginning of August in the Social Services department for Barnet, not a bad job and the place isn't bad, a little soulless for my liking but beggars and choosers!
Last weekend I went up to Peterborough for the Great Eastern Run as there were going to be quite a few handcyclist making the trek there from all over the UK, so I couldn't wimp out. The course was nice and flat (relatively) and so a good time was in order. I had a minor mechanical issue 5 mins before the start, it became apparent that 4 of the 5 bolts holding on the large chain ring went AWOL so I was limited to the middle chain ring, I just had to spin the crank faster, simple right!
The start was a frenzy as the faster riders got out front. I tagged onto the back of Andy Clanahan and then we joined Marc Poolman and Dave Sandles for the 4 of use to work as a group for a while. In the meantime Rob Wickham had disappeared up the road and didn't want any wheel suckers to tow around, what a spoil sport! Mean while Dave Sandles took a tumble on a corner but I had started to loose contact with the 3 others for a bit, they slowed down and I tried to tag on but without success, back on my own again. Dave got himself up and in the race again and caught up with me, I tagged on and we worked our way back towards Andy. I then swapped wheels to Andy as Dave was on a mission to catch Marc and battle it out but for me, Andy was a strong rider that I could just about stay with, my heart rate was redlining at 199bpm for most of the time and the average overall was 191bpm. Andy and I were working well and I managed to stay with him until the 12 mile marker, just as I was thinking (that stuff kills me) of the finish and maybe a sprint, Andy put in a kick and I couldn't stay with him. So I had to bring it in over the last mile by myself for a 5th place in 52 mins. Not bad as I was thinking I would be aiming for a 1 hour ride time.
The overall results
And some pictures from Flickr and some one Facebook from John Osbourne (there maybe some taken from Flickr)
12 August 2008
I've been a bit quiet...
...but have been out riding my handcycle and clocking up some nice millage while the weather has been good. In July I had managed to clock up 116 miles (187.96Km)
So far this month I have managed to get upto 45 miles but the battery in my wearlink strap has died a slow death so I don't have any Heart Rate data for the moment, never mind as it hurts lots when I stress out the muscles and shoulders and just has a dull ache normally, which is nice.
I would say it beats working for a living but I have had to join the relms of the employed and get some money back into the a/c for the neccessaries of life like food, petrol and housing and with inflation going up to 4% (yeah right, you forgot electricity and gas costs Messrs Brown and Darling)
What I ought to be doing this weekend...
But can't because the money is tight and I just can't race for 3 hours straight.
The Championships will be held at Bentwaters Parks, an ex-airfield in Suffolk, near to the town of Woodbridge and the North Sea Cycle Route, approximately 30km of easy riding from the Port of Harwich. The site covers about 1,000 acres and with a variety of roads as well as a 1.3-mile long main runway is ideal for HPV racing!and here is an article from The Sunday Times about HPV racing from this Sundays edition (10 August 2008).
To those of you going, have a good weekend of racing and hope the monsoon season holds off for a bit.
Labels: handcycle, HPV, human-powered vehicle
05 July 2008
Been a while but July is finally here!
Well, what’s been happening since my last entry...
Not much really, which is why I have not been boring you about it, but a new Month brings a new sporting event which I love to watch and follow. No not the tennis even if we had a Brit (alright, a Scot) doing well in the Men’s Singles and a Brit getting into the finals of the Girls Singles we, as a nation, can burden them to the hilt with the national divine right that a British player should win at Wimbledon each and every year. Even if the last British man to win at singles title was in the 1930's and the last British women was in the 1970's. But let’s not forget that a Brit did win the title in the Mixed Doubles last year but as he is the lesser Murray, we don't like to talk about it much. So bloody British!
I wander off into a sporting rant so back to my point.
I wish to draw your attention to Le Tour de France 2008 which starts today and as I type is 57 km into the race. This year should be the most open race in years and hopefully the most Drugs Free (my fingers and crossed) There is not defending champion in the line-up. The reason for is are lengthy and tedious to the majority of people but it boils down to a team punishment for previous years doping scandals (2007 Alexandre Vinokourov & Andrey Kashechkin). The Astana Team have defended their position without success saying that the 2007 team and the 2008 team are not the same as they have made major management changes by replacing it with Johan Bruyneel, the former directeur sportif of the defunct Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team. Bruyneel had the mandate to start afresh with the team, so he hired a number of former Discovery riders including 2007 Tour de France winner Alberto Contador and third place finisher Levi Leipheimer.
Previous problems and scandals aside I will be watching with the same enthusiasm as always and will be cheering on Mark Cavendish and Bradley Wiggins (Team Columbia)for a couple of Stage Wins through bunch sprints and David Millar (Team Garmin-Chipotle).
As for the General Classification, my bet would be on Cadel Evans (Silence-Lotto) who was second overall last year not that it means it is going to be a easy ride for him or anyone else for the GC. I will be catching up on the days events via the ITV4 evening programme every evening 19.00 - 20.00 hrs BST.
Not much really, which is why I have not been boring you about it, but a new Month brings a new sporting event which I love to watch and follow. No not the tennis even if we had a Brit (alright, a Scot) doing well in the Men’s Singles and a Brit getting into the finals of the Girls Singles we, as a nation, can burden them to the hilt with the national divine right that a British player should win at Wimbledon each and every year. Even if the last British man to win at singles title was in the 1930's and the last British women was in the 1970's. But let’s not forget that a Brit did win the title in the Mixed Doubles last year but as he is the lesser Murray, we don't like to talk about it much. So bloody British!
I wander off into a sporting rant so back to my point.
I wish to draw your attention to Le Tour de France 2008 which starts today and as I type is 57 km into the race. This year should be the most open race in years and hopefully the most Drugs Free (my fingers and crossed) There is not defending champion in the line-up. The reason for is are lengthy and tedious to the majority of people but it boils down to a team punishment for previous years doping scandals (2007 Alexandre Vinokourov & Andrey Kashechkin). The Astana Team have defended their position without success saying that the 2007 team and the 2008 team are not the same as they have made major management changes by replacing it with Johan Bruyneel, the former directeur sportif of the defunct Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team. Bruyneel had the mandate to start afresh with the team, so he hired a number of former Discovery riders including 2007 Tour de France winner Alberto Contador and third place finisher Levi Leipheimer.
Previous problems and scandals aside I will be watching with the same enthusiasm as always and will be cheering on Mark Cavendish and Bradley Wiggins (Team Columbia)for a couple of Stage Wins through bunch sprints and David Millar (Team Garmin-Chipotle).
As for the General Classification, my bet would be on Cadel Evans (Silence-Lotto) who was second overall last year not that it means it is going to be a easy ride for him or anyone else for the GC. I will be catching up on the days events via the ITV4 evening programme every evening 19.00 - 20.00 hrs BST.
23 May 2008
Today's ride to Waltham Abbey (and back).
Didn't stop long to admire the Abbey (not really my cuppa tea or exspresso).
22 April 2008
Sunday morning bike ride.
Around the Hillingdon Cycle Circuit with the guys and girls of the British Human Power Club.
16 April 2008
Some handcycling videos.
14 April 2008
London Marathon 2008
12 April 2008
Crazy Pavé
Sunday sees the 106th running of the Paris-Roubaix, or more commonly called the 'Hell of the North'. This race route is between Compiègne, north of Paris and finishes in the velodrome in the city of Roubaix. In between these points are including 259.5-kilometre of which 52.8 kilometres in 28 leg-snapping pavé sections that can and has broken man and machine.The road conditions are such that only the specialists even bother showing up to contest the event, organised by Amaury Sport Organisation (ASO). There are sectors of pavé rutted so deep and that present so many hazards that they risk ruining a rider's season or even career.
Cyclingnews will be covering the 106th Paris-Roubaix live on Sunday starting at 10:30 local European time (CEST)/ 4:30 (USA East)/ 19:30 Australia (EST) - also on WAP-enabled mobile devices at http://live.cyclingnews.com/wap/
01 April 2008
Some April fools news stories. (sorry they are late in the day)
30 March 2008
Still seeing the inside of the local Crown Court.
The case I have been hearing could not have been a simple one, oh no! It has been going for 3 weeks, Witnesses for the proscecution, for the defence (2 defendents), technical experts and the whole 9 yards! Tomorrow will be the start of the 4th week and I hope the last as this has chewed up and spat out the better part of a month and we have yet to sit and deliberate. Next time I am called up to Jury service, I'll be deferring as long as possible.
On another note, Invacare seem rather disinterested in selling me a new front end to my handcycle as I checked with GBL the other day and there was a problem with the dilivery. I just want me bike back on the road.
That said, I have had some problems with my left elbow and it feels that the Golfers Elbow (medial epicondylitis) has returned to give me a stiff joint and a shot sharp pain when I put pressure on it. Great especially as I push myself around all day!
On another note, Invacare seem rather disinterested in selling me a new front end to my handcycle as I checked with GBL the other day and there was a problem with the dilivery. I just want me bike back on the road.
That said, I have had some problems with my left elbow and it feels that the Golfers Elbow (medial epicondylitis) has returned to give me a stiff joint and a shot sharp pain when I put pressure on it. Great especially as I push myself around all day!
12 March 2008
The next two weeks I will be mosty...
Sitting in a Jury lobby at a nearby Crown Court. Being very bored, reading books, magazines and listening music, while occasionally being called into the court to hear more evidence and statements from the witnesses. Life could not be any better if it started a gale outside. (oh, it did!).
Before you ask:
No I can't talk about the cases I sit on. And No, it is NOTHING like the telly.
For the comments, can you name films, songs and books about the law? I'll start with the obvious but great. 12 Angry Men and The Clash - I fought the Law.
Your turn next, I know that there are a good few of you who bother to click on to my blog and I am much appreciated of it. Time you lurkers came out and showed yourselves and stop making me guess who you are.
Before you ask:
No I can't talk about the cases I sit on. And No, it is NOTHING like the telly.
For the comments, can you name films, songs and books about the law? I'll start with the obvious but great. 12 Angry Men and The Clash - I fought the Law.
Your turn next, I know that there are a good few of you who bother to click on to my blog and I am much appreciated of it. Time you lurkers came out and showed yourselves and stop making me guess who you are.
07 March 2008
Been off the handbike for 3 months now!
And as I have ordered a new front end for it from Invacare via the good people of GBL Wheelchair Services I might get it by the autumn. It is almost like they don't want to sell me half a handcycle although the frame, seat and rear wheels are OK.
I'm getting itchy to go out for a ride and attempt to loss some of those surplus kilo's that I have to push around, that and get some fresh air rushing around my lungs and clear away the dust from the bathroom replacement work that was done in January and February.
I'm getting itchy to go out for a ride and attempt to loss some of those surplus kilo's that I have to push around, that and get some fresh air rushing around my lungs and clear away the dust from the bathroom replacement work that was done in January and February.
Get George Lamb off 6Music
