Cross training is one of those things we all know we should probably do, but ultimately never actually do! A lack of motivation for bikes right now is my main motivator for writing this, but ultimately, the importance of cross training for ultra-distance cycling cannot be understated. Those of you who follow my social media…
Following on from the last blog where I talked about high cadence pedalling, I wanted to share how I’ve adapted & made a change my training philosophy for ultra-distance cycling, following a traumatic brain injury. Back in December 2022, I went for a bike ride in Fort Worth, TX. I woke up 5 days later…
‘Fancy a beer? – that age old question that brings with it social pressure to fit in, or the FOMO from not going out. Yet how many times do you wake up the next day & regret it; sore head from too much booze, regretting the dodgy kebab, ill from dehydration or just tired from…
The reality is that this year has been a massive setback; I feel like I’ve gained nothing – yet come away with everything. I write this post without any specific objective other than to share the importance of creating a positive mindset & how it can help other people going through tough times. Growth &…
After explaining the nature of my accident, I thought I’d share some insights into my recovery from a brain haemorrhage. The arrival of Spring & British Summer Time day light saving has coincided perfectly with me feeling fit & able enough to start riding outside again! During this period of down time, I’ve spent a…
For the last few years my happiness levels have been directly proportional to the amount of time I spend outside, riding my bike. In the last few months I’ve been unable to exercise or socialise too much, so I’ve had to look for alternate ways of keeping my dopamine levels up. Allow me to explain…
I’ve had a bit of an epiphany regarding ultra-distance riding & racing. So far in 2022 I’ve entered two races; the Dales Divide & All Points North – both resulting in DNFs. I should be disappointed, yet I only feel acceptance. This epiphany I’ve had is more a moment of acceptance, realising that I’m still…
I write this blog post in frustration, to vent my thoughts before starting my racing season with the Dales Divide next weekend. I’ve lost a lot of time to little niggly setbacks over the last few weeks. I wanted to talk about the importance of rest with respect to all the other tasks that need…
I really want to talk about dealing with setbacks; as with any endeavour in life, setbacks will happen – it’s inevitable & totally unavoidable – the only thing that matters is your response. Setbacks come in many forms; illness, injury, life events, work, bike malfunctions etc. Luckily I haven’t had any major setbacks as I…
As daft as it sounds, riding long distances is not how I’m training for ultra-endurance cycling. You probably read my first diaries of an aspiring ultra-cyclist post & were left wondering ‘how on earth is a moderately fit recreational cyclist going to turn himself into an ultra-distance endurance cyclist? Surely he must be spending every…
“Now, this is a story all about how my life got flipped-turned upside down…” Hey everyone, It’s been a while since I posted here! I hope you’re all well, that you’ve managed to maintain some sort of sanity & wellbeing and here’s hoping for much more positive year! So… 2020, the year of roaming home….
Injuries, an inevitable art of living an active lifestyle. The subtle art of slowing down isn’t really an art, more an enforced mundanity that absolutely no-one enjoys. 2020 was a year that meant taking every opportunity to get outside, before Boris changed his mind about restrictions – again! I rely on exercise for physical wellbeing,…
This summer has been a strange one. Trying to live adventurously amidst a global health crisis has had its challenges. Not knowing when, if, or how far we will be able to travel has put a number of constraints on how we pursue adventure. It hasn’t been easy. The midweek microadventure has been my answer….
Embrace, adapt, overcome. Life under lockdown is um… novel. After the initial carnage of people panic buying three thousand toilet rolls each & stockpiling a million tonnes of pasta, it seems we are finally settling into some kind of new normality – if it can ever be called that! First of all, I hope all…
I can’t say I’m one for routine, nor I am the biggest fan of winter. The wind, rain & unpleasant forecasts often get the better of me. So how does someone who likes neither of those things find the motivation for outdoor winter training? Quite simply, I like to have something to look forward to…
Winter is a slow time of year for me. I spend the cold & dark months saving my pennies, yearning for endless summer nights filled with warmth and adventure. I find it hard to stay motivated in winter & I find it easy to say no. The perpetual cold and dark weather makes it hard…
Aside from some exciting adventure plans, one of my personal goals for 2020 is all about saying yes more. Saying yes to more adventures, fresh challenges and new opportunities. As someone with multiple hobbies, I quite often let the weather dictate my plans. This means last minute plans, late changes and often a lack of…
Over the last two years, cycling has had a hugely positive effect on my life. It’s become influential in the way I live each day of my life – almost to the point of obsession. Given cycling will be dominating the latter part of my 2020 plans, I thought I’d write this post to explain…
Ups and downs, life is full of them. It’s cyclic. To enjoy the ups, you have to experience the downs. But key to ensuring that sinusoidal curve remains in balance is recognising bad habits. Bad habits start innocently, but can quickly tip you off balance and send you spiralling down a hole. Now that the…
First of all, I’m really sorry to all you folk who wanted to read a guide to midweek microadventures, back when we had longer days… you know when we had something that resembled summer! I meant to finish writing and publish this post a lot sooner, but as always, life got in the way… And…