OK- Left on my own this morning as the wife was out early so time to get a few miles on the TCR. Couple of changes made to set up and Lowering bars was the main one. This was done after the last ride feeling a bit sluggish and after comparing to Boreas- The bars were lowered. The short ride last week seemed to work but proof was needed.

The TCR also has a triple fitted so out for the short sharp steep slopes up North of where I live. All country lanes and left here- 2nd right there and you know the sort of ride. Very few cars seen and not one cycle. This is an area where unless you know where you are going- You don't get there.

But those lumpy bits. There is no flat bits anywhere. You are either going up or coming down. Mainly going up--In fact I can't remember much about the down bits but there must have been some as I got 38mph coasting somewhere. I'll put the pics of the Slopes in one spot. Unless you like greenery- they all look the same but 95% of the ride looked like this

Dhillagain..jpg Dhill2..jpg Dhill3..jpg Dhill1..jpg

There were a few open spaces and one was of the Church at Old Heathfield. And guess what? It was at the top of a hill. Only a short one but Granny was required for it.

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But time for something to eat. I had been out for 3 hours now and The only cafe I knew was open around here is a bikers cafe. Motorbikes in fact but I did feel a bit outmotored when I arrived. Bikes have never interested me except from the mechanical side but there were a few that I felt like taking home with me. Especially after 35 miles and legs that were feeling like jelly.

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But Breakfast-I was Ravenous. Had the Big Brekkie.

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Only had 5 miles to go now so what the h*ll. I needed the fat and the protein and probably the carbs. But that 5 miles back- finally on a down slope- was taken very slow and although the bike felt fine---I felt heavy.

Looks like a great ride in good weather. Wind coming in here off of Lake Ontario and very humid (+95%) with a Dew Point in the upper 50's and it's fog as thick as pea soup!

All good rides seem to involve food, don't they.

Thanks for sharing.

Most if not all of my rides have lumpy bits. As my young'n says - "Its Northern NY".
Your weather looks great - we have rain...

I'm down in Louisiana for a few days, Stapfam. You inspired me to ride this morning. I took the camera on my ride along the bayou, but I didn't take any pics. I rode past a lot of food, corn, sugar cane, soybeans, and all of the tasty critters which live in the bayou. Of course, there are critters in that bayou that would find me or you tasty as well. The green tunnels in your pics are similar to my ride today in many places; however, we don't have hills down here.

I found that I'm not accustomed to heat and humidity like I was when I lived down here full time. Triple digit heat indices for the last two days, and my rides have been more taxing than they would have been for rides of similar length in northwest Arkansas even with the hills up there.

I'm taking it easy for the rest of the day. The son is going to burn some meat on the BBQ. I've expended enough calories in the last two days that I can afford to splurge a little.

Stapfam, Your pictures are gorgeous and your report entertaining, however I am posting here because that is the cutest avatar EVER!

Sorry about the Avatar but I used the Union Jack Flag for years. On 50+ I was the only one using it but it did seem selfish to hog our national flag for any newcomers. Hence the change to the meringue to try to keep people focussed on the Pie ideal.

But with a few recent problems- I decided to put a happy face to my postings. Not exactly a smile but it is the biggest grin possible. What you can't see is the mouth -Full of sweetcorn eaten off the cob- and the chin covered in Butter. The definition just isn't good enough for that.


But yesterdays ride- The lowering of the bars worked on the TCR. At no time was I in any discomfort and the bike just wanted to go.

But today---- My legs feel like lead. Those short sharp rises have obviously taken it out of me. Talking to another rider today- He does not ride that area. Too many "Hills" too much shade and not enough flat areas where he can get up speed. And yea-- He runs a 53/42 and11/21 on his bike- no wonder he doesn't like the area.

Looks like a wonderful area to me! But then I prefer the lumpy bits to the flat every time. Lovely scenery too, and it makes me want to ride in rural U.K. even more.

Rick / OCRR

Good grief, Stapfam! If I ate a breakfast like that I'd either be the happiest man around, or my heart would explode!

Come on----I had been on the bike for 3 hours or so and I was starving.


Paid for it afterwards though.

good grief I can't believe that breakfast, that's 3 meals in one! ever consider just a couple scrambled eggs and toast?

can anyone calculate the calories in that meal? I wouldn't be able to bike a single mile after eating that.

Are you sure that breakfast wasn't intended to feed a family of four? Good grief, I gained two pounds just looking at the picture!

breakfast today: granola bar; 1/2 chicken cutlet; 1/2 portion yogurt; coffee & fruit juice. then I biked 50 minutes to work

That's looks like some sweet riding you have there. As far as the breakfast goes I see beans and toast is still the popular breakfast in England.

I worked in Harpenden for a year, (aircraft maintnenance) and each morning all those guys would kill for beans and toast. To this day I can't stand the sight of the stuff...HA!

Sarge

well, I think it looks delicious but I just can't fathom actually eating it. doesn't it give you gas?

When I read the title, I thought you lost your breakfast.

I like in the movie Bridget Jones Diary she mentioned her jiggly bits

The traditional English breakfast- As we used to have in the Marines when on base.

Large bowl of cereal
Either a pair of Kippers or Braised Kidneys.
Then the fry up- Fried egg(s) Bacon, Sausages, Fried tomatoes, Mushrooms and fried bread
Then a top up with toast and preserves. (Jam- honey-Bovril-Marmalade or Marmite)

Never got onto the Hash Browns as they are too fattenning and sit like lead in the stomach.


But Breakfast over here is not normally as large as this. No-one has time for more than a slice of toast and a coffee but breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Sets you in the right frame of mind for 11s's- then lunch- followed by afternoon tea. Dinner is the main meal of the day and followed by supper.

But if you are able to eat all this in a day- Just think of the amount of riding you have to do to lose the calories. There is a motive behind eating well.

I thought the subject title (lumpy bits) referred to the breakfast! I remember having the typical "English Breakfast" when I was in Manchester for the UCI Masters Track Worlds in 1995 and in 2002:

2 eggs, sunny side up
2 bangers with high cardboard content (hey, this is what I was told!)
1 cherry tomato sliced in half
There might have been hash browns, I don't remember!
2 slices of toast with the quaint teaspoon of jam or marmalade
Coffee

The B&B also had Kellog's corn flakes for those so inclined. Grrreat!

Worked for me!

Also, on the subject of English food, someone once told me a joke told by the German comedian Uwe Messerschmidt:
(Related with a thick German Accent)
"You know, the British have wonderful food, just wonderful.
And then they cook it!"

I actually quite liked the food there, especially at the pubs. Loved Toad in the Hole. Didn't fancy the Spotted Dick, though...

Luis