Since getting back in July most weekends have been spent tidying up damaged mountain bikers, most of them fraying at the edges (knees and elbows mainly) caused by high speed contact with planet Earth. Occasionally they do a 'proper job' and break some of their internal scaffolding or even rupture some of their squidgy bits that do important filtering jobs, or other squidgy bits that do procreation!!
Tuesday 3rd and a pleasant ride to The Oaks in Elgin for a 1030 appointment with Heidi, Moray's Parkinson's Nurse Specialist; a charming young lady relatively new to the post but already making an impact with the 'movers and shakers' of the area.
Back on the bike and off to blag a coffee at Jim and Gillian's! Coffee, a spot of lunch in the sun, help to haul out the trailer tent for an airing then off to play! Jim does a rapid change into bikey gear and we're off up the road, a bit of 'exploratory riding and some pushing), creative navigation got us onto the Sustrans cycle trail to Hopeman and then the old railway track, now part hard packed gravel part asphalt, into Burghead.
There is a track honest, it's just a bit overgrown since I last rode it!! (Jim's GPS thinks I'm telling porky's).
Weekend 7th-8th, Scottish Downhill event, lots of customers, gravel rash, broken bits and three ambulances to hospital.
Tuesday 10th, PSA test and my quarterly implant to keep the gribblies at bay; back home to check through my 'Wee Bike Ride' powerpoint presentation ready for an evening showing to the Cancer Support Group.
Later: well, no one fell asleep, heckled or threw anything so I'm guessing the show was acceptable!!
Spinning, dentist and assorted odd jobs filled the rest of the week, bringing me to an 0500 kick off on Saturday 14th driving to Nairn for the start of the Rat Race Coast to Coast event. Elite start time 0630, run to Cawdor, on to bikes and ride to Fort William, dump bikes, walk/run to shore of Loch Leven, paddle to Isles of Glencoe Hotel and finish. Ordinary mortals overnighted at Fort Augustus and went on to complete the route on the Sunday.
Start time looms!
Riders nearing Fort Augustus.
Day two: PM Arriving at the transition point, Glen Nevis, Fort William (wet).
The following two weeks were taken up with an appointment with my Parkinson's consultant (You're doing fine, keep up the activity, cycling etc. If you have a worry about posture best see a physio first and see what they suggest rather than mess around with your medication). Wednesday morning, spinning session. PSA result in, still looking at < 0.1. Prep for 'The Beast' at Knockburn Loch.
The Beast, a 10k XC obstacle course! Providing safety cover on the 'run' section with Becky.
Three happy competitors!
Which way now?? At the end of the day even the few bods with minor injuries said they had had a great time!!
October looms and a two week contract in Englandshire!
No comments:
Post a Comment