Strava Gran Fondo 1

Needed to complete this one, so I set off this morning. In the rain. Which did not stop.

"Optimise for suffering"... I think I managed that!



'Epic' is a word that gets thrown around too much, but I think this ride was getting there. I had a bit of a crisis point at about the 50 km mark where I literally couldn't feel my fingers, to the point where I couldn't brake or shift properly. I had to duck into a convenience store and buy some nylon liner gloves, which I wore under my other gloves - that did the trick and I was fine from then on.

So, it rained for a solid 130 km. It was cold and at times windy. Everything - clothes, bike, face... is both soaked through and absolutely filthy, plastered with road grime and oil. Rules 5 and 9 were firmly in effect today...

Rule #5: Harden The F*** Up

Rule #9: If you are out riding in bad weather, it means you are a badass. Period. 

Fair-weather riding is a luxury reserved for Sunday afternoons and wide boulevards. Those who ride in foul weather - be it cold, wet, or inordinately hot - are members of a special club of riders who, on the morning of a ride, pull back the curtain to check the weather and, upon seeing rain falling from the skies, allow a wry smile to spread across their face. This is a rider who loves the work.

Rain makes for some beautiful views, though!

Warmth break 1: endless hot tea and organic chocolate cheesecake in my favourite cake shop

Warmth break 2: Hot cocoa with cream and sprinkles. Sprinkles are totally acceptable in this situation.

Back in Kyoto

This morning I headed out for my first ride since I got back to Kyoto. The weather forecast was wrong - it rained pretty much the whole way, and it was truly Baltic on the way down. Mud, snow and ice abounded. Good fun!

Getting ready for my thesis defence on 4th February, so the break was quite welcome. But not long to go now! And then... six weeks of freedom, in which I can ride endlessly. Should be amazing.

Done!

Thesis submitted! Time to tidy up a few last things, present it, defend it... and then graduate!

Meanwhile, I can go back to riding my bikes. A LOT.

Sunset Sakurajima

Timed my ride just right this afternoon. There are some absurdly beautiful views to be had here! I was lucky enough to get just the right combination of light and an eruption at two different spots on opposite sides of the volcano...

How's that for a slice of fried gold?

Bringin' in 2014

2013 - A year in summary (according to Strava):

Distance: 7,512.0 km
Time: 413h 52m
Elev Gain: 148,887 m
Rides: 146

The last 2-3 months I got almost no riding done (and physically I sure do know it!) but I managed to get one last one in to bring in the new year. Since I'm in Kagoshima for the next few weeks, there was really only one choice...



I rode around Sakurajima - an active volcano - in pitch darkness. Nearly nailed a wild boar at speed on a descent and rode through a cloud of volcanic ash (that I couldn't see until I was in it because it was dark). Then picked up a couple of beers and some fried chicken (at least half of which got fed to stray cats), sat by the bay and watched the fireworks and listened to the ships sound their horns at midnight. Good times all round.

Happy new year, everyone!