Bridge Out

Sunday was MD’s 11^th Birthday but everybody forgot. So we celebrate it a day late. The Lad celebrates by raiding L’s bag again and taking an apple up the garden for a post-breakfast snack. She does give him the opportunities but she says she’s putting an onion in there tomorrow.

When I cycle to work on Tuesday and arrive at the Meadow Lane Bridge over the A52 Chaddesden to Pride Park, I find it closed. Apparently the whole thing is about to be demolished and there will be no bridge at all until spring next year when they open a new one. Thanks for the notice...

Of course at the original presentation for the road improvements we were told the new bridge would go up before the old bridge was demolished. The date for the installation of that bridge was January this year but that lapsed when work on the entire project was halted in September.

Now they have found another £25 million down the back of a sofa somewhere the project is back on and the bridge design seems to be completely different to what was originally planned.

I am directed further down the A52 to a bridge at Highfield Lane that I didn’t even know existed. The only problem is the footpath to it isn’t really bike friendly so I need to find out how to get to it by road.

On my way home I get completely lost when I try to find a way back to the main road from it.

(Tuesday 30^th April)

A Forest Of Sore Thumbs

I’m late for work again. It was not entirely my fault as someone had blocked the A52 but it didn’t help that I was two buses later than I should have been. Oddly we both tend to end up running late when we don’t get romantic in the mornings than when we do, as we both just fall back asleep. L has a term for that, old age.

I have another session with the bunnies tonight in the gym. Bunnies they certainly are and that’s just the blokes. The place is packed with New Year’s Resolutionists and they stand out like a forest of sore thumbs as it’s clear they don’t know what they should be doing. So mostly they’re just sitting there talking getting in everyone else’s way.

Still I manage 15k on the Watt Bike and then I’m met off the bus by L with the boys who escort me home for a Friday night. 

(Friday 6^th January)

These Things Should Not Be Sent To Tempt Us

If it’s not the weather, it’s the traffic. Today it was horrendous and I was on the bike. It’s never a good sign when you see the Red Arrow on the back roads. It’s a really bad sign when you overtake it, I assume the A52 must be blocked or something.

L is at Derby Arena gym tonight taking them up on their five day free pass and is being induced tonight. Also for free.

I’m dogging and we meet up afterwards in the Alexandra in Derby where they have a rather tasty Amber Ales Porter. These things should not be sent to tempt us mid-week.

(Wednesday 25^nd November)

Our Award Winning Road

Brian Clough Way, the A52 between Derby and Nottingham has won an award and has been named the worst road in England. I’m sure it’s not but we’ll take the accolade. They say that more than 60 per cent of all journeys along the road in Nottingham are delayed. Only 60%? Surely it isn’t that low and clearly they haven’t looked at the Derby end which is probably worse.

 

I rarely drive along it to work now and use the minor roads instead or as I do today, come on the bike, which is quicker.

Tonight I take the dogs to B&Q for a new strip light for the kitchen, they do love their excursions. 

(Tuesday 18^th March)

Another Likely Cause

The other week I blamed shards of glass on the A52 for my puncture and have avoided the road ever since, probably to L’s delight. Today as I park my bike up at work I realise that here is another likely cause. Numerous thorn bushes are now multiplying in our car park. Once upon a time the management company that runs Pride Park used to do regular gardening duties. These days, now that they have everyone's money, they don’t bother and haven’t done for years.

Tonight the Nottingham Grand Prix round 3, which looks a bit like round 2 as we’re back at Rushcliffe Country Park again and the weather is the same again, damp and miserable. Sometimes it’s better to simply support, as the dogs and I do tonight.

(Tuesday 2^nd July)

There Is No Justice

On the bike again and I seem to have a soft rear tyre. I knew I shouldn’t have mentioned punctures on Monday.

At the same time I discover the downside of the A52 dual carriage route to work. This is not the place to be if you feel you’re about to have a major tyre failure.

As Chris Froome wins the prologue at the Tour De Romandie, I survive the A52 but he gets a better post race welcome. There is no justice.

 

This morning, L arrives late at the pool and only manages 20 lengths. Naturally she now hates herself for her tardy efforts.

Tonight I arrive at the pool on time and only manage 20 lengths, deliberately. It may perhaps have been more but I’m hopeless at counting. Naturally though, I’m ecstatic. Despite someone forgetting to put all the lanes in for tonight’s laned session.

Another discrepancy with our swims is that L gets in to work after hers each morning and regales me of tales of fellow swimmers slipping out of their bikinis and into strapless sundresses or nurses uniforms.  I can’t imagine the 18 stone man swimming rather slowly up and down my lane cares much for a sundresses.

(Wednesday 24^th April)

Riding Into Battle

As its St. George’s Day today I ride into battle (work) on my bike and fend off those dragons (cars) along the A52.

L bikes herself today, the static kind in a spin class, to the accompaniment of among others the dulcet tones of S Club 7. Personally I think I’d rather take my chances with the traffic.

(Tuesday 23^rd April)

After Many Years Of Not Doing So...

I bike into work and finally, after many many years of not doing so, I cycle down the A52. This is the main dual carriageway between Derby and Nottingham. It is also a accident and pot hole black spot. However, as so many other cyclists have told me, the last mile or more up to Pride Park is almost totally static at rush hour. Yes I know. I’m often sat in it in the car.

So I give it a go and it cuts five minutes off my journey. L will be horrified but then it was her fault I was running late, so she can’t complain too much.

My latest injury, the recurrence of dodgy calf syndrome, survives the bike. I’m hoping to do a 10k on Sunday but will know better my chances after squash tonight. The pub lunch also helps to dull the discomfort. So now in an Abbot Ale induced haze, I’m all ready for tonight’s game. Bring it on.

I play at 80% effort to protect my calf, although this doesn’t do the score any favours. Then when nothing has snapped by game 4, I manage to increase my effort and win a game. Afterwards I’m well pleased with the workout.

(Thursday 11^th April)