They Are Keeping The Patient In Overnight

This morning I take my bike in for repair and for a service. I decide to give Park Bikeworks in Derby yet another go as it’s under yet another different owner. The building itself is now run by Huub, so hopefully some of that professionalism will rub off.

This does mean I need to leave earlier in order to still get to work in decent time, so I am out of the house at 6:50am. It all goes rather well, with being earlier the roads were a bit quieter, although it’s very cold. Yet despite the cars being iced over the roads were fine.

The general diagnosis isn’t good and they tell me they are keeping the patient in overnight, in fact probably until Wednesday as they need to order some parts. That’s what they said last time when they end up holding it hostage for ten days. So on the bus tonight.

(Friday 20^th January)

Going Dutch

The BBC are saying that Dutch cyclists live longer than those who don't cycle. It isn’t clear whether this is purely on a fitness basis or the fact that with more cycle routes over there there’s less chance of being hit by a car.

I come into work on my dodgy bike but go home on the bus. In between I take my bike into Derby's Park Bikeworks where they are going to put a new wheel on it as this is almost as cheap as replacing the hub. They’ve promised it me back tomorrow.

More dogging later and I again meet L in Masons.

(Wednesday 14^th October)

Le Cote de Kirk Hallam

A third day in a row climbing Le Cote de Kirk Hallam and it’s a very hot day. I arrive at work incredibly hot and sweaty, where I find somewhere unpopular to drip dry.

L asks where we’re going for our 20^th Anniversary race next year. Then she reels off a list... Warsaw, Prague, Paris... They all have half marathons are around our anniversary. Sounds like she’s done some research.

Park Bikeworks have finally got my bike sorted, so I abandon number one bike at work (in a double locked room), then go fetch number two and ride it home. They have done a good job in repairing and servicing it apart from being sloppy with a few minor things. E.g. not fastening my saddle bag back on, losing a mudguard mounting and leaving the dust caps off the tyres. 

(Friday 10^th July)

A Cooling Off Period

I take my commuting bike into Park Bikeworks in Derby. It’s not the most accessible of places being in the city centre, either by bike or car but they are open from 7.30am which is a big help. Obviously I have to drive there, what with having no chain, and after dropping it off I’m at work for 8.10. I even get a parking place.

I enter both L and I in Nottingham University’s Life Cycle Sportive which is the week before the Vitruvian.So will be good practice for me.

I offer L the standard two week cooling off period in case she changes her mind but she says she doesn’t require it. Says she needs to cram all the cycling practice in that she can get especially gear changing practice.  

(Tuesday 7^th July)