Are we all not? I am, at least when it comes to multiple breakfasts & snacking all the time! Oh and hairs on my toes? Only really noticed them in my late 30's. Odd.
Anyone else thinking the standard of driving (yes aware we are starting from a low bar) has *reeally* declined in the last couple of weeks?<snip>
Kind of wish I had a camera.
/rant
I'd say last 3-4 years, maybe even since Covid, driving standards seem to be slipping. More and more close/punishment passes. More and more horns and abuse.
Bonus is my local Police force online Portal although it looks the same (uses NextBase) is now pretty active. On a whim I reported someone last autumn on it to test if it had changed. Had a response within a few hours saying the plate wasn't clear enough to process it.
I've submitted 4-5 since then and have had 3 drivers they are "taking action" against so have asked me to retain the original footage. I do anyway. 2 of them where bad/stupid/dangerous, the 3rd wasn't even that close, just someone sat on their horn abusing me for not using the cycle path - when the shared use had ended and the footpath barely 60cm wide so isn't a cycle path. Idiot. Was quite surprised they responded to that one - I recognised the vehicle so probably local to me, or has done similar before.
I've recorded 'every ride' (ok maybe more like 90% due to forgetting or battery flat) since Jan 2016. Have to say now with my restored faith in submitting I'm considering a new GoPro and replacing my old original Garmin VIRB.
I will be going at it again but it will probably be 2026.
Goodluck in advance! DO IT! GET IT DONE! Planning several things myself for the same - more events, longer rides etc. At least while I'm young (ha!) -ish and have the fitness. Also new bike so no excuses! If anything telling myself have to justify it by crossing some things off I've always talked about...
What I really need to do is do one of the loops I used to treat as a fast ride. 2 years ago my best time was 70 minutes. I'd like to see how much I could shave off that route.
I'm just sticking to my training and reminding myself that I'm doing this for a new bike (who cares about being fitter, healthier and faster when I can be on a shiny new bike) and it's making me be consistent.
There's big 'gains' to come from consistency. Even if you're really just doing the same thing. You can get 'stuck in a rut' but really that doesn't matter, as that rut will be a level of fitness to sustain. Treat that as your 'normal' - then build other things on top of it. Then when you get ill/need time off/go on holiday, you have that baseline sustained - or at least should be within reach to get back to.
Out of interest to all that has done ride London before, what are the feeding points like ? I'm hearing conflicting views.
They've always been bad - or from what I've heard the last few years. Aim to be self sufficient, but also if you're in an early wave riding past and the queue looks short probably worth a look if it's not empty as might be things there you can top up your supplies with. Even better if you can finish with food.
@bastic have fun! Still on mine and going well. Even been on a few big rides with just my mix, instead of one bottle mine and other branded.
Good to hear & well done! Revisiting this now, certainly with the plan to do more longer rides & events this year...
Do you guys mix your energy and electrolytes or keep em separate? I take 2 750ml bottles out with me but on longer hard rides I probably want to take 150g plus of sugar with me.
I'd keep them separate, especially if you're carrying 2 bottles anyway.
But I've never had an energy drink mix that agrees with me when out riding so don't do them. Will occasionally use a can of generic stuff when Zwifting, but not cycling specific. Cleaner the better for me generally with digestion as seems to stop me getting a stitch. Monster/Red Bull type stuff doesn't really agree with me on the bike (too gassy so get a stitch/uncomfortable), but I've found the cycling specific stuff really hit and miss... Not on the bike (most do their job) but afterwards with an upset stomach for hours, or even next day or 2 like mild food poisoning. So I've come to avoid them - I get no effects like that from sugar sweets, so jelly babies or haribo are much easier to use as 'fuel' when I need a boost, otherwise I'll generally be on hydro tabs (High5) to flavour my bottles and stop cramping and more grainy/fruity type bars to fuel me. NAKD, TRIBE or anything generic 'breakfast bar' which has nuts and grains in I'll use...
www.instagram.com
