Progress so far...

June 30th 2009 - 22 stone 4Ibs. Current weight - 17 stone 1Ib. Weight loss - 5 stone 3Ibs. Commuting miles - 3389.
Non commuting miles - 359. Mileage this week - 101 miles. Total mileage - 3748 miles.


Friday 1 January 2010

Happy New Year of pedalling and getting thinner!

Here's the the exciting thing that I've mentioned a couple of times. This happened purely by chance via Facebook. I joined the "Mint Sauce" group and I noticed the name of Steve Worland on it. Steve wrote fabulous MTB articles for my favourite and much missed MTB magazine MTB Pro. I emailed him to see if it was him and to say how much I enjoyed his articles back in the day. Steve very kindly emailed straight back and we exchanged a bit of an email conversation that ended up with him inviting me to write about my experiences as a "Fat Biker" which they "What Mountain Bike" might publish in some form. And there you have it. I have no idea where it'll go, but as I've said loads of times, if it helps one person get off their arse as you fellers have have helped me then job done.


Back to today, a day out for me and my family today, probably to Arrow Valley, the frost was a right hard one and the tracks will be totally unrideable if the last week is anything to go by. Not to worry though, I'll be back on my commute on Monday. Tomorrow is a day out in Worcester and on Sunday I'll be taking it easy as it's work proper the next day, so all in all a bit of a wind down back to real life. An enjoyable break though and I got more pedals in than I thought I would.



8 comments:

  1. Ohh, exciting stuff! let me know when you are published!
    I like Worcester, I was at Pershore college for a couple of years, spend a fair bit of time in worcester. Cycled up Bredon Hill an awful lot too...ahh days when I could!

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  2. oh, bugger, ment to add "Happy new year" too!

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  3. Happy New Year Matt, I've spent a few days at the top of Bredon Hill in my Radio wagon when I was in the Signals. Never pedalled it though. It's only about a 25 minute drive from my house so there's a new route for when I'm fitter!

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  4. Happy New Year Clive! How exciting to be featured on BikeRadar :)

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  5. Just read your article in Bikeradar, all power to you, keep it up, I started the same as you, 5 years ago,I guess. Sad to say, I haven't lost a load of weight, at the age of 54 I began to ride again, weighing 17 stone plus, now I hover around 16, but, and this is the most important thing to me, at least, I feel great. I can fall down and not have a problem getting up again, I can run, and I'm very proud to say I commute 40 miles round trip on my shifts. I average at least 200 miles a week, and just love it. As you say there's so much support and inspiration, for guys like us, on the internet written by some fantastic bloggers. I even have had a go, you can catch mine at www.welshcyclist.blogspot.com
    So keep on pedalling, have a Happy New Year, and I'm sure you will achieve alot in 2010.
    Cheers

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  6. Happy New Year Clive, and thanks for the message on my blog. I will even forgive you for labelling me a Brummie, Black Country heritage, exiled in Brum for the last 15 years!!

    I see you ride over Clent, I have lots of great childhood memories of walking, riding and fishing over there - and later, when I grew up, drinking in some of the fine pubs around there.

    Anyway, all thebest for 2010.

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  7. Briliant site Clive. Can I ask what clothing/footwear do you wear. Im getting on the saddle and could do with some advice on that front.

    Thanks

    Declan

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  8. Hi Declan,

    Thanks for the kind words.

    As I'm a pretty big bloke (fat) I find clothing difficult to get. For cycling I always use a helmet as seen in the blog, a £25 offering from my local bike shop. I have a Hi Viz T shirt from work and for a jacket I have a Speg Hi Viz jacket 5XL would you believe from Cycle Clothing - http://www.cycle-clothing.co.uk/Products/134/speg-360hv-dwr-cycle-jacket-high-visibility.aspx , I use cycle shorts, from endura and cycling tights from Lidls supermarket, Aldis and Lidles do good cycling bargains in adequate sizes. I use Porelle Waterproof socks over bog standard sports socks, my cycling shoes are 10 years old now, Shimano MTB shoes which are now obviously not sold, they have cleats fitted for SPD pedals. I also use Endura overshoes, dry feet is always an issue on the canal towpath in winter. To finish I have no name watherproof gloves from my local bike shop. I hope that's a help, being a family man I am on a budget!

    Cheers

    Clive

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