Being thankful and living in the present

Once again I find a cycling metaphor and experiences resonate into my wider life and lifestyle. On a recent cold morning ride my club mate was exclaiming how his hands were just failing to warm up, I turned to them and said when the elements or the ride gets difficult, I tend to find one maybe two things happening right now that I am thankful for. Usually and case in point its my rapha merino base layer or the fact i decided to wear two pairs of socks. On harder mountain days its usually a rice cake or the fact its not raining. I tend to find you start channelling your thoughts away from your cold hands they start warming up. Cupping your balls and riding one handed for a while also helps.

Recent weeks off the bike have been some of the hardest Ive been through and I've just had a moment of clarity, and started thinking everyday I'm gonna state one thing I'm thankful for and take it from there.

Cycling gives you a brilliant living in the present feeling. Off the bike its sometimes harder. I once heard someone say if you're having a bad day don't try to hide it, acknowledge it, and go talk to someone.

olivetti valentine

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Ride of the falling leaves w/ a Prologue

Ride of the falling leaves put on by Dulwich Paragon is a London nod to the Giro di Lombardia which Rodríguez took on Sunday. A great race well organised and a brilliant way to see out the season in style, we were graced with a beautiful day and beer at the finish line. My Gold time almost put into jeopardy by riding through the traffic towards the finish like a gentleman of the roads (which of course you should be at all times) and more so the club 10 was the day before. My legs felt so heavy after a super busy week, but still managed a 25min time on the hilly north london course shaving over a minute of my previous pb. All in all smiles all round.

Alpe d'H pics

Apologies for delay but heres a few pics from the Alpe in July. I've chosen 3 – its my lucky number and was very welcome on the day, plus Pantani was a bit of a ledge when i was growing up.

"Find what you love and let it kill you"

Just came across this inspiring article on the guardian. After Wales, Roubaix, Yorkshire, France and countless rides out of London since November I feel a little lost. The tour is over too. The rain is pouring down the studio windows this morning and I miss having something to aim for. Partly my body just won't let me do it, I'm not broken just enjoying/needing a more relaxed few weeks after returning from france. Social rides are the order of the day, making time for friends and family, apologising endlessly for the absence. I'm looking forward to the next event (a time trial in September), and racing next year and let it break me.

Born to climb

Great web piece from L'equipe once again found via irng

Sometimes I feel like this...

when I'm riding with steve
found at inrng