Easter Monday I was out on my bike. It was windy and quite cold. After 35 miles cycling up the Wharfe Valley, I was in Hubberholme, just north of Buckden. Usually I don’t like to stop whilst training, but my back was aching and it was starting to rain, so I stopped by this church in the small hamlet of Hubberholme. (more…)
The racing season starts in February / March. On Friday, I did third race of the season – Buxton Mountain Time Trial.
I do most of my training on my own. It’s partly convenience of finding someone willing to go out at similar times and similar training efforts. But, also I quite like the solitary nature of cycling on my own. With all the solitary training, I like the racing season as it is good to meet others. The good thing about time trials is that everyone is doing their own race, so you don’t feel particularly competitive, but you can concentrate on doing your own race and own efforts of self-transcendence.
One of the challenges of racing is being organised – remembering every bit of clothing and bike equipment. Then you need to get ready and have everything organised at the right time. I’m often scrambling around the back of the car making last minute changes, finding a new pair of gloves, changing equipment. (more…)
I waited until 5pm to get this photo. The sun sets low enough to just start to hit the Magnolia blossom.
“What a strange thing!
to be alive
beneath cherry blossoms.”
– Kobayashi Issa,
OK, these are photos of Magnolia blossom not Apple blossom. But, I don’t think the the spirit of Haiku is to be too pedantic. (more…)
This is an article October 2013, from Cycling Weekly, after winning the National Hill Climb Championship.
Prior to 2013, my best placed finish was 4th. In 2011, I had been one of favourites, but only finished 5th. 2013 was the ninth time I had entered the national hill climb championship; I guess it made a good story -ninth time lucky. At 36, I was also probably one of oldest people to win the championship too.
Last week, I helped organise the Sri Chinmoy Oneness-Home Peace Run on the day it was in Oxford. In the morning we visited the Oxford Mindfulness centre at the Warneford hospital in Headington, within the Oxford University Department of Psychiatry.
The Mindfulness centre have been offering courses in meditation and mindfulness to help people deal with stress, depression and other life issues. Four years ago, we met with the founder of the Centre – Mark Williams when the Peace Run last went through Oxford. (more…)
The National Botanic Garden of Wales is situated in Llanarthney, Carmarthenshire, Wales. It is towards the end of the M4 and took about 3 hours from Oxford. It is well worth a visit. I liked the wide open spaces, well designed grounds and interesting collection of flower, tree, building and nature. It has been designed to promote and educate about biodiversity and sustainability. The waste water is used to fertilise the plants!
We arrived early to set up the the 5km Peace Run race. Early morning is a good time for photos.
It was a great March morning, still, dry and a little bit of brightness.
Several lakes were still with the reflection of trees. (more…)
The great Copper Beech with a sea of daffodils underneath.
The river Cherwell borders the gardens of Lady Margaret Hall. The river Cherwell is a major tributary to the River Thames or “Isis”
The Cherwell often breaches its banks. These willow trees don’t mind. (more…)
An interview from Cycling Weekly, 2011. I talk about my spiritual teacher Sri Chinmoy, meditation and carrot cake. I don’t think I mention my vegetarian diet, but I like the joke by Rob Hayles to the side.
Q. What do we call people who don’t eat meat?
A. Poor people!
Tree of the week. Exeter College from Radcliffe Camera. A Horse Chestnut I think.
If you look closely there is an orange plastic bag stuck in a tree.
The Radcliffe Camera is one of the most beautiful parts of Oxford, with some impressive architecture. The trees from Exeter College garden help to frame the square.
Tree in late afternoon sunlight. (more…)
