Why am I here?
-
After years and years of studiously avoiding the gym the London lifestyle and age have finally caught up on me and for the first time in my life I am carrying extra around the middle.
So when I decided to enter a Mountain Biking event later this month (for fun might I add), the opportunity was too good for the missus to resist and insist that I make use of the fact that my son is a pain inflicting personal trainer and runs a gym. Of course in 25 years of marriage I have never been stupid enough to make any negative comment about her body but as soon as I get a little tummy it's rip straight in.
So now I am feeling the pain of a session that I'm certain was designed to target muscles that I normally have no need for.
I cannot provide a breakdown in the lingo you lot use but there was lots of lifting, pushing, and pulling in all directions.
All I want to do it not puff so much on the uphill sections of my ride.
My family is taking great enjoyment from seeing me suffer. -
@Crucial great stuff
Planning to keep it going after the event? Hopefully it's a more enjoyable experience by that stage!
-
@Paekakboyz said in Why am I here?:
@Crucial great stuff
Planning to keep it going after the event? Hopefully it's a more enjoyable experience by that stage!
Time is the biggest problem. I am often not home at night until 8 (which would be about the same time as I can get to the gym) and I also need to fit in with when my son is back at that particular gym as he has now gone to run their new premises which are further away.
He is pretty solidly booked with clients in the early mornings and I can't take that revenue away from him.Plenty of excuses lined up anyway
If I like this mountainbike event and want to take it more seriously (well as seriously as you can in the 'Super Veteran' class) I will probably keep things up over the winter while there is less scope for being out on my bike.
-
It's all your fault for being a fat bastard.
-
@Catogrande said in Why am I here?:
It's all your fault for being a fat bastard.
Fat Bastard? Hardly.
I am still of a slight build and am only about 76kg. I just need to redistribute the weight -
@Crucial I can only go by your description. "Carrying a little extra around the middle".
Sounds like fat bastard to me.
It's a bit like the online dating descriptions.
Athletic = no tits
Life and soul of the party = drunk
Free spirited = doesn't shave armpits -
By 'little extra' I mean there is something there to suck in when walking past a hot woman on the beach.
-
OK, thought I should add to my rather pathetic exercise log in case it helps keep me motivated..
After the pain of the first gym session I followed up with a ride through the bush at the common and over to Richmond Park for a couple of laps before back up the hill (reasonably good work as its a soft sandy track)to the car.
Down to Surrey Hills the next day for a blast on some mtb tracks, trying to go hard downhill then work it off heading back up.
Quiet week, couldn't make it to the gym but did my usual 10,000 or so steps of walking each day.
Then my son tried to kill me again at the gym yesterday morning. I swear he was a medieval torturer in a past life as he seems to work out exactly where your weaknesses are and target them without mercy.
Anyway, I need to loosen up after that so about to throw the bikes on the car and head down to the hills again. This may help my fitness but I'm not so sure about the tummy as the sun is shining and I'll probably have to have a post ride pint -
@Crucial said in Why am I here?:
By 'little extra' I mean there is something there to suck in when walking past a hot woman on the beach.
That's not a test, I was doing that at school!
-
I don't know who invented Ibuprofen but they deserve a big statue somewhere.
My plan has backfired somewhat. Had a big stack on a rooty section of the track while riding yesterday an have managed to sprain my wrist.
Now I feel crippled as the pain from the sprained wrist and grazed shoulder is doing battle with the various muscle pains after Sat morning's workout.
I feel exactly like I used to after a rugby game in my forties. -
@Crucial said in Why am I here?:
I don't know who invented Ibuprofen but they deserve a big statue somewhere.
My plan has backfired somewhat. Had a big stack on a rooty section of the track while riding yesterday an have managed to sprain my wrist.
Now I feel crippled as the pain from the sprained wrist and grazed shoulder is doing battle with the various muscle pains after Sat morning's workout.
I feel exactly like I used to after a rugby game in my forties.You just don't learn do you?
Join the club. I have rotator cuff problems and golfers elbow problems from overdoing it in the gym and now I have cracked ribs from a pile up while go-karting. Stupid, but unlikely to stop.
-
@Catogrande said in Why am I here?:
@Crucial said in Why am I here?:
I don't know who invented Ibuprofen but they deserve a big statue somewhere.
My plan has backfired somewhat. Had a big stack on a rooty section of the track while riding yesterday an have managed to sprain my wrist.
Now I feel crippled as the pain from the sprained wrist and grazed shoulder is doing battle with the various muscle pains after Sat morning's workout.
I feel exactly like I used to after a rugby game in my forties.You just don't learn do you?
Nope. Only really took up mountain biking as I wasn't getting as much snowboarding in during the winter.
-
I'm not very good at this fitness blog thing (probably because I haven't brought into the whole organised fitness thing yet).
However progress was made. According to the missus my little beer pot has gone and despite having a sprained wrist I still managed to make it to my MTB event.
Finishing was not achieved but I did much better than I thought. Got through all of the practice rounds (4 complete ups and downs) and two of the race stages. Stopped mainly because I was losing power in my legs and running the risk of a crash on the technical parts of the downhills. If it was simply a case of making the effort to get through I would have completed but when you are under pressure from riders behind you when going down it is a recipe for breaking something.
At least I have a gauge of what is needed now if I want to do another one and a bit more knowledge of what I'm capable of. Pulled up fine afterwards.
Off for a light ride tonight and will hit the hills again on the weekend. Will get a programme going for greater leg strength as well. -
@Crucial said in Why am I here?:
OK, thought I should add to my rather pathetic exercise log in case it helps keep me motivated..
After the pain of the first gym session I followed up with a ride through the bush at the common and over to Richmond Park for a couple of laps before back up the hill (reasonably good work as its a soft sandy track)to the car.
Down to Surrey Hills the next day for a blast on some mtb tracks, trying to go hard downhill then work it off heading back up.
Quiet week, couldn't make it to the gym but did my usual 10,000 or so steps of walking each day.
Then my son tried to kill me again at the gym yesterday morning. I swear he was a medieval torturer in a past life as he seems to work out exactly where your weaknesses are and target them without mercy.
Anyway, I need to loosen up after that so about to throw the bikes on the car and head down to the hills again. This may help my fitness but I'm not so sure about the tummy as the sun is shining and I'll probably have to have a post ride pintWhich common?
-
@pakman said in Why am I here?:
@Crucial said in Why am I here?:
OK, thought I should add to my rather pathetic exercise log in case it helps keep me motivated..
After the pain of the first gym session I followed up with a ride through the bush at the common and over to Richmond Park for a couple of laps before back up the hill (reasonably good work as its a soft sandy track)to the car.
Down to Surrey Hills the next day for a blast on some mtb tracks, trying to go hard downhill then work it off heading back up.
Quiet week, couldn't make it to the gym but did my usual 10,000 or so steps of walking each day.
Then my son tried to kill me again at the gym yesterday morning. I swear he was a medieval torturer in a past life as he seems to work out exactly where your weaknesses are and target them without mercy.
Anyway, I need to loosen up after that so about to throw the bikes on the car and head down to the hills again. This may help my fitness but I'm not so sure about the tummy as the sun is shining and I'll probably have to have a post ride pintWhich common?
The one where the wombles live.
-
@Crucial Watch out for my dog when you're madly cycling!
-
@pakman said in Why am I here?:
@Crucial Watch out for my dog when you're madly cycling!
If your dog doesn't have the smarts to get out of the way....
Went down to Surrey Hills again on the weekend, did a couple of the usual circuits with the missus then sent her further afield in the car to wait for me at a pub we had been meaning to check out for a while. That gave me the opportunity to do a decent downhill/singletrack halfway there (standing on pedals the whole way) followed by a series of nasty up and downs across a couple of valleys to reach her (and my pint).
Frankly I was very surprised how fit I was feeling and toughed out all of the hills. Put it down to the amount of riding done the previous week. Need to try and keep these miles up now that I'm feeling the progress. -
@Crucial said in Why am I here?:
@pakman said in Why am I here?:
@Crucial Watch out for my dog when you're madly cycling!
If your dog doesn't have the smarts to get out of the way....
Big talk when you don't know the size of the dog...
What was the name of the pub BTW?
-
@Catogrande said in Why am I here?:
@Crucial said in Why am I here?:
@pakman said in Why am I here?:
@Crucial Watch out for my dog when you're madly cycling!
If your dog doesn't have the smarts to get out of the way....
Big talk when you don't know the size of the dog...
What was the name of the pub BTW?
The Abinger Hatch. Wasn't that impressed to be honest. Set up to cater more for the Sunday Lunch crowd and lost the local pub aspect. It was just one in the vicinity that we hadn't checked out. Beer was well kept though and looked like it could be worth another look in the winter.
Our usuals in the area are
The Plough - Coldharbour: This where we park the car for our rides so usually gets the reciprocal drink or two. Gets a lot of business from passing lycra clad roadies. Has been tarted up a bit much for my liking but still attracts the locals and has a decent bar zone away from the food with a nice vibe. Have even stayed the night there which was quite good.
The Parrot - Forest Green: A rambling place with loads of outdoor area as well. Again has a decent bar area away from the restaurant. Some tables right out front overlook the local cricket ground. Some decent cask ales. Seems to get a fair bit of business from car enthusiasts on a weekend drive and has a good butchers/farm shop in the car park.
The Surrey oaks- Newdigate: I really like this one. Has kept the old pub half as is with massive fireplace etc. Great selection of beers and ales. Has a huge garden area and does really good food in a wood fired oven. Shys away from the standard 'Roast Beef and Yorkshire' toward things like twice cooked woodfired short-rib. seems to be run by a younger hipster management but they have got the balance of trendying things up while keeping the traditional parts the same right.
The Dolphin - Betchworth: This is probably our regular (as the missus really likes it). For a chain (Youngs) pub it is surprisingly more like a free house and usually has local ales on cask. Food is excellent but mainly it's the vibe of the place that we like. Well used by the locals and we usually mix in with them at the front of the pub away from the family restaurant types. Great dog pub too. The dogs often seem to outnumber the people and our two enjoy the socialising and attention.Always keen to try out other places on recommendation....
-
@Crucial It's been a long time since I went to any pubs in that area. I do remember going to a great place in Ockley, not so far away, but as it has likely gone through about ten changes of ownership since then I cannot honestly say how good it was. Cricketers Arms or something from memory. However (again from memory) so many lovely pubs around there.
-
@Catogrande yep, there is a Cricketers arms in Ockley. Might need to check it out.
While I have diverted to pub talk, found an absolute cracker in the High Weald near where I was riding in that event. Bit of a fluke, just selected closest nearby with a good rating on the GPG app. Coach and Horses near Danehill. If ever in that area it is well worth a detour.
-
@Crucial Ha! It suddenly struck me. The irony. A thread on fitness descending into which pub is best.
-
@Catogrande said in Why am I here?:
@Crucial Ha! It suddenly struck me. The irony. A thread on fitness descending into which pub is best.
probably why I'm not very good at this fitness lark
-
I have just realised that maybe I have misunderstood the meaning of bodybuilding
-
@Crucial said in Why am I here?:
@Catogrande said in Why am I here?:
@Crucial said in Why am I here?:
@pakman said in Why am I here?:
@Crucial Watch out for my dog when you're madly cycling!
If your dog doesn't have the smarts to get out of the way....
Big talk when you don't know the size of the dog...
What was the name of the pub BTW?
The Abinger Hatch. Wasn't that impressed to be honest. Set up to cater more for the Sunday Lunch crowd and lost the local pub aspect. It was just one in the vicinity that we hadn't checked out. Beer was well kept though and looked like it could be worth another look in the winter.
Our usuals in the area are
The Plough - Coldharbour: This where we park the car for our rides so usually gets the reciprocal drink or two. Gets a lot of business from passing lycra clad roadies. Has been tarted up a bit much for my liking but still attracts the locals and has a decent bar zone away from the food with a nice vibe. Have even stayed the night there which was quite good.
The Parrot - Forest Green: A rambling place with loads of outdoor area as well. Again has a decent bar area away from the restaurant. Some tables right out front overlook the local cricket ground. Some decent cask ales. Seems to get a fair bit of business from car enthusiasts on a weekend drive and has a good butchers/farm shop in the car park.
The Surrey oaks- Newdigate: I really like this one. Has kept the old pub half as is with massive fireplace etc. Great selection of beers and ales. Has a huge garden area and does really good food in a wood fired oven. Shys away from the standard 'Roast Beef and Yorkshire' toward things like twice cooked woodfired short-rib. seems to be run by a younger hipster management but they have got the balance of trendying things up while keeping the traditional parts the same right.
The Dolphin - Betchworth: This is probably our regular (as the missus really likes it). For a chain (Youngs) pub it is surprisingly more like a free house and usually has local ales on cask. Food is excellent but mainly it's the vibe of the place that we like. Well used by the locals and we usually mix in with them at the front of the pub away from the family restaurant types. Great dog pub too. The dogs often seem to outnumber the people and our two enjoy the socialising and attention.Always keen to try out other places on recommendation....
My dog is 13 and can't be expected to avoid ballistic Counties types!
Know most of those pubs. I knew the former landlord at The Parrot, a guy who used also to run The Alma in Wandsworth. Killed in a tragic accident involving a tractor about seven years ago.
Slightly further away but good food in The Red Lion in Shamley Green.
The Windmill Inn in Ewhurst used to be quite good, with great views. Have heard mixed reports since. Eric Clapton lives just down the road.
-
I have heard that the Windmill is terrible now.
-
-
@Catogrande said in Why am I here?:
@Crucial Looks like the training is stepping up a notch. Thank God for @pakman
God's work is a serious matter!
-
@Crucial said in Why am I here?:
@Catogrande yep, there is a Cricketers arms in Ockley. Might need to check it out.
While I have diverted to pub talk, found an absolute cracker in the High Weald near where I was riding in that event. Bit of a fluke, just selected closest nearby with a good rating on the GPG app. Coach and Horses near Danehill. If ever in that area it is well worth a detour.
Danehill? That's getting dangerously close to Royal Tunbridge Wells chap. Be sure to be on your best behaviour.
-
@Bones said in Why am I here?:
@Crucial said in Why am I here?:
@Catogrande yep, there is a Cricketers arms in Ockley. Might need to check it out.
While I have diverted to pub talk, found an absolute cracker in the High Weald near where I was riding in that event. Bit of a fluke, just selected closest nearby with a good rating on the GPG app. Coach and Horses near Danehill. If ever in that area it is well worth a detour.
Danehill? That's getting dangerously close to Royal Tunbridge Wells chap. Be sure to be on your best behaviour.
I am careful to stay on the peasants side of the city walls.
-
@Crucial If you do make it this far, appears there might be some decent tracks.
A few good spots for a drink too. Compasses is my local, good pub actually with a large outside area, pretty decent food and a great chippy across the road.
The Tap in The Pantiles would be a good spot to check out if you want to get all jazzy with your beer.
The Black Horse in Pembury is a great spot for food (Sunday Carvery) and a drink.
Don't bother with Sankeys unless you have a real hankering for Seafood, it's well overpriced - as is The Black Pig which would be a decent spot otherwise.
Cassidy's is a crappy, cheap pub and it's great for watching rugby - cheep booze and can bring your own food in from anywhere as they don't serve any.
-
Any other good reason to visit?
TBH as the wife and I both work in London we use our weekends as much as possible to get away from large numbers of people and therefore avoid towns of any size.
A village pub with a few village idiots is more appealing than a town full of them. -
@Crucial Yeah probably not eh? Without coming into town there is still The Beacon and The Mount Edgecumbe you could visit - both good for food and drink.
-
@Bones said in Why am I here?:
@Crucial If you do make it this far, appears there might be some decent tracks.
A few good spots for a drink too. Compasses is my local, good pub actually with a large outside area, pretty decent food and a great chippy across the road.
The Tap in The Pantiles would be a good spot to check out if you want to get all jazzy with your beer.
The Black Horse in Pembury is a great spot for food (Sunday Carvery) and a drink.
Don't bother with Sankeys unless you have a real hankering for Seafood, it's well overpriced - as is The Black Pig which would be a decent spot otherwise.
Cassidy's is a crappy, cheap pub and it's great for watching rugby - cheep booze and can bring your own food in from anywhere as they don't serve any.
Was my old local many years ago. I still pop in whenever visiting friends in Pembury. Glad you didn't mention the Camden....
-
@Catogrande I spend far too much time in Pitcher & Piano and Bar & Grill to make it the Camden.
-
@Bones I was at a friend's birthday party in Pembury and one of my old mates had gone out to lunch in TW and went into the P&P and came back telling us tales of people getting very loudly pissed at 1.30 in the arvo. Mine host said that we may well see some of these guys again and sure enough at about 10pm a bunch of them came in absolutely arseholed and my mate just said "Yep. This was that lot".
You're not about 6'2", significantly overweight with ginger hair and beard and swear a lot are you?
-
@Catogrande 3 out of 5 ain't bad?
-
That P&P looks more like a Wetherspoons crossed with a Gay Bar than a pub. FFS its promotional pictures are of ghastly coloured cocktails
Not that there is anything wrong with that if that's your thing.
-
@Crucial tacky, Friday night meat markets are all the rage.
-
@Bones said in Why am I here?:
@Crucial tacky, Friday night meat markets are all the rage.
Gotta have some method of keeping the inbreeding going I suppose.
