Minnellium | Dave Haygarth, family and friends.

Once more unto the bogs

A quick moment to gather my thoughts before the big off in the 3 peaks cyclocross on Sunday. It’s an annual pattern of familiar routine always peppered with new things each year to distract me. The basic sectors of the 3 peaks preparation are complex in themselves – training & fitness, equipment, food & nutrition, planning for support crew, co-ordination of family around the weekend (it’s not just about me, apparently)… etc etc. Hectic times, but ones to be relished. Read More »

As one door closes… another one opens

“My” day of cyclocross: Rode well, steady start, faded a bit, kicked into a good rhythm after ten mins, then after 40 mins my bike was trashed and the race was over. It doesn’t sound too good does it. Not even with my rose coloured glasses. A good couple of k’s worth of carbon fible mashed up after the spokes sucked my rear gear mech into them isn’t exactly silver lining stuff. But there was a large, very glittering silver lining to my not-so-effective day’s racing today at round 1 of the North West Cyclocross league in Preston. Read More »

Lily is Nine

My little Lily turned nine today – stunningly quickly … as these things go … Elsie jumped in to Lily’s bed extra early and we opened a couple of pressies and cards – but on her return to School Day we decided to leave the proper festivities until later today. Happy Birthday my lovely girl.

Photos here

2011 Summer Hols part 2: Menorca

A holiday is a holiday is a holiday. This was just a great opportunity to get away from work, home, routine, and all that stuff and have a lovely time together. It’s very straightforward. For that reason alone it was simply superb.

Love/Hate Relationship: The Mary Towneley Loop

It’s one of those rides. One of those ‘have to do it every so often’ rides. One that you look forward to and dread in equal measure. The Mary Towneley Loop is a 44 mile extension to the Pennine Bridleway and is a doorstep challenge for me, living 4.5 miles from the route itself. It’s too long to do in all but the brightest and longest summer evenings but it’s not quite a day long ride. It’s hard, but at times very rewarding, and you always seem to come out of it much fitter than when you start it. With c. 6,000 feet of climbing it’s bound to be. I love doing it, but I really hate it too.

2011 Summer Hols part 1: Old Beckstones

After a massive stint of work it’s now full-on holidays for a couple of weeks. The first time that I’ve taken more than two consecutive days’ leave since October 2010 and it’s a game of two halves. Some UK time first then a bit sun and sea in Menorca to follow. Read More »

New love means increased virility

A new bike is such a treat. It seems to rekindle an existing love. A bike ride that’s too local and familiar to be fun suddenly takes on an utterly new dimension. It’s like that early period of a new love in your life when the mundane can provide a totally unexpected thrill. Read More »

Faster all the time

Keep hearing the likes of David Millar and other authoritative names in the professional cycling world talking about how bike racing is getting faster and faster. It’s sometimes hard to grasp these things, and indeed to say whether such things are hear say or recieved wisdom. I have a bit of data of my own to share… Read More »

Mum’s 70th birthday

My mum reached a very respectable 3 score and ten yesterday and we went up to Kirkby Lonsdale today to enjoy some lovely weather, cakes, food, and company. It seemed very strange but incredibly rewarding to meet a few people from mum’s life that I haven’t seen for many many years. At least three people I enjoyed chatting to today are people I haven’t seen since I was younger than ten years old.

Obviously a lot of water under the bridge but it’s amazing to feel an instant connection to some people because of a shared past. I’m pretty sure mum enjoyed herself but hardly had a moment to pass the time with her on a busy day. We get some better quality time together in a couple of weeks… To be savoured.

Some photos here… On Flickr

http://www.flickr.com/photos/minnellium/archives/date-posted/2011/07/10/?view=md

3 peaks shoulder

n. Medical Term. An impairment of health or a condition inflicted by carrying a bicycle up steep hillsides repeatedly, in obsessive manner.

Dave Haygarth, family and friends.