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To say this has been a week of highs and lows would be quite the understatement.

Let’s start with the commuting.

Monday, I cant even remember :)

On Tuesday I rode home in the WORST rain I have EVER seen in my 2800 miles of commuting, It was so bad that anything over 7 Mph resulted in the amount of spray from the wheels further reducing my already “zero visibility" view. However I did enjoy riding in such a monsoon. Just wish the pace was better. To ensure no more single digit speeds I have ditched the clip on mudguards and today installed a set of full SKS guards. Joby sir, you need some, mainly because I got sprayed by your back wheel on Monday (?) night !

Speaking of another low, Joby was once again in the thick of it. On Thursday morning Joby and I were in pretty good form, I scalped someone at the top of Devils hill one handed (after we gave him a head start)  and I felt strong like an OX, quickening the pace along Hyde Road to 23 mph I was a little surprised to look up and get passed by someone in full USPS kit like I was stood still

Now I may be fat and I might be slow on hills and I might have been as good as dead a little over 12 months ago but by god I have fight in me. I said to myself “ Well mate, Wearing that you had better be bloody good “ I kicked into top gear, got out of the saddle and sprinted HARD, when I hit 28Mph I noticed that not only I had not pulled this person back in but they had put more distance between me and them, I held around 24 Mph waiting for Joby as I was about to turn off when myself “USPS" Joby and A-Nother Cyclist were all at a red light (it was my turn off) I saw USPS had a carbon mud guard and knew I was beaten by the better “Man" ……..HOW wrong could I have been, I was WHOPPED into submission by a lady cyclist and someone who I have to say was bloody quick, There was NO WAY I was going to have ever caught her, Joby told me she kicked again at that speed once I turned off, Respect to Ms USPS and if you are reading this this then I just want to say “I want to be as good as you when I grow up"

While at work my colleagues laughed at how I was beaten into submission, As the day went on I started to feel pretty rough, at first thinking that maybe it was a result of the morning fast ride (close to a PB) but by lunch I knew it was a lot more than that, 2 colleagues are off work with swine flu and I had all the symptoms, Fever over 39 Degrees, a headache that was bearing my head apart, shivers, I was EXHUASTED, Sore throat and achy. SO I thought better safe than sorry with the fact 2 colleagues have it and phoned my GP. They told me to ring the National Pandemic Flu Service. A recorded message on that line told me if I had the above symptoms to ring my GP….ARGH…..I was on lunch….About to re-start the training session I was holding and gave up in frustration…..A couple of hours later and really struggling to carry on holding the training session my GP surgery agreed to ask a Doctor to call me, I was in the office till gone 6pm, I was toying with getting the train home but the Sun was out, wind had dropped and decided not to, I got home rather ermmm wet, not a drop of rain and the bike was dry, doest take much to workout does it ?

My Doctor called around 7pm and stated I may have swine flu and offered me tamiflu, However as it was after 6pm I couldn't have it till the morning, I said I would call back if I needed it, Slept from around 715pm still 7am (a new record for me, I don't have lots of sleep)

I got up and knew if wasn't swine flu and it was more likely caused by Tuesdays Monsoon. Decided to make sure and pushed hard on the way into work, 3 miles in 9 mins confirmed I wasn't a swine with the flu, The last 3.5 miles were slower but I was happy enough.

Then Friday evening THIS:

Yes it was on a "slight" downhill section and yes he he passed me going up a hill BUT I passed a scooter at 31 mph and made it stick for a little over a mile,

22 stone man on a hybrid 1 scooter 0

What a way to end a wet, windy and wintry week of commuting.

and that ended a 76 mile week of commuting.

Lance Armstrong and Livestrong:

This week I have REALLY got into the Tour De France, I have been watching highlights since it started, every now and again but this week I was glued to it and cant get enough, As an English man I know I should be cheering Bradley Wiggins on and yes he has done amazing work this year to finish 4th BUT on Monday evening I read the Lance Armstrong story and then watched 2 Discovery Channel documentary's about  Lance Armstrong and now I am even more in awe of Lance and the Tour De France, I am totally 100% hooked, Looking forward to the finish today and I cant wait to see Lance and Team RadioShack in 2010.

I read that Lance was given a 20-40% Chance of life once they found golf-ball sized tumours in his lungs along with tumours in his Brain, The Doctor said he had given him the 20-40% to attempt to keep him fighting but in all honestly the doctor didn't believe Lance would actually survive. That was in 1996 by 1999 Lance Armstrong was not only a Cancer survivor but he was about to start an amazing run of 7 Tour De France wins in 7 years, AMAZING……….There was a time I thought I was as good as dead but I have fought back….Nothing like what Lance has done. People have said to me I have inspired them but lets be honest if anyone need to be inspired to spin those cranks for one more mile than Lance is the man they need to look up to not me.

The TT Bike Lance rode in a TT at the 2009 Tour De France

As everyone who has ever read this knows that I have been raising money for The Christie with the 2009 Blackpool ride. The Manchester 100 in September will be the next time I ride for charity, I fully intend to wear a shirt that Supports Lance and Livestrong. the work they do for cancer suffers and survivors is remarkable and it will be an honour to ride in support of The Christie, Lance Armstrong and Livestrong.

I have another goal in my sights now:

I have lined up a way of beating another goal from my goal list. Yesterday we booked a holiday to Turkey for next year, One of my goals was

“Be able to fit into an airline seat comfortably with no 'fat boy' extender belt – “

Last year we went to Spain and although it was close I did need a “fat boy-Belt extender" . In all fairness I had only just started cycling but had lost a good few stone, I have a few months to make sure that I get the chance to tick another goal off my list, The last time I remember being able to fly without the need for an extender was in 1998, So IF I manage to achieve this goal it will have been 12 years in the making…….Wish me luck….

On the Holiday front it will be good to enjoy a holiday and not have to worry about being refused travel or being changed for 2 seats (never happened but was still a worry) or worry about how tired I would get walking in the heat etc etc….I have to make sure I keep working hard….but if I do then it should be an enjoyable time……By the way…..does anyone know where to hire a bike in Marmaris-Turkey  ?

In closing:

This week I am back losing weigh, Although a nominal amount in back on track again, lesson learnt, This week will be about just getting to work, next week I will be (all being well) doing a training ride for the Manchester 100.

I will leave you with a couple of quotes from Lance and Livestrong:

"This is my body and i can do whatever i want to it, I can pu**** Study it, Tweak it, Listen to it. Everybody wants to know what I'm on. What Am I On? I'm on my bike busting my ass six hours a day. What Are You On?"

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