goodbye January

it's good to be writing about riding my bike, not so long ago it felt like a it may never happen again, that may sound like the drama queen speaking but as anyone who has ever had an enforced lay-off will know, time passes slow. 

this winter has been harsh, it seemed to particularly gnaw at the ankles of my psyche. skulking out to the garage through knee deep snow, or 4 inch thick ice is a strength I never knew I could have. so to actually get out this weekend not once but twice was undoubtedly a great lifter of morale.

both days were icy and shitty, the cold air clung like a death veil and the sky stayed grey, not a brooding something about to happen grey but flat and lifeless. 

ride one was a ride of necessity rather than anything else, I had to get to Perth to get my repaired car. greasy, icy, broken tarmac was what lay in store so without hesitation I reached for the trusty Signal. 

ride two was an altogether more personal affair, road and offroad again on the Signal. the roads are a mess, the ravages of winter are going to leave the council scratching its head over it's already squeezed budget. off road everything is frozen still, fire roads are solid with only the most sun drenched showing any signs of thaw. the singletrack is faring better with most of the ice away on the low levels it made for some nice grippy riding.

goodbye January

morning

a wee ride

 crisp leafy singletrack

old man overshadowed by an ancient man

sun comin to rest

cold sweats/the wrecking tool 3

my job doesn't allow me to commute by bike, my doing by choosing to live where I do. so this morning I decided to commute, up early and some easy spinning on the rollers. breakfast now and then into the car. conceptually I quite like this, darkness and minus 5 outside, sweaty and cold in the garage. now showered and eating my rice cakes and peanut butter and big mug of coffee, I feel pretty damn smug. I can't see me managing this every morning but as a way of squeezing a ride out of the traditionally non riding Monday it might just work. 

have a great week.

By the Riverside ((Appleblim & Komonazmuk Remix) 7:48  Harmonia & Eno '76

Don't Stop The Music 7:02 Bits & Pieces

Hallo gallo 10:04 Neu!

I'm Alive 3:45 Electric Light Orchestra

Round and Round and Round 1:39 Broadcast & The Focus Group

Seven Days 4:02 Vivien Goldman

Too Many Troubles 3:33  The Dixie Hummingbirds

Two-Headed Boy Part 2 5:13 Neutral Milk Hotel

Up In The North 2:22 The Fiery Furnaces

Yakety Yak (58) 1:52 The Coasters 

Souls Like the Wheels 4:39 The Avett Brothers

Come Rain or Come Shine 3:40 Ray Charles

the wrecking tool 2

Well, my second day of the rollers, strange sensation at times it felt harder and at other times it felt easier, so much easier. another eclectic mix for tonight, loved every track tonight, really enjoyed the Dixie Hummingbirds, Wreckless Eric and the Pop Group as part of my workout. The rest of the day was wrapped around walking dogs, chopping wood, eating fine food, entertaining visitors, shovelling snow and taking boots on and off. Another sprinkling of snow hasn't helped. 

This week has been a bit of a mine field for emotions and anxiety, I had both a Gastroscopy and and Colonoscopy both of which revealed nothing we didn't know, this was welcome news as it set my mind at ease knowing I didn't have something horrific going on inside, all things considered its been good week and equally good to turn some pedals.

Nothing 4 8:46 Moritz Von Oswald Trio

Oh Comely 8:18 Neutral Milk Hotel

An Old Man's Dream 2:26 The Red Krayola

Police and Thieves 3:54 Junior Murvin

Quite Disappointing 2:12 999

Reason To Believe 4:10 Rod Stewart

Slavin' Away 2:58 The Fiery Furnaces

Snowgirl 3:20 The Pop Group

A spectacle 5:40 CAN

Stack Shot Billy 3:22  The Black Keys

Standing On the Highway 2:58 The Dixie Hummingbirds

(What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love and Understanding 3:32 Brinsley Schwarz

Whole Wide World 2:59 Wreckless Eric

Wolfman Jack Intro / You're So Fine 3:18 The Chambers Brothers

Yesterday Man 3:13 Robert Wyatt

the wrecking tool

managed an hour on the rollers today, the first hour I have done for some time, also the first hour riding this year. I would be loathe to say I 'enjoyed' it but after about 20 minutes I did get into it. I was helped along by sub sub zero temperatures and a pretty eclectic playlist. anyway it's a start

1. Angel Feat Dwele / Miguel Atwood-Ferguson 7:12

2. Anytime At All / The Fairies 2:17

3. Auf dem schwarzen canal / Conrad Schnitzler 3:13

4. Bad Weather / The Supremes 3:18

5. Came a Long Way / Heartless Bastards 5:53

6. Driving Me Backwards / Brian Eno 5:12

7. Genius Of Love / Tom Tom Club 5:38

8. I Want More / CAN 3:31

9. I'm Straight / The Modern Lovers 4:19

10. Isabel / Arthur Verocai 3:52

11. Lilac Wine / The Cinematic Orchestra 3:49

12. Look At the Sky (Rob McVey Version) / Ulrich Schnauss 5:45

13. Mother Earth / Memphis Slim 2:44

14. Murder In the City / The Avett Brothers 3:14

15. Nibelungen / Nico 2:44

I live in hope

another year and we are mostly all still here.
lets hope 2011 turns out to be a peaceful year, we can but hope.