Chain problems
Having been woken at 5:45am this morning by DDWT Junior, I guessed it wasn't going to be the easiest of days and how right I was. With the lack of sleep making me grumpy to say the least, my patience was far from that of a saint and perhaps in retrospect I should have left putting a new chain on my bike to another day.
According to all sources that I'd read - in print and on the web - the task of fitting a new chain to a bike was a relatively easy one. Well that certainly wasn't the case with me. It took me the best part of 2 hours, after first getting the chain length wrong and then managing to damage one of the links due to not aligning it properly with the rivet extraction tool (below).
After finally getting the chain on, I took it for a test ride. The top gears were fine, but as soon as I changed into the middle range the gears started to jump. Bloody great. It was time for a cup of coffee and a sanity check.
Having re-counted the links (again) I changed the chain length as it was 1 link out. My 2nd test ride was no better than the first I'm afraid. I was cheesed off to say the least and decided that it was now best to just leave well alone, until both my mood, patience and luck changed.
I now find that doing some further digging on the internet - via the cracking BikeRadar.com forums and Park Tools repair help website - that in fact the problem *could* lie with the rear derailleur. Having now watched a video and read about it, it seems a little tweak here and there might solve my jumping gears problem.
If it doesn't that I fear that it could be time for a new cassette and chain ring. I hope I'm wrong though.
Unfortunately, DDWT Junior seemed to bear the brunt of my mood and now (as always) I feel guilty as hell for being so snappy with him. I'm sure that I will 'feel it' for far longer that he will though, so at least that's something I suppose.
I know one thing, tomorrow is definitely going to be a better day and one which will be spent away from the confines of the house and garden. The change of scenery will do us all the world of good. Oh and a good nights sleep of course 
Shimano MP56 cycling shoes
Sport was definitely high on the agenda today with my Wiggle order arriving and a lunchtime run.
After my escapades last Friday with my bike chain, I finally got my hands on a new one - Shimano HG50 - and a chain rivet tool as well. So I hoping tomorrow to have a crack at putting it on my bike, the first time I've EVER put a new chain on. Oh boy.
The most interesting part of the Wiggle order however were the Shimano MP56 Cycling Shoes - which I'd deliberated on for ages and ages. I decided in the end to get a pair of MTB shoes now for commuting purposes (on my Specialized Hardrock MTB) and then at a later date get some road shoes for when I get around to riding my Focus Variado!
At first I thought the MP56's were too big and chunky looking - "space boots" I think Mrs DDWT called them and I suppose they are to an extent. However when trying them on fully kitted out I could see that in fact they complemented the rest of my gear quite well and more importantly were a good fit with ample protection - especially on the inner ankle area (as you can see from the picture below).
Now all I need is a repaired mountain bike to try them out on!
I found today's lunchtime quite tough to be honest and struggled towards the end - which I put down to tiredness or rather a distinct lack of sleep over the last couple of days. Still I managed 28 minutes and 25 seconds covering a guestimated 4,700 metres. The distance might be a tadge generous perhaps - but Gmap pedometer doesn't lie does it?
Broken chain
What an eventful day I'm having! I was all geared up to leave the car behind at home today and cycle into work, partly to save money but also to help with my training - not to mention helping the environment of course.
However, no sooner had I gone a quarter of a mile from the house than my chain broke, leaving me to pedal idly along the road. I grudgingly strolled back home to get changed again and drive into work. Guess what I'm going to be doing this weekend!
Undeterred by my morning setback, I've since gone for a lunchtime run (18 minutes 55 seconds) in order to compensate for the lack of cycling exercise! It's the 2nd run I've been for this week so far and it's nice to be slowly getting back into the groove.
What's even more rewarding of course is actually fighting back the "don't exercise, just sit at your desk and surf the internet" demons in my head and going out and doing something which (despite the effort/pain) I enjoy a heck of a lot.
On the family front it's been a day for the diary as DDWT Junior actually eat something during school 'snack time' for the very first time since September 2007 - a plum and DDWT Baby is now up to 9lbs 2oz.
Now all that's left for me to do today is go for a short, back and sides after work
Return to school
Normal school service resumed today after the two week Easter break and in fairness DDWT Junior was in a relatively co-operative mood when it came to getting ready.
We anticipated a rougher ride as it was a very restless night all round - as always seems to be the case before going back to school. Still he went along happy enough and seemed to enjoy his first day back - telling everyone about Legoland and beetle castles no doubt!
The lack of a decent night's sleep also affected my memory, as upon getting to work I remembered that the gang were going to the Oriental Garden - Chinese restaurant on Swansea Marina - for lunch. Trouble was I was already armed with my full-to-the-brim lunchbox and didn't have any cash. Bah humbug.
So what did I do, go and ride my bike instead! It was cold to say the least and I was glad to get back to the office after the 9.73 mile ride - which took 39 minutes 45 seconds, 18.9 mph max
and 14.6 mph average speed).
That'll teach me to forget about a work's lunch 
Rome wasn't built in a day…
... and in a similar vein, I'm not going to lose weight overnight either! But at least today saw a step in the right direction with me going for a lunchtime run, or perhaps jog would be a more appropriate word for it.
I did a 16 minute 37 second stint along the beach at Swansea bay - one of the pleasures and advantages of working just a stone throw away. I didn't particularly enjoy it, not because it was hard (it wasn't) but because I knew I was starting out all over again. This was a journey I'd already undertaken back in January 2006 and I'm annoyed to say the least that I've left myself go (albeit to not quite such a lump).
No doubt being back in work after a week long holiday didn't help my overall mood either but at least with it still being Easter half-term in these parts, lots of people are still off - which ultimately means some spare time to play catch-up on other bits of work.
DDWT Junior finally got his Apollo Moonman bike today after it finally arrived in stock at our local Halfords store.
Bad habit
Yes indeed. I've got into that awful habit of making draft posts in blogger - with the intention of completing the post later - but somehow never find the time to go back and finish them off.
So if you're wondering why this blog has got more holes than a moth ridden blanket then you'll now understand why. One day I'll get around to putting some context onto the key points I've made in each draft post and I'll publish them - by which time it'll be totally irrelevant of course.
I decided to try my luck on the bike again today - the 2nd time this week woooo hoooo - as I slowly build myself up to get back into the 'groove' of my training. I headed off down to Forte's ice cream parlour in Limeslade, a 11.7 mile round trip which took me 44 minutes 19 seconds. That included navigating the TWO sets of traffic lights just past Verdi's and on Big Apple hill!! My max speed was 21.5 mph and I averaged 14.9 mph.
As for the conditions well it was overcast/murky/foggy and as a result it felt rather chilly - despite there being very little wind. At least it meant that there weren't many human obstacles about - well other than the ones whom are oblivious to the world around them due to having headphones in.
But hey, I'll take about the health and safety issues of that another time LOL.
Storytime
Going back to work after a weekend off is usually a rather mundane and somewhat depressing affair, this wasn't the case today however.
With THE party having passed everyone by on Friday, it was storytime today with everything catching up on the gossip from what is always an eventful afternoon/evening. It also made me realise that I more than lived up to my nickname of 'snakehips', as apparently I was shakin' my ass to most of the discs being spun
Mind you that's quite tame to some of the reports of heard of other peoples antics *blush*
It was nice to take DDWT Junior to school again - as per Friday - and even more of a delight to see all of the things he's made this term. From tree decorations to candles, chocolate to cards, each one was fantastic and a treat to see. It made us proud to be his Mam and Dad and it was a real treat to see his little face light up with excitement when showing us his work. It's hard to believe that he'll be 4 in January - where have the past 3 years gone?
Rather than do a training session at lunchtime today, I opted to ride my bike back home in readiness for the impending Christmas break. I swear the 9.21 mile ride was one of the coldest I've had this year as the bracing northerly wind made the temperature indeed feel like the -7 wind chill forecast. My journey took me 45 minutes and 28 seconds with a top speed of 19.6 mph.
I think I've only just thawed out!
Christmas party #2
I warmed up - if that's what you can call it - for my 2nd Christmas party by going for a 17.38 mile bike ride this lunchtime.
On top of my usual Gowerton trip I also took a detour down Mumbles as well, just to bump them miles up a bit. The vital statistics of my spin were a top speed of 21.5 mph and a total time of 1 hour 10 minutes and 12 seconds. It was bitterly cold and I'm already regretting the decision not to bring a 'going out' coat with me for later DOH.
We're due to go for a drink at around 4pm before heading off to the MAIN party later.
More later - maybe 
Numb toes and fingers
The weather finally appears to have caught on to the fact that it's actually December hooray! The cold and crisp (but sunny) days are here and hopefully to stay for a while - this is what winter is about (well that and large dollops of snow of course).
With the weather being so good I simply couldn't resist taking my bike for a spin around my Gowerton loop this lunchtime. The 14.06 mile route took me 57 minutes and 11 seconds at an average speed of 14.6 mph and a top speed of 21 mph. The only downside was that when I returned I could hardly feel my fingers and toes - now I know why the serious cyclists wear foot muffs! Still it was lush to be out and away from the office
Office Christmas tree
After not doing anything much in the way of exercise last week, I thought I'd best start this week off on a more positive and energentic standing. So come lunchtime, I mounted my bike and headed off on my own little 'Gowerton loop' of 14.05 miles. The first thing that struck me - no it wasn't a pedestrian - was the force of the wind, which thankfully was behind me on the way back! My journey took me 56 minutes 58 seconds in total, at an average of 14.7 mph and a 21.5 mph top speed.
Hot on the heels of putting up the Christmas deccies at home, I managed to convince my colleagues in work that it was about time we put the office decorations (well tree anyhow) up - in an attempt to raise spirits (Monday's are never good in our place!).
As you can see from the picture above I succeeded in getting my way. Although it has to be said it's one of the lamest office Christmas trees I've ever seen!
With the clock ticking towards Christmas day - it'll be here quicker than you think - we decided to start packing some of the pressies tonight. It'll save us some time nearer the big day and also make our Christmas tree look all the more 'real'. The biggest problem we face of course is deterring DDWT Junior from wanting to open the presents on the QT when our backs are turned!
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