V.LONG: first, largely uneventful, milestone.

In article <[email hidden]>, Dave <no- [email hidden]> writes

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Well, I gurn an' dun it. Being exceedingly frustrated by circumstances beyond my control ( snowy
icy stuff and bit of a sniffle), I was determined to do my first serious run today, since getting
back on a roadbike mid-last year. As the header says, I consider it my first milestone, but I
suppose it's the second. The first was getting back on the bike in the first place ;-).

etc.

Well done, mate.
--
The Big Baguette

"The Big Baguette" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
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In article <[email hidden]>, Dave <no- [email hidden]> writes

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Well, I gurn an' dun it. Being exceedingly frustrated by circumstances beyond my control ( snowy

icy

Quoted message said:

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stuff and bit of a sniffle), I was determined to do my first serious run today, since getting
back on a roadbike mid-last year. As the header

says, I

Quoted message said:

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consider it my first milestone, but I suppose it's the second. The first

was

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getting back on the bike in the first place ;-).

etc.

Well done, mate.

Yes and thanks for the story, I printed it out and read it in the sauna.

--
Simon Mason Anlaby East Yorkshire. 53°44'N 0°26'W simonmason.karoo.netsimonmason.karoo.netOpen ↗

"Simon Mason" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
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"The Big Baguette" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
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In article <[email hidden]>, Dave <no- [email hidden]> writes

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Well, I gurn an' dun it. Being exceedingly frustrated by circumstances beyond my control (
snowy

icy

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stuff and bit of a sniffle), I was determined to do my first serious

run

Quoted message said:

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today, since getting back on a roadbike mid-last year. As the header

says, I

Quoted message said:

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consider it my first milestone, but I suppose it's the second. The

first

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was

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getting back on the bike in the first place ;-).

etc.

Well done, mate.

Yes and thanks for the story, I printed it out and read it in the sauna.

--
Simon Mason Anlaby East Yorkshire. 53°44'N 0°26'W simonmason.karoo.netsimonmason.karoo.netOpen ↗

Thanks guys, glad you enjoyed it.... yumm them chips was good...next stop, indegestion-ville! Dave,
zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.....burp!
p.s. - glad the story got a sauna ;-)

"Dave" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Well, I gurn an' dun it. Being exceedingly frustrated by circumstances beyond my control ( snowy

icy

Quoted message said:

stuff and bit of a sniffle), I was determined to do my first serious run today, since getting back
on a roadbike mid-last year. As the header says,

I

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consider it my first milestone, but I suppose it's the second. The first

was

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getting back on the bike in the first place ;-). I bought a hydration pack rucksack (2L/20L) a
couple of weeks ago and the hi-viz vest last week, so was all ready to go. I was a bit cheesed off

when

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the local weather news indicated it would be cloudy and cold today, last night. He also said there
was an outside chance there might be some snow!!..... Anyway, I prepped the bike last night
regardless and having seen my wife

and

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son out the door this morning, proceeded to pack me bags...tools, food, water, sorted. Finally got
out at 0950 and headed for Shrewsbury. The ride out was no problem. Wolverhampton, rush hour
traffic dying down, one or two courteous cagers, one or two nods of appeciation. Wolverhampton to
Shifnal, road

very

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quiet. It used to be quite busy, back in the day, when I were a lad,

etcetc,

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but since the invention of the M54, it's a lot quieter. In fact I found

the

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whole ride a real 'trip back in time' as this was the route we used to

take

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to Wales (5 hols a year in the family caravan at Barmouth), but as mentioned, since the arrival of
the M54.... Saw lots of landmarks I used

to

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subconciously note as a kid, mostly buildings, nice to see 'em again. Then came Telford !...If you
can use the M54, you barely notice it. If you can't, but just want to pass through, it is a bloody
nightmare. There's

the

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odd sign indicating alternate routes, but nothing generally coherent.

There

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are lovely old milestones on the Shrewsbury side, indicating the mileage

to

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Shifnal. No mention of Telford at all. Think this is some aggrieved town planner getting his own
back, finally. By using the forks (use the forks, luke), I finally managed to pop out the other
side, picked up the old A5, renamed B5106 since the M54 extension took the name A5 (can they do
that!...it's a Roman Road you know....can't just nick the name!!).

Finally,

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the last ten miles onto Shrewsbury. Despite the fact that there is a great three lane highway,
some cagers still love the experience of driving down standard A-roads, complete with the odd
twist and turn that can be taken

at

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ridiculous speeds (bloody 'ell, a bloke on a bike!!). The B5106 still has

a

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lot of the characteristics of the old A5...long straight bits. It seemed

to

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take 'a while' to complete that last ten miles and I was grateful to

finally

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arrive at Shrewsbury and thinking of the return journey, more than a

little

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aware of the lovely downhill gradients on the approach roads, down to the river / town centre.
Tied the trusty steed up in the town centre at conveniently located bike parks, whipped off the
helmet and gloves, only for me hands to instantly

go

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numb with the cold, followed by the rest of my now rather damp 'covered bits'. Noticed very fine
snow as I was locking the bike up!! Why is it weather men only get it right when they're
forcasting weather that will

ruin

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your plans ?? Onward, upward.... After a 45 min break that involved cheeses and onion french
fries, a bannana, lodsa maltloaf, a apple and water I decided it was time to hit

the

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shops, 'cos it was bloody cold and I wanted a warm before the return trip. Beware Holland &
Barratt, they won't accept cards on anything less than a fiver. Well at least not in Shrewsbury
anyway! Marginally warmed I returned to the bike, togged up and had a pleasant, if brief,
conversation with a gent who arrived and took my parking space. He was on a lovely old Dawes.
Unfortunately 'it was gold' was all that registered, such was the power of the cold. He seemed
slightly bemused by the idea that I was on a round trip from the other side of Wolverhampton, but
commented on the fact that I had 'all the right gear' and wished me

all

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the best. By the time I'd managed to break free of the Shrewsbury ringroad I was bloody freezing
again and seriously worried about getting back in one

piece.

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I was wearing thermalite gloves but my fingers and thumbs continued to go numb with the cold,
giving me problems changing gears with the downtube

gear

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levers. The temperature finally rose sufficient to make the difference. I took it a little easier
on the way back and stopped for a food break following the last 'great climb' half way between
Shifnal and

Wolverhampton.

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I could feel the energy ebbing away and thought caution to be the better part of valour. This was
supposed to be a leisurely, enjoyable ride out, after all. That got me home, just, to a heavenly
cup of tea and a sublime hot bath (first for 10 years!!!). We've got a cast iron roll top bath,

which

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is a great feature but [censored] at keeping the water warm. This coupled with a below par combi-boiler
means it's normally quicker to hit the shower. Not

to

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be phased, I wacked the temperature up and insisted on the bath as a

treat.

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Finished off with a shower, just to warm up again...bliss!!...I want a

sauna

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installed at home, now!!!!...called the local sauna establishment last

week

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to enquire of their prices and opening times. They've been busted for operating a brothel three
times in the 10 years we've been here. I was informed that they were open 10-10 M-S and 10 - 4
Sunday (good) and prices were £10 for a single girl massage, £15 for two, anything after that is
negotiable with the girls (not good...or is it?, I don't know ;-)...but I phoned about the sauna,
it says in the yellow pages....'oh, no, the saunas broken at the moment ' ...damn....sounds like
they're ready to be busted again!! Anyway, completed ride, no problems, totally uneventful and
I'm sure in

the

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middle of summer it'll be a real pleasurable ride. 65 miles, 6.5 hours,

with

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1 hours break all in all, so 5.5 hours in the saddle....talking of which, *MUST* get myself a
brookes saddle!! Off for me pie and chips now...I'm WALKING to the chip shop ;-) cheers, Dave

£15 for a 2-girl massage is great. Nice ride too ;-)

In message <[email hidden]>, Simon Mason <[email hidden]> writes

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Yes and thanks for the story, I printed it out and read it in the sauna.

Were the girls _that_ boring, then? I mean, you didn't expect good conversation about your spoke
nipples, did you?

--
Richard Keatinge

keatinge.netkeatinge.netOpen ↗

"Stephen (aka steford)" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

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"Dave" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
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Well, I gurn an' dun it. Being exceedingly frustrated by circumstances beyond my control ( snowy

icy

<snip> ......loadsa stuff <snip>

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Finished off with a shower, just to warm up again...bliss!!...I want a

sauna

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installed at home, now!!!!...called the local sauna establishment last

week

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to enquire of their prices and opening times. They've been busted for operating a brothel three
times in the 10 years we've been here. I was informed that they were open 10-10 M-S and 10 - 4
Sunday (good) and

prices

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were £10 for a single girl massage, £15 for two, anything after that is negotiable with the
girls (not good...or is it?, I don't know ;-)...but

I

<snip> loads more stuff........... <snip>

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cheers, Dave

£15 for a 2-girl massage is great. Nice ride too ;-)

So....you want the 'phone no.??? ;-) eh, eh?