Ripon Tri: Take Three

Nowt much happened.

Swam quicker than last time

Biked a bit slower than last time (windy)

Ran a bit quicker than last time (including th extra 500m)

Went out for an Italian. Ymmmmmmmm, Pizza

Job done

Of course we du, it's not all work work work Pt II

Mrs B finally got married again and asked us all to attend a good old fashioned British knees up in the land of the rising sausage AKA his stag do, in Berlin.

Bratwursts, beer, cocktails (WTF) and more beer. Well what did you expect?

The Superman outfit was planned whilst the Border Guards hat and gas mask were bought on the way. The gas mask and hat raised an eyebrow when the grooms bag was searched for the flight home. Thankfully there was no explaining to do. Great sense of humour the Germans.
The stag do followed the "traditional recipe". However, what goes on tour........

The Trabant safari was good and provided the opportunity for a bunch of British idiots to drive very old cars with pre-hysteric gear boxes around the capital of the former GDR. Fantastic architecture, bad driving and a smell of two-stroke. As for two-stroke Superman went down a storm in the lap dancing club.

So this was at the end of week one of another block of three weeks training. Whilst it was still short of the planned 60 minute run I did manage a 35 minute run to the Brandenburg gate and back on Saturday morning much to the dismay of the other attendees but i didn't half feel better for it after.

Of course we du, it's not all work work work Pt I

As the very bad NatWest advert went circa 1992.

Some down time indulged in during a recovery week. Another weekend, another wedding. This time we headed north to Bonnie Scotland and Loch Lomond.

Friday - A couple of hours in Glasgow and some time in the sun enjoying the sites.

Saturday - Scots wedding: Pipers, Whiskey & Kilts = Trying not to enjoy the sights

Sunday - a hangover, sighting was difficult

As an aside, Loch Lomond is home to the only curry house in the UK that serves curry dishes that not only look the same but taste the same. Maybe that's not strictly true but Mrs H and I played spot the difference with a Korma and Jalfrezi.

Glesca provided an opportunity to call in at Billy Bilsland Cycles to see Robert Millars 1984 Tour De France King of the Mountains skinsuit. This was the same day the TDF started in Brest. My next three weeks have an additional distraction. The TV is finally getting some use as I become absorbed in all things TDF. The iPod has been ditched at work in favour of the Radio5 coverage courtesy of t'interweb.

Sunday was a trip to Ae forest for mountain biking with head that was fine but was definitely not connected to the rest of my body. Trouble in the message centre. Ae is one of the 7 Staines Forestry Commission owned MTB Trail Centres. This prompted the question, "What's your favourite staine?"

As for the TDF, with all the Sprinteurs, Rouleurs, Barodeurs, Climbers and Time Trialists. I asked Mrs H what sort of ride she'd be in the TDF.

"A good one?" was her response. You can't argue with that.

Time to snap out of this recovery malarky and get back to some serious training.

Next stop, Ripon Tri