Mixed Weekend.....

A mixed weekend, the Lichfield Re:Cycle project held its AGM on Friday evening, so as a nice night I took the "Tall Bike" for its first trip of the year.

Saturday, again as a nice day, decided to dust the canoe off, and spent 40 minutes paddling, quite nice it was too, Saturday evening, another trip to "town" on the "Tall Bike"!

Sunday up early and a ride of the Ride Lichfield Sportive "long" route, at just over 60 miles the longest ride of the year, at 14.6mph average, a nice ride in good weather.

This was followed by a 6 mile walk....... roll on Monday and a rest!

     

Busy Weekend

A rather busy one -

Firstly a "rush" on Sponsorship, taking me to 15% of my target, many thanks to all who have donated so far - if you've not yet donated - please look Here  

Longest ride for some time on Saturday, 51 miles, as I joined around 20 riders for the Run & Ride Spring Challenge. Rain and wind where forecast and so unfortunately the numbers taking part where a little lower than had been expected. 

The rain held off, but not the wind! Gust of 40 miles plus had been in the forecast and on a couple of occasions side winds made for a "exciting" ride, but the last 8 or so miles where in to a horrible head wind, this and me "suffering" a little, saw my average drop from 14.6mph to 13.8.

I had the help of another rider for this last bit for which I was most thankful!

The route headed out over Cannock Chase, hitting a top speed of 44mph on the Stile Cop hill!
Longdon, Rugeley, Great Haywood, Hixon, Abbots Bromley, Hoar Cross, Barton and "home" to Lichfield.

Thanks to the staff at Run & Ride and the other riders - I think I returned as 6th rider back.          

Mixed day.....

So, after taking part in the Cannock Chase Park Run, 3rd "race", 3rd "PB"!, we decided to catch the train to Birmingham for dinner, a pizza and pint at Dig Brew.

First though we would stop at Erdington for the Cycle Jumble, snowed off last year so I as keen to do a little rummaging..... much to my disappointment, as we arrived, everyone was packing up. Still, around the corner  is the Cobble Cycle Cafe. A great little find, good coffee, great cake and very friendly - we will be back! 

So, on to Brum, BrewDog, The Pint Shop, Dig Brew (their Pizzas are the best!) with a last one in Clink.

We happened by the lights "festival" - Festival of Light, bit of fun, with a bike challenge..... we had to have a go!

     

31 years with stickers!

Its 31 years today since I started at Secura Labels! See the full Linked in Here


15th February, is the anniversary of the day I first walked through the doors at Secura Labels. While 31 years may not be a regular anniversary to celebrate, and thanks for all the good wishes!, it does somehow feel a "milestone".

Back in 1988, I joined Secura at their Ashby factory, following 6 years as a coal miner. I took the number of employees to 7, and in those days it was truly was a family concern. David and Kay, David`s Father, Bernard, along with, Andrew, Peter, and another who`s name escapes me! Each day, 12.00 O`clock prompt lunch was always taken together, and always fish and chips on Friday!

Going back over the years, I have worked with 66 individuals, the shortest period 2 1/2 days, the longest 27 years and counting. Among these, and also among suppliers and customers, I have found lifelong friends, and count myself lucky to have worked with some great characters down the years! In the 31 years we have moved four times and the team has grown to 14 in total, but I hope we have maintained some of the "family" feel.

We have, in my time here, sometimes been at the forefront of technology! When I first joined, "artwork" was set with "letraset" & "linotype", and then posted out for approval, posted back once approved. It seemed then a good idea to invest in a fax machine, so we could fax "proofs" and have them faxed back, saving 2 -3 days..... the fax duly arrived - great - unfortunately few of our customers had faxes, it took around 5 weeks before we could actually use the machine for the purpose it was brought for! We also had Thermal Transfer long before many had even hear of it, still a main part of the business today.

We also have been instrumental in the growth of several competitors - Paul left to Form/Join Charnwood Label Craft, Andrew Davis to form Acre Labels (Jenacre) and Andrew Hough to form Trent Labels.

Over the years we have also helped others with Press advice, indeed OPM`s relationship with Nilpeter followed a day spent with us after we purchased our first Nilpeter F240. Chris Ellison, his Father and some of the OPM team spent the day putting the press through its "paces" - a day where we also learned a lot!

There have been some challenges during the 31 years, moves, change of ownership, along with the "daily" ones, but I still get up looking forward to each day, another 31? that would make me 86, so why not? With the continued backing of the "Board" and the "Team" here anything is possible!

(Those with good memories may be thinking, "its only a couple of years since his 25th?", I took a couple of weeks "broken" service to further my professional portfolio (selling sandwiches!) and on my return, had to "re-start")

Re:Cycle Valentines Ride 2019

Although a little damp, a small but perfectly formed group set off on our Re:Cycle Valentines Ride.

The past two years we have had to cancel this ride due to the weather, so we were quite happy to get out this year.

Coffee and cake where enjoyed at Mabel`s Cafe at Curborough.   

HS2 Cycle Path

Scrapped HS2 bike path 'five times better value than HS2 itself'

So, you drive to work, the ice and rain making the cycle option less attractive than usual!, listening to the impending doom on the radio of not reducing CO2 emissions, the fact that obesity, especially in the young, ought to be classed as a health epidemic, to then see that the proposed HS2 bike path, is to be scrapped! 

- Read more here 

Now, to me, it would not appear to be "rocket science" that the bike path could be massive in helping the two issues of emissions and obesity, and i can only see this as a massive opportunity missed.... looking at how to address would not seem easy, I have contacted our MP, HS2 and others, but get the feeling that this is one project that will be lost, saving, in the grand scheme, pennies, but letting pass an opportunity to improve health, reduce emissions and so much more to help all of our futures!

Just over ten years ago, I cycled across the Sinai Desert, rising funds for the British Heart Foundation, it was a great trip, one I often look back on, sleeping under the stars, climbing Mt Sinai to watch the sunrise........      

Back talking bikes and trying to get money off you -

So, back to blogger, as is usually the case, basically as I am fundraising again!

This time to help out Charlie & Freddie -    

Charlie and Freddie are aged 4 from Stone in Staffordshire. They made a surprise early arrival in 2014 born at 30 weeks gestation and spending the first 7 weeks of their lives in NICU.

Charlie was diagnosed with cerebral palsy (quadriplegic) soon after birth, while Freddie was diagnosed (diplegic) shortly before his 2nd birthday. Coming to terms with the prospect of having a disabled child is daunting but then the shock of having disabled twins was something we were not prepared for.

There is no cure for cerebral palsy but hopefully we can do everything we can to improve their lives now and in the future.

Freddie has recently been approved to have Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy (SDR) surgery at Alder Hey Children’s hospital and with your donations for Just4Children we can pay for additional physiotherapy to supplement the NHS sessions and buy equipment to use at home. We would also love to make adaptions to our home which will benefit both boys and make life easier.

Charlie and Freddie are such happy determined boys. We will not let cerebral palsy beat us.

You can sponsor me Here

More to follow, but please did deep and pop back to see how I am doing! 

Training Diaries

An occasional scribble!

23rd April - Commute - 34 Miles

21st April - 44 mile ride

20th April - 3 Mile run (Park Run)

18th April - Commute - 34 miles

16th April - Commute - 34 miles

7th April - 3 Mile run (Durham Park Run)

26th March 2019 - Commute - 34 miles

24th March - 61 Miles (rode the "long" Ride Lichfield Sportive Route)

21st March 2019 - Commute - 34 miles (a nice morning)

19th March 2019 - Commute - 34 miles + 3 Mile Jog (!) A Duathlon?

16th March 2019 - 51 miles cycle - Run & Ride Spring Challenge - VERY Windy ride

14th March 2019 - 3 mile jog

12th March 2019 - 3 mile Jog

10th March 2019 - a 3 mile jog and just a few miles on the mountain bike (well it was windy!)

5th March 2019 - Commute - 34 miles

3rd March 2019 - 40 mile ride, a spin around the Ride Lichfield sportive "short" route, just ahead of Storm Freya!

2nd March 2019 - Park Run, my 3rd run at a Park Run, great fun, and my 3rd "PB"!

26th Feb 2019 - Commute - 34 miles

24th Feb 2019 - 47 miles, Abbots Bromley, Walton, Stafford, Brockton, very foggy ride, this a a road closure which saw me ride around 4 miles on the canal bank, didnt make for the quickest of rides!

21st Feb 2019 - Commute - 34 miles

17th Feb. 2019 - 40 Miles - up a little later than planned but a steady ride, 14mph Ave.

10th Feb. 2019 - A steady ride of 17 miles.

A Gap

8th September 2015 - A real Autumn commute - Foggy, damp.. but no wind!

What could have a nice ride spoiled by a slow puncture about 10 miles in, the remaining 7 or so miles a case of ride, stop, pump repeat! Ride home was another story, at +17mph and a sub 58 minute ride.

10th September 2015 - Another Autumnal morning, and a steady ride in, quite earry in places as the sun tried to break the mist with great photo opportunity missed as a flock of geese appeared flying through the half-light. Another quick ride home though and at 56.40, the fastest for some time!

13th September 2015 - St Giles Bike Ride. A steady ride to Whittington, although the day looked to be promising, at 7.45am it was still quite chilly, and coat and leg warmers needed. Signing on done all set for the  9.00 o`clock start. Setting off in waves of 30 or so, I some how missed setting off with Mr. Cox and crew, but soon found a group pedaling at around 17mph, my target speed, so i tucked in, working my way to the front as we wound up to 20mph heading to Barton, a short hill split the group and as others waited up for friends, I found myself trying to catch the next group. And so the morning went on like this, catching a group, then as they stopped or slowed, moving to the next. This was until the final 15 or so miles when i found myself pretty much on my own, unable to hang on to a group and so now struggling to try and duck under 4 hours, as it was 4.00.47 was I guess quite respectable.  The event was well organised and signed all round, with a nice route, and even the challenge of Brocton hill enjoyable in the Autumn sunshine!

15th September 2015 - WET! 

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Training

With a good ten Months to get fit for this (?) I will be looking for some other events along the way to help with the training, find them here -

13th Sept. 2015-St Giles Hospice - Cycle Ride - 63 miles around the South Derbyshire / Staffordshire "B" roads.