I am a 1x1 convert

Pedal Spanner started strongly, however it appears the winter season has kicked in and no contributions, so I am going to slip in my first 'spannerblog'.

I have gone from cycling for fun to function. I now commute 6 miles each way to work. This weekend I sold my car and promptly invested in an engagement ring! - removing the temptation as the light gets less and the temp bar drops (man is it cold in the morning). so what does this mean for my cycling? I now start out of the gun at 8am and quickly get into a 20mph groove, and do not go below for 2 miles until I reach Guildford 'City' centre. Here I disect cars and risk death for 2 miles, accelerating hard and I feel it is helping my breaks. However, about this stage my lungs are normally wheezing so badly, I think it is the mixture of the cold and no proper warm up that makes a few puffs on the ventolin essential to keep breathing. the final 2 miles are a pacy burst to the industrial estate, then a mile cool down with some sprints, 1 past an abbertoir which is pretty nasty when you are trying hard to fill your lungs with fresh air! 

I love cycling in to work. I love not needing a car. I love working in the cycling industry, looking at bikes all day and making phone calls to the top marketing peeps from all top cycling companies. I feel lucky. 

I also feel compelled to let you know a perverse act I am soon to perform. I am going to sell my Trek full suss and buy a steel Surly 1x1  SS MTB (in orange). I rode one last weekend in Wales, and it was so amazing, I had to push up some hills but the whole, no need to worry about what gear you are in, whether your chain will slip, cleaning all cables after the ride, corroding linkages in the susspension etc. it was awesome! it was brutal, it was unforgiving but the most back to basics fun I can remeber on a bike. I may tire on a 5hr epic, but how often do we do them any more. 

I suggest you all give it a go. I was in the 'right' gear for about 5% of my ride, but it didn't seem to matter, see some mud - go fast so you don't get stuck; see a hill -  go fast so you get momentum to get up it; see a downhill - attack then enjoy a break and the thrill!. Get home, blast with some water, lube the chain, put in bedroom all shiny and don't worry about the shifting next ride etc...  I am a convert :) 

just as a riding update. Soph has been coming to see me evry weekend so squeezing a weekend ride has not been appealing, but as she moves in with me next weekend then Sunday morning rides will become the norm, MTB and Road - very excited, it looks like Godalming is a hub for cyclists. 

That's it for my first spannerblog, hope it didn't bore you all too much...