The Retirement Thread

[The Rover]

Afternoon.
A mixed week of indoor and outdoor activities, I managed to book a slot for swimming on Monday, the first swim in a “ big “ pool since my collarbone surgery, just 40 lengths using breaststroke but it went ok without any issues, I’m back again tomorrow. The slots have been reduced to 45 mins which is fine.

Got in a 60 miler on the bike on tues round the Ribble Valley, 3800 ft of climbing which included Jeffrey Hill which according to google is 2.6km in length and an av of 7%, it’s 22% at one point, it’s the first time I’ve gone up it and whilst it was challenging it’s nowhere near as tough as Birdy Brow and the Nick O Pendle.

The rest of the week has been dodging the down pours, bit of ironing, general cleaning and removing plinths from the kitchen as we are having 50mts of flooring replaced under warranty next week due the it fading.

Lastly, the boy has a book to read each week from school, I’ve insisted we start it today rather than the last minute reading we normally do over the weekend, the dog found it riveting!

 

[ColinJ]

Got in a 60 miler on the bike on tues round the Ribble Valley, 3800 ft of climbing which included Jeffrey Hill which according to google is 2.6km in length and an av of 7%, it’s 22% at one point, it’s the first time I’ve gone up it and whilst it was challenging it’s nowhere near as tough as Birdy Brow and the Nick O Pendle.

Hmm, I did find Jeffrey Hill quite tough, but I found Birdy Brow not quite as tough as expected. Maybe I was on a bad day for the former and a good day for the latter?

The Nick o' Pendle can feel hard. I usually do it from the Sabden side and can pace myself for that. It's a while since I did it in the opposite direction. Last time that felt like hard work.

In that area - I found Whalley Nab very hard, and Padiham Heights (Black Hill) is demanding too.

 

[The Rover]

Hmm, I did find Jeffrey Hill quite tough, but I found Birdy Brow not quite as tough as expected. Maybe I was on a bad day for the former and a good day for the latter?

The Nick o' Pendle can feel hard. I usually do it from the Sabden side and can pace myself for that. It's a while since I did it in the opposite direction. Last time that felt like hard work.

In that area - I found Whalley Nab very hard, and Padiham Heights (Black Hill) is demanding too.

Yep, I forgot about Whaley Nab, I agree it's a tough one. I'm hoping to get out next week so I might try Birdy Brow again, I did it last winter and literally followed a grittier up it! Not heard of Padiham Heights, I'll have a google, actually lived in Padiham until age10.

 

[ebikeerwidnes]

Afternoon.
A mixed week of indoor and outdoor activities, I managed to book a slot for swimming on Monday, the first swim in a “ big “ pool since my collarbone surgery, just 40 lengths using breaststroke but it went ok without any issues, I’m back again tomorrow. The slots have been reduced to 45 mins which is fine.

Got in a 60 miler on the bike on tues round the Ribble Valley, 3800 ft of climbing which included Jeffrey Hill which according to google is 2.6km in length and an av of 7%, it’s 22% at one point, it’s the first time I’ve gone up it and whilst it was challenging it’s nowhere near as tough as Birdy Brow and the Nick O Pendle.

The rest of the week has been dodging the down pours, bit of ironing, general cleaning and removing plinths from the kitchen as we are having 50mts of flooring replaced under warranty next week due the it fading.

Lastly, the boy has a book to read each week from school, I’ve insisted we start it today rather than the last minute reading we normally do over the weekend, the dog found it riveting!

View attachment 589753

View attachment 589754

What a good job that dog is doing guarding 'The Boy'

Think he deserves a biscuit!

 

[ColinJ]

Not heard of Padiham Heights, I'll have a google, actually lived in Padiham until age10.

Here you go...

 

[BoldonLad]

Went out for a ride yesterday - new loop I had looked at on a map.

Didn't feel great when I started - but then I often don't and once the muscles get going I cheer up so I carried on.
Lovely day mostly.

Everything seemed to take more effort than normal but I persisted in leaving the motor assist on the lowest setting - just rode slower.
I normally try to get the mileage counter to at least 20 miles - but by the time I was at about 15 I was not feeling at all good - generally worn out .
So I cut the loop a bit short and aimed more homeward. Got home feeling totally shot after 18 miles - could hardly keep the pedals turning for the last few miles and even upped the motor assist to get up a gentle hill.
Wife was rather worried about me when I got back - ended up going to bed for an hour or so.
Went outside later to put the ebike away and discovered that the battery was not clipped on properly. Not enough to fall off or anything but I suspect I was riding with no motor assist most of the time. Confirmed by the battery indicator that shows no usage! I suspect it was jumping in and out of connection for the motor but the display was on the other side of the connector so stayed on.
Hence I was trying to maintain a speed with and without assist and wondering why I was having trouble at times but then would be OK.

And - naturally - there was a wind for quite a lot of the ride.

That's the problem with an ebike - without power it is very heavy and the motor takes some energy to turn even without power.

Out of interest, which e-bike do you have?

Pondering buying for self and wife.

 

[pawl]

I'm glad I didn't go for a walk as we now have that fine drizzle, you know the one that really soaks you

That’s exactly what Mrs p says.Don’t understand that.???

 

[classic33]

Don't worry, we know where we are! And yes it's above Sowerby Bridge, judging by the hills everything is above Sowerby Bridge View attachment 589673

I wasn't trying to tell YOU where you are (I assumed that you had already worked that out... ), I was helping EVERYONE ELSE to get an idea of where you are/were!

Yes, the climbs up from Sowerby Bridge are pretty steep! I have done Norland Road a few times from the back of the railway station - that was hard... I went to watch the Leeds Classic race go up there in the mid-1990s. I got there about an hour before the peloton and grovelled my way up to find a good vantage point. There were already hundreds of fans there and they cheered me all the way up. It made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up!

Just as well he knew where he was. He'd have had some fun with the placenames if he'd to ask for directions.

 

[Dirk]

Crap weather today - mainly rain and high winds.
Went for a walk at Horner Woods first thing.
[Place holder for photos which won't upload at the moment due to snail like 3G]
We then went shopping in Minehead. Filled the car up with diesel at Morrison's then went to Porlock Weir to meet up with bestest mates for lunch.
Got back to the van and took the sun canopy down as it's blowing a hoolie out there - 50+ mph.
In for a rock n roll night, I reckon!

 

[12boy]

Went for a short ride today but I aint used to summer temps. It was 27C and it felt a little hot. Tomorrow it may rain so I can kvetch about that either way. Nothing like a good snivel.
The garden is getting to the point where if there isn't rain I must water so I need to get off my buns and set up the irrigation system. I have been using the black recycled tire soaker lines but they dont last for doodly squat so this year it will be the three line flat plastic kind. If they work it will be great because they are more durable. My eldest is coming to visit for a couple days and will bring up a bunch of peppers, heirloom tomatoes, 2 eggplants and 2 artichokes that were started by my other son who also lives in the Greater Denver metroplex in Colorado. Then I will have to plant all that but I didn't want to hurt anyone's feelings.
Every year I tell myself I won't torment myself with a garden this year and every year I do it anyway. What a putz I am.
Be well and safe.

 

[classic33]

Went for a short ride today but I aint used to summer temps. It was 27C and it felt a little hot. Tomorrow it may rain so I can kvetch about that either way. Nothing like a good snivel.
The garden is getting to the point where if there isn't rain I must water so I need to get off my buns and set up the irrigation system. I have been using the black recycled tire soaker lines but they dont last for doodly squat so this year it will be the three line flat plastic kind. If they work it will be great because they are more durable. My eldest is coming to visit for a couple days and will bring up a bunch of peppers, heirloom tomatoes, 2 eggplants and 2 artichokes that were started by my other son who also lives in the Greater Denver metroplex in Colorado. Then I will have to plant all that but I didn't want to hurt anyone's feelings.
Every year I tell myself I won't torment myself with a garden this year and every year I do it anyway. What a putz I am.
Be well and safe.

Is it raining where you are at present?

First the snow, now the Sunny weather, and we didn't get much of either in the last 12 months.

 

[Juan Kog]

Today was my first professional haircut since February 2020 , as I sat down the barber said “ the usual . I have been going there for about 12 years . The shop was locaTed at the end of my mum’s road ,so was conveniently placed to fit in a haircut during my frequent visits. My mum died in 2013 , but I can’t face training another barber . So I have a 15 mile round trip for a haircut.
Tomorrow Mrs JK and I are heading for West Dorset for a week’s holiday, we won’t leave till lunchtime , as we cannot get into the holiday apartment till 5 pm . No our house will not be empty, my MiL will be there , 2 of Mrs JK’s sisters are moving in to look after Mum .

 

[Exlaser2]

Night night everyone. It’s been a hard day for me today. It was my mum funeral , the service was lovely and having a wake/meal with some of my family was terrific and has done wonders for my mental health.
I feel very strange, it a mixture of sad for what has passed but has made me strangely positive for life going forward .
I really feel I bike ride coming on and I haven’t felt like that in six months . 😀😀

 

[classic33]

Today was my first professional haircut since February 2020 , as I sat down the barber said “ the usual . I have been going there for about 12 years . The shop was locaTed at the end of my mum’s road ,so was conveniently placed to fit in a haircut during my frequent visits. My mum died in 2013 , but I can’t face training another barber . So I have a 15 mile round trip for a haircut.
Tomorrow Mrs JK and I are heading for West Dorset for a week’s holiday, we won’t leave till lunchtime , as we cannot get into the holiday apartment till 5 pm . No our house will not be empty, my MiL will be there , 2 of Mrs JK’s sisters are moving in to look after Mum .

Will your two Alsatians have free run of the,house as well!!

 

[gavroche]

In bed now and the rain is pouring outside. Apparently it will carry on all day tomorrow too and we are going to Blackpool in the afternoon till Sunday. Not a lot to look forward to then. 😠
Goodnight all.