Dubai Roadsters ride this morning. I see one rider and think - "nice bike" (Cannondale tri bike with spaceship-style bars), and "he should be wearing a helmet".
10 minutes later I see him again in more light, noted a German accent, bandana and "Erdinger" on his shorts.
Indeed it turns out to be none other than a member of triathlons Royal Family - Mr Faris Al-Sultan!
Friday, January 02, 2009
Sunday, December 28, 2008
Audio Ambitions
I'm also rather inclined to splash out some of my bike cash (if it sells) on some audio kit. Since selling my decks in 1996 I've always wanted to get back into domestic DJ'ing. But times have changed now and I have to think about CD's and MP3's, not just vinyl.
In Malaysia DJ'ing kit didn't appear to be readily available but here in Dubai I've found a place that sells decks, CD players, software and vinyl to MP3 converters.
I can then indulge in one of my great passions - E.L.E.C.T.R.O!
In Malaysia DJ'ing kit didn't appear to be readily available but here in Dubai I've found a place that sells decks, CD players, software and vinyl to MP3 converters.
I can then indulge in one of my great passions - E.L.E.C.T.R.O!
Changes
I got a comment on my last post and am surprised that anyone actually still looks at my blog as I hardly ever write anything these days. Thats because I'm extremely busy at work - giving less time for training (my most common blogging subject), and the blogging itself.
Now I'm at the end of 4 days off for Xmas so have a few secs to blog.
Nowadays my training/exercise is limited to a 70km bike ride every Friday. Partly due to the sun setting at 5.45pm, I am not inclined to do anything in the evenings - and a 7am start in the office knocks out the mornings too.
But I really enjoy the weekend rides. It's a 6am start and these days the temperature can be as low as 15 Celsius! At that temperature I can just about survive with arm-warmers and a vest under my jersey. Any colder and I'll need a windproof layer and tights! I tell you though it is a very refreshing experience!
There are usually 100-150 riders and its a controlled ride. 2 by 2 all 90% of the time, with the front 5-10 pairs doing turns at the front. The first 35km averages 32kph. Then there's a sprint where the adrenalin starts to flow and I usually end up tucked behind someone doing almost 50kph for the last few '00 metres.
On the way back we average 34kph, with some sections sustained at 37-40kph depending on the wind. I do some good turns on the front myself. The group usually splits and I enjoy trying to stay in the front pack, which I usually manage to do. However I've heard that the 100 & 120km groups ride faster!
I'm inclined to concentrate on cycling these days so have decided to sell my rapidly depreciating Planet X, which spends most of its life on the wall with the wheels in a bag. If I do a triathlon I still have a road bike.
At the same time I'm re-setting my ambitions away from triathlons. I have an idea to do the Tour of Flanders cyclo-sportif in Belgium in April, and perhaps a few mountains in the Alps in July or August.
We'll see what happens. I'll do the odd blog post too.
Now I'm at the end of 4 days off for Xmas so have a few secs to blog.
Nowadays my training/exercise is limited to a 70km bike ride every Friday. Partly due to the sun setting at 5.45pm, I am not inclined to do anything in the evenings - and a 7am start in the office knocks out the mornings too.
But I really enjoy the weekend rides. It's a 6am start and these days the temperature can be as low as 15 Celsius! At that temperature I can just about survive with arm-warmers and a vest under my jersey. Any colder and I'll need a windproof layer and tights! I tell you though it is a very refreshing experience!
There are usually 100-150 riders and its a controlled ride. 2 by 2 all 90% of the time, with the front 5-10 pairs doing turns at the front. The first 35km averages 32kph. Then there's a sprint where the adrenalin starts to flow and I usually end up tucked behind someone doing almost 50kph for the last few '00 metres.
On the way back we average 34kph, with some sections sustained at 37-40kph depending on the wind. I do some good turns on the front myself. The group usually splits and I enjoy trying to stay in the front pack, which I usually manage to do. However I've heard that the 100 & 120km groups ride faster!
I'm inclined to concentrate on cycling these days so have decided to sell my rapidly depreciating Planet X, which spends most of its life on the wall with the wheels in a bag. If I do a triathlon I still have a road bike.
At the same time I'm re-setting my ambitions away from triathlons. I have an idea to do the Tour of Flanders cyclo-sportif in Belgium in April, and perhaps a few mountains in the Alps in July or August.
We'll see what happens. I'll do the odd blog post too.
Friday, December 26, 2008
PlanetX
Due to a change in circumstances my beloved Planet X tri bike is for sale...
- Planet X Stealth Pro Carbon frame & forks (Size XL - 58cm crank centre to top of seat stay)
- 10-spd Dura-Ace 7800 group incl BB & bar-end levers
- Planet X Pro Carbon 50mm aero wheels with American Classic hubs. Tubular tyres. Perfectly true wheels.
- HED Vantage 8 aerobars.
- Deda Newton 80mm stem.
- Look KEO carbon pedals.
- ISM Adamo Road saddle (strange but wonderful!)
- Shimano Ultegra chain.
- Shimano Dura-Ace 12-25 cassette.
- Cane Creek integrated headset.
- Hydrotail + 2 x carbon bottle cages
- Oval Concepts brake levers
- + Planet X padded wheel bag
- bracket and sensor for Polar HRM.
- crank is 175mm & front mech fitting is braze-on. Chainset is 52-39.
Bought in July 2007. Done less than 900km. Never crashed. Beautiful smooth ride.
Fork steerer tube has not been cut.
This bike helped me take 20mins off my Half-Ironman bike leg time.
Cost more than AED17,000, selling for AED13,000 or nearest offer. Call Adrian 0504817906 if interested. Located in The Lakes, Emirates Hills.
- Planet X Stealth Pro Carbon frame & forks (Size XL - 58cm crank centre to top of seat stay)
- 10-spd Dura-Ace 7800 group incl BB & bar-end levers
- Planet X Pro Carbon 50mm aero wheels with American Classic hubs. Tubular tyres. Perfectly true wheels.
- HED Vantage 8 aerobars.
- Deda Newton 80mm stem.
- Look KEO carbon pedals.
- ISM Adamo Road saddle (strange but wonderful!)
- Shimano Ultegra chain.
- Shimano Dura-Ace 12-25 cassette.
- Cane Creek integrated headset.
- Hydrotail + 2 x carbon bottle cages
- Oval Concepts brake levers
- + Planet X padded wheel bag
- bracket and sensor for Polar HRM.
- crank is 175mm & front mech fitting is braze-on. Chainset is 52-39.
Bought in July 2007. Done less than 900km. Never crashed. Beautiful smooth ride.
Fork steerer tube has not been cut.
This bike helped me take 20mins off my Half-Ironman bike leg time.
Cost more than AED17,000, selling for AED13,000 or nearest offer. Call Adrian 0504817906 if interested. Located in The Lakes, Emirates Hills.
Sunday, October 19, 2008
Pacesetter Spotted In Dubai
After 2 weeks of nil zero kosong exercise - a 10km jog around Le Meridien Mina Seyahi. Advertising the Pacesetters to the world...
My target was to beat an hour, but I surprised myself with a 55min+ run.
My target was to beat an hour, but I surprised myself with a 55min+ run.
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Saturday, September 27, 2008
Cooke Again
Team GB cycling
Kings of the Track
Queens of the Track
Queen of the Road
Fastest Sprinter 2008
all we need now is a Road King
Kings of the Track
Queens of the Track
Queen of the Road
Fastest Sprinter 2008
all we need now is a Road King
Saturday, September 20, 2008
Settling In
I'm nearing the end of my monthly "normal" 2-day weekend and feel like I have a few minutes to blog.
We're quite well settled in now. Lucas has been at school for a couple of weeks. The final piece of the jigsaw is to get Jackie a driving licence. According to the rules here, a newly licenced 17-year old from the UK can get a UAE licence in minutes, but Jackie (who's been driving for over 20 years) has to go through a minimum of 20 lessons because here licence is not from a "recognised" country. Even more crazy is the fact that the strict yet nonsensicle driving licencing rules here don't seem to do any good. I drive along the same 3km stretch of Al Khail Road every day and I have seen at least 2 accidents every day since Ramadan began - some serious ones. The shocking thing is that the reason for the accidents is blindingly obvious - tailgating.
I've managed to get out for a few rides and runs recently. Starting a few weeks ago I joined the Dubai Roadsters 70km Friday a.m. ride. My first ride included a puncture after 43km and a solo ride home after that.
My second ride was better. My colleague Jim (ex British road-race champ) joined us after a few km and we chatted all the way to the 35km point where there was a sprint. I then bumped into Karen Hales and for a moment was not sure what continent I was in. It turns out that her disapperance from KL was becasue she moved to Dubai! No punctures this time and I made it back in 2:08 at an average of 33kph - my fastest ever road ride of that distance.
Last Friday I did the same ride but was more ambitious than last time. I did a few km stint at the front and went for broke in the last km to see if I could catch the sprint. Jim attacked first and was followed. A few secs later I managed to latch on to the back of a train I surprisingly managed to stay with it @ 50kph+ until we caught Jim with a few '00m to go. But my HR had reached 99% so I stepped of the gas and watched the real sprinters fly by.
The return leg was faster as usual and I had fun time-trialling across gaps to try to stay with the leaders. That ride ended in 2:11 @ 32kph.
The evening before I joined the Dubai Road Runners 5km Iftar (breaking-fast time) run.
This Saturday I've got a 800m/5km Aquathlon and a 10km run and a 168km bike race in my calendar.
That's all folks.
We're quite well settled in now. Lucas has been at school for a couple of weeks. The final piece of the jigsaw is to get Jackie a driving licence. According to the rules here, a newly licenced 17-year old from the UK can get a UAE licence in minutes, but Jackie (who's been driving for over 20 years) has to go through a minimum of 20 lessons because here licence is not from a "recognised" country. Even more crazy is the fact that the strict yet nonsensicle driving licencing rules here don't seem to do any good. I drive along the same 3km stretch of Al Khail Road every day and I have seen at least 2 accidents every day since Ramadan began - some serious ones. The shocking thing is that the reason for the accidents is blindingly obvious - tailgating.
I've managed to get out for a few rides and runs recently. Starting a few weeks ago I joined the Dubai Roadsters 70km Friday a.m. ride. My first ride included a puncture after 43km and a solo ride home after that.
My second ride was better. My colleague Jim (ex British road-race champ) joined us after a few km and we chatted all the way to the 35km point where there was a sprint. I then bumped into Karen Hales and for a moment was not sure what continent I was in. It turns out that her disapperance from KL was becasue she moved to Dubai! No punctures this time and I made it back in 2:08 at an average of 33kph - my fastest ever road ride of that distance.
Last Friday I did the same ride but was more ambitious than last time. I did a few km stint at the front and went for broke in the last km to see if I could catch the sprint. Jim attacked first and was followed. A few secs later I managed to latch on to the back of a train I surprisingly managed to stay with it @ 50kph+ until we caught Jim with a few '00m to go. But my HR had reached 99% so I stepped of the gas and watched the real sprinters fly by.
The return leg was faster as usual and I had fun time-trialling across gaps to try to stay with the leaders. That ride ended in 2:11 @ 32kph.
The evening before I joined the Dubai Road Runners 5km Iftar (breaking-fast time) run.
This Saturday I've got a 800m/5km Aquathlon and a 10km run and a 168km bike race in my calendar.
That's all folks.
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