Not so glorious October day.

Yesterday the weather and conditions were quite the same as last Friday. The route was ashtonishingly beautiful. And everything went well, the annoyingly strong headwinds during the first two hours didn't bother too much, then a nice climb and an amazing ascent and I was looking forward to the tailwind section. That time I was 70km in to the ride in Monmouth where it all turned around. I almost collided with a Fiat, that suddenly wanted to park in front of me. It just stopped right there. I skidded and avoided the collision, but a kilometre or two later I felt a slight wobble in my rear tyre and saw that there was a couple centimetres completely torn bit, but no puncuture just yet, and I still had forty odd kilometres to home. Things just got worse before the tailwind section - how nice. I eventually decided to keep going trying to avoid any bumps or cracks on the road to save the tyre as long as possible. Actually I managed fairly well and after some 25 stressful kilos later the whole thing exploded. Luckily, I didn't crash or anything as it exploded and the wheel was alrgiht too. Then I had no option, but to call a taxi to home. At home I replaced the tyre and the tube, but the tube exploded whilst I pumped it, but thats another story. These days just happen, no worries – besides it was Monday and that explains a lot - I guess.

Torn and later exploded tyre.

Today has been a lot better though, despite the ever strengthening winds. This morning I did two hour plus including 18 high cadence intervals on my bike. Although, the legs felt a bit tired the rpm's seemed to come out rather well. And now it is time for coffee and to chill until at 6pm, then it is gym time.

'Not the wind, not the flag; mind is moving.'

Wumen Huikai

Glorious October day.

Today I had the first longer ride of the season, meaning steady four hours in glorius autumn day. The only thing here is that holding steady pace is almost impossible. This country is just valleys, hills and mountains, which means going up and down almost all the time. And the hills differ from the ones back in Finland – here on a new route one just might take a turn to left and face 4km uphill, nothing spectacular but still loads of work. It ain't funny always, but I've learned to cope with it.

Anyway, today is 21st October and the weather was +13 celcius, partly cloudy with moderate winds. I just couldn't have asked for more. This week the training load has been slightly reduced and I just had rest day yesterday and I started to feel smooth on my bike for the first time this autumn, okay, maybe second. All in all, I rode the full four hours in Welsh autumn day. Next week it is time to get to the real business, as the preparation is successfully over and base training starts.

'Ride your bike, ride your bike, ride your bike'

Fausto Coppi

When a reporter asked him what it takes to become such a great champion.

Can I have a take away home delivery please?

Here I'm again with this big question. To cook or not to cook – however you want to put it. I really like cooking and chefing, but as if I don't have the energy to do it properly – it might just be better off ordering something delivered to my door. As said I like to cook, I really do and lately I've been even more into cooking than earlier. The thing is, that more or less home made sauces always beat Barillas or whatever. Although I sometime use Barillas or whatever, they just don't taste as good as home made. If I screw totally up with the spices I may turn to some quick options, but for my luck – I prefer spicy tastes, so it just isn't that big deal whether there is bit too much of pepper or even cayenne pepper. Spicier foods even enhance metabolism in body and they're even used in weight loss products, so what's not to like?

Another thing, if I put the fact of better taste aside, is that as I do everything myself, I know exactly what's in there. Alright, I don't grow my potatoes or broccolis on my yard, but still. And as I know exactly what's in it I can eat more, because of the more suitable ingredient content. That I really prefer! In cycling maintaining high power to weight ratio is essential, for that the keys are maintaining weight, training hard and eating correctly. To be able train a lot – one needs energy a lot, but the answers for eating a lot,energy and maintaining weight lays within the ingredients. At times it is too complicated for me, and I ask for a big double whopper mac or whatever.

To answer the header. Now I'm unsure if I have the energy to prepare food properly or prepare at all, so I'm just about to pick my phone up and make call. After that call it would take some odd 20 minutes and I would have a warm meal on my door. Whether I'll make that call today, I dunno. And where should I call? Chinese, Indian, pizza, fish n' chips or burger place? Lets be honest, the latter three are ruled out anyway, and I think you know why. Chinese or Indian, or maybe I just rest for a while and then prepare my own food? Or maybe I don't rest at all and do some yoga? No yoga for me, definetly.

Well, behind this non ending chitchat is another good week of training and tiredness due to that. It has all gone according to plan, and that makes me happy. First, there is a plan and a system to follow. Secondly, it seems to be working. Tomorrow I have another gym session and then the week is over and on Monday a new one starts all over again – riding my bike, going to gym, resting and wondering what to eat. There is plenty more than that, but still to say – that is pretty much what I do in addition to uni work. At the end, I think, it is worth mention how amazing does Coke taste in glass bottle!

'Though the bamboo forest is dense, water flows through it freely'

- Basho

P.S. Apparently resting and streching helped. Time to be a chef.

About training, puncturing and photography

Today is a rest day and I woke up at 5.45am, but for a good reason. Wales beat Ireland in Rugby World Cup semifinal at 6am this morning. Now I'm almost two weeks into a new season and training has started well. During these two weeks I've completed roughly 30 hours of training so far and I'm feeling good about it – the progression is there. I've been to road rides and gym, but tomorrow we'll have friendly match in floorball.

I'm feeling good on my bike and even better in the gym, that might due to the fact that progression is obvius when at gym, but on the road it ain't so simply as heart rates, speeds and everything varies due to the winds and so on. Although I gotta admit that the performances don't matter really at the moment, as the most important thing is preparation for the coming months. I very much like training at the gym, as it is very practical and it seems to really work for me!

Just to say that everything ain't so well and good – I've had an amazing streak of punctures. Altogether five during last week. Yesterday I ran out of spare tubes, Co2 cartridges and patches. Today I've shopping then. I've filled the stores and I'm ready take on the challenges provided by the Welsh roads again tomorrow morning. Next week I'll get set of new tyres as well, and hope that they'll reduce the puncture rate, ehh?

Photography then. I've been trying to learn to use my camera properly and I think I can just manage the basics now. I've found photography such nice way to get my head off training, it happens almost automatically. Just walk around watching and trying to find something interesting is very relaxing. Here's something that i've managed to make through the lens:

'One falling leaf is not just one leaf; it means the whole autumn.'

Shunryu Suzuki