String theory - Knot a clue

Just how long is a piece of string? I was genuinely asking myself that question today as I was getting together more bits of kit. Specifically, how much to take for a drying line along with any pannier/tent emergencies? Well I settled for about 12 feet ... or should I take more? ... or is that too much? ... is it the right type of string? ........ arrgghh!

Low Winter Sun from Calton Hill

The recent 'warm' spell has rapidly made the battalions of snowmen from last week become a distant memory. As a result, I've been able to pick up the pace of training this week - which is just as well more as every time I sit down to tweak the route it seems to get longer (went through the 5,000 mile mark yesterday). Here's a shot from up Calton Hill on today's training run.

Cross straining

Waking up to another snowy morning left me with two choices; another training session on the turbo-trainer in the garage which, if I were being honest, gets a bit dull after around, err...15 mins or so; or do some cross training by playing a game of five-a-side football this evening. Well, the footy won out (not much of a contest really). After all, I told myself, most coaches/trainers will tell you that some cross-training is a good idea? Well, five minutes into the game this evening my right quad muscle begged to differ, massively so as I badly strained it after a wayward shot (not my first of the night). Still, been on the winning team always makes the pain somewhat more tolerable :) However, think I'll be best sticking to the turbo-trainer from now on.

Mmmm.... Beer

Now, I was planning on using my super-lightweight cannondale bike for the trip, but I might just have to reconsider that choice having seen this http://www.pubcrawler.uk.com/pubcrawler.html.

Training, but for what?

Yesterday's training ride - visually stunning but thermally challenging. Had more than a few moments where switching to the slick tyres earlier in the week seemed to have been a lunatic idea. To be fair, it probably was but it definitely kept the ride 'interesting'. With no sign of a thaw here in Edinburgh anytime soon I might end up being better trained to do this http://www.iditarod.com/ rather than the US trip.