A puncture on Energitrampet

(Thanks Clifford for this picture taken at the finish line)

At the point where I was furthest from both start and finish I was unpleasantly surprised to feel the unmistakable hardness of the road as it was now hitting the metal of my back wheel following a puncture. These modern tyres are supposed to have a puncture resistant layer made of Kevlar, the stuff they make bullet proof vests of.

The must have been some 'sharper than bullets' grit on the roads, because I lost count of the number of cyclists I saw beside the road with punctures.

I thought that I was near the next watering depot, so since I didn't have my little tool kit, with its tyre leavers I rode and walked on. But after a while I realised that it wasn't just down the next slope, so I stopped and tried to change the tyre. I discovered that a key will work as a tyre leaver, and was able to change in about the normal time. The little pump I carry with me can't (not with my arm muscles) manage to get the pressure up to the full 6Bar, but it was good enough to get me home. I discovered that I hadn't put the tyre on properly, and it was a bit irregular, making the ride a bit bumpy, when the road surface was good, which isn't very much of this route! So I have to sort that out today, before the next adventure.

Up until Köping (about 50km) I was doing very well. I went with the 'medium' group and had an average of bit over 30kph. We seemed to be in one big pack up to that point. We had a rather long wait just before Köping while the motorbikes that were riding round lake Mälaren (seemed like thousands of them) went past. When we got out onto the road again, we had a few km in their company, which I was glad to loose.

My average speed, including the walking parts, all the time on my own and the gentle ride home afterwards with Margie, was about 25kph.

Margie got round in reasonable time, which was perhaps better than expected considering the fact that she's done very little training this year. Although we both swim twice a week, so she's not unfit by any means.

To my surprise not only was Margie waiting for me at the finish, but also Clifford and Lisabeth. So I can expect a high quality picture (or two) of me as I arrived.

I'd put sun-tan lotion on my arms and legs, which weren't burnt at all, but forgotten my head. It isn't burnt, but I didn't feel too good last night, which I think was caused by the sun rather than anything else.

I've now done 972km of the 1000km recommended for Vätternrundan, so with next week's Halvvättern (150km) I'll be more prepared than I've ever been before! Let's just hope I don't have any more punctures!

One thing lacking from Energitrampet's depots is 'salt gurka' (small cucumber/large gherkins in salt). These are available at all the Vätternrundan depots, and whilst I very seldom eat them during the rest of the year, I always want some while cycling. I have never had cramp except when cycling Energitrampet, I wonder if there's a connection?

Long weekend in England

We've just got back from a long weekend in England. The main reason for going was to partake in the wedding of my nephew Martin to his Heather. Martin is the younger son of my sister Mary and her Julian.

While we were there we also visited Bath, a very attractive city, and also the first year birthday party of Henrietta, daughter of Robin (older son of Mary) and his wife.

The weather was very nice pretty well all the time we were there. The flight back suffered a rather bumpy landing, but in every other respect was fine, despite Ryan Air.

Last night I discovered that I'd forgotten to register Margaret and me on the Energitrampet cycle rides on Saturday. We should still be able to go on them because you can register on the day, but of course it costs more!

When I got back to work this morning my computer was broken! I've spent most of the day trying to fix it, and at last I've discovered that that the problem is the graphics card, so I'm able to continue by using the built in graphics card on the mother board. I've also ordered a new card (of a different make).

Another quick cycle training session

I went with the 'lugn' (calm) group again in today's Energitramp training session. It wasn't so lugn, I had an average of 28kph. We went about 65 km. (see the route roughly on maps.google.com)

When we got to Strömsholm for fika (coffee etc.) for the first time this year we were able to sit outside in the warm sun.

The other groups went a different route. Because the wind at 10 o'clock this morning was gently blowing from the north they went in that direction, with the intention of going a long way. By long way these people mean something between 120 and 150 km. They also go very quickly, average over 30kph.

Fortunately for us the wind was very little, and we seemed to be a group of compatible strength. Sometimes it's difficult to hold a group together when the strong ones get to the front, they tend to go at their favourite speed, and that makes it very hard on the not so strong ones to keep up.

I'm still ahead of the 1000km target for Vätternrundan according to my calendar on their site. I don't have to do a lot more! I've done a total of 708 km so far, add Energitrampet (123km) and Halvvättern (150km) and you get 973 km!

I am planning on a longer ride of some sort next Thursday, when it is a public holiday here (Kristihimmelfärd, ascension day). VCK, who actually lead the groups in these sessions, are doing a run starting 10 o'clock on Thursday morning, I haven't decided yet if I'll join them, or do my own thing.

VCK had a tent at the market place yesterday, so I filled in a form to join. They seem a nice bunch, and it seems to cover all abilities, right down to my level!

Windy weekend in Tällberg / Christmas in May

It was a windy weekend when we (all seven of us) spent the weekend in Tällberg. We stayed in the Dalarcarlia hotel. The rain held off until we were leaving.

In the little movie you can see and hear the effect of the wind on this set of chimes, which are mounted outside the Spa.

Victor seemed to enjoy himself, particularly in the pool.

Tällberg, is about three hours drive from here. It lies in the heart of Dalarna, which is the most Swedish of Swedish places in Sweden. Margie and I were here once before, at midsommar.

We'd agreed not to buy each other Christmas presents, but to all do something together, and this was it. A very nice Christmas present indeed.

My debut as leader at Mazer

Last night I performed a quartet by R. Vaughan Williams called Household Music at the regular Mazer Monday evening soiree. This is a very nice three movement work based on three well known (in GB but not here) Welsh hymn tunes. With me were John, Kathy and Solbritt. The man standing in the picture above is Krister Persson who was host for the evening which included three other works. He pointed out that unusually for a Mazer evening all the works were in fact quartets, although only one a string quartet (ours!). He played in a piano quartet (violin, viola, cello & piano), then it was us, then after the interval a flute quartet by Bach (two flutes, a viol and harpsichord). The last group was a saxophone quartet! (very nice, but dynamic range from loud to deafening!) They ended up with "When I'm 64", but I wasn't alone in thinking that "When I was 64" suited a rather high proportion of the audience!

The historical importance which was missed by most spectators was the fact that it was my first appearance as leader of a quartet in public. Some have said that I lead from the viola position of course, but that's not quite the same as playing the first violin part.

I was very glad that Margaret could come because she was supposed to have worked that evening, but someone wanted to swap shifts with her. Kathy's husband Gary had come with her from England, and was also there. Margaret was complementary about our performance, and she usually says what she thinks, so I take that as a great compliment! I think we played well. I made new and different mistakes of course, but that's normal in any performance. John put his mute on too early at one point, and so had to take it off again! But no-one except him commented on that!

So that was the end of a very nice weekend for me. Kathy & Garry arrived on Saturday, when we had a nice meal together, and a bit too much nice wine. Sunday John & Solbritt arrived while Margaret was working, so we could play all day. On Monday we drove to Stockholm, and while Margaret and Garry went to the Vasa Museum (well worth a visit) we played some more, ending the evening at the Konstnärsklubben.

So now I'm back at work where in addition to all the usual problems that have built up there is building work going on next door, with machinery designed to drill a whole in your brain! Evacuation isn't completely ruled out.