Owwww

So the post Christmas training's got off to a faltering start. After a Boxing Day snatched session on the main roads I knew something wasn't quite right. Stupid as it sounds my nose hurt badly. Really badly. Then last night I noticed my top lip was fat. Really fat. After an uncomfortable night, my fears were confirmed. I have a horrible infection in my face which has made my face fall on one side, and worst of all I have a horrible punched in the face feeling.

So no bike today, as my guts are horrible after my first dose of antibiotics.

But as my coach Pete Read taught me years ago, a day off the bike doesn't mean that you cannot do stuff to prepare or condition. So a couple of hours clearing snow and felling a good size tree meant the cobwebs don't get too established.

Also spent a bit of time sussing out the spare cx bike. I have finally resigned myself to putting some Gore sealed brake cables on the bike. Ridiculous as it sounds smoothness of braking seems absolutely everything, especially when it's slippery. At Bradford, just getting down that notorious descent depended on not locking the front wheel. Spending £40 notes on brake cables takes some thinking about but the spare bike has Dugast Rhinos on it, yet they're useless if it's muddy and the brakes are either ON or OFF.