Living in Newcastle it was inevitable that one day, one of us would run in the Great North Run. With 54,000 runners, it's the world's largest 1/2 marathon and certainly one of the friendliest. Most people run for a charity, many even do so in crazy costumes (which is beyond me how they manage to actually run, but they do).
Ole was lucky enough to get a slot in this year's race. Even though it's "just" a 1/2 marathon, it really is a full day event. We're fortunate to live close to the start, so I walked Ole and his friend Jonathan to the starting line, which was just over the hill on the Town Moor. For some runners, it will take them 45 minutes to get from their starting area through the gate. Crazy.
Anyway, the race runs from Jesmond, down through town, across the Tyne Bridge, through Gateshead and along out to the coast where it ends - up a hill! - in South Shields. After leaving Jonathan and Ole, I walked back and took the Metro out to Shields. It's about a 40 minute ride and already was pretty packed. From there, it's a mile walk to the finish area. It's impossible to see anyone you know. With 54,000 runners and at least double that many spectators, the place is crowded, to say the least. But I found them post-race and we headed back home.
They both did excellent - Ole got 1.43.3 and Jonathan was 1.47. Pretty much the whole time I was waiting out at Shields it was pouring with rain, which is why they were quite wet when they arrived.
You can see some official photos here: just type in Pedersen. See - it's INSANE. Well done lads!
24 September 2011
10 September 2011
New Bike II
No sooner did Ole's new bike arrive than mine broke. It had been slipping gears for awhile and one day as I was riding to work, there was an almighty "thunk" and it literally stopped working. Turns out Sturmey Archer internal hubs are NOT indestructible. At least the ones made after 2000, when they stopped their UK production.
After taking it around town for a couple assessments (it's incredibly inconvenient to have a broken bike when you have no other method of transport and bikes - broken or otherwise - aren't allowed on the Metro, and bike shops are several miles away), the verdict was that it was broken beyond repair. And to replace it - which would mean a new back wheel, amongst other parts - would be around the £200 mark.
So, I elected to get a "new" bike through the same company where we got Ole's. After a long wait, it finally arrived yesterday and looks and rides even better than I expected.
Stealth packaging. You'd never guess what's in this box!
Someone's not so sure... (Side note: We HAVE to attend to those slabs. It's a right algae farm back there.)
Ta-da! Welcome Gazelle. Note the ever-present tyre pump. Handy!
Not sure about the saddle, but it'll do for now. I'm thinking of upgrading to the Brooks one like Ole has. Top quality, top comfort.
First test ride.
Need to adjust the handlebars but otherwise, a dream.
Pleased as punch! Gazelle is a top Dutch brand - excellent quality bikes. They normally come with a price tag that's outside my budget, but as this is a refurb bike, it's suddenly affordable.
Rosie is more interested in scouting for kitties than going for a bike ride.
Everything is marked Gazelle. I like it!
When I first saw photos of the bike, I thought it was bronze, which amused me because that's the colour of Ole's bike. How cute to have matching bikes. But it's actually a beautiful plum colour that's two-toned - fenders are darker and frame is lighter. It has a slight sparkle - excellent!
The main reason why I chose this bike/company is because the spec is quite high. All their bikes come with drum/hub brakes (superior!), integrated rear racks (sturdy!), internal hub gears (mine's got 7 speeds, which is 4 more than the old one), skirt/coat guards, rear wheel immobiliser (aka lock), and dynamos, so you're never left in the dark.
After taking it around town for a couple assessments (it's incredibly inconvenient to have a broken bike when you have no other method of transport and bikes - broken or otherwise - aren't allowed on the Metro, and bike shops are several miles away), the verdict was that it was broken beyond repair. And to replace it - which would mean a new back wheel, amongst other parts - would be around the £200 mark.
So, I elected to get a "new" bike through the same company where we got Ole's. After a long wait, it finally arrived yesterday and looks and rides even better than I expected.
Stealth packaging. You'd never guess what's in this box!
Someone's not so sure... (Side note: We HAVE to attend to those slabs. It's a right algae farm back there.)
Ta-da! Welcome Gazelle. Note the ever-present tyre pump. Handy!
Not sure about the saddle, but it'll do for now. I'm thinking of upgrading to the Brooks one like Ole has. Top quality, top comfort.
First test ride.
Need to adjust the handlebars but otherwise, a dream.
Pleased as punch! Gazelle is a top Dutch brand - excellent quality bikes. They normally come with a price tag that's outside my budget, but as this is a refurb bike, it's suddenly affordable.
Rosie is more interested in scouting for kitties than going for a bike ride.
Everything is marked Gazelle. I like it!
When I first saw photos of the bike, I thought it was bronze, which amused me because that's the colour of Ole's bike. How cute to have matching bikes. But it's actually a beautiful plum colour that's two-toned - fenders are darker and frame is lighter. It has a slight sparkle - excellent!
The main reason why I chose this bike/company is because the spec is quite high. All their bikes come with drum/hub brakes (superior!), integrated rear racks (sturdy!), internal hub gears (mine's got 7 speeds, which is 4 more than the old one), skirt/coat guards, rear wheel immobiliser (aka lock), and dynamos, so you're never left in the dark.
1 September 2011
Desk Update
The weather gods favoured us enough to let me start & finish the desk project this past weekend. Only now looking at these photos, I realise how desperately the rest of the desk needs attention. Oh well. Another time.
So, I went with the green over blue colour for the main drawer. And I really like how it turned out. (Again, apologise for the crappy lighting - this room is appalling for light - natural or otherwise.)
This is what we had before. Boring, right?
And this is what we ended up with!
It kinda reminds me of a Crayon box for some reason. The colours are MUCH brighter than shown here. You'll have to take my word for it.
The green here looks washed out - it's not.
So overall, very pleased with the outcome. Next thing to get is a new desk chair. I've identified the one I want (Mirra by Herman Miller) and am in the process of saving the pennies to get it!
So, I went with the green over blue colour for the main drawer. And I really like how it turned out. (Again, apologise for the crappy lighting - this room is appalling for light - natural or otherwise.)
This is what we had before. Boring, right?
And this is what we ended up with!
It kinda reminds me of a Crayon box for some reason. The colours are MUCH brighter than shown here. You'll have to take my word for it.
The green here looks washed out - it's not.
So overall, very pleased with the outcome. Next thing to get is a new desk chair. I've identified the one I want (Mirra by Herman Miller) and am in the process of saving the pennies to get it!
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