OBSIDIAN is live!

This week Obsidian, the new project by JOGLE supporter JC Hutchins launched. It is a series of short stories written and narrated by some of the best known names in podcasting fiction. All the stories are set in the time of the 7th Son novel and the blackout across America that ensued. The series kicked off with a 2 parter by Tee Morris called " Miles to go Before I Get Home" Check out JC's site for these tales, the 7th Son Podcast, links to exclusive free Celldweller music and more. Also check out episode two for our Plug! Thanks JC!

Joglers Crummy training Graph

Since we all have super duper Garmin 305 devices i thought I should compile the data to create a highly sophisticated graph detailing just who is the Daddy!

It is clear to see that Dave and Steve are following highly original training plans no doubt designed to maximise blow ups in the first few days. As Mr Dawsey would say You Gotta to have discipline, no bout a doubt it. Verdict - Nick is the Daddy.

Updated: Since Dr Stephen's post I have been able to accurately incorporate his data into our high tech statistical analysis of Jogler training. It appears that Nick is still the Daddy in terms of time on bike but is no longer the fastest. Must be the belly.

PG Holyfield mentions our cause!

If you haven't yet checked out Murder At Avedon Hill you need a stiff talking too. It is quite simply the most immersing and absorbing podcast story out there. Beautifully written, acted and produced, PG and his star studded cast carry you away to a world of fantasy, vampires and murder mystery. This is the into from PG's site:

Lord Avedon has a problem. Generations of Avedons have watched over Avedon Hill and controlled the only pass through the Lantis Mountains. Traditions are important to the Avedon family, but one tradition has tragically come to an end. Gretta Platt, Housemistress of Avedon Manor, has been murdered. A member of the Platt family has always served the Avedons as Housemistress… until now.Only a handful of people live at Avedon Hill, and most are suspects. Arames Kragen, retired Aarronic Advisor and scholar of prophecy, arrives at the gates of Avedon Hill, hoping to gain access to the mountain pass. Lord Avedon is not in a giving mood, however…This is the story of Arames Kragen and his attempt not only to discover who killed Gretta Platt, but also to uncover the truth about a town that apparently has more secrets than inhabitants.

In his latest episode (21) PG is good enough to soil his master piece by plugging our efforts to raise money for Alzheimer's. Many thanks PG!

Harmonious Joglers

Click on the pic to see full size.

Diet Progress of Cactusnic

Progress has been slow since my earlier post about my oversized tummy. As usual things started with the best intentions but then slipped. I convienently forgot to update my skinnyr graph if it wasn't good news which is why it all looks so positive. Things are finally going in the right direction though. So they flippin should be with all the training, at the moment I am burning an average of an extra 10 - 14,000 calories per week.
My weight has fallen from 204lbs to 195 which is good but I still have another 38lbs to go. I hope now to be at sub 185 for the JOGLE.
There maybe a slight falling from the wagon tonight though as this pics shows what was awaiting me when I arrived at work tonight. Yum.

Time Trialing to Work

Cyling into work this evening was great, the sun was shining and I was able to just wear shorts and top for the first time this year. I even added a few miles to the trip to make it a 32 mile inward ride. What made the ride was discovering myself in the middle of the local bike clubs evening time trial. Just as I turned onto the A38 a guy flew past me all tucked down and really going for it. Not long after another guy came by but going at a more sensible pace averaging about 22-23mph. I was able to grab his back wheel and got a nice tow for the next 5 miles or so Mega! After he turned off it was me and the wind again but I managed to keep up a better pace than of late and consequently had the time to add a few extra miles.

I am still riding the cyclo cross bike with knobblies on so hopefully I should see a pick up in pace when I get around to sticking the slicks on.

Nick Gets a Taste of the Truth

Another 70 Miler

I was bereft of imagination today so when given 4 hours to spend on my bike I just rode the same old loop down to Chepstow and back. Here are the details for my training free Joglers to admire.

Signed Jack Wakes Up arrives

Following on from Seth Harwoods run on the Amazon charts in which he grabbed No 1 on the Mystery/crime section. My signed copy arrived. Not only that but Seth included a page of the manuscript with his alterations hand written on it. Nice! Should be worth a mint when Seth becomes world famous. More info on this relentless Noir Crime novel and the free podcast version here

Focus Cross Disc Review

This is the bike I am going to JOGLE on. I have had it about 6 weeks now and thought it was time for a mini review. I cannot compare it to other cross bikes as I have never ridden any others. This is just my impressions of the bike in comparison to the rest of my stable.

The Jogle was a good excuse to get a new bike as my Pinarello has a good frame but the kit on it is mostly about 11 years old and a reliable shift is something of a rarity. As I had fancied getting a cyclo cross bike after seeing the Kona Jake The Snake at the HONC a few years ago I thought this might be just the right excuse to get one. Cyclo Cross Bikes are not too dissimilar in geometry to tourers so it did make some kind of sense. I narrowed my search down to Focus bikes as I own and love a Focus Raven MTB and had seen stellar reviews of their cross bikes. It also helps that they are amazing value. In the end I went for the cross disc despite its hefty weight of 23.6lbs because of the disc brakes. I fancied disc brakes in the hope that my rims might last a bit longer than I am used too. Usually I get though a set each winter due to the brakes wearing through. Obviously this is not an issue with the discs.

My first impression of the bike was that it felt very stiff after being used to a whippy steel road bike, this did not make for an uncomfortable ride at all though, just awesome acceleration! The bike gives a really "direct" feel in a way I can only compare to my rigid single speed MTB. It just goes, no flex or fuss. On the road it handles fine although requires a bit more confidence on the fast descents, not quite tucking in like my Pinarello Sestriere. This may feel different with road tyres on though. At the moment all my riding on and off road has been with the Racing Ralph Cross tyres. Off road I was surprised by the bikes ability, the narrow tyres provide an amazing amount of traction, far more than I anticipated, time and again on a steep climb or a muddy trail I would expect the back to slip or step out but it remained true. Very impressive. The bike cannot get near to a mountain bike off road but still it copes far better than I had imagined. The one area there is a clear deficit to the the mountain bike is on fast, steep, loose descents. The bike just does not have the stability to handle these (at least with me riding) at any great speed. There is also a fear of pinch punctures with the relatively narrow tyres.

The finishing kit is all good stuff for the price although I have changed the saddle for a Charge Spoon, upgraded the chain (which was one of those bottom of the line sucktastic shimano jobbies) to a decent KMC one and fitted my MTB's USE SUMO suspension post.

All in all I am chuffed to bits with it. The only downside for me is the brakes. They are ok, they stop the bike and they will protect the rims but the stopping power is quite disappointing. Definitely no better than 105 calipers in addition to this they have a difficult to remove and often embarrassing squeal.

Reviews usually finish with pros and cons so I won't buck that trend:

Pros :
Stiff and quick
Very versatile
Comfortable
Amazing value
Disc Brakes ease wear on rims

Cons :
Disc Brakes squeal and are underwhelming
Weight

So my marks out of ten would be 8/10. Go for the non disc version!

We have the support of Beta Clone #000!

Author of the Über successful podcast Novel trilogy 7th Son , JC Hutchins, has also agreed to give us a plug in his next podcast!

7th Son chronicles the story of seven strangers who are assembled after the assassination of the U.S. president. They quickly discover they all appear to be the same man ... with identical childhood memories.

Unwitting participants in a human cloning experiment, these "John Michael Smiths" have been assembled to catch the man who murdered the president. Their target? The man they were cloned from; the original John Michael Smith, code-named John Alpha. Check out the promo below.

JC is also podcasting his Ultracreatives Interview series where he interviews some of the most talented and influential people in new media. JC used to be a journalist and has a great interviewing style, really pulling the most out of his subjects. Well worth a listen.

Todays Little Bimble

My legs were feeling a bit weary today and I have also been conscious of my troublesome right knee just whispering to me that it might be a good idea to back off a bit. With this in mind I set of into the Cotswold rain for a gentle "leg flushing" ride. A mighty fine one it was too, after a few easy miles my legs felt good so I decided to explore around the back of Painswick.

I have been trying to "spin" a bit more instead of indulging my tendancy to push big gears. This tendancy of mine is probably the cause of my knee probs. The downside off my planned route was that as almost every hill going up into Painswick seemed to be about 25% - not really so good for "spinning". Never mind - no tendons or ligaments snapped and I think I survived. My ego tends to get in the way of my health when faced with hills like this, especially if there are people looking on. I will not get off and push - it just doesn't seem right, not with all the lycra on and dressed like a funky chicken with my clippy clop shoes etc. Hopefully I will grow out of this macho bravado one day.

The route is here and this is the elevation profile:

A clip From Todays 67 miler

A quick clip to demonstrate my double chin and prove that I do actually go out in public dressed in lycra.


Severn Bridge from Nick on Vimeo.

The route can be found here as if you cared...... and here is the elevation profile:

Alarmingly it says I am under sea level as I cross the Severn Bridge!

Stephen Joins The Jogle

Click to Enlarge

Dave's Big Idea

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Nick is a Very Fat Boy

Hello my name is Nick and I am fat. There I have said it now.

Obviously that is no good for long distance cycling so I am going to have to shed some pounds. The humiliation of having the reality of my tubbyness on the net might provide some motivation to put the dough nuts down hence this fairly painful post. On the bottom right there is a Skinnyr graph where you can see if I am loosing or gaining or whatever. Please feel free to leave a comment and insult me if I am not loosing. I will deserve it.

Currently I am a very wobbly 204lbs and want to get back down to my 2005 weight (pre children) of 158lbs. That is probably not achievable before the JOGLE but I hope to be well on my way by then.
Here are some fairly disturbing images to illustrate the extent of my fall from slimness:





This is what having children does to you!

Testing new equipment

Noah is our main R&D guy.