The purpose of this series of posting is to summarise my week on the bike and exercising in general etc.  My week runs from Thursday to Friday, so Week 9 for me in 2010 is from February 26, 2010 through to March 4, 2010.

Date	Exercise	Comments
Totals for the Week	Total Bike Kilometres:  254.02 km for the week;   2,788.76 km for the year. Weight:   99.2 kg; At last some movement; lost 1,000 grams.  Total weight loss for 2010: 3.6 kg. BikeJournal Rankings: Australian Cycling Forums Club – 8th. Dropped one place in the rankings. BikeJournal overall ranking – 54th. Dropped seven places.	Okay week on the bike, kilometres down due to being back teaching on two campuses, which means I use a University vehicle instead of commuting on some days. Weekly average is 309.86km a week. Would like to get back up to 400 km a week by year end. On the weight front, I started the year in a less than healthy position at 103 kg and I ended the week at 99.2 kg, so no change which is really frustrating. My target for the month end is 98 kg, so missed out by 1.2 kg.  On BikeJournal.com I dropped out of the 50th, so my revised goal is to get back there! In respect to the Australian Cycling Forums Club at BikeJournal.com my current goal is make the top 5.
Friday, February 26, 2010	No km on the bike	As Saturday’s ride started in the hills I drove the bike over to Fremantle today, instead of riding.
Saturday, February 27, 2010	108.66 km on the bike	Audax weekend, riding God’s Bison in the hills. A hot and hilly ride into a strong easterly. All up, fun, well fun a week later
Sunday, February 28, 2010	No km on the bike	Spent the day trying to recover.
Monday, March 1, 2010	30 km on the bike	Churchlands to Joondalup commute on the Look 555. No evening commute due to work commitments. Commute shortened due to the need to get the car home from Fremantle.
Tuesday, March 2	44 km on the bike	Joondalup to Fremantle in the afternoon via the Coast on the Look 555. No commute in the morning due to work commitments.
Wednesday, March 3	44 km on the bike	Churchlands to Joondalup commute. Not my best shot at intervals. No evening commute due to work commitments.
Thursday, March 4	27 km on the bike ~ 3 km running/walking	Joondalup to Churchlands commute on the Look 555. It was a very windy ride with headwinds gusting over 50 km/h so took to the Freeway PSP. Started cross-training, commencing the Couch to 5k in Nine Weeks podcast program. Got my first taste of running today and boy don’t I know it!

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Tags: BikeJournal,Ride Journal,Weight Loss
Categories: Commuting and Recreational
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An interesting letter written by Geoff Owen of Wembley was published in the Post, February 27, 2010 questioning the apparent hatred of “Lycra wearing” cyclists, or more correctly the use of the word “Lycra” to demean a group of people.  I thought Mr Owen’s letter was constructive so I penned the following reply which I have sent into the The Post.

Dear Editor

I would like to comment in support of the views expressed by Geoff Owen, "Ah, the simple joys of wearing lycra" published in the Post, February 27, 2010.

I also wonder about the "hatred" that seems to be held against a fabric with the brand name of Lycra, a fabric by the way not generally used in cycling clothing (well none of my jerseys contain it) and my research suggests it is not used in cycling clothing at all; rather it is more common in underwear and female swimsuits. Maybe these letter writers are getting flustered by lovely ladies at the beach wearing Lycra (or spandex)?

Humour aside I think we forget that cyclists are legitimate users of the road, that they are people, mums and dads, brothers and sisters, sons and daughters and they are out there commuting, riding for recreation, carrying out errands and so on, all in a healthily and environmentally friendly manner, whilst taking another car off the road and reducing the congestion and environmental impact for all users.

Sure some cyclists break the law and do stupid things, but gee whiz, has any of these Lycra "haters" not done the same? More so, have they not done the same whilst behind the wheel of a car or truck? Which is really worst? The cyclist doing something stupid or the motorist?

I ask those Lycra "haters" a simple question? How many cyclists killed or injured a pedestrian or motorist or vehicle passenger in 2009? How many motorists killed or seriously injured a pedestrian or a motorist or other vehicle occupant in 2009?  What is the worst a cyclist can do you to you? Scratch your car’s paint? What is the worst you can do to them? Kill them; destroy their families, leave children without a mum or dad. Which is worse? Where should your anger and cries for change for the better be really directed?

You know the next set of traffic lights is likely to hold you up more than myself on my bicycle (oh my god, in my cycling clothes too) and if you are getting that frustrated, maybe you need to take up walking or cycling and chill out. All that pent up frustration can’t be good for you. I know that I now drive better since taking up cycling and I drive with a much more relaxed frame of mind … maybe you could try it?

So please lets get along and share the road together and respectfully. Can it be that hard?

Kindest regards

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Tags: Cycling Clothing,Lycra,Post,Road Rage,Road Safety
Categories: Bicycling, Commuting and Recreational
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