Helpless in my neoprene sleepsack

You may have already seen photos of my friend Nick all helpless in my neoprene sleepsack. Well at long last, it was my turn to get put in the neoprene sleepsack and find out how he felt, all them weeks ago… hope you all love these photos. Can’t wait to read your comments!! HIT, HIT!

Neoprene sleepsack

Neoprene sleepsack and and hoodedNeoprene sleepsack and and hooded

More photos can be found at www.gordon-valentine.com/zenphoto/bondage/sleepsack/

UK TV programmes to watch this week : 17/08/2013

The Cycle Show (itv4 | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Monday 19th August 2013)

The cycling magazine show with regular presenter Graham Little including special guests and items and features on all aspects of bike riding.

The Midwives: Delivering Under Pressure (BBC2/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Tuesday 20th August 2013)

Series following the work of midwives in hospitals. This episode focuses on the busy delivery suite at St Mary’s Hospital in Manchester. Lesley used to be a dental nurse but when she had a difficult delivery herself she was so inspired by the care she received that she retrained to become a midwife. She knows just how unpredictable and difficult the job can be. Lesley is looking after Neelam who has type 1 diabetes. Pregnancy is putting increased strain on Neelam’s already fragile kidneys which needs to be constantly monitored. Midwife Gemma is looking after Helen who is having her fourth baby with husband Ben. Helen is anxious about the birth having previously lost a baby 21 weeks into pregnancy. In tragic cases like this, bereavement midwives like Vicky and Emma can try and help couples to come to terms with their loss. Meanwhile, Liza is expecting twins but Lesley must keep a close eye on the situation as her pregnancy becomes increasingly complicated.

Restoration Home (BBC2/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Wednesday 21st August 2013)

A last remnant of a once grand and wealthy estate, St Peter’s Barn had been overlooked for generations and carved up by modern farming practices. The moment Graham and Nicola walked into it, they knew it was the family home they had been searching for. At 35 meters long and 20 meters high, the crumbing cathedral-like interior would appear an impossible dream to most, but roofer and builder Graham saw its potential and decided to pour their life savings into buying it.

The Last Leg (Channel 4/HD | 10:00pm to 10:50pm | Wednesday 21st August 2013)

Gabby Logan is the celebrity guest as host Adam Hills and co-hosts Josh Widdicombe and Alex Brooker take a look at the weird and wonderful stories of the week, live in front of a studio audience. The show also features the all-encompassing question: Is It OK? Viewers at home and the studio audience are encouraged to ask this question about anything from the week, without fear of judgement, and the three hosts attempt to step into the minefield of sometimes difficult and delicate areas and answer the questions with their own unique insight.

Perfect Storms (Yesterday | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Thursday 22nd August 2013)

Nature at its most brutal is investigated in this series about history-defining disasters. How a huge thunderstorm in 9 AD halted the Roman advance into Germania.

Big School (BBC1/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Friday 23rd August 2013)

Comedy series set in a secondary school. It is talent show time at Greybridge School, but the teachers are the acts and the pupils are the judges. Mr Church is reluctant to enter, until Miss Postern suggests a duet with her, but will artistic differences ruin their chances? Mr Gunn’s Keith Lemon impression is set to steal the show, until there are some unexpected late entries.

The Burrowers: Animals Underground (BBC2/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Friday 23rd August 2013)

Chris Packham reveals the underground world of badgers, water voles and rabbits. In specially created full-scale replica burrows it is spring, and baby burrowers must grow up fast, ready to take their first steps above ground. The programme reveals how baby rabbits learn to bond and looks at orphan badgers as they grow up. Will the water voles manage to produce their first litter? And how does a mole survive its solitary life almost entirely underground? In another first, the team excavate a massive abandoned rabbit warren in the wild by casting it in concrete.

Nalini Columbia Highroad Team kit photos : 15/08/2013

Here are some photos taken during today’s mini 21 mile cycle! This time, I am wearing my extra sexy white Nalini Columbia Highroad Team kit! I WANT to read your comments and LOTS of THEM!!!

Nalini Columbia Highroad Team kit

Nalini Columbia Highroad Team kit

Nalini Columbia Highroad Team kit

Great photo of Cooper

I am sure that most of you will know. That we (meaning Mark G and myself) got a new dog called Cooper from Wood Green Animal Shelters a number of weeks back. Well here is my favourite photo of him so far! 🙂

Cooper

Rabobank Cycling Team kit photos : 11/08/2013

Since I had not been out cycling in my Rabobank Cycling Team kit for a number of weeks. It was about time I changed that :). Oh and just to remind you. If you click on the photo, you will also be showing a google map, showing where each photo was taken!

Rabobank Cycling Team kit

Rabobank Cycling Team kit

UK TV programmes to watch this week : 10/08/2013

The Cycle Show (itv4 | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Monday 12th August 2013)

The cycling magazine show with regular presenter Graham Little including special guests and items and features on all aspects of bike riding. Today’s guests are Mick Bennett, a Race Director of the Tour of Britain, Iain Edmondson, Tanni Grey-Thompson and the transplant girls.

The Last Leg (Channel 4/HD | 10:00pm 10:50pm | Wednesday 14th August 2013)

The latest series of the award-winning live gang show continues. Host Adam Hills and co-hosts Josh Widdicombe and Alex Brooker take a look at the weird and wonderful talking point stories of the week to enjoy and celebrate what makes this country so unique. Each week the guys are joined by a celebrity guest with a live studio audience, and in this edition it’s comedian and chat show host Alan Carr. The show also features the all-encompassing question: Is It OK? Viewers at home and the studio audience are encouraged to ask this question about anything from the week, without fear of judgement, and the three hosts attempt to step into the minefield of sometimes difficult and delicate areas and answer the questions with their own unique insight.

Perfect Storms: Disasters That Changed the World (Yesterday | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Thursday 15th August 2013)

Fascinating series revealing how devastating disasters shaped history. How the Nazi army were halted – and decimated – by freezing weather in Russia in 1941.

Crazy About One Direction (Channel 4/HD | 10:00pm to 11:05pm | Thursday 15th August 2013)

Directioners are a rare breed of fan. Connected to their idols through social media, they have a love and dedication like no other. These are the girls that heart One Direction. This documentary reveals what it truly means to be a Directioner, the lengths they will go to meet 1D, and how these teenage girls are united in their love of the most popular boy band in the world. From Milton Keynes to Glasgow, Directioners dedicate their lives and their money to following Harry, Zayn, Niall, Liam and Louis.

Big School (BBC1/HD | 9:00pm to 9:30pm | Friday 16th August 2013)

Comedy series set in a secondary school. Deputy head of chemistry Mr Church is about to resign from Greybridge School but the arrival of Miss Postern, the new French teacher, changes everything. PE teacher Mr Gunn also has designs on the new member of staff so Mr Church takes advice from a pupil on how to succeed with women. Mr Church’s phone doesn’t send picture messages, so he can’t follow Manyou’s first suggestion. That just leaves offering her a lift home. The course of true love never did run smooth, particularly in an Austin Maxi.

The Burrowers: Animals Underground (BBC2/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Friday 16th August 2013)

Chris Packham sheds light on the magical underground world of three iconic British animals – badgers, water voles and rabbits. In one of the biggest natural history experiments ever undertaken, he investigates wild burrows to recreate full-scale replicas for the animals to live in and be observed, including the largest man-made rabbit warren of its kind ever built. This creates a window on their lives never witnessed before, from birth in winter to their emergence from the burrow in summer. How do they create their burrows? How do they breed and give birth? Observe fascinating new science and new behaviour as the team design and build a rabbit warren, a badger sett and a water vole burrow with its own riverbank.

All TV guide information taken from DigiGuide — www.getdigiguide.tv/?p=1&r=15119.

Cycled to and from work at long last!!

At long last I have gotten around to cycling to and from work for the first time this year! So in other words a 46 mile round trip! It’s taken so long to get around to it this year. Mainly due to the fact, I did not have a pannier rack, fixed to my new bike. Only got around to installing it last Saturday for the Prudential RideLondon FreeCycle.

So now I have have to hope we have great weather for the rest of August and September. So I can do it many times and save lots of money! By not having to use my car so much!

Little Bytham to Peterborough Greyhound Stadium route information

Route map:-

07-08-2013 bike ride (Little Bytham to Peterborough Greyhound Stadium)

Elevation graph:-

07-08-2013 bike ride elevation graph (Little Bytham to Peterborough Greyhound Stadium)

Route statistics:-

  • Distance: 22.44 miles.
  • Time: 1:38:18 (h:m:s).
  • Avg Speed: 13.7 mph.
  • Max Speed: 28.9 mph.
  • Elevation Gain: 220 meters.
  • Min Elevation: 4 meters.
  • Max Elevation: 55 meters.

Peterborough Greyhound Stadium to Little Bytham route information

Route map:-

07-08-2013 bike ride (Peterborough Greyhound Stadium to Little Bytham)

Elevation graph:-

07-08-2013 bike ride elevation graph (Peterborough Greyhound Stadium to Little Bytham)

Route statistics:-

  • Distance: 22.66 miles.
  • Time: 1:49:12 (h:m:s).
  • Avg Speed: 12.5 mph.
  • Max Speed: 28.7 mph.
  • Elevation Gain: 324 meters.
  • Min Elevation: 4 meters.
  • Max Elevation: 84 meters.

Data from: Garmin Connect.

06-Aug-2013 : theBythams – Grantham Canal loop

I had great fun cycling from theBytams to Grantham, then back home via Grantham Canal and Woolsthorpe. I love cycling out that way, since I get to use National Cycle Network Route 15 (NCR 15) which runs along next to Grantham Canal for a good number of miles. Also it’s got some good hills, to give my legs a bit of a workout!

I will now leave you with the route map, elevation graph, route statistics and photos.

Route map:-

06-08-2013 bike ride

Elevation graph:

06-08-2013 bike ride elevation graph

Route statistics:-

  • Distance: 42.05 miles.
  • Time: 3:12:55 (h:m:s).
  • Avg Speed: 13.1 mph.
  • Max Speed: 31.7 mph.
  • Elevation Gain: 769 meters.
  • Min Elevation: 44 meters.
  • Max Elevation: 188 meters.

Data from: Garmin Connect.

Photos from the cycle:-

Grantham Canal (NCR 15)Grantham Canal (NCR 15)Grantham Canal (NCR 15)Grantham Canal (NCR 15) Pearl Izumi Team Garmin-Chipotle team kit

04-Aug-2013 : Swavesey to Cambridge via busway

It’s been a great two days of cycling! Yesterday cycling around London on closing roads while doing the Prudential RideLondon FreeCycle. Then today, I cycled from Swavesey to Cambridge with a friend that lives in Swavesey. Using the cycle path next to the Cambridge guided busway. Then around Cambridge for a bit, before cycling back to my mates house! 🙂

I will now leave you with the route map, elevation graph, route statistics and photos.

Route map:-

04-08-2013 bike ride

Elevation graph:

04-08-2013 bike ride elevation graph

Route statistics:-

  • Distance: 25.57 miles.
  • Time: 2:46:38 (h:m:s).
  • Avg Speed: 9.2 mph (cycling with a slow mate!!).
  • Max Speed: 21.2 mph.
  • Elevation Gain: 169 meters.
  • Min Elevation: 2 meters.
  • Max Elevation: 5 meters.

Data from: Garmin Connect.

Photos from the cycle:-

Riverside, CambridgeRvier Cam, near Jesus GreenCambridge guided buswayCambridge guided busway