This past year has been unprecedented in global responses and affects to the Covid pandemic. Who would have thought that a whole planetary economic system can be nearly brought to it's knees? I'm convinced that we have not seen the long term effects percolating into the economy. In the bike industry parts are scare, bikes in short supply and prices going up. In the UK we have Brexit impacting on imports and deliveries. And we at work have not stopped all through the pandemic, busier than ever.... and now we move into new premises this week. it's going to be interesting year ahead to say the very least.
As for cycling, training and racing, who knows what the year will bring? Since my last post in 2016, the big difference in training has been the upsurge of virtual world training, such as Zwift. I'm a big fan of Zwift, I love the stimulus it gives me on the trainer. No longer does the garage door beckon, I have stick people to chase down. It has it's faults and cheats by the bucket load but it does push me to ride hard on the races for 40th place!! haha!!
We've had some cold and snowy weather of late, down to about -7C around here, but yesterday the temperature lifted and the snowed thawed. It's a shame as I love riding in the snow, but I must admit that the warmth was welcoming. So I managed to get out today, having a day off work, and managed a few miles. It was just nice to get out on the roads even though my legs weren't in the best shape, thanks to a not so easy ride on zwift last night...
The transformation in the countryside from bleak wintry to and slight inkling of spring was heart lifting... it felt good. In fact today I feel very sprightly indeed. Having days off work are gorgeous Ewa has been working from home all pandemic, so I think she enjoys me being around, it's a break for a mundane routine for her. I can go to the shop and meet folks, but she has to sit and talk from home each and every day. I called into Dad, who seemed to be ok, although there is a deterioration in his health. May be more later, suffice to say he has not long left. And with Mum in a care home, it's been a dramatic year all round. Hence writing, sharing thoughts.
Enough for the moment...
