At long last – new cycle gloves!

I’ve been hunting around since Christmas time looking for a pair of cycle gloves.

I know it sounds simple, but I’m sometime a complex person and had quite strict requirements.

Not finding what I wanted easily I even changed the handlebar tape for gel tape. Phew, one thing I can scratch off my impossible list of “features” in cycle gloves.

I actually liked the ones I have well enough, though would prefer them to have the little loops that make it easily to quickly take them off.

Mine pong a little. We I have had them 18 months. Yeah yeah, I hear ya, why don’t I wash them. Yep, onto that. But the number or rides between washing is getting shorter and shorter and it’s not a hassle washing them, but it’s a mission to remember to do it!

Here’s for a piece of info you may want to avert your eyes from. I sweat. Not much, not much by most people’s standards. But the first place is my hands. I guess that’s odd because I’ve never heard of anyone else admit to this, and strangely, there have been a number of conversations over sweating.

Thankfully with the cooler days I’m not only wearing full fingered gloves, but two layers!

Anyway, with Spring just moments away (ok, I’m trying to be up-beat here) it wont be long before I’ll be donning my short fingered gloves.

On a slightly side-issue. I noted last night that my cycle tan has faded severely.

So what have I got I can hear you ask.

I got a pair of Scott ladies short fingered gloves. They have a padded palm and the loops to help with my quick draw undress.

They’ve also got a much more open ventilation on the top of the hand and they’ve got a decent velcroe closure, one that’s not in the wrong place and irritates my wrist as so many I’ve tried have done.

At $60 they’re not the cheapest (or dearest) so I did have to think about it for about 5 seconds. Man I’ve been hunting off and on, in shops and on internet stores for months. Really I didn’t need to think long before pulling out my wallet.

Of course the shop person was spouting off about Auckland this and Auckland that for events and testing my knowledge of what events we have coming up in Christchurch. I passed, but of course was too literal, when he asked Christchurch I thought only Christchurch, then he questioned me about the 160km ride on the West Coast.

Ok, now I’ve typed that I realise the guy doesn’t have a good grasp of the South Island. The West Coast (as beautiful as it is), is not close enough to Christchurch to be thought of in the same breath. I passed his test no question about it.

The conversation ended up with what the weather was meant to do in Auckland over the weekend. I got in a gibe about Christchurch being warmer than Auckland this morning, and that I wouldn’t give Auckland’s weather a moments thought after 6:30pm tonight

So this was my one and only “clothing” purchase while in Auckland. I never got to the Ponsonby shops last night to look for something for Dad and Ruth’s wedding. I asked around and it seems that Ponsonby doesn’t have a late night on Thursday so that put paid to that.

As for my brand spanking new cycle gloves, I’ll give them to Mark so he can give them to me for my birthday in July. I have trouble thinking up things that I’d like and all my family would rather have a list and get something I’m after than hoping they pick something I like – and I might not.

Happy days everyone (and I strutted back to the training centre with a smile on my face – of course)

P.S: Yesterday’s blog stats exceeded the previous days record high. I’m just so happy today

Friday the 13th

I’m not superstitious. Ok I might talk about stuff that’s superstitious but I don’t believe in it.

Today however has a much greater significance for me. It’s my Dad’s birthday. And he turns 65 years old.

Happy Birthday Day! I love you. Welcome to your retirement.

I realise as I get older that my Dad turning 65 doesn’t seem so bad. When I was younger I never expected to live past 30. Don’t ask my why. I just didn’t. It’s not that I thought 30 was old – I had these thoughts in my 20s.

Maybe I wasn’t as happy as I deserved and thought it would all end – I’m not sure.

So, here I am, not far off 40, well closer to 40 than to 30, and I’m not appalled at the thought of a parent being so old

So Mark turned 40 in March, Dad 65 today. It seems that in the next 3 years there’s a lot of big dates to celebrate.

We’re heading to Sydney in September because Mum turns 60 (she lives there) and I don’t want her to have to celebrate her special day without some family around her.

Man, we’re all getting older.

And don’t the weeks and months just whizz by now? I remember hearing those words from my parents when I was younger, but now I know what they’re talking about. I must be getting “older”.

We were meant to be going out tonight for Dad’s birthday, but because I’m here in Auckland the celebrations have to wait until tomorrow.

I’m also out of town for my sister’s birthday in July. Sometimes my job sucks.

Ok, well enough of the chatter. Time to pack up my things and head out.

Usually I’m not one for stashing the little soaps and shampoos, but this place has some really nice ones and the bottles are about right for being able to refill and then leave at work where I usually shower. I feel a bit guilty about taking them but then I suppose they are paid for as part of the room.

Right, time for some stealth like moves as I horde the goodies.

Catch ya!