On Thursday I cycled 50 kilometers and the next day my legs were just fine. The Doctor says my bum will be allowed out of hospital just in time for the trip.
In fact I think I may have over-trained as I have been pushing too hard and my knees are very sore so I am taking it easy before the green light on Wednesday. This is the 70 kilometer ride. Can’t wait!
Bicycle seats were designed by the Gestapo and there does not seem to be anything you can do about it. I have padded bike shorts but these do not really help much after the first hour or so.
Gwenyth read in the trip material that there are such things as Gel saddles for bicycles so yesterday we sallied forth to Hervis-Huma at Simmering to see if we could get some of these - and we did.
I tested mine on a 30 Kilometer ride on Saturday and it makes a marginal difference and is certainly worthwhile having.
Gwenyth arrived on Saturday and in the evening we went to Novelli which is probably our favorite restaurant in Wien at the moment - and it was sensational. As good as (gasp) Ein Wiener Salon - BUT - get this - it is now smoke free!
That is fantastic news. Last night was such a beautiful evening we sat in the courtyard and there were of course smokers there and the smoke gave me as headache - but at least we did have the choice of going inside - which was completely deserted.
Somewhere in the world at this very moment about 4,000,000 Austrians are creating havoc.
We practiced our execrable German on the staff and they are always very good about this, never laugh - and indulge us wonderfully.
Cate and Gwenyth had some Gruner Veltliner from the Wachau Valley and it looked and smelled fabulous. I did not indulge at all as I am trying to narrow down the source of my constant migraines so have cut out almost everything edible and drinkable.
I have had a lot of allergy tests lately and got the results of the blood tests some weeks ago. The Doctor told me that my results were ‘horrible’ and that I was allergic to almost everything including Latex (Latex?).
So far I have not been able to find anything that does not have some Latex in it - but I will keep looking,
So I am cutting out everything I can think of that could cause migraines and working through the process of determining precisely what the problems are - there will be quite a few. I know some already and not longer eat bread or chocolate (sob) or drink wine (sob) - and have tried cutting out lots of other stuff.
Gwenyth says I should just give up everything except apples for two weeks and then I can start eating other things and see what is OK. Hmmmm...the obvious flaw in this plan is the two week apple diet - but I will go there if I cannot fix the problem.
The only thing I have not stopped is coffee. Like Wanderlust - this would be the last straw for me - so I guess in the end if that is what it turns out to be l simply tie my bicycle around my neck and jump into the Donau.
On Sunday we went to Rust which is a delightful town near Neusiedler See where there are lots of Storks living in nests on top of chimneys. The nests are apparently largely built by the townspeople - leaving the Storks to do the interior decorating. This means that the Storks just hang about and get their pictures taken by tourists.
I was worried that in winter the Storks would get a bit smoky but Maalie assures me that they fly south so are not bothered by winter fires.
Still it would be no worse than the average Viennese cafe.
At least riding a bike keeps you off the pavement. Simon Webster shared this snippet in The Sun Herald yesterday:
ReplyDelete"Dogs mimic the movements of their owners, say reearchers from the University of Vienna. This is a highly embarrassing revlation for dog owners whose animals crap in the middle of pavements."
A Viennese friend called me freakish recently because I don't smoke or drink alcohol. He asked whether I "at least" drink coffee... Good to hear you are trying to hold on to that one.
ReplyDeleteI hope you find you have lots of indulgencies left once you have figured out your migraine triggers. Good luck!
I do not trust people who do not drink Coffee.... hope your bum makes it! I am lucky as I have a fair bit of built in padding...
ReplyDeleteI'm on day 3 of a migraine right now. The nothing-but-brown-rice-and-organic-vegetables diet was working wonders but who can stay on that for very long? I also tried to cut out stress I'm failing at that too. I actually think mine are caused by my husband, so I'm eliminating him next. I'll let you know if that works. If not, maybe I'll try wine.
ReplyDeleteI would ride my bike across the planet if it were not for the whole sore bum thing. I hate that. Someone needs to do something about that.
hum Philip.. Cafiene can be a major cause of some peoples Migraine. (mine) good Luck!
ReplyDeleteTrina
50-70 k is pretty good mate! I did a 25k ride yesterday and felt as if I had done 100k...my front brake is binding again.... :o/
ReplyDeleteKudos to Novelli, for taking the risk and declare themselves smoke free!
ReplyDeleteAnother risky business is what the kind people of Rust are in: I know of at least one stork who for years now refuses to fly south and winters right there instead, in a barn. Now the good people of Rust not only provide him shelter year round, they also feed him through the cold season. Not only that, the rascal has learned to stand right by a certain fisherman at the edge of the lake, waiting for the fish to be served fresh out of the water.
Annie: Everyone in Vienna seems to own at least one dog which they take outside to crap on the pavement every day.
ReplyDeleteChristina Schweighofer: Coffee will be the last thing to go.
Mrs Woog: I wish I could transfer my stomach padding to my bum.
Wanderlust: Well there are a lot of bikes here that people ride lying down - using their arms for pedals - looks like hard work.
Trina: Absolutely right - but all tests to day seem to indicate the coffee is OK (my coffee anyway)
Simon: Its all about keeping the correct cadence. If I do this I can cycle for hours without a problem.
Merisi: Sounds like avery smart Stork
My longest ride in recent times it Illmitz to Brucke von Andau and back, about 60k I think, and I certainly felt rooted after that!
ReplyDeleteNice stork oic :-)