CHRISTMAS DAY 2012

With best wishes for a Peaceful and Happy Day to you ALL !

Days of spasmic pain during the past week , most likely due to lack of outdoor exercise , has blighted the festive season . Two weeks ago we had about 12cm of snow overnight , then daily nightfalls of a few extra cetimetres ,  put an end to riding the roads for 10 days . Spinning in the house on the Tacx , for several sessions a day , doesn't seem to be enough for my back . Result has been the pelvic area has been the cause of continual shooting pains , even to the extent that i can't sit on a chair , to work on the computer for more than minutes , without all lower hip area seizing up and any sharp movement causing distress .

Throughout this period , i would continue to sit upright on the bike and turn the pedals for 45minute sssions mornings and 30+ minutes in the afternoon . However the Pressups and sit ups are a distant memory . Even trying to reach to tie shoe laces are a huge discomfort .

Having pedalled the tacx  this morning , i decided as i ate lunch , that come what may , i would take the bike out afterwards  . As i got along i found that i was still stiff as a board , but was able to get to a reasonable speed on the flat roads . Most of the local village area being surrounded by mountains , left me with several choices .  Since power uphill means reduced speed , i chose the route to Reith in the Alpbachtal , as i could ride the pavements , so as to avoid drivers , especially those not expecting bikes to be on the road .

Arriving in the village , i headed to the arrival area of the Ski Piste . No sooner that i arrived at the edge of the snow than i was greeted by the Guy , whom i was to work with last January , during the Young Winter Olympics . Werner had trekked to the top of the slope on his touring Skis with another member of the OSV , Reinholdt , who also  lives nearby . One of the women sitting in the nearby cafe , came over to take a photo , of this unusual grouping , luckily i had my camera with me today .  Photos done i headed on up the hill for a while , but as soon as the pavement ran out decided that the wind was a little too brisk to persevere .

Headed back towards Brixlegg but before leaving Reith i took this photo of the view west . The valley is the Inntal with the entrance to the Zillertal .  Passed  through Kramsach towards the climb to Breitenbach , with the hill there being a little wider  and less busy , i was able to enjoy the ride . Took time out to greet a restaurant owner as i passed since Wolfgang is a Summer Cyclist . The restaurant being " Non Smoking " , several of the Patrons were on the Balcony as i left and headed up hill . Wolfgang must have predicted that i would be back 20 minutes later , so as i descended , he had a bunch of them cheering me as i passed .

CHRISTMAS DAY 2012