When I get fit

I finally got out to test the new cassette properly last night, 52k to Little Alne and back. This route has two short sharp climbs and a couple of long drags. I made it all without too much trouble (3 cogs spare into Wilmcote, 1 spare into Snitterfield) and again today I went over Avon Dassett, Edge Hill and Loxley (and added Snitterfield hill for good measure) without too much trouble (72k). But it did prey on my mind. I've had to re-learn the bike. I'd made it to that point where I didn't think too much about the mechanics of cycling, more technique. I've covered 2960km this year to date in training and I really don't want to have to re-learn how to ride. My bike and I have a symbiotic relationship. Today I found myself constantly checking gears and mentally trying to compare how difficult a climb was (which I liken to trying to compare pain, is tooth ache more painful than ear ache, is the pain I had in my knee when it shattered worse than childbirth - obviously?). Do you know what I mean? There's no benchmark, no measure, so it feels difficult, but is it more difficult?

On balance I was uncomfortable with changing the setup of the bike so soon before we go, regardless of difficulty, so I rang Evans and asked if they'd change it. The guy I spoke to was very sympathetic and agreed to change it no problem if I took the bike in (we glossed over the fact that they now had the part in stock which apparently they didn't on Thursday and couldn't get in until Tuesday). I grabbed the kids and set off for Milton Keynes. The guy in the shop was not the guy on the phone and he was most suspicious until I explained and produced receipts, even though it was he who had served me 48 hours earlier. Any way they changed it, but not without a parting shot when I went to pick the bike up. As he handed it over he said, "maybe when your a bit fitter you'll be able to swap it back again"! Cheeky so & so. Its not about fitness its about the style of riding I'm doing. I need to be comfortable getting from A to B, not fretting about how quickly I can get there on my big ring 23 tooth cassette. Muppet.

Saw a dead badger today.