I’ve owned the Cube Analog Disc 2012 Mountain Bike for a few months now and since buying it, threatened to write up a personal review on my experience as an owner. Well, here it is at last…

I’m pretty new to mountain biking / cycling, having owned bikes in the past but never really giving them serious attention. However, this all changed when I bought a Diamondback Stealth a couple of years ago and really started to enjoy getting out on the trail and getting fit. I set myself a weight loss goal, and once achieved I decided my present would be a new bike. I looked at the Vitus range of mountain bikes, and really fell for one of their 2012 range, but the reviews I read of it made it sound too different to my normal riding style, so I abandoned lusting after it and stopped looking.

Well, after a while I went back to searching for a bike that had all the things I was looking for and finally found the Cube range. After a little more research, some online research (which didn’t yield many results) and talking to a sales assistant in a local bike specialists I decided to order a Cube Analog Disc 2012 as my treat and Diamondback replacement. After some initial stock issues I ended up buying the bike online and took delivery a few days later.

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After watching the latest episode of Horizon on iPlayer yesterday as well as a few videos on You Tube by Yelkaim1 (worth checking out and subscribing to) on the health benefits that can be derived from integrating fasting into your normal diet, I thought it was something I should give a try.

I would certainly recommend taking a look at the various videos and websites that are full of useful information on the many benefits to not only your health and weight, but the reduction in your potential for developing various types of cancer, Diabetes & brain degenerative diseases like Alzheimer, not to mention the regenerative benefits and life expectancy benefits. Now don’t get me wrong, I’m as big a skeptic as the next skeptic man (or woman), but the tests that have been carried out over many years, by many scientists & universities is hard to dispute.

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You know some days you start off with all the best intentions, but the Universe seems to have other ideas for you? Well, that was today!

As anyone who’s been following my posts on here will know, I’ve been a little slack the last couple of weeks, finding it really hard to motivate myself to get off my lazy a$$ and train. Well, today was no exception, but the sun was shining (I know, bloody miracle) and I couldn’t find a good excuse not to go out for a ride (I made sure I didn’t fire up the PC or start reading on the iPad).

Well, with everything setup and ready to go, I opened the back door, slipped on the trainers and stepped out to unlock the bike and put my foot straight into a lovely cat turd! One of the local cat’s have decided that outside our back door is a cracking or should that be a crapping place to do their business.  Wonderful, just bloody wonderful!

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These last few sessions have proved to be a bloody nightmare for punctures and flat tyres. 3 sessions and 3 punctures and 1 flat tyre! I kid you not!

To add insult to injury, the last 2 have been in exactly the same location. I couldn’t believe my luck when I felt the front end off the bike go soft.

So, after the first puncture and the hassle it caused me (not packing a bloody pump!) I’ve invested in some new kit in the form of a couple of Dr Sludge inner tubes and a new Lifeline carbon fibre mini-pump. Add these to my puncture repair kit and tyre levers, and I’ve got the whole toolkit to take out with me…. fun, fun, fun!

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I‘d be a liar if I said I didn’t struggle at times with my exercise training, weight loss or my motivation! The last 2 weeks have given testament to that, with only 2 sessions as opposed to the previous week with over 113 miles covered (a personal best) I’ve really been struggling with exercise.

Why am I struggling? I wish I could answer that question, it has eluded and frustrated me beyond belief. But, it hasn’t been limited to my training; rather it has been everything I’m doing. Work has been frustrating me, training has been frustrating me and life in general has been frustrating me (see a pattern there?) I know I should be out training, but the lousy weather has proven a complete nightmare, with torrential rain and storms hitting this part of the country and really not making it conducive to training. The only thing I’ve been fairly strict and consistent with is my diet. Not perfect by any stretch, but still pretty good. In fact, I’ve increased the amount of fruit and vegetables consumed considerably.

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