outrun

Outrun. Sega (1986). A legend in racing games, still to be found in seafront arcades up and down the UK, the sit-down Ferrari version was more than a game; it was an experience.

A real self-centering steering wheel, two gears, great music and even wind in your hair - this game had it all.

Surely no explanation is needed, put pedal to the metal and don't collide with trees, signs or other drivers.

Complete a level and you get more time, it's really that simple.

As a kid growing up in the 80s I used to love Outrun and used to dream of driving a Ferrari up the coastline of California with my girlfriend's hair blowing in the wind.....

I'm still living the dream!

These days I do it by bicycle, pedaling up and down the Sea of Japan coast, exhilarated, liberated, battling the wind in my face, loving the wind on my back.

How lucky we are to have this gorgeous road running up from Kashiwazaki to Niigata and beyond.

I'm still in recovery mode so I took it easy again today. Doubled the distance but kept the intensity the same.

A strong head wind on the way out so I was spinning the 53×24 / 53×27 to keep the heart rate down.

The strong tailwind on the way back makes the effort worthwhile and sends my mind wandering back to lost summer evenings playing Outrun in the arcades of Newquay, Cornwall...

Tuesday's training: coastline spin (87 km, 250 m climbing, 30 kmph, 104 HR av)