You may have noticed that there were no entries for the couple of weeks before the ride. This is due to a) Me trying to get everything done in time both on the home front and at work b) me being so nervous about the ride.
Now the ride is over. It was a truly amazing week and one I will look back on with fond memories.
My memories of it are:
The weather was wonderful, with the wind coming from the south most of the time and the sun shining most days (even 1 day in Scotland!!)
Day 1 the tractor we followed for 5 miles slipstreaming along and the great pace which we were setting. Plus Tim coming off his bike as a result of running into the back of e.
Day 2 going through Warrington and wondering when the town would end.
Day 3 Shap is a big hill and a great way to celebrate getting half way through the ride.
Day 4 was the day I had my biggest low, my legs just did not have any energy in them from the 30 mile to 40 mile stretch.
Day 5 the last 26 miles when I really relaxed and enjoyed a wonderful bike ride on a fantastic evening in Northern Scotland with my mates!
As for the riders:
e; was upbeat as always, overcoming a broken spoke by changing back wheels a couple of time with minimum impact to our progress
Tim; keeping going no matter what. Day 4 he rode the whole day without getting out of the saddle due to problem with his Achilles tendons, in fact I believe he rode for 20 miles using just 1 leg!!
Ciaran; directing us through the entire event. I only remember us taking one wrong turn and that was a result of a complete change of road layout since he was last there.
Simon; flying down the hills and battling back up them again. He had problems early on but got through them with no complaints.
Henry; showing us old boys how to do it. Although he had to leave the ride after day 1 due to his knee problems we do need to put his efforts into context. He was balancing his riding with training with his rowing 8 plus revising for his GCSEs. In the week before the ride (whilst everyone else was taking it easy) Henry was helping his school to qualify for Henley for the first time in 7 year (note Henry’s 8 were mainly 16 year olds rowing against 8s made up of predominately 18 year olds!!!).
John, taking photos, videos clips etc whilst riding and simultaneously updating the blog!!! Amazing! He was also carrying a knee injury which never slowed him down. I will always remember our marathon game of eye spy on day 5 to help get through the long slog (we kept going for a long time without ever repeating an answer – not easy I can tell you~)
Rich; for his boundless energy. He never stopped (except when he was talking on the phone!). He was always going back to help a rider who had to stop due to bike problems or a “pee” break.
Of the support team:
Overall, in my opinion there is no way I could have got through the ride without the support team, they really took care of all the riders.
Jules; was always worrying that everything was alright. She had put in a lot of effort to get the all the place booked up (for meals during the day and accommodation at night). She needn’t have worried it all ran like clockwork.
Gilly; always upbeat. Truly amazing every day she had a new costume for brighten up our days. No thing is ever a problem for Gilly, she just solves it and keeps going. For example Jules’ bag got left behind in Guildford, this could have been a big problem but not for Gilly, she contacted her partner Keith who drove from Guildford to Bristol to drop off the bag before helping the team to unload and then drove back (Thanks Keith you are a star!!).
Val; for her excellent massages. Without Val the team would have been in a lot of trouble. Every stop John had work done on his knee, most days I needed work on my shoulder and I know all the other guys got the attention they needed. She worked tirelessly.
Andrew, for his smooth driving and knowledge of everything. I remember Rich and Andrew discussing the state of English rugby for the best part of an hour on the long drive home.
Dave aka Mr Motivator. Every time we passed the van (which happened at least once an hour) Dave was out clapping his hands and cheering us on. This may sound daft but that encouragement made a huge difference. Dave clearly lives by the philosophy of “Failing to plan is planning to fail”. He had details of all the bike shops on route and maps of how to get to them. Consequently when e had his wheel problem and I had my chain problem we overcame it with minimal hassle.
Marg for her excellent sandwiches and reassurance at every stop. She and Dave make a great team.
Richard; for his truly amazing photography and his ability to just get things done with minimum fuss. Nothing was ever a problem for Richard. I remember at Bristol he had to park the van 30 minutes walk away. The following morning there was no fuss; he got up missed breakfast and went to get the van so that the riders could set off without any delay.
Claire; who flew up to meet the team in John O’Grouts to help drive the mini-bus back. It was great of her to do this as Gilly and Val had to leave and so it allowed Andrew and Jules to get a well earned break from the 650 mile drive back.
Overall I have happy memories. In 6 months I had managed to progress fro someone who had not ridden a bike in over 10 years to being able to ride nearly 900 miles in 5 days. This I could not have achieved it weren’t for the love and support of my family. It is to them that I give my biggest thanks.
Thanks also to all of you have sponsored us. If you have not sponsored yet then please do so as soon as possible. The work carried out by CHASE is truly wonderful and every penny counts.
Monday 7 July 2008
Thoughts on the event
Monday 16 June 2008
Rest of week 22
I set off for Kent at 5.30 on Saturday morning. The weather was fantastic and I had a really nice route down the A25 then on to the A20. It was as I got onto the A20 that i got a bit lost - the road goes two ways you see and I went the wrong way. It was when I saw singposts for Brands Hatch that I suspected the error of my way. This probably added 6 miles or so. But I was in Kent and enjying the views. I crossed the South Downs between Lenham and Faversham. Possibly the scariest bit of the ride was on the A299. As I was brought up knowing this road to be dangerous I had a bit of a psychological barrier. But the adrenalin was pumping and I was certainly travelling at a good speed.
In the end I travelled the 102 miles at an average speed of 16.5 miles an hour which I was really pleased with as the majority of the roads were pretty undulating.
When I got to my Dad's my shoulder was aching, still the kids were pleased to see me and after applying a lot of ice to the shoulder it felt a bit better. As this was the last chance to get a long ride in before the event I think it was worth the pain.
In the end I travelled the 102 miles at an average speed of 16.5 miles an hour which I was really pleased with as the majority of the roads were pretty undulating.
When I got to my Dad's my shoulder was aching, still the kids were pleased to see me and after applying a lot of ice to the shoulder it felt a bit better. As this was the last chance to get a long ride in before the event I think it was worth the pain.
Friday 13 June 2008
Diary update weeks 21 and first part of week 22
Week 21 started pretty well after the team rides. On the Tuesday I dropped off Rich's bike at Evans for its service. The person I spoke to at the shop clearly considered customers to be an inconvenience. However I managed to drop the bike off after answering 20 questions about when it was due to be serviced had I got permission to drop it off a couple of days early etc. I decided to ride to work on the Wednesday making pretty good time both to and from work. That evening I went to the gym with the wife and I have to say that my quads were struggling a bit. Friday I picked up Rich's bike. Everything seemed to be ok so I let Rich know he could collect it anytime.
Saturday was a 5am start with me getting to e's at 6am to join e, Ciaran and Simon for a 100 mile ride. Simon was cycling to a friends who lived 90 miles away in Oxfordshire so we tagged along for the first 50 odd miles before turning round and coming back. The weather was excellent, not too hot but with glorious sunshine. The countryside was absolutely wonderful, and I really enjoyed the ride. I think that e was struggling a bit but he seemed to get stronger throughout the ride. We ended up doing just over 12o miles and got back a bit later than I had hoped.
When I got home the eldest kid was very keen to try cycling with her stabilisers, after a couple of goes she was getting the hang of it so I ask the second eldest if he would like to have a go without stabilisers on his bike. Of course he would and pretty soon we had two kids cycling without stabilisers. A real red letter day. They were so pleased with themselves and I was extremely proud.
Sunday we take the kids swimming so I could not go out until 11 o'clock. But I managed to get 55 miles in before getting home and having a relaxing time with the kids (who ofcourse wanted to go out on their bikes ;-))
Week 22 I decided to ride into work on the Tuesday morning. Rich came round at 7am to pick up his bike and after a cup off tea he drove off and I cycled to work. The ride was going well right up until the last road before work. It is a dual carriageway with a cycle lane. I was happily going along the cycle lane with the traffic stopping coming up to a roundabout so I started to slow down when a driver made a snap decision to turn off the road. This cut me up and I went smashing into the side of her car. I am not sure who was more shaken me or the driver. It was the witness who told me that the dent in the side of the car was where my head hit it!! The driver quite rightly accepted all responsibility and liability and was extremely apologetic. (In the words of the witness the driver was lucky that it was me she hit and not one of the children who use the cycle lane and path as with all my training I am probably in the best shape of my life. The impact on a child could have been fatal. )
The obvious damage to me was my arm was bleeding, a lot of damage to my bike and my cycling shorts.
After getting all the details of the driver and the witness I walk the last couple of hundred yards to work. Where I got my arm bandaged up and rang CTC to register the accident. All day I was feeling a bit light headed so I got the wife to collect me from work at lunch time. I spoke to my doctor and he was confident that I did not need to go to A&E . Wednesday my shoulder and back began to hurt so I saw the nurse on site at work and she instructed my to have Physio the next day and put ice on the injuries. This I did. When I saw the Physio on Thursday she felt that I took the brunt of the fall on my right arm and shoulder so she spent the session working on these injuries. Her conclusion was that riding this weekend will not impact on my ability to do the event at the end of the week. But I should expect to feel some pain. So I will be seeing her again on Monday and Thursday next to continue the treatment.
Saturday was a 5am start with me getting to e's at 6am to join e, Ciaran and Simon for a 100 mile ride. Simon was cycling to a friends who lived 90 miles away in Oxfordshire so we tagged along for the first 50 odd miles before turning round and coming back. The weather was excellent, not too hot but with glorious sunshine. The countryside was absolutely wonderful, and I really enjoyed the ride. I think that e was struggling a bit but he seemed to get stronger throughout the ride. We ended up doing just over 12o miles and got back a bit later than I had hoped.
When I got home the eldest kid was very keen to try cycling with her stabilisers, after a couple of goes she was getting the hang of it so I ask the second eldest if he would like to have a go without stabilisers on his bike. Of course he would and pretty soon we had two kids cycling without stabilisers. A real red letter day. They were so pleased with themselves and I was extremely proud.
Sunday we take the kids swimming so I could not go out until 11 o'clock. But I managed to get 55 miles in before getting home and having a relaxing time with the kids (who ofcourse wanted to go out on their bikes ;-))
Week 22 I decided to ride into work on the Tuesday morning. Rich came round at 7am to pick up his bike and after a cup off tea he drove off and I cycled to work. The ride was going well right up until the last road before work. It is a dual carriageway with a cycle lane. I was happily going along the cycle lane with the traffic stopping coming up to a roundabout so I started to slow down when a driver made a snap decision to turn off the road. This cut me up and I went smashing into the side of her car. I am not sure who was more shaken me or the driver. It was the witness who told me that the dent in the side of the car was where my head hit it!! The driver quite rightly accepted all responsibility and liability and was extremely apologetic. (In the words of the witness the driver was lucky that it was me she hit and not one of the children who use the cycle lane and path as with all my training I am probably in the best shape of my life. The impact on a child could have been fatal. )
The obvious damage to me was my arm was bleeding, a lot of damage to my bike and my cycling shorts.
After getting all the details of the driver and the witness I walk the last couple of hundred yards to work. Where I got my arm bandaged up and rang CTC to register the accident. All day I was feeling a bit light headed so I got the wife to collect me from work at lunch time. I spoke to my doctor and he was confident that I did not need to go to A&E . Wednesday my shoulder and back began to hurt so I saw the nurse on site at work and she instructed my to have Physio the next day and put ice on the injuries. This I did. When I saw the Physio on Thursday she felt that I took the brunt of the fall on my right arm and shoulder so she spent the session working on these injuries. Her conclusion was that riding this weekend will not impact on my ability to do the event at the end of the week. But I should expect to feel some pain. So I will be seeing her again on Monday and Thursday next to continue the treatment.
Monday 2 June 2008
Diary update week 20
This week start with Monday morning and me getting up at stupid o'clock to catch a plane to places foreign. So much for the Bank Holiday. It was not until Thursday morning that I got home and unfortunately work prevented me from getting any exercise. The good news was that I was able to put together my e-mail requesting sponsorship and I was overwhelmed by the response, for all those who have sponsored us - Thank You. If we are still undecided as to whether to sponsor us, I urge you to look at the Chase website - it will be the best money you invest this year!!
Friday I managed to get anyway from work early enough to join the wife taking the kids swimming which was fantastic. Then we all went back to the mother-in-laws and whilst the kids had their dinner I left for home on the bike. It was just over 17 mile which I covered in under an hour on a really nice route, so I was very pleased.
Saturday and Sunday, were the last of the team rides. Unfortunately Rich could not make the ride but everyone else was there. It was a 7 o'clock start on Saturday and we did the normal 150 mile route down to Brighton across to Portsmouth and back to Guildford. We stopped at the same pub as last time where we met Jules and had another wonderful portion of Fish and Chips plus lots of water. Once we had finished the meal it was back on the bikes. John's knee was holding up really well and we made pretty good time. We met up with Jules again at Four Marks were we had the a lovely piece of banana cake and a lot more water.
We got back to Guildford a bit later than we had hoped and after a quick shower we all went over to Simon's for a great pasta meal and then a chat about the event logistics. It was good to have everyone together including Jules and Richard from the support team. It is all becoming much more real. I now flip from being relatively confident to panic about the enormity of what we are trying to achieve. Luckily I feel we all have more than enough motivation.
Sunday, was another 7 o'clock start and we had no drop outs! The plan was to do e's 55 mile route and then go back e's for lunch before doing another 50 miles in the afternoon. Unfortunately, on the ride Henry's knee start to ache. He made the decision to stop about halfway round, which probably a good decision as the last thing to do is aggravate it this close to the event. Then going up a hill Ciaran's back sprocket broke and so he joined Henry in getting a lift back. The rest of us carried on and made pretty good time. We had a great lunch at e's and then it was off for the second ride of the day. The five of us made good time and Ciaran and Jules kept popping at various points on the rode to take photos for the website. Unfortunately John's knee also started to play up, but we made it home without further incident.
So we cycled 250 miles over the weekend which was pretty good going and I feel good, my shoulder aches a bit but my legs feel okay. The count down is on!
Friday I managed to get anyway from work early enough to join the wife taking the kids swimming which was fantastic. Then we all went back to the mother-in-laws and whilst the kids had their dinner I left for home on the bike. It was just over 17 mile which I covered in under an hour on a really nice route, so I was very pleased.
Saturday and Sunday, were the last of the team rides. Unfortunately Rich could not make the ride but everyone else was there. It was a 7 o'clock start on Saturday and we did the normal 150 mile route down to Brighton across to Portsmouth and back to Guildford. We stopped at the same pub as last time where we met Jules and had another wonderful portion of Fish and Chips plus lots of water. Once we had finished the meal it was back on the bikes. John's knee was holding up really well and we made pretty good time. We met up with Jules again at Four Marks were we had the a lovely piece of banana cake and a lot more water.
We got back to Guildford a bit later than we had hoped and after a quick shower we all went over to Simon's for a great pasta meal and then a chat about the event logistics. It was good to have everyone together including Jules and Richard from the support team. It is all becoming much more real. I now flip from being relatively confident to panic about the enormity of what we are trying to achieve. Luckily I feel we all have more than enough motivation.
Sunday, was another 7 o'clock start and we had no drop outs! The plan was to do e's 55 mile route and then go back e's for lunch before doing another 50 miles in the afternoon. Unfortunately, on the ride Henry's knee start to ache. He made the decision to stop about halfway round, which probably a good decision as the last thing to do is aggravate it this close to the event. Then going up a hill Ciaran's back sprocket broke and so he joined Henry in getting a lift back. The rest of us carried on and made pretty good time. We had a great lunch at e's and then it was off for the second ride of the day. The five of us made good time and Ciaran and Jules kept popping at various points on the rode to take photos for the website. Unfortunately John's knee also started to play up, but we made it home without further incident.
So we cycled 250 miles over the weekend which was pretty good going and I feel good, my shoulder aches a bit but my legs feel okay. The count down is on!
Monday 26 May 2008
Diary Update weeks 18 & 19
Week 18 started well with a ride to work on Tuesday monring. Going to work it was relatively hard work managing 15.2 miles per hour, however coming back I was in a really good place and manged to achieve 16.7miles per hour by far my best time and I felt good!!
The weekend was the penultimate team ride, however due to various commitments only 5 of us could make it and then it was complicated!!
Friday started well with us meeting up in Guildford were e, Simon and I set off for Rich's house. As luck would have it Rich lives almost exactly half way between Guildford and John's house. John was going to be riding down to Rich's and Rich was going to meet him enroute allowing him to get his miles in even though he had commitments later that day. We made good progress and got there later than we had hoped, but this was mainly due to a late start (mainly my fault as I did not seem to get my act together that morning!!)
We had a nice cup of tea and a slice of toast before going back to Guildford. In was on the journey back that seems started to go wrong. Firstly John's chain developed a loose link. So we phoned ahead to a bike shiop which Simon knows to ensure we could get it fixed for the next day's ride and then we carried on. However, for John the bad news was just beginning for as we rode to Guildford his knee was starting to hurt quite badly (although fair play to John if he had not told us we would not have known because he did a great job of sticking with us).
When we got to bike shop John was initially told that it would cost a couple of quid to put in a new "super link". Then the mechanic measured John's chain, it had stretched by more than 1%, and thus the mechanic was concerned that the front cogs and rear cogs would need changing - this is not a cheap fix!!
Anyway John got the link put in and got a lift back with Simon to e's house, his knee was still hurting. As I put my bike into my car I noticed that one of the spokes on my back wheel was very loose. So when I got home I had to rebuild the wheel - luckily Zinn's Road Bike Maintenance came to the rescue and I was able to cure the very minor buckle.
The next day we started early, Rich had driven down to join us. John did a quick circuit on his bike and his knee had started to hurt. In my opinion John made the right decision in deciding not to go on the ride as this allows him to rest it and have the best chance of joinning us on the actual event. Simon also had to pull out of the ride, due to extreme saddle soreness!! Ouch!
So if was just Rich, e and I that set out for our 150 ish mile circuit down to Brighton, across to Portsmouth and back to Guildford. The ride started well and whilst in Brighton we took the opportunity for Rish to drop in to see his Grandad whilst e and I had a quick snack. Then is was off along the coast to Portsmouth, as it was FA cup final day the roads were very quiet. We managed to find ourselves a nice little pub and had a great meal (fish and chips!). Then it was back on the road and into the northerly wind and the rain not fun. But we put our heads down and continued with oour routine of having 5 minutes each at the front. As we came off the Sheppard and Flock roundabout on the A31 I was in the lead heading up the hill when my front wheel caught the gulley of the road bridge expansion joint (apparently this is not unusual). I went A over T, and Rich and e followed me!!! We quickly flung our bikes and ourselves of the road and then tried to catch our breath!!
The damage was relatively minor, my bike was scuffed up at the front and the side. Rich's had no problem (as it was his new bike I think he saved his bike but hurt his rear end) and e's rear derailer was slightly bent (luckily he got it fixed the next day no problem).
Anyway after we had dusted ourselves down we all agreed that we had had a lucky escape and made our way back to e's.
Sunday I was feeling a bit sore and had a nice day with the kids before I did a quick 20 mile run down the A246 and up Ranmore. I made good time and felt good - soreness had gone away.
The next week was a nightmare from a work perspective with meetings away for home office and a trip to Europe. So I could not ride to work all week, but the hotel I stayed in has a gym so I got a good work out on Tuesday night. I got back home on Wednesday and the wife and I went to the gym that night. So although I did not get any riding in during the week I did manage to get some exercise in.
On Saturday the wife had made plans for the day to allow me to go for a nice long ride without feeling guity. I set off planning to do some hills before doing a flat circuit around Cranleigh and get 100 mile ride it. As I came down Ranmore I noticed a rattle on my back wheel, I stopped but could not identify any problem. So I continued up Box Hill this time I managed to stay out of the saddle from the "National Trust" sign all the way to the top - I was very please with myself. The noise continued so I checked the bike a few more times and figured out that the spokes were slightly loose. So I stopped in at the bike shop on Box Hill to ask to borrow a spoke key. The mechanic had a quick look, then he advised that all my spokes were loose and that I should take it easy going back. This I did, getting home at 12.30. I had already booked my bike in for a service for the next week and so I took it in a day early telling them that about the problem with the spokes. So now it is fingers crossed until I get my bill next week ;-(
The weekend was the penultimate team ride, however due to various commitments only 5 of us could make it and then it was complicated!!
Friday started well with us meeting up in Guildford were e, Simon and I set off for Rich's house. As luck would have it Rich lives almost exactly half way between Guildford and John's house. John was going to be riding down to Rich's and Rich was going to meet him enroute allowing him to get his miles in even though he had commitments later that day. We made good progress and got there later than we had hoped, but this was mainly due to a late start (mainly my fault as I did not seem to get my act together that morning!!)
We had a nice cup of tea and a slice of toast before going back to Guildford. In was on the journey back that seems started to go wrong. Firstly John's chain developed a loose link. So we phoned ahead to a bike shiop which Simon knows to ensure we could get it fixed for the next day's ride and then we carried on. However, for John the bad news was just beginning for as we rode to Guildford his knee was starting to hurt quite badly (although fair play to John if he had not told us we would not have known because he did a great job of sticking with us).
When we got to bike shop John was initially told that it would cost a couple of quid to put in a new "super link". Then the mechanic measured John's chain, it had stretched by more than 1%, and thus the mechanic was concerned that the front cogs and rear cogs would need changing - this is not a cheap fix!!
Anyway John got the link put in and got a lift back with Simon to e's house, his knee was still hurting. As I put my bike into my car I noticed that one of the spokes on my back wheel was very loose. So when I got home I had to rebuild the wheel - luckily Zinn's Road Bike Maintenance came to the rescue and I was able to cure the very minor buckle.
The next day we started early, Rich had driven down to join us. John did a quick circuit on his bike and his knee had started to hurt. In my opinion John made the right decision in deciding not to go on the ride as this allows him to rest it and have the best chance of joinning us on the actual event. Simon also had to pull out of the ride, due to extreme saddle soreness!! Ouch!
So if was just Rich, e and I that set out for our 150 ish mile circuit down to Brighton, across to Portsmouth and back to Guildford. The ride started well and whilst in Brighton we took the opportunity for Rish to drop in to see his Grandad whilst e and I had a quick snack. Then is was off along the coast to Portsmouth, as it was FA cup final day the roads were very quiet. We managed to find ourselves a nice little pub and had a great meal (fish and chips!). Then it was back on the road and into the northerly wind and the rain not fun. But we put our heads down and continued with oour routine of having 5 minutes each at the front. As we came off the Sheppard and Flock roundabout on the A31 I was in the lead heading up the hill when my front wheel caught the gulley of the road bridge expansion joint (apparently this is not unusual). I went A over T, and Rich and e followed me!!! We quickly flung our bikes and ourselves of the road and then tried to catch our breath!!
The damage was relatively minor, my bike was scuffed up at the front and the side. Rich's had no problem (as it was his new bike I think he saved his bike but hurt his rear end) and e's rear derailer was slightly bent (luckily he got it fixed the next day no problem).
Anyway after we had dusted ourselves down we all agreed that we had had a lucky escape and made our way back to e's.
Sunday I was feeling a bit sore and had a nice day with the kids before I did a quick 20 mile run down the A246 and up Ranmore. I made good time and felt good - soreness had gone away.
The next week was a nightmare from a work perspective with meetings away for home office and a trip to Europe. So I could not ride to work all week, but the hotel I stayed in has a gym so I got a good work out on Tuesday night. I got back home on Wednesday and the wife and I went to the gym that night. So although I did not get any riding in during the week I did manage to get some exercise in.
On Saturday the wife had made plans for the day to allow me to go for a nice long ride without feeling guity. I set off planning to do some hills before doing a flat circuit around Cranleigh and get 100 mile ride it. As I came down Ranmore I noticed a rattle on my back wheel, I stopped but could not identify any problem. So I continued up Box Hill this time I managed to stay out of the saddle from the "National Trust" sign all the way to the top - I was very please with myself. The noise continued so I checked the bike a few more times and figured out that the spokes were slightly loose. So I stopped in at the bike shop on Box Hill to ask to borrow a spoke key. The mechanic had a quick look, then he advised that all my spokes were loose and that I should take it easy going back. This I did, getting home at 12.30. I had already booked my bike in for a service for the next week and so I took it in a day early telling them that about the problem with the spokes. So now it is fingers crossed until I get my bill next week ;-(
Tuesday 13 May 2008
Diary update for weeks 16 &17
The last two weeks have been extremely busy weeks on many fronts.
On 3rd May e, Simon and I set off for another tour starting at Guildford. We left at 7am, e had programmed a route into the Garmin to get us down to Brighton. The route was pretty flat and we made excellent progress. Then we came to "Devils Dyke" which is not a side show in Amsterdam but a pretty big hill. This was a good challenge for us all and when we got to the top I saw a "white bike" for the first time. These are an excellent idea to indicate to all the road users that this is where cyclist has died!!!
With this poignant reminder of our mortality we carried on to Brighton.
Once we got to the coast we stopped off at a local café for a quick cup of tea and a wee stop, this then turned into a buttey stop. Then is was back on the bikes and following the coastal road until we got to Portsmouth. With the wind to our backs we made go progress, unfortunately due to time pressure Simon had to leave us and head back to Guildford. However e and I continued on and before long we were heading back down the A31 and home. As always the part of the A31 south of Farnham was a joy to ride on, and yet to the north of Farnham it was the usual nightmare.
Still we got back to Guildford and when I got home I had completed 158 miles - by far my longest ride, and I felt good afterwards.
Sunday was a rest day and then on Monday was the day of the Send May Fair. The weather was exactly what the wife had ordered warm and bright sunshine. I got down to start building the stall at 9am. Before long the gazzebo up and we started to lay out the tables. We were so lucky the pet food guys next to us lent us a table (we had managed to obtain so many prizes and cakes we could not fit them all on our tables!).
E and I started riding on our turbo trainers and kept going for the whole 4 hours and managed to attract some customers. However, I think the cakes and the prizes attracted them more!!
It was a great success, with us raising ovr £300 on the day. So a big thank you goes out to all our supporters and ofcourse the customers who spent their money (and a special tanks to my wife who did so much to ensure it was a success)
After Bank Holiday Monday life got very busy and so the first time I managed to get out on the bike was Saturday morning. So I was up at 6am and got to Guildford for 7am, then it was off down the A31 for e's new route. It was pretty flat and e set a really good pace. The route was excellent ending up on the A283., before going back to Guildford on the A3100. I got back home at 10.45 after completing just under 70 miles, allowing me to have a great day with the rest of the family.
Sunday the kids when swimming in the morning and as my wife is so lovely she let me go out for a bike ride in the afternoon. As we had not done any hills on Saturday I decided to do my "6 hill challenge". Up Ranmore the steep route, down Ranmore the hairpin route. Then up Box Hill, where I was realy pleased as I managed to really push myself. From the second hair pin onwards I stayed out of the saddle until the top of the hill. Then is was down off the hill and back round to the base. Then back up Ranmore's hair pin route and then back down Ranmore into the centre of Dorking. Remembering that there could be a queue of cars going into the household waste centre I made sure I did not go too fast. Luckily there was no queue to no problems. So I went through Dorking and then up Leigh Hill, once on the otherside I headed for Ewhurst. Once I got to the roundabout at the edge of Ewhurst with the pub I turned around and headed back to Legh Hill, once over the top it was back up Ranmore and then back to the A246.
I got back in just over 4 hours with no stops (I ate one of my "Power bars" on the bike for the first time with no problems), so all in all a great weekend.
On 3rd May e, Simon and I set off for another tour starting at Guildford. We left at 7am, e had programmed a route into the Garmin to get us down to Brighton. The route was pretty flat and we made excellent progress. Then we came to "Devils Dyke" which is not a side show in Amsterdam but a pretty big hill. This was a good challenge for us all and when we got to the top I saw a "white bike" for the first time. These are an excellent idea to indicate to all the road users that this is where cyclist has died!!!
With this poignant reminder of our mortality we carried on to Brighton.
Once we got to the coast we stopped off at a local café for a quick cup of tea and a wee stop, this then turned into a buttey stop. Then is was back on the bikes and following the coastal road until we got to Portsmouth. With the wind to our backs we made go progress, unfortunately due to time pressure Simon had to leave us and head back to Guildford. However e and I continued on and before long we were heading back down the A31 and home. As always the part of the A31 south of Farnham was a joy to ride on, and yet to the north of Farnham it was the usual nightmare.
Still we got back to Guildford and when I got home I had completed 158 miles - by far my longest ride, and I felt good afterwards.
Sunday was a rest day and then on Monday was the day of the Send May Fair. The weather was exactly what the wife had ordered warm and bright sunshine. I got down to start building the stall at 9am. Before long the gazzebo up and we started to lay out the tables. We were so lucky the pet food guys next to us lent us a table (we had managed to obtain so many prizes and cakes we could not fit them all on our tables!).
E and I started riding on our turbo trainers and kept going for the whole 4 hours and managed to attract some customers. However, I think the cakes and the prizes attracted them more!!
It was a great success, with us raising ovr £300 on the day. So a big thank you goes out to all our supporters and ofcourse the customers who spent their money (and a special tanks to my wife who did so much to ensure it was a success)
After Bank Holiday Monday life got very busy and so the first time I managed to get out on the bike was Saturday morning. So I was up at 6am and got to Guildford for 7am, then it was off down the A31 for e's new route. It was pretty flat and e set a really good pace. The route was excellent ending up on the A283., before going back to Guildford on the A3100. I got back home at 10.45 after completing just under 70 miles, allowing me to have a great day with the rest of the family.
Sunday the kids when swimming in the morning and as my wife is so lovely she let me go out for a bike ride in the afternoon. As we had not done any hills on Saturday I decided to do my "6 hill challenge". Up Ranmore the steep route, down Ranmore the hairpin route. Then up Box Hill, where I was realy pleased as I managed to really push myself. From the second hair pin onwards I stayed out of the saddle until the top of the hill. Then is was down off the hill and back round to the base. Then back up Ranmore's hair pin route and then back down Ranmore into the centre of Dorking. Remembering that there could be a queue of cars going into the household waste centre I made sure I did not go too fast. Luckily there was no queue to no problems. So I went through Dorking and then up Leigh Hill, once on the otherside I headed for Ewhurst. Once I got to the roundabout at the edge of Ewhurst with the pub I turned around and headed back to Legh Hill, once over the top it was back up Ranmore and then back to the A246.
I got back in just over 4 hours with no stops (I ate one of my "Power bars" on the bike for the first time with no problems), so all in all a great weekend.
Monday 28 April 2008
Diary update week 15
Tuesday rode to work - weather was good and I made good progress, same coming home. Another 24 miles notched up.
The weather was not good until Friday when I rode in again. On the way I managed my best time with an average speed of 16.9 miles per hour, on the ride back I was pretty tired and only managed 15.2 miles per hour.
Saturday the weather was fantastic, and I had promised the wife a family day. We had a wonderful day together.
Sunday the kids have their swimming lessons close to one of my normal routes, so we put the bike in the back of the car and once the lessons were over I rode off whilst the wife took the kids home. The weather was not nearly as good as Saturday and pretty soon I was wet through. Fortunately the rain was not prolonged.
It was amazing to see the Bluebells out in force, just like someone had put down a carpet of flowers quite incredible! I was making good progress as I got to Cranleigh so I decided to get in some hills.
First was Leith Hill the first part of this hill is really tough - typically we are coming down this route and I can now see why this is where e hits his top speed. Then I went through Dorking and then up Ranmore, the same route as with Rich. One thing of note was that there is a recycling centre about 300 yards up the road, this results in the traffic being stopped so you need to go up the outside of the stopped traffic - this is the easy bit. The scary bit was that the recycle lorries also go up the outside of the stopped traffic. I would hate to think about what would happen it a cyclist came whizzing down the hill only to see a lorry facing them on the wrong side of the road!!
Once I got to the top I turned right and went down the windy route which ends up at the bottom of Box Hill. So of course I had to go up Box Hill, a good ascent and then I took Simon's route off the hill (only going wrong once). Then it was back up Ranmore up the windy route. For some reason it felt much easier than the last time up this route. It was then across Ranmore down via Effingham back down the A246 home. All in all a very good ride and I felt I made made the most of the my time covering 69 miles with some "big" hills at an average speed of over 15 miles an hour.
The wife has been doing a fantastic job organising the stall for the Send May Fair. She has managed to persuade companies to donate 60+ prizes for the raffle, plus we have a team of cake makers organised and of course the boys will be on their Turbo trainers. I just hope that the weather is good, because if it is I am sure it will be a great success.
The weather was not good until Friday when I rode in again. On the way I managed my best time with an average speed of 16.9 miles per hour, on the ride back I was pretty tired and only managed 15.2 miles per hour.
Saturday the weather was fantastic, and I had promised the wife a family day. We had a wonderful day together.
Sunday the kids have their swimming lessons close to one of my normal routes, so we put the bike in the back of the car and once the lessons were over I rode off whilst the wife took the kids home. The weather was not nearly as good as Saturday and pretty soon I was wet through. Fortunately the rain was not prolonged.
It was amazing to see the Bluebells out in force, just like someone had put down a carpet of flowers quite incredible! I was making good progress as I got to Cranleigh so I decided to get in some hills.
First was Leith Hill the first part of this hill is really tough - typically we are coming down this route and I can now see why this is where e hits his top speed. Then I went through Dorking and then up Ranmore, the same route as with Rich. One thing of note was that there is a recycling centre about 300 yards up the road, this results in the traffic being stopped so you need to go up the outside of the stopped traffic - this is the easy bit. The scary bit was that the recycle lorries also go up the outside of the stopped traffic. I would hate to think about what would happen it a cyclist came whizzing down the hill only to see a lorry facing them on the wrong side of the road!!
Once I got to the top I turned right and went down the windy route which ends up at the bottom of Box Hill. So of course I had to go up Box Hill, a good ascent and then I took Simon's route off the hill (only going wrong once). Then it was back up Ranmore up the windy route. For some reason it felt much easier than the last time up this route. It was then across Ranmore down via Effingham back down the A246 home. All in all a very good ride and I felt I made made the most of the my time covering 69 miles with some "big" hills at an average speed of over 15 miles an hour.
The wife has been doing a fantastic job organising the stall for the Send May Fair. She has managed to persuade companies to donate 60+ prizes for the raffle, plus we have a team of cake makers organised and of course the boys will be on their Turbo trainers. I just hope that the weather is good, because if it is I am sure it will be a great success.
Monday 21 April 2008
Diary update week 14
Tuesday the weather forecast was good so it was a great opportunity to cycle to work. Enroute to work I managed to catch up with a JCB. It was great to slipstream behind it, increasing my speed with much less effort. It also acted as great protection from cars doing stupid things. On my way back I managed to get home without getting lost! Hurray!
I was holiday Thursday and Friday, Thursday I took the kids to watch "Lazy town". It was an excellent show, true to the TV series with "Sportacus" doing standing somersaults, and the moral of the story that exercise is good. The kids loved it. We then had a lovely afternoon on the beach looking for shells. Friday we went swmming and I picked up the helium for the May Fair.
The wife has done a great job getting loads of companies to donate prizes, we are all keeping our fingers crossed that the weather is going to be good on 5th April.
Saturday was the first of the of the two team rides. Unfortunately only four of us could make it on Saturday. I got to e's at 7am and then it was off the Brighton. The big hill on the way (I can never remember their names) was not as hard as I was lead to believe. From Brighton it was along the coast to and then back to Guildford. The wind must have been behind because it did not seem to effect us too much. Unfortunately we had far too many stops and our speed was slower than last week but the weather was not as good with it raining most of the time. Still as a team we are getting better but still plenty of room for improvement. It was my longest ride 122 miles and I felt good afterwards (better than my ride last week!)
Sunday was the second team ride and this time we headed up north and met Rich on the usual circuit and then kept on going up north. Unfortunately just before we met Rich I got my frst puncture of the weekend (although I bought my new tyres they were not delivered before the weekend - hopefully they will arrive on Monday). We then rode with Rich for a couple of hours before turning round and coming back. The ride was 86 miles resulting in 208 miles for the weekend!! In the afternnon the sun came out and so the kids helped me to clean my bike before I built their trampoline - which they love.
I was holiday Thursday and Friday, Thursday I took the kids to watch "Lazy town". It was an excellent show, true to the TV series with "Sportacus" doing standing somersaults, and the moral of the story that exercise is good. The kids loved it. We then had a lovely afternoon on the beach looking for shells. Friday we went swmming and I picked up the helium for the May Fair.
The wife has done a great job getting loads of companies to donate prizes, we are all keeping our fingers crossed that the weather is going to be good on 5th April.
Saturday was the first of the of the two team rides. Unfortunately only four of us could make it on Saturday. I got to e's at 7am and then it was off the Brighton. The big hill on the way (I can never remember their names) was not as hard as I was lead to believe. From Brighton it was along the coast to and then back to Guildford. The wind must have been behind because it did not seem to effect us too much. Unfortunately we had far too many stops and our speed was slower than last week but the weather was not as good with it raining most of the time. Still as a team we are getting better but still plenty of room for improvement. It was my longest ride 122 miles and I felt good afterwards (better than my ride last week!)
Sunday was the second team ride and this time we headed up north and met Rich on the usual circuit and then kept on going up north. Unfortunately just before we met Rich I got my frst puncture of the weekend (although I bought my new tyres they were not delivered before the weekend - hopefully they will arrive on Monday). We then rode with Rich for a couple of hours before turning round and coming back. The ride was 86 miles resulting in 208 miles for the weekend!! In the afternnon the sun came out and so the kids helped me to clean my bike before I built their trampoline - which they love.
Monday 14 April 2008
Diary update Week 13
Overall a very good week (except for the puntures that is!!).
Tuesday I was in the gym working on my leg strength and my shoulders - have a niggle with my right shoulder's rotater cuff muscle. The session went well and my weight seems to be holding constant (although my belt has come in another notch!).
Wednesday I managed to do a ride through West Clandon and then along the A246 to Brocketts Farm 21 mile round trip at a little over 17 miles an hour - I was pretty pleased with this. By the way thanks to Brocketts Farm they are the first to response to the wife's request for prizes for the May fair stall.
Rich and I had planned to meet up on Saturday for a 100miler, with his family coming over for lunch and the afternoon. The plan was to meet near Windsor and then come back towards Guildford for the Surrey Hills. e decided to join us and it was enroute to Windsor that I got my puncture. Front wheel this time! Still I got the new inner tube in pretty quick and although we had a bit of a problem with working out which loop we should be on we finally met up with Rich (what did we do before mobile phones!!). As we set off Rich took us back a more direct route and at a faster pace. We eventually left e (who had to get back early) at just before 10am and headed off to the Surrey Hills.
Rich was very keen to push the pace and our strategy was if there was a hill we should be going up it! We went up Ranmore, round across country taking in Leith Hill, Box Hill and a few others without names. At 12 noon we decided to make our way back from just outside Dorking, via Ronmore. This is a much harder ascent than from the A246 and I was very pleased to get up no problem. We eventually got back at 1.15 having completed about 105 miles. I have to say that although I have completed over a hundred miles a few times this was the hardest I had worked and the worst which I have felt.
Fortunately I am getting good at recovering and after a lovely lunch we had a great time with the kids from the two families.
The forecast for the next day looked good and as I have the most understanding wife in the world I was given a pass to go out again Sunday morning. This time just until 10am. SO after some confused messages on my behalf to e I met up with e and Simon at 7am. It was on our way back out of Guildford that I got another flat tyre again on the front tyre. This time whilst in the process of fixing the tyre e found the leak and we used one of Simon's instant puncture repair patches to fix it - more about that later. So we were back on the road again.
This time we went a different route up Ranmore, whish was a nice steady climb - one which I might use on my short runs out from home. Then across and down to Box Hill which I went up much faster than on Saturday. After a great decent (thanks Simon for the directions) we got to the bottom of Box Hill. It was at this point that Simon suggested that as I needed to get home quickly and e wanted to get a lot more miles in, e and I should go on ahead. So we went off and did a though ascent back up Ranmore - different to Saturdays but maybe even harder! Then back home, the weather had been great all weekend until my last 5 miles when the heavens opened. So I got home a bit like a drowned rat but with another 45 miles complete and the satisfaction of knowing that I can complete a really tough day and get back into the saddle the next day with no noticable ill effects. I am really looking forward to the team ride next week.
Sunday night I completed by bi-weekly bike clean up including the gears and the chain. As a brought my bike out of the shed I noticed that the font tyre was flat. So the temporary fix was temporary! So I also put two new patches on my inner tubes - I getting good at that too!
I have now ordered some new tyres and plan to fit them before next weekends 2 day team ride!!
Tuesday I was in the gym working on my leg strength and my shoulders - have a niggle with my right shoulder's rotater cuff muscle. The session went well and my weight seems to be holding constant (although my belt has come in another notch!).
Wednesday I managed to do a ride through West Clandon and then along the A246 to Brocketts Farm 21 mile round trip at a little over 17 miles an hour - I was pretty pleased with this. By the way thanks to Brocketts Farm they are the first to response to the wife's request for prizes for the May fair stall.
Rich and I had planned to meet up on Saturday for a 100miler, with his family coming over for lunch and the afternoon. The plan was to meet near Windsor and then come back towards Guildford for the Surrey Hills. e decided to join us and it was enroute to Windsor that I got my puncture. Front wheel this time! Still I got the new inner tube in pretty quick and although we had a bit of a problem with working out which loop we should be on we finally met up with Rich (what did we do before mobile phones!!). As we set off Rich took us back a more direct route and at a faster pace. We eventually left e (who had to get back early) at just before 10am and headed off to the Surrey Hills.
Rich was very keen to push the pace and our strategy was if there was a hill we should be going up it! We went up Ranmore, round across country taking in Leith Hill, Box Hill and a few others without names. At 12 noon we decided to make our way back from just outside Dorking, via Ronmore. This is a much harder ascent than from the A246 and I was very pleased to get up no problem. We eventually got back at 1.15 having completed about 105 miles. I have to say that although I have completed over a hundred miles a few times this was the hardest I had worked and the worst which I have felt.
Fortunately I am getting good at recovering and after a lovely lunch we had a great time with the kids from the two families.
The forecast for the next day looked good and as I have the most understanding wife in the world I was given a pass to go out again Sunday morning. This time just until 10am. SO after some confused messages on my behalf to e I met up with e and Simon at 7am. It was on our way back out of Guildford that I got another flat tyre again on the front tyre. This time whilst in the process of fixing the tyre e found the leak and we used one of Simon's instant puncture repair patches to fix it - more about that later. So we were back on the road again.
This time we went a different route up Ranmore, whish was a nice steady climb - one which I might use on my short runs out from home. Then across and down to Box Hill which I went up much faster than on Saturday. After a great decent (thanks Simon for the directions) we got to the bottom of Box Hill. It was at this point that Simon suggested that as I needed to get home quickly and e wanted to get a lot more miles in, e and I should go on ahead. So we went off and did a though ascent back up Ranmore - different to Saturdays but maybe even harder! Then back home, the weather had been great all weekend until my last 5 miles when the heavens opened. So I got home a bit like a drowned rat but with another 45 miles complete and the satisfaction of knowing that I can complete a really tough day and get back into the saddle the next day with no noticable ill effects. I am really looking forward to the team ride next week.
Sunday night I completed by bi-weekly bike clean up including the gears and the chain. As a brought my bike out of the shed I noticed that the font tyre was flat. So the temporary fix was temporary! So I also put two new patches on my inner tubes - I getting good at that too!
I have now ordered some new tyres and plan to fit them before next weekends 2 day team ride!!
Tuesday 8 April 2008
Diary update week 12
As a result of the clocks going forward I am now able to cycle in the evenings.
On Tuesday I actually managed to get home early and was delighted when the wife suggested that I go for a quick bike ride before dinner. So I headed off through West Clandon and then turned left down the A246. I was making get progress going more than 20 miles an hour up and down the hills. It was only when I turned around to head back that I worked out just how much the wind was helping me. Still I managed to ride more than 20 miles.
Wednesday I decided it was time to ride to work again. It was amazing the difference a couple of months has made to my fitness levels and my speed, I averaged a couple of miles an hour faster than my previous ride in February and felt really good. Unfortunately what has not changed is my lousy sense of direction, I managed to get lost again (at least I now know where East Clandon and Send Prison are!!). But even after my 4 and a bit detour I still felt good.
e had told me that John was cycling to his house Friday afternoon / evening and then heading on to Worthing. This sounded like a nice opportunity to cycle to the coast together so I was up at 5.30 to get to e's for a 6.30 start to the ride. We made really good progress and John was doing really well considering he had ridden 85 miles the day before (although he did complain about the hills!!). The route down was excellent taking in some lovely villages. Unfortunately I picked up a slow puncture coming into Worthing. But I was lucky enough to have two experts in changing tyres with me. So whilst I did all the work they were able to chip in with advise and guidance cheers guys!!
Anyway it turns out that I did not check my tyre a closely as I should have done and on the way back from Worthing - having dropped John at his sister-in-laws for a well earned rest- I discovered that I had another slow puncture. I tried to get over this by just pumping it up again but it was no good and eventually we stopped again and e gave me his inner tube, we checked the tyre really carefully and would a small stone embedded in the tyre wall. This was removed and we were on our way again. I have to say that the difference between cycling with a slow flat and a fully pumped up tyre is amazing! So all in all I got back a bit later that expected but with another 100 miles under my belt.
The wife has organised a stall at the Send May Fair which should be a great opportunity to build up some local support and raise a bit of extra money. More about this in later blogs
Our total including gift aid is through the £10,000 which is fantastic and thanks to everyone who has sponsored us. It is the best investment that you will ever make!
On Tuesday I actually managed to get home early and was delighted when the wife suggested that I go for a quick bike ride before dinner. So I headed off through West Clandon and then turned left down the A246. I was making get progress going more than 20 miles an hour up and down the hills. It was only when I turned around to head back that I worked out just how much the wind was helping me. Still I managed to ride more than 20 miles.
Wednesday I decided it was time to ride to work again. It was amazing the difference a couple of months has made to my fitness levels and my speed, I averaged a couple of miles an hour faster than my previous ride in February and felt really good. Unfortunately what has not changed is my lousy sense of direction, I managed to get lost again (at least I now know where East Clandon and Send Prison are!!). But even after my 4 and a bit detour I still felt good.
e had told me that John was cycling to his house Friday afternoon / evening and then heading on to Worthing. This sounded like a nice opportunity to cycle to the coast together so I was up at 5.30 to get to e's for a 6.30 start to the ride. We made really good progress and John was doing really well considering he had ridden 85 miles the day before (although he did complain about the hills!!). The route down was excellent taking in some lovely villages. Unfortunately I picked up a slow puncture coming into Worthing. But I was lucky enough to have two experts in changing tyres with me. So whilst I did all the work they were able to chip in with advise and guidance cheers guys!!
Anyway it turns out that I did not check my tyre a closely as I should have done and on the way back from Worthing - having dropped John at his sister-in-laws for a well earned rest- I discovered that I had another slow puncture. I tried to get over this by just pumping it up again but it was no good and eventually we stopped again and e gave me his inner tube, we checked the tyre really carefully and would a small stone embedded in the tyre wall. This was removed and we were on our way again. I have to say that the difference between cycling with a slow flat and a fully pumped up tyre is amazing! So all in all I got back a bit later that expected but with another 100 miles under my belt.
The wife has organised a stall at the Send May Fair which should be a great opportunity to build up some local support and raise a bit of extra money. More about this in later blogs
Our total including gift aid is through the £10,000 which is fantastic and thanks to everyone who has sponsored us. It is the best investment that you will ever make!
Tuesday 1 April 2008
Diary update week 11
After the rides over the Easter weekend, had a couple of rest days before completing a good turbo session whilst watching the last episode of Ashes to Ashes. Turbo training is so boring but I feel I am benefiting from the work out.
After a quick call to e Friday night we agreed to start our ride at 6am Saturday morning. So I was up at 5am, out by 5.30 and at e's at just before 6. We decided to do the usual loop with the couple hills either side of Dorking. Unfortunately Ciaran had to leave early so we headed straight back Guildford after getting to Cranleigh. E and I decided to do the same route but this time we decided to also go up Box Hill. This is a long gradual climb and so excellent for training - I have a feeling a that I will be using the hill in my training regime. With the ride to and from e's I managed to clock up 110 miles. This is my longest ride so far and with the 5 big hills I really felt good at the end of it. I have to say that I was tried on Saturday afternoon, but I think that was as much to do with the early mroning as the bike ride.
I am looking forward to the clock going back so I ride to work a couple of times a week.
After a quick call to e Friday night we agreed to start our ride at 6am Saturday morning. So I was up at 5am, out by 5.30 and at e's at just before 6. We decided to do the usual loop with the couple hills either side of Dorking. Unfortunately Ciaran had to leave early so we headed straight back Guildford after getting to Cranleigh. E and I decided to do the same route but this time we decided to also go up Box Hill. This is a long gradual climb and so excellent for training - I have a feeling a that I will be using the hill in my training regime. With the ride to and from e's I managed to clock up 110 miles. This is my longest ride so far and with the 5 big hills I really felt good at the end of it. I have to say that I was tried on Saturday afternoon, but I think that was as much to do with the early mroning as the bike ride.
I am looking forward to the clock going back so I ride to work a couple of times a week.
Thursday 27 March 2008
Diary update week 10
Monday meant flying to places foreign, my hotel had a gym so I was able to cycle for 27 km on the staic bike, plus a bit of a work out.
Friday the family were off to the brother-in-laws' just outside Basingstoke. The wife was kind enough to look after the kids and bring drive them over, whilst I rode via Farnham and Winchester on a 67 mile trip.
The wind was strong and gusty, I not sure why but it seemed that I was always cycling into the wind. Just outside Winchester whilst going entering a roundabout going straight over a complete idiot decided to turn left from the right hand lane at high speed, cutting me up and very nearly killing me. To be honest I don't think he even saw me. I certainly callled him a few names as he sped off into the distance. The rest of the journey was pretty uneventful, however I have to say that the A31 is a must nicer road to cyle down than the A33 which just seemed to be a series of hills and valleys. Still arrived only half an hour after the rest of the family and just ahead of the rain.
I had planned to do a long ride to the coast and back with Rich and e on Sunday, but the snow stopped that. So e and I agreed to go out on Monday morning nice and early. We did my 50+ mile route with the hills and made very good time. With the benefit of e's flashy Garmin computer we also found out that on the ride our total ascents was over 1,000m. The final ascent up to Newlands corner was my best ride up that particular hill so it looks like the gym sessions are having a positive impact.
Friday the family were off to the brother-in-laws' just outside Basingstoke. The wife was kind enough to look after the kids and bring drive them over, whilst I rode via Farnham and Winchester on a 67 mile trip.
The wind was strong and gusty, I not sure why but it seemed that I was always cycling into the wind. Just outside Winchester whilst going entering a roundabout going straight over a complete idiot decided to turn left from the right hand lane at high speed, cutting me up and very nearly killing me. To be honest I don't think he even saw me. I certainly callled him a few names as he sped off into the distance. The rest of the journey was pretty uneventful, however I have to say that the A31 is a must nicer road to cyle down than the A33 which just seemed to be a series of hills and valleys. Still arrived only half an hour after the rest of the family and just ahead of the rain.
I had planned to do a long ride to the coast and back with Rich and e on Sunday, but the snow stopped that. So e and I agreed to go out on Monday morning nice and early. We did my 50+ mile route with the hills and made very good time. With the benefit of e's flashy Garmin computer we also found out that on the ride our total ascents was over 1,000m. The final ascent up to Newlands corner was my best ride up that particular hill so it looks like the gym sessions are having a positive impact.
Monday 17 March 2008
Diary Week 9
I knew was travelling this week and so was commited to get a turbo session in on Tuesday.
Wednesday's gym session went well with my new programme. Hopefully this will help to build up the strength in my legs and shoulders to complement the endurance training from all the rides.
Thursday up at stupid o'clock to catch my flight to Germany. The meetings went well and got back to the airport in plenty of time for my return flight. I had already checked in and so went straight to the long security queue. Whilst waiting get a text from BA - flight cancelled!!
Some idiot decided to run across the runway at Heathrow. So after much mucking about and siting in waiting lounges and on planes finally got home 3 hours late at 11pm.
Friday up at just after stupid o'clock for another journey to meetings. Again these went well and this time I got home in the afternoon so got to see the kids plus the wife (hurray!!)
Saturday started at 6am, breakfast plus supplements and then out on the bike to meet the rest of the team at 7am. Everyone was ready and we were soon on our way. I thought that we were in for a boring time as we had just planned to go down the A31 to Winchester and back plus a few local miles around Guildford. As it happens I really enjoyed it. For the first time we started to ride like a team and the "chain-gang" practice was excellent. The miles just flew by. Overall we averaged 16.5miles which was really good going as we had a couple of team talk stops plus a puncture (Simon not Iain this time!!).
At one point I decided to take the lead and accelerated without changing gear. At the next stop the boys were joking about my legs going round in a "blur". I have just checked my ride computer and my maximum cadence was 174!!!! Perhaps a world record!
We also had a chance to chat about our fundraising progress (the whole reason for the ride). The subject of Alan Shearer and Adrian Chiles bikeride for sport relief came up. We all agreed that they had done a fantastic job, perhaps now they are warmed up they would like to join us on a "proper" bike ride!! ;-) If Alan or Adrian read this please contact any of the team we would love to have you join.
Wednesday's gym session went well with my new programme. Hopefully this will help to build up the strength in my legs and shoulders to complement the endurance training from all the rides.
Thursday up at stupid o'clock to catch my flight to Germany. The meetings went well and got back to the airport in plenty of time for my return flight. I had already checked in and so went straight to the long security queue. Whilst waiting get a text from BA - flight cancelled!!
Some idiot decided to run across the runway at Heathrow. So after much mucking about and siting in waiting lounges and on planes finally got home 3 hours late at 11pm.
Friday up at just after stupid o'clock for another journey to meetings. Again these went well and this time I got home in the afternoon so got to see the kids plus the wife (hurray!!)
Saturday started at 6am, breakfast plus supplements and then out on the bike to meet the rest of the team at 7am. Everyone was ready and we were soon on our way. I thought that we were in for a boring time as we had just planned to go down the A31 to Winchester and back plus a few local miles around Guildford. As it happens I really enjoyed it. For the first time we started to ride like a team and the "chain-gang" practice was excellent. The miles just flew by. Overall we averaged 16.5miles which was really good going as we had a couple of team talk stops plus a puncture (Simon not Iain this time!!).
At one point I decided to take the lead and accelerated without changing gear. At the next stop the boys were joking about my legs going round in a "blur". I have just checked my ride computer and my maximum cadence was 174!!!! Perhaps a world record!
We also had a chance to chat about our fundraising progress (the whole reason for the ride). The subject of Alan Shearer and Adrian Chiles bikeride for sport relief came up. We all agreed that they had done a fantastic job, perhaps now they are warmed up they would like to join us on a "proper" bike ride!! ;-) If Alan or Adrian read this please contact any of the team we would love to have you join.
Wednesday 5 March 2008
Diary Week 8
Tuesday I was not feeling up for turbo training but felt that I should go for it.
Got really fed up with the squeaking seat so ended up taking the seat completely apart, still didn't solve it. I moved the seat back a bit still no good, so I think I am going to take it apart again and insert some tape to try to stop the squeaking - I have a plan, lets hope it works.
As the mucking about with the seat took so long and I started late I decided to really go for the turbo training and use the "big cog". Big mistake!!
After about ten minute I noticed little specks on black on the floor, it was then that I noticed that I had been wearing down my tyre!!! So I cleared up the mess and went to bed. Fortunately I only wore down about a 3-4mm band so hopefully the tyre will be OK. I will keep an eye on it.
Wednesday the wife and I had our weekly gym session. I got my new programme focused on my cycling. The work out is leg and shoulder based so it will be interesting to see how it improves my performance.
Thursday I was in a much better place mentally than Tuesday. I got home from work in good time and managed to investigate my seat and put felt between all the bits of metal. It did not improve the situation. Anyway I still did 70 minutes on the turbo (on the small cog!) and felt really good at the end of it.
This weekend Rich-mate and his lad were coming round Saturday morning so I could only do a relatively short ride. I sussed out a route which let me get in some good hills and approx. 50 miles. I set off at 6.30 with my backpack on with extra water. The route was excellent, with tough ascents earlier on and then rolling hills later on. I decided to use my "big cog" whenever appropriate whilst maintaining y cadence above 90. I even managed to overtake a couple of other cyclists - which is a first for me! I managed to get back before 10am averaging 15.5 miles an hour, just in time for Rich-mate. The kids had a lovely time and it was great to catch up with Rich. He also brought round some kit for me to borrow which has already proven to be useful and he gave some great advice on training and the potential problem with my saddle - the cause of my squeak!!
Sunday morning I had to change the flat tyre on the wife's car. The tool provided with the car was worse than useless, so I ended up going shopping for a decent wrench. I found a great one In B&Q and dropped into Halfords to get some Teflon based lubricant - thanks for advice Rich and managed to also pick up an large bottle plus extra cage for a a couple of quid - excellent value for money. In the afternoon I did the same route, this time without my backpack, but the road was wet. It thought I was going faster but I actually averaged 15.3 miles an hour!
Got really fed up with the squeaking seat so ended up taking the seat completely apart, still didn't solve it. I moved the seat back a bit still no good, so I think I am going to take it apart again and insert some tape to try to stop the squeaking - I have a plan, lets hope it works.
As the mucking about with the seat took so long and I started late I decided to really go for the turbo training and use the "big cog". Big mistake!!
After about ten minute I noticed little specks on black on the floor, it was then that I noticed that I had been wearing down my tyre!!! So I cleared up the mess and went to bed. Fortunately I only wore down about a 3-4mm band so hopefully the tyre will be OK. I will keep an eye on it.
Wednesday the wife and I had our weekly gym session. I got my new programme focused on my cycling. The work out is leg and shoulder based so it will be interesting to see how it improves my performance.
Thursday I was in a much better place mentally than Tuesday. I got home from work in good time and managed to investigate my seat and put felt between all the bits of metal. It did not improve the situation. Anyway I still did 70 minutes on the turbo (on the small cog!) and felt really good at the end of it.
This weekend Rich-mate and his lad were coming round Saturday morning so I could only do a relatively short ride. I sussed out a route which let me get in some good hills and approx. 50 miles. I set off at 6.30 with my backpack on with extra water. The route was excellent, with tough ascents earlier on and then rolling hills later on. I decided to use my "big cog" whenever appropriate whilst maintaining y cadence above 90. I even managed to overtake a couple of other cyclists - which is a first for me! I managed to get back before 10am averaging 15.5 miles an hour, just in time for Rich-mate. The kids had a lovely time and it was great to catch up with Rich. He also brought round some kit for me to borrow which has already proven to be useful and he gave some great advice on training and the potential problem with my saddle - the cause of my squeak!!
Sunday morning I had to change the flat tyre on the wife's car. The tool provided with the car was worse than useless, so I ended up going shopping for a decent wrench. I found a great one In B&Q and dropped into Halfords to get some Teflon based lubricant - thanks for advice Rich and managed to also pick up an large bottle plus extra cage for a a couple of quid - excellent value for money. In the afternoon I did the same route, this time without my backpack, but the road was wet. It thought I was going faster but I actually averaged 15.3 miles an hour!
Monday 3 March 2008
Diary week 7
Monday was a rest day, but on Tuesday I managed to get just over an hour on the turbo trainer.
On Wedensday the wife and I had our weekly gym session, I need to get more specific about my exercise regime and so next week I will be getting a new program specifically design to complement my cycling training.
Saturady was an early start, I was on my bike just before 6.30 and at e's before 7. Unfortunately e was not quite ready so we did not get on the road until just after 7. He had organised the route. All was going well, we were making good time and decided to stop at 9am at Wisborough Green. Even with the strong wind we were making excellent progress. Things started to go wrong at this point as e's managed to run over a drawing pin and so we spent 20 minutes changing the tyre. We also proved that you need to know how to work the CO2 canaster before trying on a ride, still the hand pump worked well. We set off and after an hour e was struggling. He had eaten some malt loaf instead of a power bar during our stop and clearly he was not getting the energy he required. We stopped again and had another power bar each. This seemed to do the trick and e was soon back at full strength. Unfortunately the impact of the various delays meant I was going to be late getting home which would be a big problem for the wife.
Fortuanately we had the wind to our backs and once on to the A31 we used our big cogs, and manged to get from Alton to Guildford in under an hour and I was only 15 minutes late, giving me enough time to have quick shower before taking the kids to their swimming lesson (with sandwiches from the wife to keep me going ;-) )
Overall with the extra to and from e's I managed to do 95 miles. I have to say I found the 95 miles much harder than the 100 miles the prevous week. Although I really enjoyed cruising at 23 miles an hour using the big cog. I guess we all need to pray for a south westerly wind to help us on our way (and no drawing pins!!)
I am starting to get concerned that although I am ahead of the training programme on the individual longest rides but I am not keeping up with the overall weekly total. Hopefully I can rectify the situation once the clocks change and I am able to cycle to/from work and it the evenings.
On Wedensday the wife and I had our weekly gym session, I need to get more specific about my exercise regime and so next week I will be getting a new program specifically design to complement my cycling training.
Saturady was an early start, I was on my bike just before 6.30 and at e's before 7. Unfortunately e was not quite ready so we did not get on the road until just after 7. He had organised the route. All was going well, we were making good time and decided to stop at 9am at Wisborough Green. Even with the strong wind we were making excellent progress. Things started to go wrong at this point as e's managed to run over a drawing pin and so we spent 20 minutes changing the tyre. We also proved that you need to know how to work the CO2 canaster before trying on a ride, still the hand pump worked well. We set off and after an hour e was struggling. He had eaten some malt loaf instead of a power bar during our stop and clearly he was not getting the energy he required. We stopped again and had another power bar each. This seemed to do the trick and e was soon back at full strength. Unfortunately the impact of the various delays meant I was going to be late getting home which would be a big problem for the wife.
Fortuanately we had the wind to our backs and once on to the A31 we used our big cogs, and manged to get from Alton to Guildford in under an hour and I was only 15 minutes late, giving me enough time to have quick shower before taking the kids to their swimming lesson (with sandwiches from the wife to keep me going ;-) )
Overall with the extra to and from e's I managed to do 95 miles. I have to say I found the 95 miles much harder than the 100 miles the prevous week. Although I really enjoyed cruising at 23 miles an hour using the big cog. I guess we all need to pray for a south westerly wind to help us on our way (and no drawing pins!!)
I am starting to get concerned that although I am ahead of the training programme on the individual longest rides but I am not keeping up with the overall weekly total. Hopefully I can rectify the situation once the clocks change and I am able to cycle to/from work and it the evenings.
Monday 25 February 2008
Diary Week 6
An interesting week, half term so the kids are off on holiday.
I did not manage any turbo training; however I did manage to cycle to work for one day.
I had the route planned out which kept me off the main roads, and going to work I managed to keep to route no problem. The only thing that went wrong was I lost one of my reflective ankle bands.
On the way back was a different story, my front light went out just after I started to ride and I managed to get lost a couple of times. Some of the roads did not have street lights and so when I car approached it blinded me! Pretty scary stuff. To make things worse I forgot my mobile phone, so I was on my own. Fortunately I managed to get my light working half way through the ride. However, the wife was none too impressed and told me in her own inimitable style that it was a dumb idea riding to work before the clocks change. So I will not being doing that again for a while.
Friday I had the day off - it was great spending some time with the kids. Then in the late afternoon I went to the Nutritionist. It was really worthwhile, I felt I got a lot out it. The plan is to gradually improve my diet, and I am sure the supplements will help.
As it was half term the kids are not swimming on Saturday and Sunday, it means I am not limited to return by a set time. We had guests on Saturday so that meant Sunday for my ride.
It was warm over night and so no problems with frost. I had my route planned to go via Leith Hill - Iain's suggested route. The early hills certainly got raised my pulse. I then followed the back roads to Cranleigh then down to Petworth, back up via Hasslemere and Hindhead before coming back via Cranleigh and Dorking. The total ride was just over 100 miles!!! A real milestone for me, and I managed to do this at an average speed of 14.5mph. I think that as soon as I start to use the "big cog" I can increase this average speed as currently my top speed on the flat is just under 20mph.
I did not manage any turbo training; however I did manage to cycle to work for one day.
I had the route planned out which kept me off the main roads, and going to work I managed to keep to route no problem. The only thing that went wrong was I lost one of my reflective ankle bands.
On the way back was a different story, my front light went out just after I started to ride and I managed to get lost a couple of times. Some of the roads did not have street lights and so when I car approached it blinded me! Pretty scary stuff. To make things worse I forgot my mobile phone, so I was on my own. Fortunately I managed to get my light working half way through the ride. However, the wife was none too impressed and told me in her own inimitable style that it was a dumb idea riding to work before the clocks change. So I will not being doing that again for a while.
Friday I had the day off - it was great spending some time with the kids. Then in the late afternoon I went to the Nutritionist. It was really worthwhile, I felt I got a lot out it. The plan is to gradually improve my diet, and I am sure the supplements will help.
As it was half term the kids are not swimming on Saturday and Sunday, it means I am not limited to return by a set time. We had guests on Saturday so that meant Sunday for my ride.
It was warm over night and so no problems with frost. I had my route planned to go via Leith Hill - Iain's suggested route. The early hills certainly got raised my pulse. I then followed the back roads to Cranleigh then down to Petworth, back up via Hasslemere and Hindhead before coming back via Cranleigh and Dorking. The total ride was just over 100 miles!!! A real milestone for me, and I managed to do this at an average speed of 14.5mph. I think that as soon as I start to use the "big cog" I can increase this average speed as currently my top speed on the flat is just under 20mph.
Monday 18 February 2008
Week 5 Diary
I managed 2 turbo sessions and a normal gym session this week.
Felt pretty good coming in to the weekend's team ride.
All eight of us met up to have the photo shoot plus a tour of Christopher's.
As soon as we arrived it brought back memories and during the tour I certainly have a couple of tearful moments.
The place is just amazing, nothing is too much trouble for any of their "guests".
Although it is a hospice it is not like an adult hospice it is more a place where family can come to get a rest, have fun, talk and be listened to. It is designed for children of all abilities and ages from 0 to 19.
If any of us needed any additional motivation for the ride it was certainly provided.
We also met Andrew Castle and the Mayor of Guildford. I was struck by just how down to earth Andrew is, he clearly has a lot of passion for supporting CHASE. He immediately came up with additional ideas to help to publicise the Race for Chase.
The ride went well, all the guys seem to be getting in the training. It felt good to all be riding together, but although we rode together for 5 hours (with stops etc) it seemed that we rarely got a chance to talk to one another. The roads were busy and I guess we need to get used to them. I was pleased to not fall off at all ;-)
We certainly need to practice riding together to gain the benefit of slipstreaming, but I think we need to find some long relatively flat and quite roads to do this.
Felt pretty good coming in to the weekend's team ride.
All eight of us met up to have the photo shoot plus a tour of Christopher's.
As soon as we arrived it brought back memories and during the tour I certainly have a couple of tearful moments.
The place is just amazing, nothing is too much trouble for any of their "guests".
Although it is a hospice it is not like an adult hospice it is more a place where family can come to get a rest, have fun, talk and be listened to. It is designed for children of all abilities and ages from 0 to 19.
If any of us needed any additional motivation for the ride it was certainly provided.
We also met Andrew Castle and the Mayor of Guildford. I was struck by just how down to earth Andrew is, he clearly has a lot of passion for supporting CHASE. He immediately came up with additional ideas to help to publicise the Race for Chase.
The ride went well, all the guys seem to be getting in the training. It felt good to all be riding together, but although we rode together for 5 hours (with stops etc) it seemed that we rarely got a chance to talk to one another. The roads were busy and I guess we need to get used to them. I was pleased to not fall off at all ;-)
We certainly need to practice riding together to gain the benefit of slipstreaming, but I think we need to find some long relatively flat and quite roads to do this.
Monday 11 February 2008
Week 4 Diary
4Feb08 - 10Feb08
The week started well with a good session on the turbo training.
Tuesday was my second spinning class, this was much better than the first class. The instructor was on time and I started to get used to the idea of what I was trying to do. It certainly is a good work out on the legs. Unfortunately the class was very busy and I did not manage to get myself booked infor next week.
Wednesday was the normal gym session, this went well and even managed to watch a bit of the England match.
Rest days Thursday and Friday before the ride on Saturday morning.
Up a 6.30 to start the ride at 7.00, met e at 7.30 the ride was fantastic we managed to cover over 70 miles in under 5 hours and with the ride to e's etc I managed to clock up over 80 miles!
We even had a couple of big climbs right at the end which were hard at the time but its great to look back on them and realise that you can still do them after a long ride.
The only problem with the ride was that I managed to fall off my bike twice!! Both time in slow motoin as I tried (unsuccessfully) to unclip!!!!
The main bruising was to my ego….especially as I had been bragging to e about how I had got used to them- more fool me.
My bike also started to squeek so on Sunday I read a bit of my Zinns and cleaned my chain - hopefully this will help to cure the problem.
The week started well with a good session on the turbo training.
Tuesday was my second spinning class, this was much better than the first class. The instructor was on time and I started to get used to the idea of what I was trying to do. It certainly is a good work out on the legs. Unfortunately the class was very busy and I did not manage to get myself booked infor next week.
Wednesday was the normal gym session, this went well and even managed to watch a bit of the England match.
Rest days Thursday and Friday before the ride on Saturday morning.
Up a 6.30 to start the ride at 7.00, met e at 7.30 the ride was fantastic we managed to cover over 70 miles in under 5 hours and with the ride to e's etc I managed to clock up over 80 miles!
We even had a couple of big climbs right at the end which were hard at the time but its great to look back on them and realise that you can still do them after a long ride.
The only problem with the ride was that I managed to fall off my bike twice!! Both time in slow motoin as I tried (unsuccessfully) to unclip!!!!
The main bruising was to my ego….especially as I had been bragging to e about how I had got used to them- more fool me.
My bike also started to squeek so on Sunday I read a bit of my Zinns and cleaned my chain - hopefully this will help to cure the problem.
Friday 8 February 2008
Week 3 Diary
This week acted as a reminder of how we take our health for granted!
I felt terrible on Monday with a cough, but had to keep going due to key meetings at work.
Things got a bit better as the week went on such that by Wednesday night my cough was under enough control to allow me to do just over an hour on the turbo trainer.
Unfortunately the wife had caught the sickness bug and Wednesday night she was sick twice - and she is never ill so this must have been really bad.
As a result I was a part-time "Mr Mum" on Thursday.
Friday I got the bug, luckily for me I was only sick once and as it is only a 24 hour bug the wife was able to let me go to bed for 20 hours!!
Saturday I felt musch better but took it easy.
Sunday I was back out on the bike, the cough has gone and I managed 28 miles.
So it finished well and I'm looking forward to next week.
I felt terrible on Monday with a cough, but had to keep going due to key meetings at work.
Things got a bit better as the week went on such that by Wednesday night my cough was under enough control to allow me to do just over an hour on the turbo trainer.
Unfortunately the wife had caught the sickness bug and Wednesday night she was sick twice - and she is never ill so this must have been really bad.
As a result I was a part-time "Mr Mum" on Thursday.
Friday I got the bug, luckily for me I was only sick once and as it is only a 24 hour bug the wife was able to let me go to bed for 20 hours!!
Saturday I felt musch better but took it easy.
Sunday I was back out on the bike, the cough has gone and I managed 28 miles.
So it finished well and I'm looking forward to next week.
Friday 25 January 2008
Week2 diary
Sunday 27Jan08
Rest day, I am feeling the effects of the calorie burn during training. (Also kids are not well so I might have picked something up from them.) Go to bed early and hope to sleep it off.
Saturday 26Jan08
Up nice and early ready to ride at 7.30, am going to be trying out my new isotonic drink plus have a power bar just in case!
The ride goes really well until I get to Elstead, I only make one mistake. However, at Elstead I lose my bearing (and my marbles) and cycle the wrong way for 2-3 miles. When I turn round and get back to Elstead I again miss my turning for Shakleford, as luck would have it I see Iain coming the other way. After consulting the map I head across the A3 and go via Godalming, to Guildford and home. In all I manamge 70.8 miles so I am really pleased. Unfortunately the wife has gone out and I forgot my keys so I spent 45 minutes stretching and trying not to get too cold.
The isotonic drink worked well and I was thankful for the power bar during my wait.
I think I need a bigger water bottle, I also need to think about "carbo loading" because I burnt 3,750kCals during the ride!!
Friday 25Jan08
Rest day, time to relax before my Saturday morning ride.
Thursday 24Jan08
I have noticed that my brake blocks are being consumed rather quickly. I have checked with the bike shop experts and their view was that this was to be expected given the amount of water on the roads. So I have invested in some new brake blocks and plan to use my copy of "Zinn and the Art to Road Bike Maintenance" to guide me through the change out. Completed another 60mins turbo training , raised my cadence and heart rate level from Monday's work out.
Wednesday 23Jan08
First spinning class. Never done this before…how hard can it be. The answer is as hard as you want to make it!! The instructor was late and thus unable to explain the finer details of what to do (such as 4up 4 down blah blah) but I got by, at least until we were "sprinting" out of our saddles and then the instructor said slow down. I slowed down too fast and nearly went AoT off the bike, still no damage done. Overall I think it is worthwhile "high"impact training and I will try to go weekly.
Tuesday 22Jan08
Still waiting for the delivery of my backpack, once I have this I plan to start riding to work. Planned my route for Saturday - lets hope it is a nice day!
Monday 21Jan08
Feeling good after the rest day so hit the turbo trainer - whilst watching Ocean's 11. Good session, even manage to do some single leg work - this is much harder than it sounds, end up cycling for just over 90minutes.
Rest day, I am feeling the effects of the calorie burn during training. (Also kids are not well so I might have picked something up from them.) Go to bed early and hope to sleep it off.
Saturday 26Jan08
Up nice and early ready to ride at 7.30, am going to be trying out my new isotonic drink plus have a power bar just in case!
The ride goes really well until I get to Elstead, I only make one mistake. However, at Elstead I lose my bearing (and my marbles) and cycle the wrong way for 2-3 miles. When I turn round and get back to Elstead I again miss my turning for Shakleford, as luck would have it I see Iain coming the other way. After consulting the map I head across the A3 and go via Godalming, to Guildford and home. In all I manamge 70.8 miles so I am really pleased. Unfortunately the wife has gone out and I forgot my keys so I spent 45 minutes stretching and trying not to get too cold.
The isotonic drink worked well and I was thankful for the power bar during my wait.
I think I need a bigger water bottle, I also need to think about "carbo loading" because I burnt 3,750kCals during the ride!!
Friday 25Jan08
Rest day, time to relax before my Saturday morning ride.
Thursday 24Jan08
I have noticed that my brake blocks are being consumed rather quickly. I have checked with the bike shop experts and their view was that this was to be expected given the amount of water on the roads. So I have invested in some new brake blocks and plan to use my copy of "Zinn and the Art to Road Bike Maintenance" to guide me through the change out. Completed another 60mins turbo training , raised my cadence and heart rate level from Monday's work out.
Wednesday 23Jan08
First spinning class. Never done this before…how hard can it be. The answer is as hard as you want to make it!! The instructor was late and thus unable to explain the finer details of what to do (such as 4up 4 down blah blah) but I got by, at least until we were "sprinting" out of our saddles and then the instructor said slow down. I slowed down too fast and nearly went AoT off the bike, still no damage done. Overall I think it is worthwhile "high"impact training and I will try to go weekly.
Tuesday 22Jan08
Still waiting for the delivery of my backpack, once I have this I plan to start riding to work. Planned my route for Saturday - lets hope it is a nice day!
Monday 21Jan08
Feeling good after the rest day so hit the turbo trainer - whilst watching Ocean's 11. Good session, even manage to do some single leg work - this is much harder than it sounds, end up cycling for just over 90minutes.
Week 1 diary
Sunday 20Jan08
Rest day
Saturday 19Jan08
Up at 6.50 get bike and me ready for ride. Meet e and Simon at e's house. Great ride, at 66 miles my longest ever and I only fall over once! The only negative was our average speed was a bit lower than previous rides. Thankfully Simon is on the ball and spots my back wheel quick release is released! Avoid embarrassment of wheel coming off and continue on the ride. When I got home I was rather hungry still 6 sandwiches later I felt good enough to have a shower before cleaning the bike.
Friday 18Jan08
Rest day - go and buy new pedal and shoes with cleats. Have fun on the turbo trainer trying to clip in and out of the cleats. Saturday's ride could be interesting!
Thursday 17Jan08
Rest day - try to find out what has happened to the back pack I ordered for the rides to work. If I don't get a decent reply soon will cancel order.
Wednesday 16Jan08
Happy days my flight is early, (NB my definition of early is I get out of the plane ahead of the time on the airline schedule. If the plane lands 20minutes earlier than the scheduled time and then taxis for 30 minutes whilst it finds its gate then it is late (I understand that the airlines use a different definition!!)) I get through customs etc in good time but my transfer bus is just pulling away. Luckily the bus stops in traffic in front of me and the bus driver allows me to get on - what a very nice man - make mental note to keep using that car park. Get home, enjoy time with the kids before managing to do 85mins on the turbo trainer whilst watching West Ham lose (boo!). Still overall a very good day
Tuesday 15Jan08
Up at stupid o'clock to fly to places foreign. Managed to be organised enough to stay at a hotel with a gym so managed 80minutes on a static bike at 90cadence - felt good about this.
Monday 14Jan08
Rest day
Sunday 13Jan08
Rest day - went to see the Peter Pan Pantomime (oh no you didn't…..oh yes I did….) It was great fun, and amazing to see all the little faces staring in awe at the stage (the kids seemed to enjoy it too).
Saturday 12Jan08
First long solo ride - well e joined me for the first 7 miles! - managed to forget my phone, so I had to go back for that. Then going in a straight line through a small village hit black ice and whoops I was skidding along the road!! Luckily the van driver behind me was very alert and got round me no problem. The car coming towards me stopped to check I was alright - what a nice man ;-)
Then just as I was entering the last few miles the police closed the road and sent me on a detour up the steepest ascent I have ever complete - my thanks go to the patient drivers who followed me at 5miles an hour up the hill!
Back home and another 45 miles completed
Rest day
Saturday 19Jan08
Up at 6.50 get bike and me ready for ride. Meet e and Simon at e's house. Great ride, at 66 miles my longest ever and I only fall over once! The only negative was our average speed was a bit lower than previous rides. Thankfully Simon is on the ball and spots my back wheel quick release is released! Avoid embarrassment of wheel coming off and continue on the ride. When I got home I was rather hungry still 6 sandwiches later I felt good enough to have a shower before cleaning the bike.
Friday 18Jan08
Rest day - go and buy new pedal and shoes with cleats. Have fun on the turbo trainer trying to clip in and out of the cleats. Saturday's ride could be interesting!
Thursday 17Jan08
Rest day - try to find out what has happened to the back pack I ordered for the rides to work. If I don't get a decent reply soon will cancel order.
Wednesday 16Jan08
Happy days my flight is early, (NB my definition of early is I get out of the plane ahead of the time on the airline schedule. If the plane lands 20minutes earlier than the scheduled time and then taxis for 30 minutes whilst it finds its gate then it is late (I understand that the airlines use a different definition!!)) I get through customs etc in good time but my transfer bus is just pulling away. Luckily the bus stops in traffic in front of me and the bus driver allows me to get on - what a very nice man - make mental note to keep using that car park. Get home, enjoy time with the kids before managing to do 85mins on the turbo trainer whilst watching West Ham lose (boo!). Still overall a very good day
Tuesday 15Jan08
Up at stupid o'clock to fly to places foreign. Managed to be organised enough to stay at a hotel with a gym so managed 80minutes on a static bike at 90cadence - felt good about this.
Monday 14Jan08
Rest day
Sunday 13Jan08
Rest day - went to see the Peter Pan Pantomime (oh no you didn't…..oh yes I did….) It was great fun, and amazing to see all the little faces staring in awe at the stage (the kids seemed to enjoy it too).
Saturday 12Jan08
First long solo ride - well e joined me for the first 7 miles! - managed to forget my phone, so I had to go back for that. Then going in a straight line through a small village hit black ice and whoops I was skidding along the road!! Luckily the van driver behind me was very alert and got round me no problem. The car coming towards me stopped to check I was alright - what a nice man ;-)
Then just as I was entering the last few miles the police closed the road and sent me on a detour up the steepest ascent I have ever complete - my thanks go to the patient drivers who followed me at 5miles an hour up the hill!
Back home and another 45 miles completed
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