Out again this morning - this means 7 days ridng in a row.
We just did a 25 mile loop around Norwood edge and the Washburn Valley reservoirs.
We took a few interesting side roads - past Dob Park and then back via Low Snowdon.
First time on both roads - a couple of great roads!
On the way down from Low Snowdon, I nearly came off on a tight, twisy, manured-splattered road! I was off the road, on the verge, through some rocks and then managed to pull it back on to the road and keep going without even unclipping. A little scary but all part of the fun.
On the way back from Askwith, we built up some speed and raced along. El Cid came from nowhere near the end and left me for dead with a fast turn of pace. Actually, when I say he came from nowhere, he had been sheltering behind me, Cacophony and Marat(?) who had been doing big turns on the front driving the pace. All great fun though. A plesant Latte at Costa rounded off a lovely start to the weekend.
Saturday, 26 April 2008
Friday, 25 April 2008
Fat Burner trial
Not quite a full fat burner as previously described, but last night I went for a 30 minute run, and then before this morning's ride I missed breakfast. We just did a gentle 1 hour ride to Cavendish.
I think I will push it a little further the next time I do it, but this week has been my first full week of training so prudence is the watchword!
I think I will push it a little further the next time I do it, but this week has been my first full week of training so prudence is the watchword!
Thursday, 24 April 2008
Langbar + 3
Langbar Thursday today again. It was a beautiful morning and I was beginning to feel the effects of the heavy week as I struggled slightly up the Langbar climb.
Back in town I still has enough to do 3 reps of the Wells Rd climb.
I'm not exactly sure how high each of these climbs are. But from looking at contour lines on an OS map, the Langbar climb rises from 90m to 280m and Wells Road from 90m to about 190m. So with the other smller climbs (Nesfield, Pavilion, etc), the whole ride must include about 600m (2000 ft) of climbing.
Back in town I still has enough to do 3 reps of the Wells Rd climb.
I'm not exactly sure how high each of these climbs are. But from looking at contour lines on an OS map, the Langbar climb rises from 90m to 280m and Wells Road from 90m to about 190m. So with the other smller climbs (Nesfield, Pavilion, etc), the whole ride must include about 600m (2000 ft) of climbing.
Wednesday, 23 April 2008
Wednesday Speed
Out to Cavendish, and then fast back this morning. El Cid, Cacophony and myself and we picked up quite a pace - I managed to get dropped up the hill past Nesfield as they powered on. Then fast again past the lido and up "Conker" hill - quite a session!
There is talk of doing this:
Date : Sat 27th September
Venue: Ullapool, very north Scotland
Event: http://handsonevents.co.uk/handsonevents/Events/Ullapool/Ullapool.htm
Not sure about it yet!
There is talk of doing this:
Date : Sat 27th September
Venue: Ullapool, very north Scotland
Event: http://handsonevents.co.uk/handsonevents/Events/Ullapool/Ullapool.htm
Not sure about it yet!
Tuesday, 22 April 2008
Still Feeling Good
Back on my bike yesterday (Monday) for an easy run down to Cavendish. Felt fine. This morning I felt a little stiffer in the lower quads, but we did Storiths, Hazlewood, and back home I did 3 ascents of Wells Road whilst waitig for the train.
A few drinks tonight, so not sure what I'll do tomorrow.
A few drinks tonight, so not sure what I'll do tomorrow.
Sunday, 20 April 2008
A Windy Day
Rest day yesterday in preparation for today's ride.
We did about 65-70 miles including some big hills - over to Settle and back via Halton Gill. There seemed to be a headwind the whole way round but for some unknown reason I felt really strong the whole way. When I returned home I felt like I could easily have gone round again, and I was having trouble reining it in when I was on the front (much to the anger of the group who berated me constantly for going too fast!).
I always struggle with keeping the right pace and today, into a strong headwind, only working at about 70% capacity I was too fast for the boys behind. Harry Q was having a bad day as well and we left him on the way back in to struggle home at his own pace. But for some reason I felt great - even big-ringing it up the final hill we often sprint up (and I normally trail up behind all the others).
It is worth reflecting on my good "early-bird" friends as this morning was the hardcore 4 of us who are the main stalwarts at the moment.
"El Cid", is a dead-ringer for Tom Boonen. A leader and a man's man. Big and strong and yet amazingly elegant on his bike - beautifully balanced on climb, flat or descent. His style is strong and steady, but has a an amazing turn of speed when needed. He often booms out a "fucking slow down" to keep us youngsters in check.
"Cacophony", the other leader of the group, is our Marco Pantani, both in looks and riding style. He had potential in his youth to be a true great, but lost his way to a lifestyle of excess and wild partying. His riding style is erratic - not well balanced like El Cid's, but he can climb like any one of us. You never know what you are going to get with him - some Sunday's he is like a Spring chicken full of life and exuberance. Other weeks, suffering from drunken debauchery from the night before he will stop at the roadside to be ill.
"Harry Quinn" looks just like David Millar. He is tall, long-levered and has a quiet introspection. Like David he plays guitar, and is similarly tortured by inner-demons which prevent from his hitting his best. He is too tall to be an out and out climber, but is steady and measured in all things. He is the voice of common-sense to Cacophony's wildness.
To show how much they look like each of their famous lookalikes, Ive put a recent picture of each of them below.
Not sure who they would see me as being?
We did about 65-70 miles including some big hills - over to Settle and back via Halton Gill. There seemed to be a headwind the whole way round but for some unknown reason I felt really strong the whole way. When I returned home I felt like I could easily have gone round again, and I was having trouble reining it in when I was on the front (much to the anger of the group who berated me constantly for going too fast!).
I always struggle with keeping the right pace and today, into a strong headwind, only working at about 70% capacity I was too fast for the boys behind. Harry Q was having a bad day as well and we left him on the way back in to struggle home at his own pace. But for some reason I felt great - even big-ringing it up the final hill we often sprint up (and I normally trail up behind all the others).
It is worth reflecting on my good "early-bird" friends as this morning was the hardcore 4 of us who are the main stalwarts at the moment.
"El Cid", is a dead-ringer for Tom Boonen. A leader and a man's man. Big and strong and yet amazingly elegant on his bike - beautifully balanced on climb, flat or descent. His style is strong and steady, but has a an amazing turn of speed when needed. He often booms out a "fucking slow down" to keep us youngsters in check.
"Cacophony", the other leader of the group, is our Marco Pantani, both in looks and riding style. He had potential in his youth to be a true great, but lost his way to a lifestyle of excess and wild partying. His riding style is erratic - not well balanced like El Cid's, but he can climb like any one of us. You never know what you are going to get with him - some Sunday's he is like a Spring chicken full of life and exuberance. Other weeks, suffering from drunken debauchery from the night before he will stop at the roadside to be ill.
"Harry Quinn" looks just like David Millar. He is tall, long-levered and has a quiet introspection. Like David he plays guitar, and is similarly tortured by inner-demons which prevent from his hitting his best. He is too tall to be an out and out climber, but is steady and measured in all things. He is the voice of common-sense to Cacophony's wildness.
To show how much they look like each of their famous lookalikes, Ive put a recent picture of each of them below.
Not sure who they would see me as being?
Friday, 18 April 2008
Talk of Time Trials
Easy 1 hour ride this morning. That's the 4th day in a row I've cycled, and 5 in the last 6. Including the Lakeland Loop, about 150 miles. Rest day tomorrow, and then a tough 65 mile ride planned for Sunday.
I'm thinking of doing some local time-trials this Summer. I've got a very old TT bike - I showed some photos of it to my friends and they thought it quite amusing, and perhaps a little dangerous.
It is a early-80s lo-profile Basso. I bought it on ebay a few years ago and did a fair few Triathlons on it. It is an amazingly aggressive riding position, and has beautiful thin steel tubing.
The picture on the left is when I first got it - it now has bar-end shifters and is 14speed!
The picture on the right is me riding it in the 2005 Nottingham Triathlon.
I must say I'm quite looking forward to getting out on it - but it is very uncomfortable!
I'm thinking of doing some local time-trials this Summer. I've got a very old TT bike - I showed some photos of it to my friends and they thought it quite amusing, and perhaps a little dangerous.
It is a early-80s lo-profile Basso. I bought it on ebay a few years ago and did a fair few Triathlons on it. It is an amazingly aggressive riding position, and has beautiful thin steel tubing.
The picture on the left is when I first got it - it now has bar-end shifters and is 14speed!
The picture on the right is me riding it in the 2005 Nottingham Triathlon.
I must say I'm quite looking forward to getting out on it - but it is very uncomfortable!
Thursday, 17 April 2008
Langbar Thursday
Another easy one this morning - cavendish and home via Langbar. A couple of hill reps when back in town.
It's funny how this is now an easy session - despite climbing about 400m before breakfast!
It's funny how this is now an easy session - despite climbing about 400m before breakfast!
Wednesday, 16 April 2008
Wednesday Cavendish ride
Easy ride out to cavendish, Storiths on the way back and then an extra 20 minute hill-reps whilst waiting for the train.
Tuesday, 15 April 2008
Back to Cavendish, and training discussions
Back on my bike this morning - down to Cavendish and back. I actually felt ok - no signs of the hardship I had been suffering less than 48 hours earlier.
Picture of me taken on the ride by Digitalfeel:
During this morning's ride, and later in the day, there was some talk of the right training for competing in 6 hour + sportive rides.
My thoughts on it (taken from an email) follow:
For the first two things mentioned:
* To build strong muscles where they are needed - primarily legs, but also to a lesser extent core body fitness.
* Heart and lung fitness
I agree can be trained from short-term exercise. For muscle building to increase strength and power, you need to push the muscle fibres past their limits which then tiggers a response by the body for them to be repaired and their size and density increased. This can be achieved through exercise within our 1 hour timeslot.
Similarly, for heart and lung fitness, you can stress your heart (which is muscle) in the same way, and by pushing the limits of your cardiovascular system you can increase its efficiency as your body will adapt to cater for the demands. Again we can achieve this in our 1 hour slot.
However, it is the third of your list that is the issue:
* Stamina / endurance.
Looking at some basic physiology helps here. From wikipedia:
"Glycogen forms an energy reserve that can be quickly mobilized to meet a sudden need for glucose, but one that is less compact than the energy reserves of triglycerides (fat).
Glycogen debt and endurance exercise
Due to the body's inability to hold more than around 2,000 kcal of glycogen, long-distance athletes such as marathon runners, cross-country skiers, and cyclists go into glycogen debt, where almost all of the athlete's glycogen stores are depleted after long periods of exertion without enough energy consumption. This phenomenon is referred to as "hitting the wall" or "bonking". In marathon runners it normally happens around the 20 mile (32 km) point of a marathon, where around 100 kcal are spent per mile,[citation needed] depending on the size of the runner and the race course. However, it can be delayed by a carbohydrate loading before the task.
When experiencing glycogen debt, athletes often experience extreme fatigue to the point that it is difficult to move."
What we suffer in our longer rides is glycogen debt. This is the only things that slows us down as our bodies efficiencies in strength and heart/lungs abilities don't depreciate.
We start off with about 2,000 kcals, but I use about 500kcals per hour when cycling (about 800-1000 when running).
So after about 4 hours I am out of glycogen. Now I can supplement this by taking more food, but even with Clive's magic gels my body can only metabolise about 250 per hour.
So I can last about 6 hours overall.
This actually ties in with my riding (and running) experience. It is that 6-10 hour period where things go wrong.
So how can this be improved?
The body also uses fat reserves for energy. This process is a lot less efficient than glycogen use, but the body holds a lot of fat (enough for days of effort).
So the key is to train your body to use it's fat reserves more efficiently, and this can be done by forcing the body into glycogen debt and carry on exercising.
The best way is to ride for 6 hours plus, as this is similar to race conditions. But of course this is hard to find the time for, even on a Sunday.
The other way is to start with as little glycogen in reserve when you start.
This can be done, and has been done by runners, through this:
Evening: go for long steady run of 2 hours (or cycle 2-4 hours)
After: Eat nothing, but re-hydrate.
Sleep.
Morning. Don't eat again and go for another long ride/run.
The theory is that you then start in the morning with lowered glycogen reserves - perhaps as low as 500kcals. So after just 1 hour of cycling or 30 mins of running, you are in glycogen debt, simulating the point that a 6 hour ride would normally put you in.
This will be a tough session, of low speeds and hardship, but will train your body to burn fat efficiently. It also an amazing way of losing weight, albeit especially taxing.
So I am thinking of doing this once a week in the run up to the etape, especially as it's getting lighter in the evenings.
I'll do a 2 hour run or ride in the evening, no food, and then a long ride in the morning (probably a EB Cavendish Ride followed by Keighley Gate/Canal into Leeds). This morning ride will likely take me 3 hours, but will be simulating the period I will hit in the Etape and White Rose between 6 and 8 hours.
Clive didn't actually think that your body can be trained to use fat very much more than it does naturally, but this approach is used by Ironman triathletes and ultra-distance runners (or so the magazines say).
I could always do the Sunday ride on an empty stomach and take no food, but that would spoil the enjoyment of the group ride, and I may get dropped towards the end of it.
I think I'm going to start from next week. So my schedule will be:
Sun - 4-5 hour quality ride
Mon - easy EB 1 hr
Tuesday - EB hilly+ extra hill reps - 1.5 hr
Wednesday - EB fast + extra hill reps
Thursday - EB hilly (optional, maybe rest)
Thursday night - 2 hour run on moor
Friday am - EB easy + moor/canal to work (fat burner)
Sat rest.
The only modification to my current training plan is the evening/morning fat-burner combo.
I'll try and throw that session in as often as I can, but not more than once a week.
We'll see how it goes.
Picture of me taken on the ride by Digitalfeel:
During this morning's ride, and later in the day, there was some talk of the right training for competing in 6 hour + sportive rides.
My thoughts on it (taken from an email) follow:
For the first two things mentioned:
* To build strong muscles where they are needed - primarily legs, but also to a lesser extent core body fitness.
* Heart and lung fitness
I agree can be trained from short-term exercise. For muscle building to increase strength and power, you need to push the muscle fibres past their limits which then tiggers a response by the body for them to be repaired and their size and density increased. This can be achieved through exercise within our 1 hour timeslot.
Similarly, for heart and lung fitness, you can stress your heart (which is muscle) in the same way, and by pushing the limits of your cardiovascular system you can increase its efficiency as your body will adapt to cater for the demands. Again we can achieve this in our 1 hour slot.
However, it is the third of your list that is the issue:
* Stamina / endurance.
Looking at some basic physiology helps here. From wikipedia:
"Glycogen forms an energy reserve that can be quickly mobilized to meet a sudden need for glucose, but one that is less compact than the energy reserves of triglycerides (fat).
Glycogen debt and endurance exercise
Due to the body's inability to hold more than around 2,000 kcal of glycogen, long-distance athletes such as marathon runners, cross-country skiers, and cyclists go into glycogen debt, where almost all of the athlete's glycogen stores are depleted after long periods of exertion without enough energy consumption. This phenomenon is referred to as "hitting the wall" or "bonking". In marathon runners it normally happens around the 20 mile (32 km) point of a marathon, where around 100 kcal are spent per mile,[citation needed] depending on the size of the runner and the race course. However, it can be delayed by a carbohydrate loading before the task.
When experiencing glycogen debt, athletes often experience extreme fatigue to the point that it is difficult to move."
What we suffer in our longer rides is glycogen debt. This is the only things that slows us down as our bodies efficiencies in strength and heart/lungs abilities don't depreciate.
We start off with about 2,000 kcals, but I use about 500kcals per hour when cycling (about 800-1000 when running).
So after about 4 hours I am out of glycogen. Now I can supplement this by taking more food, but even with Clive's magic gels my body can only metabolise about 250 per hour.
So I can last about 6 hours overall.
This actually ties in with my riding (and running) experience. It is that 6-10 hour period where things go wrong.
So how can this be improved?
The body also uses fat reserves for energy. This process is a lot less efficient than glycogen use, but the body holds a lot of fat (enough for days of effort).
So the key is to train your body to use it's fat reserves more efficiently, and this can be done by forcing the body into glycogen debt and carry on exercising.
The best way is to ride for 6 hours plus, as this is similar to race conditions. But of course this is hard to find the time for, even on a Sunday.
The other way is to start with as little glycogen in reserve when you start.
This can be done, and has been done by runners, through this:
Evening: go for long steady run of 2 hours (or cycle 2-4 hours)
After: Eat nothing, but re-hydrate.
Sleep.
Morning. Don't eat again and go for another long ride/run.
The theory is that you then start in the morning with lowered glycogen reserves - perhaps as low as 500kcals. So after just 1 hour of cycling or 30 mins of running, you are in glycogen debt, simulating the point that a 6 hour ride would normally put you in.
This will be a tough session, of low speeds and hardship, but will train your body to burn fat efficiently. It also an amazing way of losing weight, albeit especially taxing.
So I am thinking of doing this once a week in the run up to the etape, especially as it's getting lighter in the evenings.
I'll do a 2 hour run or ride in the evening, no food, and then a long ride in the morning (probably a EB Cavendish Ride followed by Keighley Gate/Canal into Leeds). This morning ride will likely take me 3 hours, but will be simulating the period I will hit in the Etape and White Rose between 6 and 8 hours.
Clive didn't actually think that your body can be trained to use fat very much more than it does naturally, but this approach is used by Ironman triathletes and ultra-distance runners (or so the magazines say).
I could always do the Sunday ride on an empty stomach and take no food, but that would spoil the enjoyment of the group ride, and I may get dropped towards the end of it.
I think I'm going to start from next week. So my schedule will be:
Sun - 4-5 hour quality ride
Mon - easy EB 1 hr
Tuesday - EB hilly+ extra hill reps - 1.5 hr
Wednesday - EB fast + extra hill reps
Thursday - EB hilly (optional, maybe rest)
Thursday night - 2 hour run on moor
Friday am - EB easy + moor/canal to work (fat burner)
Sat rest.
The only modification to my current training plan is the evening/morning fat-burner combo.
I'll try and throw that session in as often as I can, but not more than once a week.
We'll see how it goes.
Monday, 14 April 2008
The Day After
Results are now out for yesterday's Lakeland Loop.
I was actually surprised how high up the field I came - 65th out of 301 finishers in 04h-56.
Given I struggled up the climbs, it implies that I went quite fast on the earlier sections and had nothing left for Hardknotts and Wrynose.
But as I said yesterday, I felt ok in myself, even whilst climbing - I just didn't seem to have the peak leg strength for those couple of minutes when I needed it.
I also felt like I was psychologically not in the game.
I normally embrace climbs - it is great to be staring at a road in the Alps and seeing the glints of cars all of the way to the top.
But yesterday when I saw Hardknotts, it just seemed TOO steep to climb. Maybe I convinced myself it was before I even started.
When I used to rock-climb, we often talked about our relationship with the rock. Some people saw it as their friend, it working for them, helping and coaxing them up. Offering them holds when they needed it and friction when it counted. A holistic relationship of love.
Others saw it as a battle - climber versus rock or ice. The climb is trying to prevent you from getting to the top and you must beat it into submission and claim your victory. I used to think of the Ali picture of him standing victorious and comtemptous over the fallen and beaten body of Sonny Liston.
I actually felt both feelings depending sometimes on the climb (I loved pocketed limstone and hated gritstone), but more often than not, my attitude was based on how I felt. And in fact how I was feeling about life in general.
So was I looking for love on Sunday when I should have been beating those climbs into submission? Alpine climbs at 7-10% that last for 25km have been long, pleasurable encounters for me. Short British climbs at 30% pehaps need a more Ali approach?
I was actually surprised how high up the field I came - 65th out of 301 finishers in 04h-56.
Given I struggled up the climbs, it implies that I went quite fast on the earlier sections and had nothing left for Hardknotts and Wrynose.
But as I said yesterday, I felt ok in myself, even whilst climbing - I just didn't seem to have the peak leg strength for those couple of minutes when I needed it.
I also felt like I was psychologically not in the game.
I normally embrace climbs - it is great to be staring at a road in the Alps and seeing the glints of cars all of the way to the top.
But yesterday when I saw Hardknotts, it just seemed TOO steep to climb. Maybe I convinced myself it was before I even started.
When I used to rock-climb, we often talked about our relationship with the rock. Some people saw it as their friend, it working for them, helping and coaxing them up. Offering them holds when they needed it and friction when it counted. A holistic relationship of love.
Others saw it as a battle - climber versus rock or ice. The climb is trying to prevent you from getting to the top and you must beat it into submission and claim your victory. I used to think of the Ali picture of him standing victorious and comtemptous over the fallen and beaten body of Sonny Liston.
I actually felt both feelings depending sometimes on the climb (I loved pocketed limstone and hated gritstone), but more often than not, my attitude was based on how I felt. And in fact how I was feeling about life in general.
So was I looking for love on Sunday when I should have been beating those climbs into submission? Alpine climbs at 7-10% that last for 25km have been long, pleasurable encounters for me. Short British climbs at 30% pehaps need a more Ali approach?
Sunday, 13 April 2008
Lakeland Loop
Today was my first sportive ride of the year – the Lakeland Loop. About 70 miles around the Lakes, with about 2,500m of climbing.
Obviously riding in the Lakes is generally tough, but in the spirit for the ever-increasingly popular sportive ride, this was intentionally hilly.
The sting in the tale were climbs over Hardknotts and Wrynose passes, were each rise to a stupidly steep 30% incline.
It was a glorious day – a beautiful spring morning. Five early-birds were travelling together and it was good fun in El Cid’s van. Sad cyclists’ talk of energy-bars, shaving our legs and gear ratios!
I felt good on the few early climbs but then did a fairly long stint on my own – I chose to take it quite easy as it was truly beautiful whizzing along the lakeside road.
The EBs caught me up and we rode together for a fair while, working well and getting a good pace going.
However, once I got to Hardknotts, the sheer sight of it did me. I chose to let the others go on and take a few minutes to enjoy the view (well, actually have a rest). I thought that this would then fortify me for what was going to be a tough climb. But my training had been going well, I was on my new lightweight bike and I was wearing my new white bling shoes. It should have been easy!
But for reasons I still don’t quite understand – I was defeated. I had to stop two further times going up Hardknotts, and again near the top of Wrynose. I just didn’t seem to have the leg strength to be able to push the pedals on the very steepest sections. My heart and lungs seemed fine, I was not full of lactic acid and I had eaten well - it just felt like I didn't (or ever could) have the leg strength to get myself up there.
So it was a great ride and wonderful experience, but I was disappointed with my overall performance.
I had hoped to do all climbs without having to stop on them, and I was expecting to get round quicker than my early-bird buddies (in fact I came 4th out of the 5 of us).
Cacophony did a great ride, getting up the climbs and finishing 5 minutes or so ahead of me. He of course is a great rider with a lot of experience, but he is 7 years older than me and 3 stone heavier! On any sprint or flat section he could leave me for dead, but on climbs I should be ahead of him.
Well done Cacophony! Chapeau!
Also riding well is a new cycling buddy called Roentgen who, beat us all with a fair bit to spare.
Two other friends had interesting rides - Stefan's bike broke on the first climb and I think he retired, Bob stopped to fix a friend's puncture, later managed to fall off at high speed but of course still breezed up the climbs.
More analysis tomorrow.
Obviously riding in the Lakes is generally tough, but in the spirit for the ever-increasingly popular sportive ride, this was intentionally hilly.
The sting in the tale were climbs over Hardknotts and Wrynose passes, were each rise to a stupidly steep 30% incline.
It was a glorious day – a beautiful spring morning. Five early-birds were travelling together and it was good fun in El Cid’s van. Sad cyclists’ talk of energy-bars, shaving our legs and gear ratios!
I felt good on the few early climbs but then did a fairly long stint on my own – I chose to take it quite easy as it was truly beautiful whizzing along the lakeside road.
The EBs caught me up and we rode together for a fair while, working well and getting a good pace going.
However, once I got to Hardknotts, the sheer sight of it did me. I chose to let the others go on and take a few minutes to enjoy the view (well, actually have a rest). I thought that this would then fortify me for what was going to be a tough climb. But my training had been going well, I was on my new lightweight bike and I was wearing my new white bling shoes. It should have been easy!
But for reasons I still don’t quite understand – I was defeated. I had to stop two further times going up Hardknotts, and again near the top of Wrynose. I just didn’t seem to have the leg strength to be able to push the pedals on the very steepest sections. My heart and lungs seemed fine, I was not full of lactic acid and I had eaten well - it just felt like I didn't (or ever could) have the leg strength to get myself up there.
So it was a great ride and wonderful experience, but I was disappointed with my overall performance.
I had hoped to do all climbs without having to stop on them, and I was expecting to get round quicker than my early-bird buddies (in fact I came 4th out of the 5 of us).
Cacophony did a great ride, getting up the climbs and finishing 5 minutes or so ahead of me. He of course is a great rider with a lot of experience, but he is 7 years older than me and 3 stone heavier! On any sprint or flat section he could leave me for dead, but on climbs I should be ahead of him.
Well done Cacophony! Chapeau!
Also riding well is a new cycling buddy called Roentgen who, beat us all with a fair bit to spare.
Two other friends had interesting rides - Stefan's bike broke on the first climb and I think he retired, Bob stopped to fix a friend's puncture, later managed to fall off at high speed but of course still breezed up the climbs.
More analysis tomorrow.
Saturday, 12 April 2008
Pre-Race Prep
A rest day yesterday, and today perhaps best not described as rest but at least an easy day.
We had the in-laws up for the weekend, so Mrs Gizzajob and I made the most of the on-hand babysitters. My dear wife has just started running again, so we went for a very pleasant 6 mile run at an easy pace.
This evening we went out for a few drinks and dinner at a local hostelry. I was probably best having an alcohol-free day and an early night but it was great to get out for a few hours.
We had the in-laws up for the weekend, so Mrs Gizzajob and I made the most of the on-hand babysitters. My dear wife has just started running again, so we went for a very pleasant 6 mile run at an easy pace.
This evening we went out for a few drinks and dinner at a local hostelry. I was probably best having an alcohol-free day and an early night but it was great to get out for a few hours.
Thursday, 10 April 2008
Turner's Lane
Nice ride this morning. Addingham and Turner's Lane. Quite a long hilly ride but we we did it in less than an hour which is quite a pace. Poor old El Cid was struggling and went back early - he was accusing me of giving him one of the gizzajob viruses but I'm not sure.
It is the Hell of the North on Sunday - both the Paris-Roubaix and the Lakeland Loop!
It is the Hell of the North on Sunday - both the Paris-Roubaix and the Lakeland Loop!
Wednesday, 9 April 2008
Spring has Sprung
EB ride down to Cavendish this morning - just Richard out with me. Last hard ride of the week planned tomorrow and then two days of rest planned before Sunday's Lakeland Loop.
Tuesday, 8 April 2008
Barden and Langbar...and Gerrard and Torres
No other early-birds out this morning so I opted for a longer ride out to Barden and then back via Langbar.
Tonight saw Liverpool overcome Arsenal in an epic Champions League quarter-final encounter.
Tonight saw Liverpool overcome Arsenal in an epic Champions League quarter-final encounter.
Monday, 7 April 2008
Rest
No riding today. Too much beer last night. It was great to have a night out with all the early-birds though.
More bad weather forcast for the next few days, but it is my first sportive of the year on Sunday (Lakeland Loop) so will be tapering my training for that.
More bad weather forcast for the next few days, but it is my first sportive of the year on Sunday (Lakeland Loop) so will be tapering my training for that.
Sunday, 6 April 2008
Two Rides over the weekend
After having 5 days off the bike, I've had a good weekend - riding both yesterday morning and this morning.
A nice gentle 25 mile ride (in torrential rain albeit) yesterday, and about 45 hilly miles under glorious blue skies this morning. Felt great this morning - came back on my own and big ringed it all the way - I'm thinking of doing the odd time-trial in the summer.
This evening is the Early-Birds second birthday party which should be good fun!
A nice gentle 25 mile ride (in torrential rain albeit) yesterday, and about 45 hilly miles under glorious blue skies this morning. Felt great this morning - came back on my own and big ringed it all the way - I'm thinking of doing the odd time-trial in the summer.
This evening is the Early-Birds second birthday party which should be good fun!
Friday, 4 April 2008
A week's rest
I've been off my bike since Sunday's ride - in fact I've done no exercise to speak of.
The chill/cold/virus or whatever it was that I was suffering gone has finally lifted, and today I feel almost 100%.
Tomorrow morning I aim to go on the 2 hour early-bird ride, and hopefully it won't cause any problems.
The chill/cold/virus or whatever it was that I was suffering gone has finally lifted, and today I feel almost 100%.
Tomorrow morning I aim to go on the 2 hour early-bird ride, and hopefully it won't cause any problems.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
