Saturday EB

Good ride this morning out via Embsay abd back via Barden and the Langbar. Back in town for 830 so it was fast. A beautiful morning.

Rest

My wedding anniversary today (10 years!) so a lie-in this morning and a day of rest. Out in the evening for a moderate amount of merrymaking and cavorting with Mrs Gizz!

Cavendish, Langbar, Leeds and Back

Hard day in the saddle, about 50 odd miles with a full hard day at work in the middle.

At least the roads were dry and there was little wind.

Kept my HR in the 150s when going up the chevin climb (seated). This is the way to do it for the etape.

However, when I was with cacophony going up Langbar (albeit much faster and out of the saddle) I was in the 170s. Good training, but not sustainable for a long climb.

Wet, Wet, Wet

Up early today - no other EBers braved the rain, so I set off to Leeds in a torrential downpour.

Made it in one piece, almost enjoyed slogging up the east Chevin.

I was going to get the train home but decided at the last minute to brave the rain again and cycle home, thoroughly wet through.

The other great thing about today was that I had an email out of the blue from an old friend (Simon G). he is actually really into cycling as well - although he is a lot faster and better than me I think! It would be good to get our boys across to Derry for a ride with his clubmates or get them over here sometime.

Dead legs

Out again this morning with the EBs. We were planning to do a 75 mile route (same as I did last Saturday), but my legs were dead from the start. The combination of a day with no food after a week off ill, and then two days drinking and some hard cycling and my legs finally gave up!

I cut the ride short but ended up doing about 55 miles.

Garmin output at: http://trail.motionbased.com/trail/activity/5771029

Not disappointed at all - it was still a great ride and knocking out a hilly 55 miler in the high winds when I'm far from my best is pretty good.

Rest tomorrow, and a good night's sleep tonight.

Hangover on the WYCR

Last night was Eurovision - and we had our usual party in honour of all things European and kitcsh!

Unfortunately, drinking tumblers of saffron gin at 2am in the morning was not good preperation for this morning's ride.

We had some friends over today, and Jason is planning to do a London to Paris ride in July so is trying to get some miles in. Our cunning plan was for me to cycle over to Brighouse (where Jason lives) and cycle back with him whilst his wife and family drove over to meet us at our place.

This was so I get some big miles in and we get our ride out of the way so we could do something with our families in the afternoon.

But I was still drunk setting off, and Jason ended up riding out to meet me (near Odsal), and then we headed out via Queensbury and Denholm to Haworth. We then picked up the West Yorkshire Cycle Route from Haworth and headed north and home. It actually ended up being a really interesting ride with some challenging climbs on some new roads I hadn't been on before. About 50 miles altogether.

Garmin put at: http://trail.motionbased.com/trail/activity/5771030

Jason enjoyed it too, although I don't think he was too used to so many climbs - but he climbed really well and looked good.

For the rest of the day we picnicked and explored and played football in the park and had a generally top day (with the 6 kids between both families). Lots more beers and food as well.

Burnsall at speed

Did the EB standard ride down to Burnsall and back this morning. We did it at quite a speed (back for 830). Despite not having eaten much for the last few days I felt ok although obviously not at my best. Great to be back out on the road though.

Garmin output at: http://trail.motionbased.com/trail/activity/5771031

Back on my bike and a 305

Today I cycled into work (20 miles) after 5 days off my bike. I also chose to not eat all day to ensure that any reamining tummy-bug was finally gone!

Long weekend ahead!

Over the last few days I have also decided to purchase a new bike computer and have opted for a Garmin Edge 305 (so impressed was I with John's out from last week).

Once I finally work out how to download the data I'll post the outputs here.

More rest

I still don't feel 100%. Not sure if it is the leftovers from my cold (which has largely cleared), the tummy-bug that has been in our house for a week or so, or just plain old hypochondria!

Still, I've decided not to take any chances and have rested for the last few days.

It's difficult to know how quickly to come back. I think until I feel fully fit I'll wait.

Monday rest

Still feeling a bit ropey today so going to have another day's rest and an early night.

El Cid strikes gold

It was the Etape du Dales today, El Cid finished in an amazing time of 6:38 - well within the Gold standard.

An exceptional result indeed - this has set the very high water mark for all of the Early Birds now.

Well done El Cid !

Long Ride

Long ride today with Richard and John E.

We did: Askwith – Greenhow – Grassington – Arncliffe – Halton Gill – Silverdale – Malham – Hetton – Thorpe – Barden – Langbar. Got round the 75 miles and 8,000 ft of climbing in about 6 hours. This is close to being the White Rose medium route.

John's Garmin output is at:
http://trail.motionbased.com/trail/activity/5684772

I paced myself well, and rode within myself for the whole 6 hours - something I don't normally do! It was nice to not be racing up all the hills, and when I got back I felt like I could have done it again. I'm sure I wouldn't have been able to but it was nice to at least think that.

When I got back though, I immediately went for a 7.5 mile run with my wife. I was pretty exhausted by then.

There has been some sickness in the house this week - hopefully I won't get it. I'm still struggling with a headcold though.

I'm going to have a couple of days rest I think.

End of a busy week

Woke up with my cold/hay-fever slightly worse this morning. I felt generally quite strong though, but decided not to ride into work - rather just do the Friday EB easy EB ride to Cavendish and back.

I'm hoping that I'm well enough for tomorrow's long ride. I'm sure I will be, but really don't want to make it any worse. So it will hopefully be a controlled 6 hour / 75 mile ride. Despite there being some big climbs, I aim to never really be outside my comfortable range. We'll see.

More miles

Cavendish followed by Storiths, and then the back road to Otley and Bramhope and Cookridge into work, and a similar ride back but I came down the steep East Chevin. I think I will try going up that way tomorrow as it looks a little safer than the main road (but it is 12% for a good quarter mile)!

For posterity, the ride in (shown from near my house rather than tagged on to the EB ride) is below:

60 Miles in a midweek day!

A ride down to Cavendish and back ths morning, followed by a hilly ride into Leeds via the Cow and Calf, Otley Chevin and Cookridge.

I had to be home sharpish from work so got the train back. But I went out later with Harry for a 25 mile loop round Barden and Embsay, which includes quite a big climb.

I've paid my final balance to Graham Baxter, and had my number confirmed from the Etape organisers, so there is no going back now!

I'm number 3699 (out of 8,500) which is pretty good as I'm not too far from the front. My friend from Nottingham (Jason le Chat) is in the same group as me so we will be able to start together.

Harry and my other friend Adam are two groups behind in the high 4,000s.

Back from the Wilderness

This blog has been disabled for the last few days - it seems Blogger.com's anti-spam filters had been triggered and it had been disabled.

After requesting a restore they have decided I am allowed to carry on. Just as well as I have no back-up.

So over the weekend I rested both days. I managed to pull my lower back muscles on Saturday so have been struggling a little since.

Yesterday (Monday) I did a gentle EB ride to Cavendish and back.

Today I did a EB ride including a climb up to Addingham Moorside, and then I rode into Leeds via Otley and Bramhope. I rode home as well. ABout 55 miles.

Hopefully I'm going to carry on with EB ride and then Leeds commute both ways for the rest of the week, and we then have a 85 mile ride for Saturday.

So a big week ahead.

Another big day

Another good day today - a more leisurely EB ride followed by a ride into work and then a ride home later with a couple of big climbs (cookridge, bramhope, otley, burley, C&C).

So over the last 7 days I've totalled (approx):
- Saturday 25 miles
- Sunday 65 miles
- monday rest
- Tuesday 20 miles
- Wednesday 15 miles
- Thursday 55 miles
- Friday 55 miles

Total: 235

I want to try and keep my weekly mileage above 200 and approaching 300 for the next few weeks!

Langbar Photos (and route)

Another fantastic day of weather today. Did the early bird ride with Mark and Harry (who was carrying on to Arncliffe). We turned and did Langbar, and I took some photos (whilst cycling) to try and capture the ride.












Afterwards I carried on into work (another 18 miles) and came back this evening too. So about 55 miles and 3 hours of cycling today.

By the way, here is the Langbar route (without the trip to Leeds) mapped at MapMyRun.com (a very useful online tool):

Sunshine at last

After what it seems like 12 months of bad weather, we have at long last had a good stretch - sunshine and blue skies.

I've been out with the early birds for the last two. Today, just an easy recovery ride, but yesterday was a hrad effort with El Cid involving Langbar and Wheatley Lane.

I feel tired tonight but am going to push on with rides tomorrow and Friday.

Carnival

Rest day today - bank holiday and our local carnival.

A wet and wild Sunday

Nine riders out on the early bird ride this morning. Out to Settle via Airton and then back on the back-roads round Gargrave. (65 miles, about 4 hours)

A little light rain on the way back but nothing too bad. There was a warm south-easterly wind.

We took it fairly easy on the way out but from Burnsall on the way back the pace was pushed and we ended up racing at breakneck speeds along past Cavendish. I put in a few big attacks which I thought I'd timed to perfection but got reeled in by El Cid and Cacophony. But we interestingly left some of the other (good) riders behing so my training must be paying off. It was also fantastic fun and I feel like I am beginning to handle my new bike a little better.

We left Richard a little earlier and found out later he had crashed on the way back on a corner I know at least two other people have come off on (OA and MS). Hope it hasn't dented his enthusiasm.

Early Bird Saturday

Burnsall this morning - followed by the Langbar climb for those I could persuade to do it.

Harry was out on his down-tubed gear-changing Claud Butler due to problems with his other bike (circa 1985), and El Cid out on his brand new superlight top-of-the range Scott!

It was a beautifully balmy afternoon - I spent most of it out on the moor with my eldest and one of her friends.

Rain forecast for tonight - but we have a hard, tough ride planned tomorrow.

Storiths

Back on the bike this morning - just Cacophony and me out at 630am. We did a brisk ride to Cavendish and then the steep climb up to Storiths. It was a beautiful morning of blue sky and Spring sunshine. Slightly colder than expected - no overshoes and my toes quite cold by the end!

Spin Classes

Been in London for the last four days with work. I managed to get into the gym for all three nights I was staying over.

Did a long hard stint on the exercise bike one night and a spin class on each of the other two.

Quite a change from outdoor cycling but I think it is really good training and a lot of fun. It is just I don't have the opportunity to do it regularly otherwise I would.

In just a 60 minute session you can flog yourself (safely) and also ride with a super-high cadence which I think is good practice. It also allows to focus on techniques around riding position and posture, and getting into a steady and consistent rhythm.

Back on the bike tomorrow morning.