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!
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