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 !
Sunday, 18 May 2008
Saturday, 17 May 2008
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.
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.
Friday, 16 May 2008
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.
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.
Thursday, 15 May 2008
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:
For posterity, the ride in (shown from near my house rather than tagged on to the EB ride) is below:
Wednesday, 14 May 2008
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.
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.
Tuesday, 13 May 2008
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.
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.
Friday, 9 May 2008
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!
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!
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