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.