29/7/09 back to the rain...

Spent a lovely week in Crete - mostly 35deg C + and not a cloud in sight. No bike either and 'all inclusive' means plenty of local 'Zorba-Beer' and too much food. I tried to get as many melons & oranges into me.

So it was nice to head out on 'Belle' agin this morning. The rain was coming in & the second half was pissing down but the wind was at my back. Headed north up through Rothwell, continuing onto Harrington & down to Lamport, returning vie Walgrave & Old. I had wanted to do 30m+ but the conditions were pretty bad & my legs a bit lazy so felt it best not to overdo the distance.

Plan to work hard in the next 20days leading up to the 82m 'Woodcote' SouthernSportive on 16/8/09.

The tickets to Penzance & flight home from Inverness (+ currier for the bike) are all booked.

Just need to keep up & improve my fitness

22.4m in 1h48m at a slower 12.3mph

19-20/7/09 Back on the Horse again!

Good to be back on Belle again after a short hiatus

Mon 20/7/09 Flying to Crete in the morning so got up early & set off into stiff westerly wind on a bright slightly nippy morning. Battled my way to Lutterworth, not enjoying the Monday morning traffic as I took a breather at the 'Jet' roundabout. On the way back it felt like the wind had turned 180 degrees, but I think it was more the heaviness in my legs. Anyway I raced back the last 10 miles feeling confident again. First job on return was to send off the balance of the payment to DiscoverAdventure I'M COMMITTED to this madness now..there's no turning back!
Also booked train to London on 31/8 - having already secured a berth on the 1306 to Penzance from Paddington. The bike's coming home in a courier box whilst I fly back from Inverness to Luton!
49.7m 3h12m at 15.5mph
Sunday 19/7/09 Decided to head Northeast via Brigstock through Corby & back via Pipwell/Rushton. Lovely day - legs felt good. Back still stiff.
27.8m 1h43m at 16.2mph

Total Mileage 2009 = 1203 miles (probably another 100 during time Garmin was 'lost')

17/7/09 Recovery & Static Training

Felt pretty whoozy/drowsy earlier in week
Had a few quiet days to recover

Got back on the bike [having been serviced & checked for ptentially dangerous damage (all OK)] last night on the static trainer...in the rain.
Felt good to be back in the saddle, and I did a stiff 90 minute workout - probably 20-25miles.
Listened to all of the latest IQ CD 'Frequency' - it's another classic

Grazes healing, new helmet purchased - I'm keen to get back on the road...

Good luck to the LEJOGGERS doing the Essex castle & London-Southend - I'm gutted to be missing them, but also realise how lucky I've been to avoid a fracture...or worse.

Off to Crete for a week - daily intesive training on my return, taking in the 'Suffolk Coast' on 9/8/09 & peaking for the Woodcote Southern Sportive on 16/8/09
Final 2 weeks will be a wind down so my legs are fresh for 1/9/09...

12/7/09 AAARRGGHH!! Manchester-Blackpool 'experience'

the day started well!
camped overnight in Ruby close to Joddrel Bank (allways wondered where it was!)
motored up to Old Trafford nice & early. Certainly alot of people about - this was a big one - number wise.
Met up with Darren (from L2P 07) and Phil (fellow LEJOGGER) - apparently there are 26 of us signed up!
The early part of the ride was rather urban & busy with dodgy wobbly part time 'cyclists'. Not far in we saw a rider being stretechered off after a fall. I remember a stop at Leigh Hall & the dark windy wet muddy exit road with silly barriers to slow us down (and knock one poor chap off)
Next thing I remember is........waking up in casualty (Blackpool) A doctor was asking me who the Prime Minister was "Thatcher!" I replied.....you are a bit confused Sir maybe we should do a brain scan! I agreed.

Anyway scan clear & I was rescued by my wife & driven home...the 'fog' slowly lifting as the 'whiplash' neck pain increased & stiffened.
Apparently I'd got to within 200y of the finish..the crowds were chearing us on - I briefly raised my hands Lance Armstrong style - a gust of wind & down I went with a heavy thump. Not knocked out I tried to get back on...but fortunately the ambulance crew got me on their ambulance. As yet I remember nothing of the last 20-30miles!
Grateful thanks to Phil & Darren who looked after me, and also my bike/garmin etc - which could easily have been lost in the melee.
I've woken today with a clearer head, some stiffness in upper back muscles, grazed knees/R upper thigh & the tips of a couple of fingers scraped away. Fortunately my helmet took the full force & distributed the energy so my skull didn't fracture - A real demonstration of their value - I rarely have, & will not now EVER ride without one.
I know the risk is multiplied if their is another knock so have cancelled plans for the ESSEX CASTLE and LONDON-SOUTHEND rides this weekend. It's a shame but the correct decision..I'll do alot of static trainer miles instead.

I've been lucky, and will continue to ride cautiously in the future..and on LEJOG

10/7/09 bad neck...

Been suffering this week with neck/shoulder pains

gave cycling a rest the week

Plan to do a short loosener tomorrow (Sat)

Then travel up to Manchester - camp in Ruby - and meet up with Phil_24 (doing LEJOG) and Darren (L2P2007) for the Manchester-Blackpool run - should be good

5/7/09 Southern Sportive..wantage A tough one!

For the previous 48 hours I had been suffering with some muscular neck pains, but awoke at 0530 & set off anyway for this challenging ride. Warm & dry with a threat of showers I set off with several hundred others westard towards Swindon. Beautiful countryside and much evidence of the local activities, namely gallops & stables of the famous Lambourn trainers.
Within 4 miles two riders had collided coming down a fast stretch. Fortunately no broken bones but shortly after I hit a pot hole hard...PPPFFFFFFFSSSSSSS..... flat back tyre!
Managed to get wheel/tyre off & spare tube in.......but this was goung down slowly.... so quite a few miles on a soft tyre eventually I called for help & one of the support team brought a new one. I learned some good tips about how to efficiently do the job.
From then on tyre was OK but I'd been left behind the pack. South of Swindon we climbed up & up, then up a muscle busting 17% section. Spectacular views and then a tail wind spurred us onwardsthrough some pretty villages. I was riding with 2 fellas from London & a tubby chap from cardiff who said he was trying to get down to his ideal weight!! (No I didnt ask him)
Psychologically this felt hard. Technical problems & feeling 'behind' can sap motivation & make the legs feel worse. My neck/upper back felt sore & I contemplated short cutting home. In the event I continued, although did cut off a loop at the end.
This ride was hot hilly & a good test for me. In the end I finished (alive!) with some power in the old legs remaining - the free cup of tea (in exchange for the timing 'chip') was most welcome...and I found £10 in the road on the way. All in all an amazing ride in some spectacular terrain - it was open & spacious like say Salisbury Plain, but with sweeping hills & fields of stiff wheat & shimmering Lavender.
Think I've earned a day or two rest then build up to the short(?) 67 mile Manchester-Blackpool next Sunday.
Near the end I passed through the 1000miles on the new bike
76.9m 5h15m at 14.6mph (fastest speed 43.35mph!!!)

2/7/09 a busy week....several fast short ones!

Plan this week is to do 5 daily rides Sun-Thu totalling 90-100 miles
Faster & shorter - then rest Fri/Sat ready for the 86 mile SouthernSportive on Sunday

28/6/09 Round Corby again. Lovely cool still misty part of the day - before the sun burnt through. Solid ride all around Corby
34.9m 2h6m at 16.1mph

29/6/09 Pylon. Legs heavy took it easy but still posted 2nd quickest ever time!!
12.2m 42m40 at 17.2mph

30/6/09 Rothwell-Farpoint Route. Another warm sunny muggy 'buggy!' evening. Kept the old legs turning despite some tiredness. Loved doing farpoint in reverse - shot through Loddington & down the hil at great pace
15.7m 54m26 at 17mph

1/7/09 93 years since.... Did Rothwell/pylon lost of irritating bugs but georgious summer evening..England at it's best! Legs heavy still respectable time. Total for week 79m - maybe just pylon tomorrow. As I sailed through the countryside I thought of all those young lives lost on the Somme all those years ago.
16.6m 58m52s at 16.9mph

2/7/09 a short one.. Very hot day - legs/neck bit stiff but dragged myself out on a short 'loosener' ride. Just circumnavigated Kettering. Will rest up ready for the 86m 4800ft of climb ride at Wantage on Sunday.
7.3m 26m21s at 16.1 mph

not bad 5 days ride total 86.25m 5h8m at a fast 16.8mph!

will do some longer slower ones next week leading up to Manchester->Blackpool on Sunday week (12th)

Training going well but looks like rain on Sunday....maybe 'September' conditions like the Norwich 100...