September - New Term, new impetus

Hoorah, back to school and all that, and i finally get some half decent mileage in.
153 miles completed this week so a vast improvement on any other single week of the summer, and me thinks that training starts here for the LOWLE side to side escapade next Easter.

Even managed to clinch the deal with my way better half getting a bike too - a bit too upright and suspension loaded for me but nevertheless a bike it is!

Shock news from the world of cycling - Evans leads another Grand Tour albeit for only a short time at the Vuelta, Valverde now wears the Golden Fleece - please don't let him win it.

Congrats to Cav for a sterling win in Missouri, plus Wiggo creams the opposition at the British TT champs.

And finally Tour of Britain kicks off this weekend - fantastic!!!

Catching up - it's been a while

OK so the intent didn't quite match the actual output in terms of mileage and effort this last week - only around 75 miles covered.

I did fit in a trip to Aldi to purchase some Crane Sports Compression wear - £9.99 for shorts and/or long sleeved top - bargain!!! - i got both

The Vuelta has commenced and in amongst the biggest collection of stained riders for a long time (Vino, Valverde, Basso etc) Spartacus won the prologue on a shockingly wet track (Millar would have had it if it were not for the rain i reckon!) Congrats to Ciolek to for coming out of Cav's shadow to finally win a stage (oh yeah Cav isn't racing that'll be why!)

The Vuelta is always a hard one to predict, but lets hope for a decent battle and also that they eventually do get to Spain itself rather than skulking around northern europe as they are at the moment?

Tour of Britain starts in 12 days too, so more cycling action this month than you can shake a spoke at - oh and today is the last day to pre order your new Fat Cyclist gear too.

In other news I am the proud father of the holder of 9 GCSE passes, so my not so little girl can now go to college.

I'm back!

France was great - very sunny and very hot!

1731 miles completed (in the car) plus another 155 on the bike. - Brittany has just the most beautiful scenery and coastlines.

Well done to Cav for another stage win in the Tour of Ireland and also to Russell Downing for winning the whole thing - St Patricks Hill in Cork - Legend.

Also well done to Lance for winning the Leadville 100 and taking the course record in the process

LOWLE 2010

1st attempt at a route for the side to side or whatever we end up calling it.

440 miles across enland in a week - brilliant!

Sad news

Whether it be the oft irreverent yet wickedly funny viewpoint on all things cycling or the reality of the day to day of living with and caring for his wife Susan as she batted cancer. Elden Nelson aka the Fat Cyclist (Fatty to his friends) has caught the imagination of thousands if not millions with his web blog http://www.fatcyclist.com/.

I was saddened to hear yesterday that after a long battle Susan has died. No one knows exactly how you feel when you lose someone close to cancer, the maelstrom of emotions affect everyone differently but many around the world can empathise having experienced something similar.

Fatty's unstinting support of the Lance Armstrong Livestrong Foundation and his determination to make a difference is an inspiration to us all. -We have a responsibility to fight and keep fighting until a cure for cancer is found.

So fight - "Fight like Susan" and Livestrong

My very own TDF

Well not so much Tour de France as Tour de Vendee / Brittany.

I am off for 2 weeks in hopefully sunny France at the weekend and will be taking the bike, so a perfect chance to rack up some decent mileage all on the wrong side of the road!

Prsonal mileage has been pretty half hearted during July, so 2 weeks in the sun is the perfect antidote to complacency i reckon and hopefully will provide the impetus / kickstart sorely needed.

I have no idea of favourable or otherwise routes in the area so it will be a case of pointing the bike forwards and pedaling until either i get fed up or tired then turning around and coming back - a reasonable target bearing in mind, I do have my family with me too - without bikes is for me to complete 250-300 miles over the fortnight. - a swift hour or so in the mornings should cover that.

On that basis, i will be incommunicado from Sunday onwards as unsure about internet connections etc.

Have a good summer one and all...

LEJOG attempt over...

Aargh!

The brave tandem attempt at LEJOG is over due to RR's knee problems, so the record still stands.

LEJOG on a tandem

Cracknell and Romero - Olympians, achievers - yes but Tandem Riders - who knows?

They are on their way, and with absence of sleep for the next two days are attepting to break the current record from end to end of our nation.

All the best guys

Dopers v Timing

First of all dopers have no place in sport, particularly cycling. - To the uninitiated all cyclists are deemed to be dopers by virtue of the publicity around those found guilty, but whatever the rules regarding bans, so long as those cheats (as there is no other word for them) serve the appropriate ban then i guess making a comeback is "ok". Eg David Millar.

However those who get caught again should be banned indefinately as they deserve to be out of the sport. - Di Luca + others...

This does not address the culture of doping which if we believe has always been there then management, coaches, director sportifs, and even whole teams should feel the force of the rules too and take the bans as well?

As for Asterloza - i am just disappointed really, but if he had a blood test at end of June why wait a whole month before releasing the result - speed is of the essence, and embarassment for the TDF etc could be avoided.

On the other hand if an A sample and B sample system is in place why do we alwys get the news after just the A sample, and then have to wait and endure the whiny excuses from the protaganist for a day or three - why not go straight to the B sample = conclusive evidence = punishment / clearance.

To clarify my stance - Dopers Suck - no excuses - race clean or don't race.

Any ideas?

Right - just had an awesome 3 weeks following the tour, so what does one do with oneself for the next 49 weeks or 343 days?

Sadly i guess there will be some doping recriminations, plus there is the Vuelta yet to come.

Team Radioshack will start to court riders and team members, as will Team Sky.

Personally i need to lose about half a stone, and with a challenge in the spring need to keep the wheels turning significantly over the winter this year.

Talking of wheels - would love a new pair as mine are shot, also in the market for new kit...