Stop all the Clocks...

This was going to be a post about me obliterating my previous best for a 10 miler yesterday...

But had some sad news this morning - my Grandma died overnight, she has been poorly for a long time, and although inevitable still a shock when it finally happens.

This post's title is still appropriate as W H Auden's classic poem has some great lines about time just standing still and life not being the same beyond this point. - In a sense this is true, but i do know that my Grandma is in a much better place at home with her God.

btw - my 10 mile time was 26.29 - kinda puts the things we get excited / obsessed about in perspective though at times like this...

Training Update Week 13

13 huh? unlucky for some - not a bit of it - best mileage for a week, longest single ride and another dip under 30 mins for a 10 miler it's all good! So 3 months in so that must call for a review and comparison of the year so far as well as a throwback on this week, so here goes:
Year to date comparisons:
Jan Mileage: 490
Feb Mileage: 355
Mar Mileage:865

As for the stats of the week:
227 miles completed this week, making 1822 for the year so far.
Longest ride a shade under 53 miles (and held 18mph for the experience!)
BMI - fluctuated but last reading 23.73 so around 160lbs now.
Wii fit age topped at 37 (still 3 years in hand!)
 Cleaned the bike this morning - boy did it need it! Enjoyed being all sparkly cruising the countryside this afternoon clocking my 50+ as mentioned above. Continuing to feel good, and am starting to feel progress is happening - legs stronger etc

111 days until L2P24, sponsorship up to £740 - little by little as the saying goes...

In other news, mixed fortunes in the track worlds, but a good overall result in the Olympic events for GB, elsewhere, Dave Millar wins De Panne , looking forward to Flanders tomorrow - LA competing for the Shack!

Rest day tomorrow, then out to Sandringham on Monday for a ride with Simon - Come on!

Spring has Sprung - Training Week 12

It might not be fields of sunflowers in Provence, as made famous by many shots during the Tour de France over the years, but seeing the daffodils out in the hedgerows and verges finally is the clincher that Spring may well be here? (Well it is Easter next weekend after all!)

Onto the numbers:
209 miles covered this week a smidge under last weeks total, thats now a massive 1594 for the year - almost 1/3 of the way towards my annual target.
Longest ride - another 40 miler.
Longest day in saddle - 46 (sound familiar?)

Achievements - other than the specific report below, I also dipped under 30mins again for 10 miles on Friday. - That's twice! All bar a little bit of rain it has been a dry, sunny week, and there have been no mechancial issues to report - all in all a good week!

Lidl came up trumps, with 2 pais of compression shorts, and a top, as well s 4 pairs of socks and a tool bag.

116 days until L2P24, sponsorship creeping up - just under £700 now, Quiz night, Curry night, and two non uniform days planned to boost that total plus more begging from family and friends. Sortened work wek this wek, plus week off next week so hoping to get some big mileage in too. Have booked Clarendon hotel in Blackheath for overnight stop on 22nd July pre-event, also need to find myself a bike bag allegedly for etting my bike home safely!?

In other cycling news, Cav get his first win of the season in Catalunya, but then drops out with flu symptoms a few days later, Fabian Cancellara won E3 Prijs Vlaanderen-Harelbeke. Criterium International concludes today and it is also Ghent-Wevelgem today... (April is also looming fast with all the classics)

On the track the Brits are a bit intermittent, with Hoy stuttering, winning and then bombing out over three events. Aussies take us in the team pursuit - just! Vicky Pendleton consistent as ever wins sprint, and Lizzie Armitstead at time of writing still in with a shout in the omnium. Worlds finishes today so maybe moe medals are possible?

For me - a rest day (well earned?) church followed by a family meal out at lunch - cracking!

Does familiarity breed contempt?

An old adage but is it true?

I know there are equal schools of thought for cycling different routes to keep the variety and therefore the spice of life perpetuated, as well as pedalling the old tried and trusted routes too.

Thing is I know that it is say 8 miles from my house to that particular shaped bush, or maybe 12 miles from my house to that road sign and also 20 miles to the brow of that hill...
I also know what time i expect to pass said bush, sign, other landmark in as well, and therefore can guage my performance and general fitness in round terms. - Contemptible, probably. Sad definately - am I bovvered - NOPE!

PS - Press release on L2P24 http://www.networknorwich.co.uk/Articles/191076/Network_Norwich_and_Norfolk/Regional_News/Norwich/Gruelling_cycle_challenge_for_Norwich_Christians.aspx
Feel free to donate at http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/RoaringFortiesL2P24

1st objective achieved!

Not sure if I published it or not, but one of my targets for this year was to dip under 30 minutes for a 10 miler - no biggie I accept but it means something to me.

Today was that day:

10 miles in 28.01 - 21.5ish mph  - I'm happy!

Training Update Week 11

What a week!

210 miles completed, best for ages - and i felt good all week! That makes 1385 for the year so far. - well over 1/4 of the way towards my annual target - maybe i should increase this? (watch this space!)
Longest ride 40 miles.
Longest day in Saddle 45 miles
Wii Fit results were interesting as at the start of the weekend, I had lost 4lbs, with a BMI of 23.54, this morning i had reverted to 24.20, thereby regaining the weight! I also managed to "age" 15 years from 29 to 44!

L2P24 sponsorship has leapt again this week - currently sat at £657.77! over 1/3 of the way there - Thanks to my family - come on! We are also due some information today concerning travel / accomodation so looking forward to that.

In Milan San Remo Oscar Freire took the spoils with Boonen and Petacchi making up the podium - how do you "race" for 185 miles? The Primavera remains one of the true grat one day races.

After pulling out of MSR, Lance is to race the Criterium international in Corsica and meets Bertie for the first time, he is also due to race the Circuit de la Sarthe. The next classic is Ghent Wevelgem, next Sunday.

More miles planned this week, and about to depart for Lidl, who have some more cycling offers on today - will let you kow how i get on!

I am a Bike Snob

Now before I get on with this post can I make it clear that I am purely an amateur cyclist who likes riding his bike, do not have a top of the range bike nor do I qualify as being an expert on cycle related things but on the basis that I do spend a number of hours a week riding and watching the world as I pass it by it gives me tiem to think, ponder and as you will see below criticize offer advice!

Disclaimer done off we go...

Bike Clothing
I agree that not everyone has that figure suited to lycra (incl me!) or can stretch the budget to cycle specific clothing but for goodness sake wear something that gets you noticed - hi-viz is not all bad! NB There are a few definate no-no's:

• Jeans  - huh? How do you do this - maybe that is what DZNuts was invented for - the injuries picked up from wearing denim on a bike.
• Puffa Jackets - I like to be warm, but simmering to the point of boiling is not a good look or feeling.
• Baseball Caps - They are not helmets nor ever will be - get a helmet cheapskate!

Road Position / Riding Style

• Gutters are for rainwater / effluent not for bikes - hold your line away from the kerb, you have as much right to be on the road as the motorised vehicles.
• To underline a point in the above sentence - hold your line i.e weaving in and out particularly when being overtaken does not impart confidence or comradeship.
• The gears on your bike can go up as well as down - use them!

Bike Condition

• Clue: Orange chain = overdue on regular maintenance - just do it!
• Squeaks not good also - see above
• More rubber on road does not just increase grip, it also increases drag but it may also imply that you need to pump your darn tyres up. See item 1 in this list.

So there you have it Bike Snobbery exists and is alive and well in me - sorry!

Training Update Week 10

10 weeks - must be worth celebrating and why not?

1000 mile barrier broken through, together with most mileage done in a week so far this year, at the time of writing the sun is out and my bike has been cleaned - it's all good!

So on with the stats:
183 Miles covered, thats 1174 for the year all in 6 days, with the biggest single ride being 33 miles.
It must have been my week as  the Wii Fit was happy to report that i am now performing at the equivalent of a 30 year old, and my BMI is 24.07 which roughly translates at another 2lbs off - now 162.7ish (?) - aiming for a BMI of 23.5 which i think is around 159lbs or just under 11 1/2 stone. - unless i can grow a inch or two - hmm?

Cold seems to have all but disappeared, just a clearing of the throat needed every now and again.

Only 129 days to go to L2P24 - need sponsor's - HELP!!!

In the pro world, Bertie takes Paris-Nice, with or without his Astana team, TDF should be interesting? Milan san Remo this weekend - should be a great race - Poggio, Cipressa - sprinters paradise or breakaway steal? Aprl is coming and with it the classics - bring it on!



Hoping to ride throughout the week again this week, with a decent spin today, 4 days of commuting and another jaunt out on Saturday afternoon should be another good burst of mileage.

More soon...

Training Update Week 9

Nine weeks in - jogging along nicely.

This weeks stats:
146 miles covered, 991 miles YTD. Also managed a couple of days rest in there so good daily averages.

Put in 3 Wii Fit sessions - found my stomach muscles at last! - have lost a couple of pounds, - down to 164.7lb (11 3/4 Stone) although sadly i appear to be aging 42,45 and 48 is the alleged age i am performing or rather not peforming at.

L2P24 is a mere 136 days or 19.5 weeks away, and sponsorship has firmly stagnated. Quiz night is set for 24th April, Curry night fundraiser still a work in progress. all donations welcome!!!!

In other cycling news, Wiggo finishes 3rd in the TT and therefore holds that spot in the final GC of the Tour of Murcia. Levi makes a good start to Paris-Nice, with 3rd in the prologue, behind Spartacus and Lars Boom (who?). Geraint Thomas rides in at 15th for Team Sky. Lots more Paris-Nice to come - Race to the sun - I wish!

As for me sore throat is still around, although other cold sympoms virtually gone, weather should be dry all week so hitting that tarmac (using my wheels and not crashing!) is a priority again.

More soon....

Coughs and sneezes... Week 8

So week 8 of training completed, and 5 of those weeks I have had a cold!

The stats:
152 miles completed, 845 year to date (mounting nicely!)
Longest ride 30 miles

The classics started this week, and based on the weather i could be forgiven that i had teleported myself to belgium - wind, rain, and more rain - just no cobbles!?

L2P24 fundraising has grown by a tenner to £375, quiz night, cake sale and curry night planned to boost funds. Eagerly awaiting the cycle shirt template to design our own.

Team Sky have a cracking weekend with Flecha winning Omloop Het Nieuwsblad and Stannard third in Kuurne-Bruxelles-Kuurne. Cav a bit quiet in Andalucia with Oscar Friere winning bragging rights so far as the sprinters go.

Got the bit between my teeth ref mileage now so watch that soar, also looking forward to more racing as the season gets really underway - Paris-Nice kicks off next weekend.