4.55

Coincidentally, 4.55 was also around the time I got up yesterday but the real intention of this post's title is my time for 100 miles cycled in the Norwich 100.

A beautifully sunny day, I left Norwich with no pretensions over times, but soon had settled into a fairly quick rhythm, and it became apparent that circa 5 hours was on. We were on 20mph pace a the 2hour point, but then slipped marginally below it by "lunch" (9.30 stop - just before half way). Coming around the coast from Sheringham to Horsey we were absolutely flying, all that remained was to finish well, and finish well we did.

Not only did I smash my 100 mile record but other records tumbled as below:
One Hour:     22.1miles
10 miles:        26.32 (best this year, but not best ever)
20km:            32.56
20 miles:        53.48
50km:            1hr 26.10
50 miles:        2hrs 21.42
100km          3hrs 0.10
100miles        4hrs 55.14

Recovery ride later this afternoon...

A tale of 2 wheels...

A frustrating week to say the least!

Rear wheel of posh bike developed a slight wobble, which along with the already iffy rear wheel on the Scott rendered me cycle-less... aargh!

So plans were effected to resolve as below:
Rear wheel fiddled and fettled by LBS, and returned - better but not perfect, spoke nipples rusting which affected spoke adjustment - New wheel in the not too distant future...?
Borrowed temp replacement rear wheel and also new like for like Alex 28 Race rimmed wheelset ordered from eBay for Scott
Front brake ordered and researching replacement forks for the ex-Trek 1200 singlespeed project

The above shenanigans cost me 3-4 days riding but all is almost well and i put in a concerted effort to rectify the mileage over the weekend!

Norwich 100 is now 6 days away - not going for "a time" this year (famous last words?!) but do want to dip under 6 hours [Standard!]

In other news the #PeoplesGrandTour II has commenced (19th May - 10th June) aiming for 1500km in 3 weeks!

Giro d'Italia, @TeamSky are performing well, with Cav getting a few stage wins and Hanao currently in the White Jersey.

Another barrier broken...

Another month has gone by, and I am now reflecting not only on my achievements but also on my distinct lack of postings - sorry [Must do better?]

So 4000 miles (6400km) cycled then through mostly rain this last month it has to be said, both bikes have been in for various tweaks. Scott (of the antarctic) still has some rear wheel issues, so may just switch wheels over the weekend, but posh bike is lovely after cassette and chain change (other than tubes/tyres and a saddle the ONLY cash I have spent on it in 20months!)

Norwich 100 is only 3 weeks away, and yes I'm ready but cannot decide if I will go for "a time" or not - Probably am just in denial and once I cross the line, hell yeah I will be going for a time!

In other news, Tour of Britain stage 1 is back in East anglia - uniting the great cities (towns) of Ipswich and Norwich on 9th  Sept.
Brad won Tour of Romandie (2 out of 2 stage races so far for 2012) and the Giro d'Italia starts tomorrow in Denmark (Of Course?!) with a quick 9km spin round the block, otherwise known as the prologue.

3000 miles... and counting!

Another day, another milestone!

3000 miles for 2012 so far - approaching 12k pace! that's about 700 up on 2011 at this point too!

GB just done the Aussie's in the trackworlds too - it may be lashing it down outside, but it's gonna be a good day!

Eating more, weighing less!

So there I was away from home in Sheffield, for three days and then further study for 2 more days as mentioned in post below. 3 days off the bike, and food being provided (and taken) at every opportunity - not the ideal recipe for non-weight gain, let alone loss?

However! I have manged to lose 2lbs it would appear according to this morning's weigh-in, therefore I can only deduce that eating more (and the wrong thing) actually helps your weight loss!!!
(NB- what i have neglected to mention is that since the "binge days of last week" I have done 190 miles in 4 days, so guess that may have helped too?!)

Day off today, and sunny at the moment, so planning a 50 or so this afternoon, and then tomorrow assuming conditions still remain favourable would like to have a crack at a century...

Mad dogs and Englishmen...

All work and no riding makes Darren a dull boy!

So off the back of 5 days of training in 2 locations - Sheffield & Norwich. Trouble is it was the conference / classroom form of training not the 2-wheeled kind! Ergo Sum diet has gone to pot and flab returned?!

That said, the training / input and networking were very good, but I didn't half miss the open road. Still managed to shoehorn in 145 miles at the beginning/end of the last 7 days though!
Up to 839miles for the month, and (a massive?) 2621miles for the year to date - all good and as I am planning a crack at my first century of 2012 next weekend, should be around 1100miles all being well for March and around 2900miles for the first quarter of 2012 come this time next week!

In other news Brad eventually won Paris Nice, Cav was off colour at MSR, but is competing at Gent Wevelgem this afternoon so here's hoping? Criterium International is also on and final stage of Volta Catalunya - "just can't get enough" it would seem?

LIVELOVE

Hope to be getting an informal ad-hoc community of cyclists going soon, have canvassed a few mates and associates and there would appear to be a positive vibe so the loose plan is to meet up once or twice a month on a Sunday Afternoon for a 2/3hr ride with the ubiquitous Coffee/Cake stop halfway. - More info soon...
Just a few blokes, getting together, building relationships, doing life and riding bikes or "Live, Love, Velo" - it's a winner!!!

I read the news today - Oh Boy!

Don't hold out for being a lucky man - but certainly I am a blessed man!

Got my biopsy results back - all clear!

Big Smiley Face!!!!

2000 Miles

In the words of Chrissie Hynde (The Pretenders):
He's gone 2000 Miles, It's very far
The snow is falling down, gets colder day by day
I miss you
The children will sing He'll be back at Christmas time.

Hopefully my family will see me before Christmas, but nevertheless 2000 miles have now gone under the wheels for 2012! That's probably still about 5-600 miles up on the same point last year too.

The rains (and wind) have come to Norfolk 25mph+ winds on Monday plus driving rain saw me compete in a simultaneous swim/cycle combo - managing 25 miles before feeling was lost in all extremities, a lull yesterday, but wind and rain again today - ho hum!

In other news Wiggo is going well in Paris Nice, sat in Yellow, with Team Sky doing a brilliant job thus far, Tirreno Adratico kicks off today too, with Cav participating ahead of a tilt at Milan San Remo.

Spring has sprung!

It's 1st March, St David's Day and technically the 1st day of Spring?!

So keen was I to get out this morning, I was cleaning the posh bike at 6am! Then under white clouded skies I set off, only to be enveloped in fog 2 miles further up the road, which stayed with me until I hit the city centre on the last few miles of my "commute"

Having said that, temperature wise it is warm, and indeed as I write the sun has most definately got his hat on, to the point that I feel I may even be sans-legwarmers on the way home later today too!

Mileage for the first 2 months of the year is 1782, which is around 500 up on 2011, so progress so far is good and the outlook looks favourable too!

In other news, Cav won Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne as the classics season kicked off last weekend, could he repeat his Milan San Remo win from 2 years ago too? Paris-Nice commences on Sunday, with Brad Wiggins hopefully going to flex his muscles in the peleton for the first time this year.
John Bishop, the Liverpudlian comedian is 3 days into his 5 days of #BishopsHell - a 185mile cycle from Paris to Calais, rowing the channel and the 1st of 3 marathons over successive days done - all for Sport Relief. 2 more marathons to do, today and tomorrow - legend!

Put me back on my bike!

Back on it - not quite as swift a turnaround at the quacks saw my resumption of cycling delayed until 5.25pm last night but all good!

A fairly swift 15miles completed last night, followed by 31mile "commute" this morning and I am about to embark on a 20mile-ish homeward trip to complete my 24 hour return!

Cycling will be a bit sporadic over the next few days, as i will be sandwiching it around attending a course Friday / Saturday but still hopeful of achieving 200 miles all in this week.

You can't keep a good cyclist down! - I'm a bike rider - I ride bikes!