Progress Report Week 1

OK here it is, the first epistle to the world on the trials, tribulations and other thoughts of my training towards the C2C. (Only 18 weeks to go...)

A most respectable 145 miles covered, and I managed to cycle every day this week -despite the best efforts of the weather! Keep resisting the temptation of buying some new winter gloves, but might have to bite the bullet if it keeps on being so rubbish.

Only fell off once this week - a near stationary collapse in the ice early one morning - no-one around so jumped up and was off again fairly quickly.

Injury status - slight twinge in right ankle / lower leg although getting better. nothing else to report.

No mechanical issues, other than frustration at the lack of time my battery stays charged for my halogen front lights - although Simon had a puncture on our first jaunt out on Sunday.

Ref the C2C it seems pointless doing it without exploiting the situation so will be getting some sponsorship ideas together pretty soon - mosy likely candidate is a Cancer Charity details to follow...

On the world of cycling LA, made it through the TDU and finished respectably 49secs off the pace, so looking forward to the Tour of California and Astana's future assault on all fronts. - Heard Landis is making a comeback too? Hmmm - discuss anyone?

more next time

Breaking News...

I know it's still winter, but it still hardly seems fair that the very week the plans are laid for an assault on the north of England C2C that it lashes down with rain every day - oh well guess it ought to break me in for the weather oop north in May!?

Progress on C2C arrangements is that we are now up to a team of three - hoorah!

I have also decided to perform my cross training on the Nintendo Wii Fit! so along with miscellaneous stats of mileage covered etc you can share in my weight loss (7-8lbs target) journey too!!!

Ciao

C2C - Dream becomes a reality!

Ok I'm back - 2 months without posting is unforgiveable, I know my only excuse is that i managed to break my hand in a cycling incident and got thoroughly miffed as a result, but normal service is resumed and i a mback on 2 wheels again.

Good news - The C2C is a go-er 29th May - 1st June 09, finer details yet to be decided but at least two of us are currently included on the team roster.
Having a reason to get out on the bike is a great motivator - cycled both ways up and over Ringland yesterday just to celebrate (if you don't know where Ringland is suffice to say there are not many hills in Norfolk but this is one of the shortest/sharpest there is!

Check back for weekly updates for the thrills and spills associated with my training regime over the next 4 months as well as a sneaky peek at the world of cycling and a comment on the stories therein.

PS Great to see Lance back in the saddle and in competition again. Wishing him and Astana all the best for the Tour Down Under and the forthcoming season, also the brits are again holding there own in Beijing in the World Track Cycling competition. - even without Hoy and Co!

Let it Snow!

22nd November and we have snow!

Well just to qualify, we have a dusting of white stuff, and as the ground is pretty soggy no chance of it laying so actually 1/2inch of slush, but at least it is snowing.

Apart from the inevitable frostbitten finger syndrome after about 5 miles - it's great other than that wierd fact that whichever way you are travelling you still get snow in your face - how does that work even with the wind behind?

Times like this i feel that i am taking my life in my hands a bit by insisting on riding my road bike regardless - needle thin tyres on a slippery surface - life flashing before your eyes on every corner - bravado is a wonderful thing don't you think? - maybe i should put a hybrid on the xmas list...

Anyway,the wind has been awful this week so timings have been adversely affected but as ever it's getting out there that counts, and once you are out you just gotta ride - haven't you?

In other news the will he won't he saga of Lance carries on, apparently the tour crowd are going to mug him? Sastre is going up against him in the Giro, and it appears that he and big George H are going to be racing against each other for the first time in the tour down under.

Mr Hoy and Lewis (strange how all formula 1 drivers are known by their first names isn't it?) are racing each other at the race of champions in December - something like 2.5 horsepower against 10 million horsepower although Mr Hoy can corner quicker allegedly - should be a great spectacle though.

Back on the bike...

Had a few issues over the last couple of weeks that have affected my mileage output, but health is better now and so have completed 100 miles this week for the first time for a month, this is purely commuting to and from work (i actually live under 2 miles from my place of work!) - so tend to do a bit of a detour including my "funtime friday" excursion which is usually about 18 miles or so on the way in.
With the clocks going back it is getting darker so much earlier - but i love cycling in the dark - always seems like you are going quicker somehow?

In other news I am loving the TDF2009 route - Mont Ventoux on the penultimate stage, plus the Team TT is back (just for Lance?) and they will be doing it on real time not an approximation so non-experienced TT teams will suffer. Alberto or Lance or maybe Schleck who knows? Heart would love to see Lance do it (if he even competes) but more realistically the head says Alberto Contador - anyway so long as its Astana who cares!!!

C2C - Spring 2009

C2C?

I need a challenge, so I have decided to do the C2C next year, 140miles-ish coast to coast across the north of England. Whitehaven in the west to Tynemouth in the east. http://www.c2c-guide.co.uk/index.htm
Trying to drum up a bit of interest amongst mates at present so no dates set as yet - but watch this space.