Watched

Well, after the wild winds & winter of Saturday 28th, I wasn't really looking forward to riding on Sunday 29th!
The gritters out Saturday evening didn't help.
It seems, however, that the bad weather fairy got messed about with the change to British Summer Time, and my awakening was greeted with blue skies and sunshine. At 9:45. my new riding parter, a former Olympic paddler, turned up. Faced with the prospect of being left behind by the superfit, we set off on my usual circular route. Living in generally a flat area, with hills being a drive or a ride across the city away, laziness gives in to planning.
Thankfully, the 300 foot climb was joined by quiet from behind me. Its good to get the lungs working early. The rain of last week had softened the terrain, but not to un ridable extent.
On approach to some anonymous farm/industrial units came across the above. Not something you fall across regularly. After taking the pic, it took off, avoiding the bird table & electric wires neatly. For the next few miles we kept having the feeling of being watched from afar, with the 'bird' sometimes visible circling about. If this is my last post. Then nice knowing you. 25 miles 1300 feet. One unscheduled off, not by me.

How are we doing?

Roger is off his knee for at least 2 weeks, until the doctor can work out how much damage there is, as this would leave only 6 weeks preparation. That's right only 8 weeks left. James is getting as much riding in as his hectic life will allow. Paul is still talking about buying a new bike for the trip, whilst planning to move back south of the border to Sheffield to take up a new job, and decorate the flat for sale, and train! Me I'm squeezing in some riding in-between ballet competitions and dance festivals (the children not me), I bought a heart rate monitor last week and my family has taken great delight in discovering what tickling me does to my heart rate and I’ve worked out that pressing the start button at the beginning of the ride might actually give you some information to work with.

Anybody reading this blog might start to think the gadgets; gps, hrm, disc brakes, turbo trainers and so on were more important than the ride, of course that would be all wrong. The truth is much more spiritual, its about triumph over adversity, bonding through a shared experience, the pure joy you feel on a perfect descent, the satisfaction of summiting after so many false horizons. Spending a week away from the stresses and strains of ordinary life and to enjoy the beauty of some of the country's most inspiring scenery. All of these things are what it's about, spending an hour staring at the wall sat on the turbo trainer on a cold, wet March evening, is only worth doing for the pay off. Crossing the country from coast to coast, sea to sea, that's going to be pretty special for anyone left by May!

Even if they are in their 40s.

Rider injured - will he make it to the first 'C' ?

Rog messed his knee up playing 5-aside this week, I really wish he would avoid these extreme sports. He's damaged some ligaments but unclear how badly at the moment. It's strapped up and he's on sofa duty at the moment, can't bend it. not good. Real risk that we have another drop-out on the horizon. Think positive thoughts and maybe it'll be alright. 

I rode into work on Tuesday

33 miles, 2100 ft and 2 and a half hours later got to work, my desk shortly after that. That was hard, glad I got a lift home. 2 days later I can still feel it in my legs. Although I did a 27 miler on sunday again on the road. Hard work this road riding, I always had it down as the 'soft option'. Had a short spin on the turbo before the curry came, couldn;t face going out with the BrightonMTB boys tonight. 

I need to learn a thing or two about recovery I think, I was planning to ride in every Tuesday from now on, still it's better than circuit training. 

Get Lost - Officially

I got a fantastic birthday present. I got a Garmin Edge 205 bike GPS. This supposedly means that I plan my routes on the computer, transfer to unit & off I go. The thing records all where I go, & how fast etc, plus telling me what turns to take a-la-TomTom.
So I go and download a route, and the things says there are too many waypoints & truncates the route. The expert pnik, says I have to translate it to a course & get that onto the unit. Jobdone, off I go. The course I downloaded is an offshoot of one of my regular rides. I get to the required path & press start. 'You've won, congratulations' what? silly thing thinks I'm there already. A bit of faffing with buttons & it starts timing me. Good. A short fracas with a pair of ratty Jack Russells intent on getting me off the bike, they nearly did. I think I have just found the origins of Polo.
Anyhow, get to unknown farm track, and the unit is pointing its little arrow forwards, in fact, wherever I go, Its pointing forwards. A quick switch back & forth proves the fact. It seems to drawing my route, not directing me. Hmph. few miles of make-it-up, gets me to the desired incline. Yes, a funny thing has happened, with maps on the screen, I am now actively looking for hills to go UP. Even if it means a very round the houses(trees) to get to the right end.
Get home & plug it in & I seem to be getting bits of course with gaps. 25 miles 1200feet ascent. Not many hills round here.Little more work to do.
On the way to work, Monday morning, I get it to the virtual partner setting, to race myself from last week. Piece of cake. hmmmm, cake...

Another weekend flew by, it was that windy.

So another week down, 10 to go, training enthusiasm seems to have dipped for me at least. Managed 25miles and about 3000ft of climbing yesterday, it felt like more though the wind was blowing me sideways up on the south downs, and hacking up to Kingston ridge into the wind was the least fun I've had in ages. 

I've almost decided to do the South Downs Way in April with Votwo looks like it's well organised and will be a good test a month before the big event. Although if it goes badly I'm not sure if I could handle the failure. 

I'm pleased to have the accomodation booked, and my membership to the YHA came through today too. Starting to think about the kit list, whether or not to go tubeless and so on. I'm also planning to use the rigid bike for going to work on, although not all 30miles to start with. I've just put the skinniest tyres on it, and now it doesn't fit on the turbo trainer! not sure what to do about that. 

right I'd better load the dishwasher before I get into trouble. Life goes on.

One man down, but the itinery is sorted.

Well i managed to get on the trainer a couple of times this week, and spent a lot of today on the phone, talking to people about accommodation. Unfortunately Ollie dropped out of our little adventure earlier this week, for various reasons including a dodgy knee! 

I've now got all of our overnight stops booked, Youth Hostels all but 1, so we get a bit of luxury in a pub in Osmotherly on the 4th night out. I've got half way through altering the bookings already made now we are fewer. It looks like the refund paperwork is going to be fun. Apparently everything can be done online and on the phone, except refunds they have to be done by post. Is this the dark ages or just a cynical discouragement technique?

I've spoken to the rest of the team this week, they are all still keen, although James and Paul are slightly concerned about the training levels they are managing to do. Paul was in Italy for work earlier this week, poor thing. He's still trying to decide whether or not to take the plunge on a new bike for the trip. Roger is training like its going out of fashion, actually I'm beginning to think he thinks we're going from San Francisco to New York, not St Bees to Robin Hoods Bay! 

As jimdub pointed out it was my 40th earlier this week, and amongst other things I got a great new comfy chair, this may make training more difficult, I may have to ration it until we finish. I also got another piece of the jigsaw in the form of OL4, the second OS map of the route covering most of day 1, and a massive memory card for my phone to store music for keeping me going on the turbo trainer.

Something jimdub didn't mention however is the HE IS 40 TOMORROW TOO!!!! So I hope he has a great day and that the family give him a break from all the hard work he normally gets up to at the weekend when he should be training. I suppose he could have a beer or 2 tomorrow night, as long as he's out again on Sunday.

A week off?

Terrible week for riding. Not been in the saddle since Sunday, really, and its Friday today. You see, having a vehicle that is working, doesn't really help. With this week back to the frosts, its just been so easy to chose relative comfort over cold feet. I am regularly scheduling a ride out at weekends, but with my riding partner now back on his oil rig somewhere off the coast of Azerbaijan, its gonna need some more self control & discipline.

Forty Years Young

Happy Birthday to you....
Happy Birthday to you....
Happy Birthday dear Niiiiikkkkkkk
Happy Birthday to youuuuu...

Lazy Weekend?

Well, no training anyway, feel a bit guilty now. Got my bike set up for the riding to work and to go on the turbo trainer,, although didn't actually use it. I'll do a long session tomorrow night.

Started booking accomodation, really helpful lady at the YHA booked up most nights, but Osmotherly and Ambleside were full, need to rejig the route and look for possibilities nearby.