New Logo and lack of training.

I've been a bit lax since jimdub came down for the weekend at the other end of May, I think i've managed 3 short rides in 4 weeks. Time to buck up my ideas frankly. Managed to get a little 14 miler in last night from the hotel in Bristol, although it was pretty flat and mainly road, its something I suppose, and gave the hardtail a bit of a shakedown after it's recent rebuild. Not sure if its going to be the one yet, comfort vs. lightweight, tough choice to be honest. Although appreciate a choice of bikes is an outrageous luxury any way you look at it. Just come back from Hungary where I went to my brother's wedding good fun but, the Hungarian idea of vegetarian food appears to focus around cheese, breadcrumbs and frying, often in the same mouthful. Obviously washed down with the local beer or strong booze known as Palincă made from fruit apparently so definitely got some of my 5 a day! This Langos pictured, is basically a fried pancake (or very large doughnut) with sour cream and cheese on top, very nice, very unhealthy.

I've been working on a logo/handout thing for the event too. Hope you like it, pass it on and drum up some interest/donations.

A good ride out

Lovely sunny Sunday. Thats a huge field of Flax pictured above. You could see it for miles. Picture doesn't do it justice though, but a great vivid blue.

Managed a great ride out on my new route, with added loops to get some more hillage. 36 miles, 2340 feet of climbing. Still not SDW scales, but there nontheless. Average 10.4 mph.
Got two days commutes in as well on Tuesday and Thursday. 10 mile each way gets my weekly total to 76 miles. Dont have the spare time to get much more riding in, unfortunately. I have noticed the importance of recovery time, which is obvious really. A day or two between really helps. Diet is being watched carefully too, feeding muscles properly. I can understand now, how sport science degrees really go for three years. I am definately the less able of the pack, so important to get my strength and endurance up.

Almost forgot, last week the Cold war came to the East Midlands. Spotted AWACS and Vulcan bomber in the vicinity of the airport, two or three days apart. By the time I got my phone out for pics, they were gone. You will have to take my word for it.

Pheasant Chasing

The sun came out, and all the bikes came out to play. Our area was covered in roadies yesterday. We're on a route, I think.
I planned a ride out, taking in West Leake hills & some local tracks. Part of a ride done with Pnik some years before, whilst training for C2C.  27 miles, and 1500 ft climbing. Thats a quarter of the distance, and an eighth of the climbing, but I did average 10mph which I was quite pleased with.

First attempt lasted one minute, when I realised that bottom jockey wheel on the rear mech was having trouble going round. return to house. Liberal oiling and mechanical assistance(!!) and all was good again. Got me thinking about replacing some of the works before July.  Do you hear that? .....Its a can of worms being opened...

The ride did, however involve bridleways through rough farm yards and ploughed fields, with two foot of wheat, which make it interesting. Some of the local wildlife was not expecting to be found. A couple of pheasants flapping skywards unannounced gives you quite a jump. The gates round here are not as well kept as those on more well known routes, so feet down in sloppy cow muck was the order of the day.  Anyhow, good ride, legs aching today, but expected that. Definately above the line.

No pics I am afraid as phone was running out of charge.

Weekend Training Ride

Zombied.  Thats me. Seriously concerned about my fitness level.  Saturday 18 mile, Sunday 27.  OK, so it had been a pretty wet drought. The trails were extremely slippy and where there was mud, there WAS mud. This got the average speed right down to about -6 mph, which given the amount of daylight we will have, will not do. I could come out with various excuses for holding everyone up, like the mud, getting back on saddle the next day etc etc, but it wont wash. I need to seriously ramp up the miles on real off road, and get more time on the exercise bike when I can't.

Now, although I have ridden SDW before, it was a few years ago, and over two days. Fitness and fatness, has changed. As said before, I lack the type of hills required for training, where I live in South Notts. yes there are inclines, but not the mile long, slow, grass sucking slogs that are further south.

On a plus note, had a great time on the singletrack through the woods, with a bit of confidence boosting log jumping-ish. Getting to train my head into the look where you want to go, and not at that muddy ditch/bunch of nettles type of activity. Pnik had a great time on his new bike (pictured, in part, above). Impressed that the bottom gear in middle ring, seemed even lower that my lowest of the low. Cheat!

Us at Ditchling beacon...