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...

Not enough training

Found a great route on GPSies.com last weekend, downloaded it to the Garmin. 32miles starting a few miles up the road ideal. Had all Sunday free so off I went. I used to do 30miles downs rides quite often. I also decided to use the hardtail for the day, as I’m considering using it in July so ought to see how it is for a longer ride. I love the direct power transfer the feeling of all your effort going into turning the wheels. Little bit of a surprise when you forget you haven’t got the usual 5 inches of shock absorption under your behind. Its an interesting route, going mainly over trails I’ve done before but put together differently to how I would plan a route, seeming to go into and back out again of every available valley. Great training but I was all in by the time I crawled home, 36miles and 4000ft of ascending and 5 hours. That pace in July will barely fit into the available daylight hours, so I’ve not only got to triple the distance but I’ve somehow got to up the pace too. As for the hardtail, really pleased with it most of the time; although I did get a puncture on the rear and the forks are too long really so it’s difficult to keep the front end down on steep climbs. I also missed the forgiving nature of full suss later in the ride when tired and line choice becomes a bit lazy.

Jimdub and raa are coming out for some training miles in a couple of weeks, so I guess it is time to MTFU.

I started a pilates class on Tuesday too, I found this really helpful in my training before the C2C some I’m hoping that again it will help this time, but with working away from home a couple of days most weeks it is going to be difficult to get the miles in.

The new bike should be arriving in the next few weeks, hopefully I’ll have it by May bank holiday weekend, but that depends on Orange’s schedule not mine L.

Got out on the road bike, 28miles today, nice weather at the time, pub lunch managed to stay off the beer too. Roped in some logistical support for July today, so its starting to take shape.

Driving to Peterborough tonight, hopefully it wont rain all the way, although it's looking like there's an even chance.

Interesting couple of weeks

I've been getting out and about a bit the last couple of weeks. Trying to get my weekly milage up by degrees, managed 30-40 for the last 2 weeks, including turbo sessions. A couple of weekends ago managed to get a South Downs ride in, covered a quarter of the target distance in just under 3 hours, unfortunately I dont think that pace is sustainable for 100 miles, I'd love to do it in 12 hours, but I think a little realism needs to come into it.
Last weekend we were visiting family and I managed to sneak in a 10 miler up at Lee and Cragg quarries, blimey proper full on trails the climb from the car park started higher than Ditchling Beacon what we call a high point round here. Some great trails though, and friendly northerners at every turn. I was talking to a guy about his new white Orange 5 just like the one I've ordered (more of that later) who challenged me as to why I needed a new one, I think he eventually accepted the 'fancied one' argument, my more technical justifications didn't seem to cut it. They got me back on the right track after my slight detour through a wind farm (pictured).

Further on I was chatting to another couple of riders who were having a breather and offered they offered me some of their hot Oxo! I then caught up with a local called Dave who was recovering from the flu (!) and he led me back down off the moors and through the quarry on one the best singletrack I've done in ages. This youtube clip covers some of it although not me but as damp. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qq78FhBC8Fk great stuff (a lot faster than me too). I was finished when I got to the car, he headed on back up for a bit more, he was the one getting over flu!

Dave has offered to take me out and show me some more next time I'm up there, which is very generous, lets hope these miles I'm trying to get in will pay off!

This week I've been over in Bristol for work and managed to get over to Ashton Court and tried out the Red and Blue trails there, again good fun, but by then my legs seem to have run out of steam. Everytime pedalling was required I found the tank was empty. Not where I wanted to be with my training. So decided to take it easy for a couple of days, eat well and plan to hit the downs again this weekend.

So I've ordered a new bike, hope to be getting it by the end of the month, very excited. Started by bidding on an ebay bargain, ended up with a great deal from SunsetMTB in Cardiff, wont tell the full story here but I'm quite excited, but have to wait for Orange to build the frame and paint it for me! I've gone a bit mad with the upgrade options too. Not actually sure if its the right bike for the SDW, but it'll be great for fun trails and trail centres. Just need to get my skills up to scratch.

I think thats enough rambling for now.

Official Launch Time

OK this is it time to commit.

A few years ago a friend was diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease last year after a long decline he died. This cruel disease took so much quality of life away from him and his family. They dealt with it brilliantly, they were lucky to have the support of friends, family and 3 great charities; MNDA, Martletts Hospice and Dignitas.
Ever since Mike was first diagnosed I have wondered what can I do to help, I have no relevant skills. What I do is work in IT and ride bicycles for fun, and sometimes organise cycling trips/challenges.

So that's it I'll get some cycling people together and take on a proper challenge, a blood, sweat and tears challenge, you know the kind that hurts, requires commitment, something people can understand and get behind. Lets see if we can raise some money to help other people in similar or worse situations.

So I emailed some people, who generally said "you're mad" and some of them said "you're mad and I'm up for it". So the Gang of 4 is formed. All of us have ridden on the South Downs before, 3 of us have ridden its entire length. None of us has done all 100miles and 12,600 feet of climbing in one day. So that is the challenge the South Downs Way in a day. The date is set Sunday 22nd of July 2012 to suffer and enjoy chalky/flinty hillage to raise some money for 3 excellent causes.

I'm hoping that friends and family will get involved, either to support us on the day, or maybe walk or ride a bit of the route themselves, or just give us their money. All good, all welcome.

There will be a just giving page setup soon. This blog will be updated from time to time with the highs and lows of training, links to relevant pages.

thought the blog needed a new look.

So the title gives a hint at what the next caper will be, still waiting for final confirmation of who will be on the roster and when it will happen, but as jimdub says time for procrastination is over, time to start getting the miles in. Currently I'm confined to roadbike/turbo duties only, while I try to get a niggling shoulder injury sorted out. Each time i ride the mtb it takes the recovery back a few weeks. Doing the 55k ride with jimdub 4 days after the crash probably wasnt the best start to the recovery! ah well we live and occassionally we learn.

hope you like the look, and I'll be back with more news soon...

Blob

So what sits on its chair all day, and weighs about a stone heavier than it should......me of course.

Pre mid October, ride to work & back was a nice round 10 miles.

Post house move, doubles the distance. Apart from getting me more fit & more fresh air, it had the opposite effect of now I drive, save for when the car was in the garage being fixed again. Using the excuse of dropping daughter off at School, rotten cycling roads, dark, weather and all else I can find not to ride.

I have been promising, that once the mornings are a bit lighter, eldest can use the bus occasionally, enabling me to get moving, assuming that its a mere couple 'o' weeks away.

That all changed yesterday, when an email from PNik arrived, reminding me of this years' plan. Now I am not going to spill the beans yet, as for various reasons, its not my shout. BUT, its made me realise, that I have not got very long to sort myself out. So, this weekend, I am reserving some time to hosing down the Killer Bee of whatever mud is still coating it & get on the thing & get some miles done. Tempting to get the slicks on for a bit & discover the local area.

Whadyathink?

J

Edit: 19 road miles round the lanes. Did me in, hopeless 1 hour 45 minutes. Hmph