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No, this is not some rocket fuelled footwear as the name might suggest!! I am borrowing a ‘Turbo Trainer’ (see picture above) which enables you to train without actually leaving the comfort of your own home! Em uses rollers, because they actually require balance and mimic the road , but Grant took great pleasure in pointing out, that with my history of tumbles I’d perhaps be better of with a fixed turbo trainer than investing in a couple of mattresses to put either side of the roller!! Git!! Anyway the logic behind this is as the weather is so bloody unpredictable at present and the time is just rattling by I need to be able to train regularly. We’ve got a rowing machine at home, which Martin keeps trying to get me to use, but I said I’m cycling not rowing! I know we’ve got to cross the channel, but I think that’s on a ferry, not under our own steam! I also decided that the rollers may not be such a good idea as I’ll have to train in the extension at the back of the house where our dogs are and I may keep falling off if I have to kick them out the way! (Wouldn’t kick them really) (yes I would)………………
Okay, so after Tuesday's 17.5 miles I went for it again on Weds. This time, instead of turning right to Flecknoe, I went straight on to Lower Shuckborough. Not such a bad hill but one of those that seems to go on forever!! Anyway, going that way (I still did Sawbridge, etc). I worked it out that I had done 20 miles, because the route finder I did stopped at Daventry, I forgot that there's another 2.5 miles to my home at Badby!! So that actually makes it around 20 miles both Tues & Weds!! Had a rest day Thurs and then Friday, Emily and I were going to do a longer ride, but it was cold, windy, showery etc. Now, I'm not a fair weather rider, coz Mum & I used to ride the horses in all weathers, but there's something different about cycling in that sort of weather, I think it's the fact that you have to do all the work! Anyway we went from Daventry to Weedon (A45) turned left on to the A5 up to the Long Buckby X roads and then back to Dav. I reckon it was about 13 miles. Em said that my recovery rate had vastly improved... I think what she meant was I could actually speak within 5 mins of finishing a hill instead of 10!! Ha Ha.So Saturday came and I really fancied a challenge! I'd seen this route, The Draycote Loop, classed as 4/10 (easy 'ish'), with a few 'short' hills, just under 32 miles! Dunchurch/round Draycote Water/Offchuch/Leamington Spa/Cubbington/Princethorpe/Dunchurch. Lovely countryside, but a bit lonely, and when my walkman switched itself of all I had to accompany me was the wind whistling in my ears (when I was going downhill!) and my heavy breathing (when I was going up these 'short' hills!). One of these 'short' hills was doing an impersonation of Mt Everest!! I had to get off two thirds of the way up because I couldn't engage 1st gear. So after a bit of technical adjustment (I kicked it!) it was fixed but I carried on walking to the top only to be met in the gateway of a nearby house by three of the most humongous St Bernard dogs you've ever clapped eyes on. They made me jump that much I staggered back a little and nearly got mowed down by Mr White Van!! So any budding cyclists reading this that encounter 'Snowford Hill' BEWARE the house at the top of the hill or make sure your gears work! It took me around 2hrs 40 mins to complete and I have to say the old legs were biting a bit and the old bum felt like it had been bitten!!! But I must say I felt a real sense of achievement.Sunday was spent having a well earned rest.
