Training, training, training…………Over the past couple of weeks I’ve managed to complete a couple of 50 miler’s which has been extremely satisfying to say the least. I’m averaging about 110 miles a week now. I’m feeling pretty good about the whole thing. In fact I can’t wait!! Also had some contact with some of the other riders and it seems that we're all 'Up for It'
Also, touch wood; I’ve had no falls lately either. I seem to have the unclipping of the feet and the balance just right now. I do get a bit of a panic on sometimes when I’m careering down hills at a rate of knots, especially as many of the road surfaces leave an awful lot to be desired!! My top speed to date is 58.9 km/hr which is 36.5 mph. I know it doesn’t sound fast but when you’ve got the wind whistling in your ears and your flesh exposed to bugs flying the opposite direction at a similar speed, believe me, it’s fast!!! Have you’ve seen what happens to them when they hit your windscreen? Bloody hell they really leave a welt on your skin!. And don’t even get me started on ‘thunder flies’ they’re bad enough when you are just walking along, but on a bike, you feel like you’re covered with them!!
I must admit that I’ve been very inspired by the Tour de France these last couple of weeks! In fact Martin called me ‘AN ANORAK’? How dare he when he watches rugby and athletics whenever it’s on. At least the Tour is only a once a year thing! In fact, Martin has told me I can’t do anymore challenges after this one because everything is going to pot!! The housework, (I do all the washing, ironing, dusting & cleaning), the garden, (I dug it all over, planted it apart from the greenhouse, weed it & water it), the dogs, (don't get me started on them),and the cooking!!! This is all because last Wednesday I went out for a ride and ended up going a little further than I’d planned too. However, everything was in hand for dinner. We were having Cottage Pie. I put the mince in the oven with some veg, gravy etc to cook whilst I was out and all I had to do was boil & mash the spuds, assemble it and grill the cheese top off. Well, as I said I went a bit further than anticipated and ended up doing 26 miles. I got home at 6.40pm and Martin arrives home at 7.05 pm. It was like the mad chase scene that used to play at the end of the Benny Hill Show (I’ll bet you’re humming the tune now!). The spuds cooked, the mince was ready, but I didn’t have enough time to assemble it into a Cottage Pie, so we had mince, potatoes & beans. Martin said it was ‘Crap’. That’s nice isn’t it? I would like to have thrown it all over him, but restrained myself!! Anyway, that’s the reason I can’t do anymore challenges!! NOT!! I’ve found something I really enjoy doing, that really doesn’t take up too much time, and it's good for me at the end of the day. He has his birds & his Rugby. I have The Beast!!
Showing posts with label training. Show all posts
Showing posts with label training. Show all posts
24 July 2008
20 May 2008
15 weeks and counting!!!
That’s all there is until we embark on this ‘epic’ journey. (Well I think it’s epic anyway). Training is continuing at a pace. I did a total of 112 kms in 3 rides last week.
Tuesday, I thought I’d try the route set out for the inaugural ride of the ‘Cummins Daventry Cycling Club’. It’s a variation on a ride I have done but takes in an extra village. I decided to do it the other way round, (no, not facing the back of my bike,) the opposite way round the route I mean. I really enjoyed it to start with, but the wind seemed to be in my face whichever way I turned! I really believe someone up 'there' has it in for me when I go out. I think a committee gets together and they decide to make it as challenging as possible! The route was 22 miles and at one point going down Longdown Lane, I was actually doing 58.4 km/h that's around 35 mph!!! When I got to Flecknoe things slowed up considerably, there's a long hill up to the village, it was a corker to trot up on horseback, but when it comes to your own leg power it's a different matter, as is Staverton Hill which followed almost straight away after. Blimey that's a long hill!!
Thursday I went to Everdon, Weedon, had to get off and walk the last 100m of the hill that comes out at Dodford (I'm a failure!!) Daventry all round the ring road, out to Staverton & back home. Quite an steady one, but met some real gentlemen. Three huge lorries all waited until there was nothing coming the other way before pulling out to pass me.
Then Saturday, Em & I with some friends of ours, Sally & Sue, went for a 2nd session of bag packing in M&S Food Hall in Milton Keynes. We raised £185 in 2.5 hrs. It was really quiet for a Saturday though, perhaps it was something to do with the Cup Final? Still, we did very well and that money has now been deposited into out respective Just Giving accounts. A BIG thanks to Sally & Sue for their sterling efforts. Sue was like a rottweiler with a bone, she wouldn't let go and Sally said she now knows what rejection feels like!! But thanks to one man, she does know a vast amount more about plastic than she did before we went. Bless her!!! Oh, and thanks to the very kind gentleman who gave me £5 just to go away!!!
Sunday was long ride day as Saturday afternoon was a wash out. It was a lovely day & I did 34 miles, via Daventry, Rugby, Barby, Welton, Norton, Badby. I think I hit 'The Wall' at Barby, or it could have been the short, but really steep, sharp little hill I had to climb, but I have to say, I LOVE the road surface just outside Barby, it's so smooth! I'll bore you all about road surfaces another time shall I?
Tuesday, I thought I’d try the route set out for the inaugural ride of the ‘Cummins Daventry Cycling Club’. It’s a variation on a ride I have done but takes in an extra village. I decided to do it the other way round, (no, not facing the back of my bike,) the opposite way round the route I mean. I really enjoyed it to start with, but the wind seemed to be in my face whichever way I turned! I really believe someone up 'there' has it in for me when I go out. I think a committee gets together and they decide to make it as challenging as possible! The route was 22 miles and at one point going down Longdown Lane, I was actually doing 58.4 km/h that's around 35 mph!!! When I got to Flecknoe things slowed up considerably, there's a long hill up to the village, it was a corker to trot up on horseback, but when it comes to your own leg power it's a different matter, as is Staverton Hill which followed almost straight away after. Blimey that's a long hill!!
Thursday I went to Everdon, Weedon, had to get off and walk the last 100m of the hill that comes out at Dodford (I'm a failure!!) Daventry all round the ring road, out to Staverton & back home. Quite an steady one, but met some real gentlemen. Three huge lorries all waited until there was nothing coming the other way before pulling out to pass me.
Then Saturday, Em & I with some friends of ours, Sally & Sue, went for a 2nd session of bag packing in M&S Food Hall in Milton Keynes. We raised £185 in 2.5 hrs. It was really quiet for a Saturday though, perhaps it was something to do with the Cup Final? Still, we did very well and that money has now been deposited into out respective Just Giving accounts. A BIG thanks to Sally & Sue for their sterling efforts. Sue was like a rottweiler with a bone, she wouldn't let go and Sally said she now knows what rejection feels like!! But thanks to one man, she does know a vast amount more about plastic than she did before we went. Bless her!!! Oh, and thanks to the very kind gentleman who gave me £5 just to go away!!!
Sunday was long ride day as Saturday afternoon was a wash out. It was a lovely day & I did 34 miles, via Daventry, Rugby, Barby, Welton, Norton, Badby. I think I hit 'The Wall' at Barby, or it could have been the short, but really steep, sharp little hill I had to climb, but I have to say, I LOVE the road surface just outside Barby, it's so smooth! I'll bore you all about road surfaces another time shall I?
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