Aug 31st - Group Ride

Well today was the next get together. In attendance was John Berry, Joy Green and myself.

I had planned the route but never actually completed it, although I had done some of the stages. We set off on time at 10am and headed towards Meriden, It takes me about 5 - 8 miles to warm up and I had not been on my bike for a week so I was a bit rusty.

We went Meriden > Fillongley > Maxstoke > Meriden > Hampton In Arden > Chadwick End before lunch.  32 miles in about 2 hours with a avg speed approx 15.4mph. I felt good before lunch, I managed to clock up my fastest speed yet 38.5mph..

We took it in turns to take the lead and cycled quite closely which made a difference for whoever was behind. We stopped for lunch at the Orange Tree in Chadwick End were we met by Becks, Sascha and my Kids for lunch.

After a pleasant lunch we started out again this time in the rain, and headed towards Lapworth > Rowington > Warwick > Leek Wooton > Kenilworth and then home.  The afternoon ride was much harder for me and between 30 and 40 miles hurt.  However once through the 40 mile point (my previous longest ride) the pain went although I was slower overall, sometimes crawing up the hills.

We did another 21 miles after lunch although there were more hills.  All in All is was great, we completed 53 miles with an avg speed around 14.9mph which I was quite pleased with. Once I was home I had a bath, I was filthy and do really feel tired.

I must now build on this.  I need 50 miles to now be the benchmark for my longer rides and must get on the bike more regulary.

Over lunch we also finalised the route.  See John Berry's blog for details and pictures.  Thanks to John, Joy and Sascha for making time for this ride I think it was quite beneficial for all.

The Route: Here

Aug 27th - Injury!

Well I did not go out yesterday and I am gutted.....I did not mention before but when I was in the gym the other day I hurt a muscle in my leg.  I thought nothing of it however yesterday it hurt to walk on it....with this sunday coming up I thought I would give it another 24 hrs rest.  When I woke up this morning it is still no right.  I am convinced everything will be fine for sunday, I don't think I have pulled anything and it is lots better than yesterday but  still not good enough to go out.

I am truly gutted.  I had big plans for these two days off and this hit my training plan.  I now need to get myself right for sunday and then take things from there.  It means I go into sunday (a planned 55 mile ride) having done no more than 40 miles but I am confident it will be OK.

This is not a high point in my training:-(

Aug 25th - Work and then Gym / Swim

I worked today :-( 

However after work I went to my sister house and did some swimming.  I also did a quick 20 mins in the Gym on the Cycle Machine followed by the Rowing Machine followed by weights..Not loads but quite intense.

Tomorrow is a big day for me.  I am still not sure what I am going to do yet, the original plan was back to back 50 miles but I need too spend one of the days with Becks and the Kids so tomorrow may be a full day on the bike....I plan to leave about 10am and see how the day goes.  I have an idea in my head of how far I want to go but lets see!!

Aug 24th - Town Riding

I was not planning to go out today however the plans I had changed so I thought I would go for a bike ride.  I had an idea of where I wanted to ride but had not plans for the total mileage.

So I set off towards Kenilworth everything was going well until I was on the final hill into Kenilworth when I nearly fell off.  The road was quite narrow but there was a lot of traffic. Basically due to a number of factors I got to close to the curb, my left peddle clipped the curb and I had seconds to react.  I am not really sure what happened next however I managed to stay on the bike, just, but due to whatever happened both of my bottles got thrown off the bike and ended up in the middle of the road.  I pulled onto the path and went back to retrieve my bottles. It was just one of those things really, it did not shake me up but it was just a reminder to concentrate more!!

I carried on minus drink which was left behind on the road and headed into Warwick, I then decided to cycle home the proper way, i.e. not using the lanes.  This meant cycling up the hill near the Waterman which I had not done yet. Surprisingly it was OK although at the steepest point I was in lowest gear.

Anyway I did the 20 miles without drink in 1hr 20mins......Not fast enough really but It was good to get out.

Tuesday and Wednesday next week I am off work and plan back to back 50 mile rides!!!! Watch this space

Today Route:  Here

Aug 19th - Evening Ride

Well tonight after work and dinner I did 13 miles.....No issues, only a small ride however I did not get out until 7:30ish and the light is beginning to fade fast so after work riding is going to get more difficult.

Might be time for the Turbo Trainer.

Aug 16th - New Biggest Ride, New Fastest Speed & New Pains!!

Well after quite a quiet training week I knew on Saturday I would have to push myself.  Well I did.  I decided to ride the route that we will be doing in a couple of weeks time.  My furthest route I had done upto this point was 30 miles, however that was only once and 20 - 25miles was a much more comfitable range and the range I have trained too.

The first 25 miles were the best riding I have ever done.  It was a new route and it was challenging but the roads were great and I actually really enjoyed every moment.  I stopped every 10miles for a quick drink and then stopped after 25miles at the side of the road to eat some food which I had taken.

After lunch I planned another 25 miles route however the minute I hit 30 miles the pain started.  My knees and legs ached a lot and I was into the wind which did not help.  I actually took a quicker route back home.

I ended up doing 40 miles in 2hrs 35mins with an avg speed of 14.8mph.  I smashed my highest ever speed when I hit 37mph!

I was a bit dissapointed that I only managed 40 miles and I felt a little disheartened afterwards but I had only ever done 30miles once before and actually it was OK.

I must push myself on a regular basis.  I am reassessing my training regime because its not been great recently.  I now am going to do two 20 - 30 miles ride during the weeks and then every weekend push myself, starting next week.

The Route: Here

12th August - Very Small Ride

Well tonight I did a very small ride. I could not tell you how far because I cannot find the cycle computer!!!!!! Anyway went out, I went about 2 miles down the road and the heavens opened big style!!!!! I turned around and cycled home...

I know!!!! I cannot do that in Scotland when doing JOGLE...

Wednesday I am taking my daughter Elia out for some Dad time, and then I will ride Thursday & Friday...Saturday is going to be my biggest ride yet, no matter what the weather!

Aug 7th - Sorry

Firstly sorry that I have not updated this blog for a few days.  I have not been feeling too good and decided not to go out on the bike as I did not want my sore throat to turn into a cold.

However after 2 days overdosing on Vitamin C I felt much better tonight, I don't finish work til 6:30pm this week so I did not get in the bike until 7:20pm(after dinner).  I did 15.4 miles in 59 minutes.  Not my fastest but it was good to get out.  I was actually planning to go further despite the rain however the light was fading quite fast and I decided to stop after 15miles.

My Dad is staying with us this weekend so even though I still plan to go out it will be nothing spectacular.

Also congratulations to Joy on getting her new bike today, see John Berry's blog for pics.......I look forward to reading your blog!

Aug 4th - 10 Mile ride and new stuff

Well I got home and my new bike stuff had arrived...Saddle Bag, Sunglasses, Chain Lube and Portable Pump.  I fitted it all onto the bike and it is great. I also made a slight adjustment to the tilt of the saddle and this is also good. It means for the first time since starting training I can take my iphone, food, repair kit and pump with me.  The sunglasses are also great, highly recommended, they are so light and don't feel like I am actually wearing glasses.

Anyway after all of this I managed a 10 mile ride, (all of the kit I had attached at the beginning was still attached at the end)...with a 15.7mph avg speed.

August 2nd - Happy and Disappointed!

I wanted to beat my previous record (30 miles) today however I took the kids out instead. I really could not be bothered to go out when I got home however about 5pm I went out for a ride.

I only did 15 miles in 55 mins however it is the best I have ever felt. I can honestly say that my legs did not ache even up hills and after the ride I felt not one ounce of tiredness and hardly broke into a sweat.

I am delighted at this and shows how I have progressed because 15 miles used to seem a big ride, now it just feel like a walk to the shops.  However I am disappointed that I did not go further......15 miles is better than nothing though!!