Feeling good again

Had a bit of a lazy start to the day, up at 9.00, walked the dog & fetched the Sunday rags, ate breakfast & dissected  the football results. Waited a further hour lazing in the morning sunshine before heading out on the bike. I think the lie in worked wonders as the legs felt good today, so good that I did a bit extra completing 78.2 Km [47 miles] in 2 minutes shy of 3 hours. Basically, my 36 mile route with a loop from the A5 down the back road to Ironbridge, thru Leighton & Buildwas before negotiating Ironbridge bank [that's uphill by the way] and on to home. 

I would call this route lumpy as it includes several hills at Lilleshall, Newport, Crudginton, Haughmond, Leighton, Ironbridge & Dawley. In contrast to yesterday the legs have recovered & I really enjoyed the ride today. 

Summary of Week 7

Started the week with the normal rides to work but ended up having 3 days off the bike [x1 rest day & x2 due to Thursday's football]. As a result this week has been poor for the mileage, enjoyed Saturday's 20 mile spin.

Back on the road

Back on the bike today used the ride just to spin the gears easy, still feeling the legs from Thursday football, guess at 49 I'm not as young as I used to be. 20 miles steady with a blustery wind so still a reasonable work out.  

Regretting Alternative Training II

Legs like lead and an aching lower back so stayed off the bike again today, the body is telling me it needs a rest. 

Alternative Training II

Well another day off the bike following yesterday rest day, one of my Japanese colleagues is returning to Japan after nearly seven years in the UK & we had a department 5-a-side tournament then finished with a Japan Vs England 11-a-side game. Luckily had no injuries unlike my mate Craig who suffered  and chipped ankle bone & broken finger. Had a great laugh but probably not the best prep for the L2P. 

Summary of Week 6

The week started in glorious Easter sunshine, was a bit damp in the middle but the sun made a welcome return for the weekend. Managed to dodge most of the rain mid-week & enjoyed 2 good weekend excursions of 25 & 30 miles.  

Sunday Afternoon Jaunt

Got the chores out of the way early doors, done a bit of Sunday shopping then it was out for the second ride of the weekend after lunch. 

Change of scenery today heading South up to Dawley into Madeley & on to Shifnal, out the other side to Sherrifhales turning left towards Muxton then home through Preston-on-the-Weald, a nice 25 miles. 

I made an impression on my ride today, as I sped passed two young lads they gave a resounding Wow! - does you ego the world of good. 

Really enjoyed the ride again today, apart from the roads around Madeley, they were that rough they wouldn't be out of place on the Paris Roubaix cobbles!

Aerobic fitness has improved no-end through this month - I think the concentration on cadence is paying off. 

 

A nice round 50

Cleaned & lubed the bike before going out today - it looks great when its all sparkly!

I finally got round to checking the fit of the SKS Raceblade mudguards that Sue bought me at Christmas - I could have done with these yesterday - at least I know for any future rides that they only take a few seconds to fit, no more wet bum on those damp days! Bonus. 

A steady 50 Km today [30 miles] through the country lanes of North Telford. Went from home up to High Ercall -then on to Great Bolas, Eaton-on-Tern, Stoke-on-Tern to Hodnet. Watched my ex-football team Telford Juniors play against Hodnet FC - Lost 1-0 [really drab game] then cycled home. The lanes were excellent - traffic free [almost] and the sun was out. A nice ride.

Not quite beating the weather

Friday morning was a damp one! drizzle all the way into work, you know the type, it soaks you right to the core. Never the less I actually enjoyed my ride this morning. The down side is having nowhere the dry out the kit at work so everything was still damp come lunchtime for the ride home. At least the sun had come out to greet me.

AMR Jersey

My AMR - L2P jersey arrived today - l am now ready for the group ride down the Champs Elysees - Oh, I almost forgot, I have the small task of actually cycling from London to get to Paris in order to qualify for the "Grande Finale". 

Other news - confirmation of B&B Kingston University, Seething Wells the night before the event. 

Beating the Weather

Wow, didn't it just p**s down this morning, thunder, lightening the whole works! I am so glad I managed to dodge it all, only caught a few rain drops. It was actually darker at 8.30 am than it was at 6.30 am when I cycled into work.

36 in Reverse

Today I rode last weeks 36 miler in reverse, weather perfect for cycling really enjoyed the ride today. Concentrated on 80~85 cadence for the whole ride - legs & fitness felt good. Wore my new Castelli kit today - the "Kiss" pad in the shorts is wonderful. 

A very pleasant "Recovery" Ride

Decided to ride the mountain bike today as Sue was joining me. Dusted of both bikes & gave them a quick check over - pumped up the fat rubber & off we set. 

Our route took us from Admaston to Oakengates, Telford Town Centre, Woodside, Coalbrookdale, & into Ironbridge - had a very nice ice cream. Then set off on the return via Coalport, Blists Hill, Telford Town Centre, Oakengates to home following the A442. A round trip of 24.5 miles with 99% on cycle track. 

Weather was brilliant & just to spin the easy gears using the grannie ring of the mountain bike was a nice change.

This is the first time Sue has been out cycling for 18 months+ & she did really well - although I'm sure her a**e will tell the full story tomorrow. 

Summary of Week 5

Training continues to work & back but with extension to the mileage on the way home. Wednesday was my birthday -icing on the cake was Chelsea beating Liverpool 3-1 at Anfield in the champions league. Avoided the rain on Good Friday's ride & went out for a birthday meal with Sue & Nathan. To round off a good week I had a taster session at Manchester Velodrome which doubled as my Saturday training ride, Fantastic!

Road to Nowhere [Manchester Velodrome]

A 1-hour adrenalin rush on the road to nowhere - better known as the Manchester Velodrome, home of the GB cycling team that conquered the world at the Beijing Olympics. 

The fixed bike was easier than expected, for those of you that don't know a "fixey" has no gears, no freewheel & no brakes so once you start pedalling your off & running.

After a few quick words from the coach, the group of 12 riders hit the blue zone [slow lane] to get to know the bike. After a few circuits we hit the boards, the banking looks steep from the sides but when your on a bike it feels almost vertical & impossible that the bike will stay upright but with speed you just flow around the bends & stay put. Lap after lap I reveled in the land of Olympic gold medalist's & world champions, after a few laps my confidence was soaring & I hit the high banking coming out of the turn & with the slingshot effect I hammered down the straight into a flying lap, exhilarating. You just have to image yourself as a Sir Chris Hoy even if its only in the morning eating the Bran Flakes!

Having worked up a sweat & reddened the cheeks a little - the hour was over all to soon - what a buzz - what a fantastic birthday present from my wife Sue, thanks darlin'. 

Its my Birthday!

Took a day off from training today as its my birthday. Had a fantastic birthday surprise from Sue she has arranged a taster session at Manchester Velodrome for me this Saturday - should be an experience riding a fixed bike - Cant wait. 

Thanks to everyone for the birthday cards including the Action Medical Research team & the one opposite from Mike & Clare - hilarious

Want to make it tougher "Just add hills"

Sunday - got up & walked the dog, helped with the housework, done a bit of shopping, had a little lunch, right now its time to get the bike out. 

Gave the legs an airing today [that's in shorts] - weather fantastic - perfect for cycling. Chose a hilly route to toughen things up a little. So, from Admaston out to the A5 turning past the Wroxeter Roman ruins on the back road to Ironbridge. At the Cressage cross roads turned up hill through Eaton Constantine to the base of the Wrekin. Continued to climb around the Wrekin to Little Wenlock, a lung buster of a climb, passing through Horsehay before the speedy decent back home. Excellent ride - only 22 miles - but it feels longer with the ascent. 

Summary of Week 4

More of the same training - cycled to work on the same route [must change next week]. 

Had a great response from people at work with loads of sponsorship pledges. 

"Alternative" training - hiked up the Wrekin on Friday afternoon & introduced a longer ride on Saturday morning - 36.35 miles to be exact. 

Ordered my AMR L2P cycling jersey for the final day's ride into Paris.

Going to a fund raising Curry night Saturday - not for me - but for a Japanese work colleague who is running the London marathon in aid of the Severn Hospice - Good luck to Mike Okura. 

Time to Ramp-Up the training

Having had a fairly leisurely introduction to my training so far - today was time to introduce a reasonable weekend ride. As all roads lead from & to home it seemed like a good place to start. I was up & ready to go for 07.21 am and I cycled the following route. Admaston to Lilleshall up & over the hill, then onto Newport, exiting Newport on the Shrewsbury road heading toward Edgmond & Crudgington [another hill]. Past the Dairy to High Ercall continuing toward Shrewsbury over Haughmond Hill [thats the third] turning towards Atcham & then towards Telford on the A5. A total of 36.35 miles.

Concentrated on keeping cadence at about 80 - Good aerobic fitness level over the ride - Legs felt good overall. 

Spent the next 1.5 hours cleaning my bike.

Photo's are of  Lilleshall Monument  and a view of the Wrekin taken from the Tibberton cross roads on the Newport/Crudgington Rd

Cycling Buddies

I totally forgot to mention that I have a good friend who is doing the L2P with me.

Mike Walsgrove - long suffering teammate of Saturday & Sunday football, film critic extraordinaire, best man at my wedding & rookie cyclist just happened to think that the L2P was a good idea at the time......... and of course it is. 

What Mike didn't know is that he would be bitten by the bug that is cycling, so having started with nothing three weeks ago he know has a new bike & a full array of kit, outstanding. 

You can check on Mike's progress by logging onto www.mikeysbikey.blogspot.com 

Alternative Training

I had to visit my jersey sponsor "Elite Auto Centers Ltd" about the art work for print my AMR L2P jersey. 

So didn't cycle to work today, instead opted for alternative training by hiking up the Wrekin [local landmark], with Sue the [wife] & Barney [the dog]. Fantastic weather this afternoon although the view from the top was somewhat murky.

Link to Google Map of our Wrekin Hike

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=106649680383847558864.000466a90d5c60250f29e&ll=52.677423,-2.540331&spn=0.018786,0.032272&t=h&z=15&lci=com.panoramio.all