Christmas time is a time when cyclist theoretically get new kit, wasn’t Santa ever a cyclist? This year he seems to have forgotten I am a cyclist. No shiny new cycling stuff for me.
My haul this year was hankies, books and DVDs. The BIG ONE was a set of weighing scales with fat, bone, muscle and water percentages. I have set it up and will be plotting this along with all the data from my Polar CS600. My current body fat level is 22% which is in the normal range but on the high end.
Christmas Eve we were present wrapping late into the night. Why can’t Santa wrap the presents himself or get his elves to do it rather than leaving it to parents? Whilst we were quite organised we still had to try to determine who had been forgotten. Christmas Day was dominated by the new Wii Father Christmas brought my son.
The previous week we (my son and I) bought Mum’s present, a sweetie bracelet. Initially we agreed that it was to be repaid over 10 years at 80p a week, however, we finally settled for a one off payment of £5.00 up front from his bank account with me funding the balance. The £5.00 came from his first communion earlier in the year. It gave him an excuse to withdraw money, something he always enjoys. He feels very grown up going up to the cashier and signing his name, but the money in his account running out and he is wondering where the next top up is coming from, oh, and can he have a credit card. Mum liked the bracelet.
Now the cycling, Christmas Eve I did 38 miles around Box Hill with M. At Rykers Café at the base of Mont Box I got a puncture, the 3rd week in a row. Good job I fixed a spare inner tube before going out.
Saturday after Boxing Day, I did 36 miles with Big G. Big G has a saying “Life is like a dog and a lamp post, sometimes you are the dog and sometimes you are the lamp post”. Recently riding with M I am usually the lamp post, and a few weeks ago Big G would have kicked my behind, but due to the pressures of work he has been neglecting his training so today I was the dog and he was the lamp post.
Football news – my son was at Foolham on a training course Monday to Wednesday which he seemed to enjoy. We went to Griffin Park on Boxing Day to see a dreadful game of football, but at least the Bees came away with a 2-0 win.
Saturday 27 December 2008
Monday 22 December 2008
December 21st The Shortest Day
I only managed one gym session this week. My son was at his grandparents so I took the opportunity to get an extra long session in with a 10 K ergo, some light rep weights followed by an hour on the bike.
It was a very slow start on the ergo and at halfway it was looking like a record slow row, but with 12 minutes to go a young lady got on the next machine and set it up for a 2000 metre row. I decided to step up the pace and see if I could catch her. Despite trying, the heart rate was at maximum and the rating had gone up from 20 to 30 I didn’t quite manage it but I did manage to catch up with my usual times and knock two seconds off from the previous week’s time.
When I got home I was in trouble with “Er Indoors” for being out so late. The brownie points from taking her to the cinema the previous night to see James Bond obviously not valid.
The rest of the week was full of good intentions but no action.
Saturday I went out on my own around the Surrey Hills. I briefly toyed with the idea of joining the Dynamos run in Richmond Park but could not face the chance that I might get dropped off the back of the slow group.
I went out through Chessington and Leatherhead to Effingham, turned off the A246 up Beech Avenue then up High Barn. I remembered this road from the SWRC 100 last year. What I didn’t remember was the 1:7 hill which was wet and muddy and as I went up the back wheel kept spinning.
I then went along Ranmore Common, down to Westhumble, up Mont Box and along to the junction with the Dorking Road. I decided to add a bit of a challenge s went down Pebble Hil, along the A25 to Reigate then up Reigate Hill and followed the A217 home. Whereas on the way out it felt like the bike was dragging, the wind was obviously behind me on the way home along the A217 as I was belting along over 20 mph all the way. A nice way to finish the ride.
I did 39.8 miles, just short of 40 and I was pleased with that.
I spent Saturday afternoon with my son at Craven Cottage watching Foolham FC Vs Middlesboro. We got free tickets as my son is doing a Fulham football course this week. The stadium was full and the final score Fulham 3:0 Middlesboro. We don’t go very often but Fulham always does well when we go, whereas The Bees (Brentford FC) where we are going on Boxing Day to watch them play Bournemouth, always struggles.
Sunday I went out with M. It had to be quick and early as I had to be back to go up to the British Museum with the family to get ideas for my sons holiday homework, we have to build a Tutankhamen’s sarcophagus. Now some families who have older kids in the school have been digging out the sarcophagus’ that had been made for them, and then doing a bit of restoration (I saw one that was being restored that an au-pair had made a few years ago, excellent craftsmanship but did the child appreciate it?). We don’t have that luck so we are going to have to start from scratch, and no one in our house is artistic except my daughter and she is away at university.
There is a business opportunity for some enterprising teenager who is into crafts/artistic to make these and sell them to the families like us.
Next year we understand that we have to build a motte and bailey castle and village. Parents talk with anxiety and trepidation of the hours and effort that have to go into that project.
Back to the cycling with M. We did 33 Miles out through Cobham and Stoke D’Abenon to Box and then back through Tadley and Epsom racecourse.
I had another front wheel Puncture on Box Hill. Looks like time for a new tyre. I will have to visit the bike shop this week.
As we came into Worcester Park we stopped at Costa Coffee where my wife and son usually go after church on a Sunday. This, of course, was the only Sunday they had gone straight home to wait for me to go up to London. When I telephoned them from the coffee shop with my coffee in front of me I knew I was in trouble. When am I ever going to be in credit on those brownie points?
Sunday night my brother lent me his imagic top of the range trainer. I am looking forward to seeing what difference modern technology has on those turbo rides in the garage.
The Wife is busy at work this week, my son is on a football course at Fulham and I have a list as long as your arm which includes buying the turkey and Christmas food shopping, starting/finishing Christmas present shopping, digging out a trellis in the garden and taking a load of rubbish to the dump. Not much chance of a sneaky bike ride.
It was a very slow start on the ergo and at halfway it was looking like a record slow row, but with 12 minutes to go a young lady got on the next machine and set it up for a 2000 metre row. I decided to step up the pace and see if I could catch her. Despite trying, the heart rate was at maximum and the rating had gone up from 20 to 30 I didn’t quite manage it but I did manage to catch up with my usual times and knock two seconds off from the previous week’s time.
When I got home I was in trouble with “Er Indoors” for being out so late. The brownie points from taking her to the cinema the previous night to see James Bond obviously not valid.
The rest of the week was full of good intentions but no action.
Saturday I went out on my own around the Surrey Hills. I briefly toyed with the idea of joining the Dynamos run in Richmond Park but could not face the chance that I might get dropped off the back of the slow group.
I went out through Chessington and Leatherhead to Effingham, turned off the A246 up Beech Avenue then up High Barn. I remembered this road from the SWRC 100 last year. What I didn’t remember was the 1:7 hill which was wet and muddy and as I went up the back wheel kept spinning.
I then went along Ranmore Common, down to Westhumble, up Mont Box and along to the junction with the Dorking Road. I decided to add a bit of a challenge s went down Pebble Hil, along the A25 to Reigate then up Reigate Hill and followed the A217 home. Whereas on the way out it felt like the bike was dragging, the wind was obviously behind me on the way home along the A217 as I was belting along over 20 mph all the way. A nice way to finish the ride.
I did 39.8 miles, just short of 40 and I was pleased with that.
I spent Saturday afternoon with my son at Craven Cottage watching Foolham FC Vs Middlesboro. We got free tickets as my son is doing a Fulham football course this week. The stadium was full and the final score Fulham 3:0 Middlesboro. We don’t go very often but Fulham always does well when we go, whereas The Bees (Brentford FC) where we are going on Boxing Day to watch them play Bournemouth, always struggles.
Sunday I went out with M. It had to be quick and early as I had to be back to go up to the British Museum with the family to get ideas for my sons holiday homework, we have to build a Tutankhamen’s sarcophagus. Now some families who have older kids in the school have been digging out the sarcophagus’ that had been made for them, and then doing a bit of restoration (I saw one that was being restored that an au-pair had made a few years ago, excellent craftsmanship but did the child appreciate it?). We don’t have that luck so we are going to have to start from scratch, and no one in our house is artistic except my daughter and she is away at university.
There is a business opportunity for some enterprising teenager who is into crafts/artistic to make these and sell them to the families like us.
Next year we understand that we have to build a motte and bailey castle and village. Parents talk with anxiety and trepidation of the hours and effort that have to go into that project.
Back to the cycling with M. We did 33 Miles out through Cobham and Stoke D’Abenon to Box and then back through Tadley and Epsom racecourse.
I had another front wheel Puncture on Box Hill. Looks like time for a new tyre. I will have to visit the bike shop this week.
As we came into Worcester Park we stopped at Costa Coffee where my wife and son usually go after church on a Sunday. This, of course, was the only Sunday they had gone straight home to wait for me to go up to London. When I telephoned them from the coffee shop with my coffee in front of me I knew I was in trouble. When am I ever going to be in credit on those brownie points?
Sunday night my brother lent me his imagic top of the range trainer. I am looking forward to seeing what difference modern technology has on those turbo rides in the garage.
The Wife is busy at work this week, my son is on a football course at Fulham and I have a list as long as your arm which includes buying the turkey and Christmas food shopping, starting/finishing Christmas present shopping, digging out a trellis in the garden and taking a load of rubbish to the dump. Not much chance of a sneaky bike ride.
Sunday 21 December 2008
December 14th What a washout
I managed two 10 kilometre rowing ergs in the gym during the week. Getting faster (but scores are still not anywhere near where they should be) and quite enjoying getting back into rowing on the machines.
Saturday I was intending to go out on my own, however, when I got up it was pouring with rain, no point in cycling. Shortly after we received a telephone call to say that the football was called off.
We decided there was no alternative so we arranged to take my son and his mate to the cinema to watch Madagascar 2 followed by MacDonalds. Actually not a bad film as kids films go.
Sunday I had arranged to go out with M but when I got up at 7:15 am I had a text saying he was sick so was not going to be riding. I decided as I was up and dressed in my cycling gear that I would no waste the opportunity to get in a few miles and decided I would go out with The London Dynamos.
Only 6 of us turned up at Hampton Court Bridge at 9:00 AM although we did see a big posse of Dynamos ride past but we were not sure if they were the 8:00 am ride or on their way to a race. They just waived as they went past.
We went off at quite a pace. After about 15 miles we started going up the serious hills towards Shere. Going up the hills my glasses steamed up and legs ceased to work and I kept falling behind. This was very disheartening. At the top of the ridge before going down into Shere one of the lads decided to turn back. As we got down to the A25 I decided that I was not going to be able to keep up the pace going up the hills into Peaslake and up to Leith so I decided to take the slightly shorter route along the A25 and through Abinger to Leith.
As I went through Gomshall there was a puddle I had to cycle through which was up to my bottom bracket and resulted in very wet feet. The waterproof neoprene overshoes keeping the water in.
Shortly thereafter I had a choice of turning off the A25 right up Leith hill via Abinger or left up the 18% hill of Critten Lane. I decided that I was too wet, cold and tired to do Leith so I turned left up the hill. As I was going up another cyclist stopped me and told me that there was a flood at the top of Critten Lane just before the junction with Ranmore Common Road. He told me to lift my bike over the locked gate into the field, climb over, go diagonally across the field and then go over another locked gate into Ranmore Common Road. When I got to the top there was the puddle with a reasonably new Volvo estate stranded in the middle, puddle half way up the doors as the 4 X 4’s splashed past. I did as the cyclist recommended and tramped across the muddy field (after having a good but cruel laugh at the Volvo driver).
After riding home I had managed 48 miles.
In the afternoon I had to go to friends Christmas drinks. I had obviously caught a chill as I was shivering even though the house was warm (loads of babies at this party) and I was wearing two pullovers. I was also very, very tired.
Later I had to drive my son up to MK to stay with his Grandparents for a few days. I was so tired watching Chris Hoy with the BBC Sports Personality of the Year award. Well done Chris.
Saturday I was intending to go out on my own, however, when I got up it was pouring with rain, no point in cycling. Shortly after we received a telephone call to say that the football was called off.
We decided there was no alternative so we arranged to take my son and his mate to the cinema to watch Madagascar 2 followed by MacDonalds. Actually not a bad film as kids films go.
Sunday I had arranged to go out with M but when I got up at 7:15 am I had a text saying he was sick so was not going to be riding. I decided as I was up and dressed in my cycling gear that I would no waste the opportunity to get in a few miles and decided I would go out with The London Dynamos.
Only 6 of us turned up at Hampton Court Bridge at 9:00 AM although we did see a big posse of Dynamos ride past but we were not sure if they were the 8:00 am ride or on their way to a race. They just waived as they went past.
We went off at quite a pace. After about 15 miles we started going up the serious hills towards Shere. Going up the hills my glasses steamed up and legs ceased to work and I kept falling behind. This was very disheartening. At the top of the ridge before going down into Shere one of the lads decided to turn back. As we got down to the A25 I decided that I was not going to be able to keep up the pace going up the hills into Peaslake and up to Leith so I decided to take the slightly shorter route along the A25 and through Abinger to Leith.
As I went through Gomshall there was a puddle I had to cycle through which was up to my bottom bracket and resulted in very wet feet. The waterproof neoprene overshoes keeping the water in.
Shortly thereafter I had a choice of turning off the A25 right up Leith hill via Abinger or left up the 18% hill of Critten Lane. I decided that I was too wet, cold and tired to do Leith so I turned left up the hill. As I was going up another cyclist stopped me and told me that there was a flood at the top of Critten Lane just before the junction with Ranmore Common Road. He told me to lift my bike over the locked gate into the field, climb over, go diagonally across the field and then go over another locked gate into Ranmore Common Road. When I got to the top there was the puddle with a reasonably new Volvo estate stranded in the middle, puddle half way up the doors as the 4 X 4’s splashed past. I did as the cyclist recommended and tramped across the muddy field (after having a good but cruel laugh at the Volvo driver).
After riding home I had managed 48 miles.
In the afternoon I had to go to friends Christmas drinks. I had obviously caught a chill as I was shivering even though the house was warm (loads of babies at this party) and I was wearing two pullovers. I was also very, very tired.
Later I had to drive my son up to MK to stay with his Grandparents for a few days. I was so tired watching Chris Hoy with the BBC Sports Personality of the Year award. Well done Chris.
Appeal following death of cyclist in Richmond Park 18.12.08
Police are appealing urgently for any information or assistance to identify a man who collapsed in Richmond Park on Wednesday 17 December.
Police were called shortly after 3pm to cyclist who had fallen from his bike on the road that runs through the park between Richmond Gate and Pembroke Lodge.
The man was taken by ambulance to Kingston Hospital but sadly died a short while later. A post mortem will be arranged.
The man was not carrying any form of ID with him and so far poice have been unable to establish his identity. He is described as a white man, possibly in his 30s, about 6' tall and of thin build. He has short fair hair, no facial hair and wore Lycra cycling gear in black and grey. The bike has a white and black "MONOC" frame.
The incident is being investigated by the Royal Parks unit, based at Hyde Park. Inspector Sarah Matthews, said: "At this stage, we are not sure if the man fell accidentally or if there was another reason for him falling off the bike. We are appealing for anyone who may be able to identify him or for witnesses who were in the area and may have seen him prior to the incident. "We would also like to hear from anyone who thinks they may recognise the description of this man and his bike.
Anyone with any information is asked to call 020 7161 9630 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 to remain anonymous. **********************************************************************
Police were called shortly after 3pm to cyclist who had fallen from his bike on the road that runs through the park between Richmond Gate and Pembroke Lodge.
The man was taken by ambulance to Kingston Hospital but sadly died a short while later. A post mortem will be arranged.
The man was not carrying any form of ID with him and so far poice have been unable to establish his identity. He is described as a white man, possibly in his 30s, about 6' tall and of thin build. He has short fair hair, no facial hair and wore Lycra cycling gear in black and grey. The bike has a white and black "MONOC" frame.
The incident is being investigated by the Royal Parks unit, based at Hyde Park. Inspector Sarah Matthews, said: "At this stage, we are not sure if the man fell accidentally or if there was another reason for him falling off the bike. We are appealing for anyone who may be able to identify him or for witnesses who were in the area and may have seen him prior to the incident. "We would also like to hear from anyone who thinks they may recognise the description of this man and his bike.
Anyone with any information is asked to call 020 7161 9630 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 to remain anonymous. **********************************************************************
Thursday 11 December 2008
December 7th 2008 Winter Wonderland
Sunday morning M and I ventured out at 8:00 am to the icy lanes of Surrey. The temperature was below zero and the grass was all icy where Jack Frost had done his worst, and he had even managed to cover the roads.
We like to think we were like the “Torvil & Dean” of the cycling world, riding on ice, others may unkindly have described it as the “Laurel and Hardy”.
It was dastardly cold and we wrapped up warm and worked hard to build up some heat, and no matter how good your gloves were you were going to get cold hands.
As we were both on tight curfews from our wives it was a quick 31 miles around to Mont Box and back. I was home by 10:15 am. I must say that I felt in good form. I am not sure if it was the training sessions I had done during the week (on the rowing machine, see below) or the fact that I hadn’t been out Saturday so had extra energy, or just that I knew it had to be a short ride which was well within my capabilities.
M had been out on Saturday and had done a hard but short ride and he was not quite in such good form, so rather than chasing him along the A217 from Banstead to Cheam (a lovely fast 4 mile bit of road if you are going in the right direction), it was me setting the pace, somewhat slower than he usually sets.
We made it back without incident, no punctures this week, no slips on ice and no accidents. Others weren’t quite so lucky. One of the Guilford Pootle-on was in a collision with a white van and only just managed to struggle home before his derailleur gave up the ghost. Another Pootle-on’er reported that a bunch from her club had a number of slips on the ice and one member was still in hospital while others had pelvic bruising, something I painfully remember from last November.
My sons exam results started to come through. The results are a mixed bag that prompted us to request a meeting with the teacher. This has not been a catalyst to household harmony especially as the more you try to talk to him about it the more smart remarks you receive back. Bah, 8 year olds! At least he did well in French. We await the end of term report!
It is the school carol service this week and he made the last three in the trials for the solo spot (a bit like X Factor at the school). He did not get selected but a pleasing result to get that far. He will be singing in the junior choir on the night and we will be there to watch.
He also won his football on Saturday. At half time they were only one goal up, but in the second half they fielded the stronger players and won 6-0. That is the end of the autumn season and they are undefeated in the league and the cup. Next week is a match brought forward from March next year.
Training wise I have decided that a bit of cross training is required. I used to be an oarsman but haven’t been in a boat for two years now (not since Kingston Head 2006). As both rowing and cycling use the thigh muscles I decided it was time to get back to doing a few 10 kilometre rows on the rowing machine at the gym. This will strengthen not only the legs but the back and give the upper body a workout. I got two in last week, very slow but it is rewarding to get back. I also did two short (one 30 min and one 60 min) sessions on the static bike. On that front it looks like my power has been rising and I am back over 200 watts average for the hour (but at average heart rate of 150 plus, cadence 90 rpm).
Pootle-on everyone but be careful out there!
We like to think we were like the “Torvil & Dean” of the cycling world, riding on ice, others may unkindly have described it as the “Laurel and Hardy”.
It was dastardly cold and we wrapped up warm and worked hard to build up some heat, and no matter how good your gloves were you were going to get cold hands.
As we were both on tight curfews from our wives it was a quick 31 miles around to Mont Box and back. I was home by 10:15 am. I must say that I felt in good form. I am not sure if it was the training sessions I had done during the week (on the rowing machine, see below) or the fact that I hadn’t been out Saturday so had extra energy, or just that I knew it had to be a short ride which was well within my capabilities.
M had been out on Saturday and had done a hard but short ride and he was not quite in such good form, so rather than chasing him along the A217 from Banstead to Cheam (a lovely fast 4 mile bit of road if you are going in the right direction), it was me setting the pace, somewhat slower than he usually sets.
We made it back without incident, no punctures this week, no slips on ice and no accidents. Others weren’t quite so lucky. One of the Guilford Pootle-on was in a collision with a white van and only just managed to struggle home before his derailleur gave up the ghost. Another Pootle-on’er reported that a bunch from her club had a number of slips on the ice and one member was still in hospital while others had pelvic bruising, something I painfully remember from last November.
My sons exam results started to come through. The results are a mixed bag that prompted us to request a meeting with the teacher. This has not been a catalyst to household harmony especially as the more you try to talk to him about it the more smart remarks you receive back. Bah, 8 year olds! At least he did well in French. We await the end of term report!
It is the school carol service this week and he made the last three in the trials for the solo spot (a bit like X Factor at the school). He did not get selected but a pleasing result to get that far. He will be singing in the junior choir on the night and we will be there to watch.
He also won his football on Saturday. At half time they were only one goal up, but in the second half they fielded the stronger players and won 6-0. That is the end of the autumn season and they are undefeated in the league and the cup. Next week is a match brought forward from March next year.
Training wise I have decided that a bit of cross training is required. I used to be an oarsman but haven’t been in a boat for two years now (not since Kingston Head 2006). As both rowing and cycling use the thigh muscles I decided it was time to get back to doing a few 10 kilometre rows on the rowing machine at the gym. This will strengthen not only the legs but the back and give the upper body a workout. I got two in last week, very slow but it is rewarding to get back. I also did two short (one 30 min and one 60 min) sessions on the static bike. On that front it looks like my power has been rising and I am back over 200 watts average for the hour (but at average heart rate of 150 plus, cadence 90 rpm).
Pootle-on everyone but be careful out there!
Tuesday 2 December 2008
Rain Rain Go Away
The associates of the Guilford Pootle-on arranged to meet Sunday morning at Guildford for a posse ride of the Surrey Hills. How did we get on - read about it below.
It has been very tense in our house the last week building up to my 8 year olds exams which were Thursday and Friday last week and Monday and Tuesday this week. I don't know who is more tense, my son or his mother! Last week my wife had told him that he was expected to do his best to which he replied in a blasé manner that all he had to do was get 50% - red rag to a bull, Mum went mad and he was told in no uncertain terms that 80% was the benchmark. Wednesday night at bedtime we had tears and my son told me (his interpretation of the conversation with his mother, not as she tells it) that Mum had told him that unless he got 80% he was going to loose his Nintendo DS for a year!
It must be said that my son is like I was, he does not always live up to his capabilities and usually scrapes through with the minimum. His last set of exam results were disappointing.
Roll on Tuesday night when this period of exams is over.
During the week I only got one training session in which consisted of a 7500 metre session on the rowing machine and 25 minutes on the gym bike so I was desperate for exercise by the weekend.
What a weekend - where is that Indian summer we were expecting, what happened to the drought we usually experience, what has happened to out mild winters? All questions which, no doubt you too were asking at the weekend. Before I go into my training, the Guildford Peleton ride, and a story of woe and punctures, let me tell you about my sons football.
Saturday morning I had to attend my sons football match. Whilst at the beginning of the season he wanted to be in goal (saw it as thee easy option) he now has more confidence and wants to be out on the field more. The problem is both at school and on Saturday he has shown some skill in the goal and the team wants him there on guard. On Saturday he was in goal for the first half with the promise of being out the second half. Before half time they were 2-0 down (not a position they are used to) and then the opposition was awarded a penalty! The team was downhearted (especially as it was felt the penalty was unjustified). The ball was struck and my son stopped it. You could hear the relief from the spectating parents.
Half time came and in the second half tables turned. He was allowed out of the goal, his team got back the two goal deficit, and had the opposition under pressure most of the time. Their goalie was kept very busy and there were a lot of near misses, posts and high balls. The match ended a 2-2 draw.
Saturday afternoon I slipped out for a run. After 20 minutes and a third of the way around the circuit my calf suddenly went, and boy was it painful. I couldn't continue running, it was raining, I was in a long sleeve Ron Hill thermal top and running shorts, and it was cold and had started raining. I hobbled half a mile to the nearest station (didn't have any money,card, ID etc). The station fortunately wasn't manned and the barriers were open so I went on to the platform and the train arrived 5 minutes later. There was no inspector on the train. I got off at my home station, again unmanned and hobbled home. Once home I wanted to warm up and to know how bad my calf was so I jumped on the turbo for 45 minutes.
The calf stood up to the turbo so I arranged to meet M and J at Hampton Court at 9:00 AM from whence we would ride down to Shere where the others, meeting in Guilford, would ride out to meet us.
Sunday morning, after a late night at the school ball at the Tithe Barn Hotel at the base of Mont Box (we got home 1:00 AM), I got up first in our house. The weather first thing wasn't too bad. The three of us met (M, J and me) and had a gently but damp cycle down to Shere passing various groups huddled around punctured wheels. When we got there M went off in the direction of Peaslake to get an extra hill under his belt while J and I went to the Lucky Duck Tea House, and whilst some of our clothing was on the radiator drying off, we enjoyed coffee and a mince pie.
The other four who met in Guildford joined us, and immediately one young lady decided that she would abandon (not everyone automatically dresses for English weather). We only got about three miles down the road before M got a puncture and we all stopped to assist. At this point J decided she too had had enough and headed home. We went up on to the ridge (up the 18% hill) and along to Ranmore then down into Dorking. At this point we stopped at the bike shop as one rider needed new gloves. The plan was to ride up from Dorking through Coldharbour to Leith Hill before returning through Abinger Hammer, however, the rain got heavier, the temperature colder, and time was moving on. Once we were ready for the off we decided it was better to call it a day. Captain Turbo P headed back along the A25 to Guildford whilst the rest of us (4 of us) headed for Mont Box.
No sooner had we got out of Dorking than I got a flat tyre. As I was at the back I dropped off and the others didn't hear my call or notice my absence. They stopped at Rykers at the base of Mont Box and M came back looking for me. M and I sheltered in the underpass and working together (freezing cold wet hands at this point) changed the inner tune. I am a man who usually repairs tubes first rather than replaces them [tight, traditional, stupid?] but there was no way in that weather I was going to try that. With the CO2 already used on M's tyre we had to resort to using a pump which meant for the rest of the trip my tyre would be soft.
We then joined the other two who had warmed up on a cup of tea at Rykers and headed up Mont Box and out to the A217 towards London. M and I left the others when we got to Cheam and they headed off towards London. We went home.
I was cold and wet when I got home. We had only done 50 miles in 5 hours (including stops). The wife would not let me in the house so I had to go into the garage and do a freezing striptease in front of the washing machine (which resides in the garage) before streaking through the house to a warm shower. I didn't even stop to rinse off the bike so I will have to get around to cleaning and lubricating it this week.
It has been very tense in our house the last week building up to my 8 year olds exams which were Thursday and Friday last week and Monday and Tuesday this week. I don't know who is more tense, my son or his mother! Last week my wife had told him that he was expected to do his best to which he replied in a blasé manner that all he had to do was get 50% - red rag to a bull, Mum went mad and he was told in no uncertain terms that 80% was the benchmark. Wednesday night at bedtime we had tears and my son told me (his interpretation of the conversation with his mother, not as she tells it) that Mum had told him that unless he got 80% he was going to loose his Nintendo DS for a year!
It must be said that my son is like I was, he does not always live up to his capabilities and usually scrapes through with the minimum. His last set of exam results were disappointing.
Roll on Tuesday night when this period of exams is over.
During the week I only got one training session in which consisted of a 7500 metre session on the rowing machine and 25 minutes on the gym bike so I was desperate for exercise by the weekend.
What a weekend - where is that Indian summer we were expecting, what happened to the drought we usually experience, what has happened to out mild winters? All questions which, no doubt you too were asking at the weekend. Before I go into my training, the Guildford Peleton ride, and a story of woe and punctures, let me tell you about my sons football.
Saturday morning I had to attend my sons football match. Whilst at the beginning of the season he wanted to be in goal (saw it as thee easy option) he now has more confidence and wants to be out on the field more. The problem is both at school and on Saturday he has shown some skill in the goal and the team wants him there on guard. On Saturday he was in goal for the first half with the promise of being out the second half. Before half time they were 2-0 down (not a position they are used to) and then the opposition was awarded a penalty! The team was downhearted (especially as it was felt the penalty was unjustified). The ball was struck and my son stopped it. You could hear the relief from the spectating parents.
Half time came and in the second half tables turned. He was allowed out of the goal, his team got back the two goal deficit, and had the opposition under pressure most of the time. Their goalie was kept very busy and there were a lot of near misses, posts and high balls. The match ended a 2-2 draw.
Saturday afternoon I slipped out for a run. After 20 minutes and a third of the way around the circuit my calf suddenly went, and boy was it painful. I couldn't continue running, it was raining, I was in a long sleeve Ron Hill thermal top and running shorts, and it was cold and had started raining. I hobbled half a mile to the nearest station (didn't have any money,card, ID etc). The station fortunately wasn't manned and the barriers were open so I went on to the platform and the train arrived 5 minutes later. There was no inspector on the train. I got off at my home station, again unmanned and hobbled home. Once home I wanted to warm up and to know how bad my calf was so I jumped on the turbo for 45 minutes.
The calf stood up to the turbo so I arranged to meet M and J at Hampton Court at 9:00 AM from whence we would ride down to Shere where the others, meeting in Guilford, would ride out to meet us.
Sunday morning, after a late night at the school ball at the Tithe Barn Hotel at the base of Mont Box (we got home 1:00 AM), I got up first in our house. The weather first thing wasn't too bad. The three of us met (M, J and me) and had a gently but damp cycle down to Shere passing various groups huddled around punctured wheels. When we got there M went off in the direction of Peaslake to get an extra hill under his belt while J and I went to the Lucky Duck Tea House, and whilst some of our clothing was on the radiator drying off, we enjoyed coffee and a mince pie.
The other four who met in Guildford joined us, and immediately one young lady decided that she would abandon (not everyone automatically dresses for English weather). We only got about three miles down the road before M got a puncture and we all stopped to assist. At this point J decided she too had had enough and headed home. We went up on to the ridge (up the 18% hill) and along to Ranmore then down into Dorking. At this point we stopped at the bike shop as one rider needed new gloves. The plan was to ride up from Dorking through Coldharbour to Leith Hill before returning through Abinger Hammer, however, the rain got heavier, the temperature colder, and time was moving on. Once we were ready for the off we decided it was better to call it a day. Captain Turbo P headed back along the A25 to Guildford whilst the rest of us (4 of us) headed for Mont Box.
No sooner had we got out of Dorking than I got a flat tyre. As I was at the back I dropped off and the others didn't hear my call or notice my absence. They stopped at Rykers at the base of Mont Box and M came back looking for me. M and I sheltered in the underpass and working together (freezing cold wet hands at this point) changed the inner tune. I am a man who usually repairs tubes first rather than replaces them [tight, traditional, stupid?] but there was no way in that weather I was going to try that. With the CO2 already used on M's tyre we had to resort to using a pump which meant for the rest of the trip my tyre would be soft.
We then joined the other two who had warmed up on a cup of tea at Rykers and headed up Mont Box and out to the A217 towards London. M and I left the others when we got to Cheam and they headed off towards London. We went home.
I was cold and wet when I got home. We had only done 50 miles in 5 hours (including stops). The wife would not let me in the house so I had to go into the garage and do a freezing striptease in front of the washing machine (which resides in the garage) before streaking through the house to a warm shower. I didn't even stop to rinse off the bike so I will have to get around to cleaning and lubricating it this week.
Monday 24 November 2008
All is quiet on the Western Front
Busy fighting the cold front coming from the North at the moment.
Whilst I was not able to get out over the weekend due to the weather and other factors (football, school fair, dinner with friends, school exam revision), I did leave a puddle on the garage floor doing 22 miles (1 hour 25mins) on my ancient turbo (I have not yet had the chance to get hold of the imagic with the Ventoux programme that my brother has agreed to lend me). Even in the garage with the door closed I had to wear two layers this snowy Sunday morning.
The ancient turbo produces such a racket that I observed a mouse scurrying under the garage door out into the cold to get away from the noise. Perhaps if things don't go well here after the Lloyds takeover of HBOS I could go into pest control.
The coming weekend is still in the hands of the gods, or The Wife.
Got the result of the cross country I did last week in Richmond Park, I came 75th out of 137 male finishers. I am pleased with that. I don't know whether I will keep up the running, I think it compliments the fitness so I would like to try and get a few runs in over the winter.
Whilst I was not able to get out over the weekend due to the weather and other factors (football, school fair, dinner with friends, school exam revision), I did leave a puddle on the garage floor doing 22 miles (1 hour 25mins) on my ancient turbo (I have not yet had the chance to get hold of the imagic with the Ventoux programme that my brother has agreed to lend me). Even in the garage with the door closed I had to wear two layers this snowy Sunday morning.
The ancient turbo produces such a racket that I observed a mouse scurrying under the garage door out into the cold to get away from the noise. Perhaps if things don't go well here after the Lloyds takeover of HBOS I could go into pest control.
The coming weekend is still in the hands of the gods, or The Wife.
Got the result of the cross country I did last week in Richmond Park, I came 75th out of 137 male finishers. I am pleased with that. I don't know whether I will keep up the running, I think it compliments the fitness so I would like to try and get a few runs in over the winter.
Wednesday 19 November 2008
Cross Country
This Wednesday I had the cross country race in Richmond Park. After only three lunchtime runs of four miles each in preparation and a very sore calf I was ill prepared for the cross country run in Richmond Park.
Monday I was looking for my spikes ready for Wednesdays cross country run. I know where I last saw them (OK it was some time ago, maybe three years), in the bottom of a box of shoes under the stairs; were they there when I looked? – No.
I tipped he house upside down looking for them but the shoe fairy appears to have stolen them.
This necessitated an urgent trip to the running shop Monday lunchtime to buy a new pair. Fortunately they had a couple of pairs in Runners Needs off Bishopsgate, the first was in fluorescent green (New Balance) and the others (Saucony, my regular make) in gold. Why do they only make them in loud colours when they are goig to get covered in mud?
I purchased at great expense the Saucony shoes in gold.
Wednesday came, it weas a lovely bright sunny day and I met my HBOS team at the Bank of England Sports Ground in Priory Lane Roehampton. We all went to the start just inside Roehampton Gate and watched the women’s race. Our ladies team won the ladies team trophy.
I put on my gold spikes (brand new and not worn in) and took off my warm clothing. I think I was the only runner on the start wearing long sleeves. The race started and we were off for 5.75 miles of hills, mud, and sweat. I was lying about the middle of the field and spent most of the race 10 metres behind one of my team mates. I managed to overtake him at one point but he came back. I struggled up the hills but kept going making up most of any ground lost on the flat.
With a mile to go I could see the finish and it was flat or downhill all the way. I put in great effort and caught my team mate, overtook him and two others on the run in. This final sprint was despite the feeling I had had for some time that I had a stone in my sock at the back of my foot. Once I finished I quickly took off the spikes to discover a very big blister on the back of my foot. That is going to be painful for a few days for sure.
I didn’t score for the team (only the first four team members home score) but my target was 45 to 50 minutes and I achieved 41:45. I think I was about half way down the field of 160 runners. This would put me on for a 44 minute 10K which is what I achieved about three years ago on more training. I was very pleased with that result. Our men’s team was third in the men’s event but our vets won the Vets event.
HBOS has gone out on a high. Lloyds was about the only financial institution that did not have a team in today’s event.
Monday I was looking for my spikes ready for Wednesdays cross country run. I know where I last saw them (OK it was some time ago, maybe three years), in the bottom of a box of shoes under the stairs; were they there when I looked? – No.
I tipped he house upside down looking for them but the shoe fairy appears to have stolen them.
This necessitated an urgent trip to the running shop Monday lunchtime to buy a new pair. Fortunately they had a couple of pairs in Runners Needs off Bishopsgate, the first was in fluorescent green (New Balance) and the others (Saucony, my regular make) in gold. Why do they only make them in loud colours when they are goig to get covered in mud?
I purchased at great expense the Saucony shoes in gold.
Wednesday came, it weas a lovely bright sunny day and I met my HBOS team at the Bank of England Sports Ground in Priory Lane Roehampton. We all went to the start just inside Roehampton Gate and watched the women’s race. Our ladies team won the ladies team trophy.
I put on my gold spikes (brand new and not worn in) and took off my warm clothing. I think I was the only runner on the start wearing long sleeves. The race started and we were off for 5.75 miles of hills, mud, and sweat. I was lying about the middle of the field and spent most of the race 10 metres behind one of my team mates. I managed to overtake him at one point but he came back. I struggled up the hills but kept going making up most of any ground lost on the flat.
With a mile to go I could see the finish and it was flat or downhill all the way. I put in great effort and caught my team mate, overtook him and two others on the run in. This final sprint was despite the feeling I had had for some time that I had a stone in my sock at the back of my foot. Once I finished I quickly took off the spikes to discover a very big blister on the back of my foot. That is going to be painful for a few days for sure.
I didn’t score for the team (only the first four team members home score) but my target was 45 to 50 minutes and I achieved 41:45. I think I was about half way down the field of 160 runners. This would put me on for a 44 minute 10K which is what I achieved about three years ago on more training. I was very pleased with that result. Our men’s team was third in the men’s event but our vets won the Vets event.
HBOS has gone out on a high. Lloyds was about the only financial institution that did not have a team in today’s event.
Hey-Ho Off I ride to Bognor
Saturday my wife agreed to take my son to football and stand on the touchline whilst I cycled to Bognor Regis. She would then drive down later after football with my son and his cousin and we would stay Saturday night in the family holiday home.
I hate cycling on my own so Saturday morning at 9:30 am I gave Big G an early morning call to see if he wanted to join me for some of the ride. As he had had to wake up to answer to the telephone he agreed to join me for half my trip to Bognor.
We went through Epsom and Leatherhead and over Leith Hill then headed down through Forest Green and Ellens Green, stopping there for a coffee and a croissant before Big G headed back along the A29 and I went off to Bognor on the A29.
It took me five hours door to door (4:16 actual time on the bike) and I was knackered when I got there. I had clocked up 58 miles and I could not have cycled back if I had wanted to, my fitness is that bad.
My wife and the kids were already there when I arrived so I cycled straight to the café on the front (The Lobster Pot) and was enjoying beans on toast with sausage and a cup of coffee when they arrived.
My son had won his match and remains unbeaten this season - a very good result. His Saturday team have won the league and are proceeding through the cup. His school team have also remained undefeated.
On Sunday I came back by car with the others rather than cycling.
I hate cycling on my own so Saturday morning at 9:30 am I gave Big G an early morning call to see if he wanted to join me for some of the ride. As he had had to wake up to answer to the telephone he agreed to join me for half my trip to Bognor.
We went through Epsom and Leatherhead and over Leith Hill then headed down through Forest Green and Ellens Green, stopping there for a coffee and a croissant before Big G headed back along the A29 and I went off to Bognor on the A29.
It took me five hours door to door (4:16 actual time on the bike) and I was knackered when I got there. I had clocked up 58 miles and I could not have cycled back if I had wanted to, my fitness is that bad.
My wife and the kids were already there when I arrived so I cycled straight to the café on the front (The Lobster Pot) and was enjoying beans on toast with sausage and a cup of coffee when they arrived.
My son had won his match and remains unbeaten this season - a very good result. His Saturday team have won the league and are proceeding through the cup. His school team have also remained undefeated.
On Sunday I came back by car with the others rather than cycling.
Sunday 16 November 2008
Etap Logistics et al
Have you considered the logistics for the 2009 Etap yet? I have and have been working on a cunning plan.
As yet I do not have an entry or permission to put one in, but I was brave enough to bring the subject up last night with The Wife.
The way I introduced the subject was along the lines of, "How about next year we holiday in the Auvergne area of France in late July. There is a nice four star caravan park with excellent facilities near Allegre. The site has British built luxury mobile homes (see Eurocamp or Keycamp intersite for details) 4 swimming pools, restaurant, canoes, tennis, fishing, lots of walking cycling and rafting, it is near the sea (sort of) and, oh, the Tour de France passes through the area about that time and we could actually be there to watch a stage".
"Oh, and funnily enough the Etap is on the same week in the area".
After I had recovered from the stern glare, I stood my ground as I was lectured on how I needed to spend more time with my son, not out training for the Etap or wandering around like a zombie all the time exhausted. My response (not that I had my strategy all planned you understand) was that I stood up well on the Guilford Pootle-on reckie of the Tourmalet and Hautacam this year with little training, and my entry into next year would be on the basis that training not be a priority like in 2007, and that my attempt would be on a best efforts based on whatever fitness I have.
Besides, we usually holiday at a similar camp in the Southern Vendee (near La Rochelle) and it would be nice to see a different part of France.
Anyway, the conclusion I have taken from the conversation is that I can enter the Etap, but participation still requires more discussion. The intention would be to drive down leaving on the Friday July 17th and the caravan site might be the accommodation solution. The family could fly down and be picked up from the airport any day and they could fly home as well.
The advantage from a travel point of view is that I would get to drive there and back at my own pace without the back seat driver, the wrong type of music on the CD or the constant bickering that family harmony engenders on long car journeys. You may also remember that in 2007 M and I missed the Paris Periphere and ended up in the centre of Paris, this time I have TomTom with French maps.
This might also solve the problem that the start and finish are some 167 Km apart, in that The Wife could drop me off and pick me up.
Now if the other Guilford Pootle-on families plan holidays in a similar vein then there might be other synergies that could be advantageous.
My big problem now is getting an entry only package. As Sports Tours are sold out of entry only anyone else got other sources?
Trust you are all training this weekend. I am hoping that I will be allowed to cycle the 55 miles down to Bognor Regis this weekend (to the family holiday home there) whilst The Wife takes my son to his football Saturday morning before driving down to join me.
What we also need to kick start training is the reintroduction of the Guilford Pootle-on Monthly Mont Box time trials (3 laps of a 8 mile circuit around Mont Box), oh, and has has anyone started planning a 2009 reckie trip yet?
As yet I do not have an entry or permission to put one in, but I was brave enough to bring the subject up last night with The Wife.
The way I introduced the subject was along the lines of, "How about next year we holiday in the Auvergne area of France in late July. There is a nice four star caravan park with excellent facilities near Allegre. The site has British built luxury mobile homes (see Eurocamp or Keycamp intersite for details) 4 swimming pools, restaurant, canoes, tennis, fishing, lots of walking cycling and rafting, it is near the sea (sort of) and, oh, the Tour de France passes through the area about that time and we could actually be there to watch a stage".
"Oh, and funnily enough the Etap is on the same week in the area".
After I had recovered from the stern glare, I stood my ground as I was lectured on how I needed to spend more time with my son, not out training for the Etap or wandering around like a zombie all the time exhausted. My response (not that I had my strategy all planned you understand) was that I stood up well on the Guilford Pootle-on reckie of the Tourmalet and Hautacam this year with little training, and my entry into next year would be on the basis that training not be a priority like in 2007, and that my attempt would be on a best efforts based on whatever fitness I have.
Besides, we usually holiday at a similar camp in the Southern Vendee (near La Rochelle) and it would be nice to see a different part of France.
Anyway, the conclusion I have taken from the conversation is that I can enter the Etap, but participation still requires more discussion. The intention would be to drive down leaving on the Friday July 17th and the caravan site might be the accommodation solution. The family could fly down and be picked up from the airport any day and they could fly home as well.
The advantage from a travel point of view is that I would get to drive there and back at my own pace without the back seat driver, the wrong type of music on the CD or the constant bickering that family harmony engenders on long car journeys. You may also remember that in 2007 M and I missed the Paris Periphere and ended up in the centre of Paris, this time I have TomTom with French maps.
This might also solve the problem that the start and finish are some 167 Km apart, in that The Wife could drop me off and pick me up.
Now if the other Guilford Pootle-on families plan holidays in a similar vein then there might be other synergies that could be advantageous.
My big problem now is getting an entry only package. As Sports Tours are sold out of entry only anyone else got other sources?
Trust you are all training this weekend. I am hoping that I will be allowed to cycle the 55 miles down to Bognor Regis this weekend (to the family holiday home there) whilst The Wife takes my son to his football Saturday morning before driving down to join me.
What we also need to kick start training is the reintroduction of the Guilford Pootle-on Monthly Mont Box time trials (3 laps of a 8 mile circuit around Mont Box), oh, and has has anyone started planning a 2009 reckie trip yet?
Monday 10 November 2008
Brentford FC for the FA Cup - Come on you Bees
Big G and I were planning to get a Surrey Hills ride in on Saturday morning. Big G usually rides in the afternoons at the weekends to allow him to catch up on his sleep as he rises early during the week to go to his important investment bank job where he works long hours. On this occasion he had kindly agreed to go out early to fit in with my family duties.
Saturday morning was looking OK when I got up. I was dressed in my baggy cycling lycra and had the bike and cycling related paraphernalia in the middle of the kitchen being prepared for the ride whilst as a family we were trying to breakfast in the same room, my son was watching CBBC on the television whilst playing on the Nintendo, homework books on the side awaiting attention, family love and harmony blossoming (not).
The weather outside was getting worse and I was considering how wet I was going to get when I received a text from Big G to say that it was pouring where he was and he had gone back to bed. I telephone him just to make sure he didn't go back to sleep.
I decided that he was probably right so I took the bike back into the garage and hung it up. I then psyched myself up for a session on the turbo. As the turbo is somewhat noisy and the kitchen was being used for homework I was banished to the garage for the session. At least this meant that I didn't get bits of rubber over the kitchen floor while The Wife was present to notice.
I proceeded to do an hour and twenty minutes on the turbo, garage door open, facing out the up-and-over door into the Close and the pouring rain watching the comings and goings of the neighbours.
This time there were no punctures. The new tyre (or old recycled tyre, see previous entry) was much smoother and seem to change the whole gearing meaning the data was not comparable to previous sessions so a new comparative profile will need to be built up before I can see how not training enough means no improvement.
I burnt my boats a little (negative brownie points!) in that my turbo session did not finish until after the time my son was supposed to leave the house for his football match. The Wife had to take him and stand in the rain on the wet touchline for the warm-up and first 15 minutes of the match in rain heavier than she was prepared for. When I turned up having had to catch the bus up to the park she just was a little sopping wet. I was left with detailed (and unworkable) instructions as to how he should be wrapped up warm and dry after the match until she arrived to pick us up. As you can imagine this requires his agreement and co-operation which was not going to be forthcoming as kids of 8 do not feel the cold until it is too late. He won his match (he hasn't lost this season either at school or in the Saturday league) and I had to take the tongue lashing when she turned up to pick us up and all he was wearing was a soaking football shirt and shorts (with me holding a bag with the dry kit). Why me not him, he was the one who had refused the dry kit!
In the afternoon I had to chauffer him up to north London to go to a go-kart party in a leisure centre in Northwood which he enjoyed but it was after 6:00 PM before we got home.
Sunday morning training was missed as it was Remembrance Sunday and the Cubs and other uniformed groups had church parade which meant I had to accompany him. More importantly Sunday afternoon was the Mighty Bees (Brentford FC) playing last years giant killers Havant and Waterlooville in the FA Cup on ITV so we spent the afternoon watching Brentford go through to the next round with a 1-3 win.
Big G has told me whilst he didn't get out Saturday, he did get out on Sunday on his Bianchi (only Mont Box and back), however, whilst he stayed dry the wind meant it was not a pleasant experience.
Saturday morning was looking OK when I got up. I was dressed in my baggy cycling lycra and had the bike and cycling related paraphernalia in the middle of the kitchen being prepared for the ride whilst as a family we were trying to breakfast in the same room, my son was watching CBBC on the television whilst playing on the Nintendo, homework books on the side awaiting attention, family love and harmony blossoming (not).
The weather outside was getting worse and I was considering how wet I was going to get when I received a text from Big G to say that it was pouring where he was and he had gone back to bed. I telephone him just to make sure he didn't go back to sleep.
I decided that he was probably right so I took the bike back into the garage and hung it up. I then psyched myself up for a session on the turbo. As the turbo is somewhat noisy and the kitchen was being used for homework I was banished to the garage for the session. At least this meant that I didn't get bits of rubber over the kitchen floor while The Wife was present to notice.
I proceeded to do an hour and twenty minutes on the turbo, garage door open, facing out the up-and-over door into the Close and the pouring rain watching the comings and goings of the neighbours.
This time there were no punctures. The new tyre (or old recycled tyre, see previous entry) was much smoother and seem to change the whole gearing meaning the data was not comparable to previous sessions so a new comparative profile will need to be built up before I can see how not training enough means no improvement.
I burnt my boats a little (negative brownie points!) in that my turbo session did not finish until after the time my son was supposed to leave the house for his football match. The Wife had to take him and stand in the rain on the wet touchline for the warm-up and first 15 minutes of the match in rain heavier than she was prepared for. When I turned up having had to catch the bus up to the park she just was a little sopping wet. I was left with detailed (and unworkable) instructions as to how he should be wrapped up warm and dry after the match until she arrived to pick us up. As you can imagine this requires his agreement and co-operation which was not going to be forthcoming as kids of 8 do not feel the cold until it is too late. He won his match (he hasn't lost this season either at school or in the Saturday league) and I had to take the tongue lashing when she turned up to pick us up and all he was wearing was a soaking football shirt and shorts (with me holding a bag with the dry kit). Why me not him, he was the one who had refused the dry kit!
In the afternoon I had to chauffer him up to north London to go to a go-kart party in a leisure centre in Northwood which he enjoyed but it was after 6:00 PM before we got home.
Sunday morning training was missed as it was Remembrance Sunday and the Cubs and other uniformed groups had church parade which meant I had to accompany him. More importantly Sunday afternoon was the Mighty Bees (Brentford FC) playing last years giant killers Havant and Waterlooville in the FA Cup on ITV so we spent the afternoon watching Brentford go through to the next round with a 1-3 win.
Big G has told me whilst he didn't get out Saturday, he did get out on Sunday on his Bianchi (only Mont Box and back), however, whilst he stayed dry the wind meant it was not a pleasant experience.
Wednesday 5 November 2008
Cross Country - oh no!
I received confirmation that my entry for the inter-banks cross country in Richmond Park on November 19th went in - rather unfortunately. I emailed the organiser of the HBOS team with the excuse that I had done my back in and that I had not been able to train but he was quite happy for me to run anyway.
So, as I have to do this cross country I thought I had better start training for it. At lunchtime I jogged down to Westminster bridge and back (about 4+ miles). It took me some 42 minutes whereas it used to take me 34 minutes only 4 years ago - a full 42.5% regression. I was going so slow I was overtaken by a number of people whereas no one used to overtake me, I even got overtaken by a woman!
I was worried about my back going again. This afternoon I can feel twinges but as yet it has not ceased up. We shall see how it feels in the morning.
When I got back to the gym after the run I did 1000 metres on the ergo (rowing machine) and 20 minutes on the bike to finish off the session and followed that up with a roast gammon dinner with roast potatoes, veg and gravy at my desk( he boss was away today so no one keeping tabs on my time).
So, if anyone can do me a programme that, if I follow, will enable me to achieve sub 5 minute miles on the day and not get injured in the training running up to the event - or suggest an inappropriate cocktail of performance enhancing drugs and pain supressants that will have the same effect, then let me know.
So, as I have to do this cross country I thought I had better start training for it. At lunchtime I jogged down to Westminster bridge and back (about 4+ miles). It took me some 42 minutes whereas it used to take me 34 minutes only 4 years ago - a full 42.5% regression. I was going so slow I was overtaken by a number of people whereas no one used to overtake me, I even got overtaken by a woman!
I was worried about my back going again. This afternoon I can feel twinges but as yet it has not ceased up. We shall see how it feels in the morning.
When I got back to the gym after the run I did 1000 metres on the ergo (rowing machine) and 20 minutes on the bike to finish off the session and followed that up with a roast gammon dinner with roast potatoes, veg and gravy at my desk( he boss was away today so no one keeping tabs on my time).
So, if anyone can do me a programme that, if I follow, will enable me to achieve sub 5 minute miles on the day and not get injured in the training running up to the event - or suggest an inappropriate cocktail of performance enhancing drugs and pain supressants that will have the same effect, then let me know.
Friday 31 October 2008
Half Term Training Week
I have had a weeks holiday to chauffer my son to and from football training and to work on all those jobs that have been mounting up. In addition, I wanted to start some cycling training as I am now at my heaviest ever and a bit of training might 1. Help my disposition (generally depressed as my job, my savings and my pension have been blown out of the water by the financial crisis), and 2. I might manage to loose a few of those extra pounds.
Actually, I have had two weeks off, this week and last week, as my sons school, being a private school, gives the kids two weeks off for this half term (you pay them all this money then they don’t keep your kids as long as the state schools!). The first week was spent just resting followed by a long weekend in Dublin visiting the out-laws (but I did sneak off to our Dublin office for a few hours on Friday and watched the dealers as the pound collapsed against the US Dollar, glad we went to Disney this year when the Pound was strong).
I got very few of the jobs I set out to complete done, and I got even less of those jobs my wife had wanted me to complete done. I did spend a lot of time on the telephone with the Inland Revenue, my HR Department, and my tax accountant trying to sort out the fact that the method of calculation used by my employer (the “Averaging method”) for my beneficial loans tax on my P11D has overestimated my liability by more than double due to a further advance taken out just before the end of the tax year. Trying to get the figures for the “Accurate Method” so that they can be presented to a Tax Inspector is like trying to get the lunar buggy back from the moon!
Anyway, less of these rants and down to cycling business – did I actually do any training – I am pleased to say I did.
I hate going on the road alone firstly for safety reasons and secondly because it is no fun unless you are sharing it with someone else, plus of course the cold and damp weather put me off, so I did not go out on to the road.
I have an old turbo trainer circa 1990 (bought new from Holdsworthy in Putney to get me fit after I fractured my neck playing rugby) which I use as I haven’t got around to putting before the Household Finance Committee a proposal to acquire a modern fluid trainer (not that he Finance Committee is willing to consider any more cycling expenditure at the moment and I, unlike the Chairwoman, The Wife, do not have the ability to fast track expenditure and get retrospective approval). This is a hefty rusty steel contraption with a roller under the back wheel attached to two fan wheels upon which is permanently mounted my Raleigh Record Sprint (Reynolds 501) circa 1985.
(Santa Hint – anyone wanting to buy me a new iMagic fluid trainer for Christmas is welcome to do so).
Each day this week I have been on the Turbo Trainer in the kitchen knocking out an hour to an hour and a half with an average heart rate in the high 140s and a cadence of 90 rpm. This has been painful but therapeutic. My two bike computers have been on the handlebars showing me that I have been maintaining the pace and keeping up the work. The whole house smells of burnt rubber after each session and I had to mop up the sweat off the tiles on the kitchen floor. In addition I keep finding bits of rubber from the tyre which I missed in the clearing up exercise and which when stepped on leave nasty black smears on the floor tiles.
Monday to Thursday went by without any incidents but Friday was like a car crash. After 30 minutes I got a puncture (the tyre had done 460 miles on the Turbo and had melted and was coming apart at the seams). In order to save time, rather than fix the puncture I dived into the garage and removed the wheel from my Raleigh Quasar (again 501 circa 1985) and fitted that to the turbo bike. Forty minutes later, don’t I get another puncture! I was annoyed. I then had to get off the Turbo and fix both wheels. The original wheel also required a new tyre. Fortunately I had kept an old racing tyre from last year (Specialized Roubaix 23/25) which will hopefully do for the near future (but I suspect it is probably too soft) and next time I go into Corridori in Banstead I will have to get myself one of those special tyres designed to be used on a Turbo or Fluid trainer.
Both punctures were old repairs where the heat generated from the roller had melted the repair and it had failed.
All in all, all things considered, not to bad, 90 miles over 6 hours in 5 days. More than I have done for a long time. The question is will I be able to keep up the training when I return to work next week?
Actually, I have had two weeks off, this week and last week, as my sons school, being a private school, gives the kids two weeks off for this half term (you pay them all this money then they don’t keep your kids as long as the state schools!). The first week was spent just resting followed by a long weekend in Dublin visiting the out-laws (but I did sneak off to our Dublin office for a few hours on Friday and watched the dealers as the pound collapsed against the US Dollar, glad we went to Disney this year when the Pound was strong).
I got very few of the jobs I set out to complete done, and I got even less of those jobs my wife had wanted me to complete done. I did spend a lot of time on the telephone with the Inland Revenue, my HR Department, and my tax accountant trying to sort out the fact that the method of calculation used by my employer (the “Averaging method”) for my beneficial loans tax on my P11D has overestimated my liability by more than double due to a further advance taken out just before the end of the tax year. Trying to get the figures for the “Accurate Method” so that they can be presented to a Tax Inspector is like trying to get the lunar buggy back from the moon!
Anyway, less of these rants and down to cycling business – did I actually do any training – I am pleased to say I did.
I hate going on the road alone firstly for safety reasons and secondly because it is no fun unless you are sharing it with someone else, plus of course the cold and damp weather put me off, so I did not go out on to the road.
I have an old turbo trainer circa 1990 (bought new from Holdsworthy in Putney to get me fit after I fractured my neck playing rugby) which I use as I haven’t got around to putting before the Household Finance Committee a proposal to acquire a modern fluid trainer (not that he Finance Committee is willing to consider any more cycling expenditure at the moment and I, unlike the Chairwoman, The Wife, do not have the ability to fast track expenditure and get retrospective approval). This is a hefty rusty steel contraption with a roller under the back wheel attached to two fan wheels upon which is permanently mounted my Raleigh Record Sprint (Reynolds 501) circa 1985.
(Santa Hint – anyone wanting to buy me a new iMagic fluid trainer for Christmas is welcome to do so).
Each day this week I have been on the Turbo Trainer in the kitchen knocking out an hour to an hour and a half with an average heart rate in the high 140s and a cadence of 90 rpm. This has been painful but therapeutic. My two bike computers have been on the handlebars showing me that I have been maintaining the pace and keeping up the work. The whole house smells of burnt rubber after each session and I had to mop up the sweat off the tiles on the kitchen floor. In addition I keep finding bits of rubber from the tyre which I missed in the clearing up exercise and which when stepped on leave nasty black smears on the floor tiles.
Monday to Thursday went by without any incidents but Friday was like a car crash. After 30 minutes I got a puncture (the tyre had done 460 miles on the Turbo and had melted and was coming apart at the seams). In order to save time, rather than fix the puncture I dived into the garage and removed the wheel from my Raleigh Quasar (again 501 circa 1985) and fitted that to the turbo bike. Forty minutes later, don’t I get another puncture! I was annoyed. I then had to get off the Turbo and fix both wheels. The original wheel also required a new tyre. Fortunately I had kept an old racing tyre from last year (Specialized Roubaix 23/25) which will hopefully do for the near future (but I suspect it is probably too soft) and next time I go into Corridori in Banstead I will have to get myself one of those special tyres designed to be used on a Turbo or Fluid trainer.
Both punctures were old repairs where the heat generated from the roller had melted the repair and it had failed.
All in all, all things considered, not to bad, 90 miles over 6 hours in 5 days. More than I have done for a long time. The question is will I be able to keep up the training when I return to work next week?
Etap course announced
Of course the 2009 Etap course was announced last week. The Guilford Pootle-on riders were waiting with baited breath – was it going to be the Alps or the Pyrenees again, was it as had been rumoured going to be Mont Ventoux?
The day arrived. There was a mad scramble by each person to get an entry only package off of Graham Baxters Sports Tours. A newsletter went out to 7000 people announcing that they had 100 entry only packages, however, they were sold out within 3 hours.
A number of the Guilford Pootle-on riders applied in time and got hold of one of the packages. Others like me who could not get to a computer all day did not. My application was too late. Looks like I will have to buy a package.
At this stage I must admit that The Wife banned me from the 2008 Etap as I was in a bit of a physical wreck of a state after the 2007 Etap and I expect that she would not entertain me entering the 2009 Etap (so at this stage I have not mentioned it). However, if I just happened to have an entry and could get the training done surreptitiously (like, how do you surreptitiously train for the Etap, any ideas?) then she could hardly refuse me permission to go to France for the weekend of July 20th 2009 “training”. If the Etap was on that weekend and I just happened to have an entry, well, I would just have to go along with all the other lads.
I do fancy the idea of ticking off a few of those famous climbs. Despite not having an Etap entry in 2008 I did go with the Guilford Pootle-on on the reckie trip in June and did the Tourmalet (from both sides) and the Hautacam.
I will not be doing both La Marmotte and the Etap in 2009 as a number of the Guilford Pootle-on are planning. They got the idea from the London Dynamos who in 2008 did La Marmotte and the Etap in one weekend!
La Marmotte looks like a step too far for a young man like me.
The day arrived. There was a mad scramble by each person to get an entry only package off of Graham Baxters Sports Tours. A newsletter went out to 7000 people announcing that they had 100 entry only packages, however, they were sold out within 3 hours.
A number of the Guilford Pootle-on riders applied in time and got hold of one of the packages. Others like me who could not get to a computer all day did not. My application was too late. Looks like I will have to buy a package.
At this stage I must admit that The Wife banned me from the 2008 Etap as I was in a bit of a physical wreck of a state after the 2007 Etap and I expect that she would not entertain me entering the 2009 Etap (so at this stage I have not mentioned it). However, if I just happened to have an entry and could get the training done surreptitiously (like, how do you surreptitiously train for the Etap, any ideas?) then she could hardly refuse me permission to go to France for the weekend of July 20th 2009 “training”. If the Etap was on that weekend and I just happened to have an entry, well, I would just have to go along with all the other lads.
I do fancy the idea of ticking off a few of those famous climbs. Despite not having an Etap entry in 2008 I did go with the Guilford Pootle-on on the reckie trip in June and did the Tourmalet (from both sides) and the Hautacam.
I will not be doing both La Marmotte and the Etap in 2009 as a number of the Guilford Pootle-on are planning. They got the idea from the London Dynamos who in 2008 did La Marmotte and the Etap in one weekend!
La Marmotte looks like a step too far for a young man like me.
Thursday 16 October 2008
Who names their Bicycle?
What is it about the ladies of the Guilford Pootle-on? They have names for their bikes!
The associates of the Guilford Pootle-on were recently having an email discussion comparing their collections of bicycles. I know it seems sad to you, the general public, grown people retaining bicycles long after they have been replaced with updated models, and admitting to it, but to us cyclists, we retain some sort of connection with the bike and are reluctant to let it go. Myself, I have some 8 bikes which go back to the 1980s, all in working order.
Anyway, we digress. Names for bikes? Who has ever heard of the likes of it? Our Guilford Pootle-on gals it seems name their steeds. One young lady admitted to having a Flet Cyclocross called Valiant, a Bianchi Nironi road called Hottie and a 456 called Trouble.
Mind you is that as sad to our male associate who has admitted spending every last minute staring at his new Scirotto!
The associates of the Guilford Pootle-on were recently having an email discussion comparing their collections of bicycles. I know it seems sad to you, the general public, grown people retaining bicycles long after they have been replaced with updated models, and admitting to it, but to us cyclists, we retain some sort of connection with the bike and are reluctant to let it go. Myself, I have some 8 bikes which go back to the 1980s, all in working order.
Anyway, we digress. Names for bikes? Who has ever heard of the likes of it? Our Guilford Pootle-on gals it seems name their steeds. One young lady admitted to having a Flet Cyclocross called Valiant, a Bianchi Nironi road called Hottie and a 456 called Trouble.
Mind you is that as sad to our male associate who has admitted spending every last minute staring at his new Scirotto!
Monday 13 October 2008
Training, Injury and football
One of my readers made a comment that I shouldn't train to hard and get injured!
Well, I was feeling good so I thought I would do a slightly longer run. I kept it slow but did 5 miles. During the run I felt a niggle in my leg and back but nothing serious.
When I got home I sat down for a cup of tea, but when I went to get up my back was locked!
Time for the Ibuprofen.
The following day my back was so stiff and I was really hobbling around. I was watching my son playing football when the organisers came over and asked me to referee. I advised them that could hardly move but they insisted they were short and I was needed. "Just stand in the middle and blow the whistle" they said. I reluctantly agreed but advised them it would only be for an hour whilst my sons match was on the next door pitch.
Did I draw the short straw, have you ever tried to referee 24 six and seven year olds?
At the end of an hour of debate with these six and seven year olds and when my sons match was over (they won 6-3) I needed to collect him and go home. The boys on my pitch were supposed to be playing on for another half hour so I spotted a parent on the side of the pitch and told him, he was either taking over as referee or the football was over. After he got over the shock he took the whistle and got on with it. Delegation, the art of good management.
A week later, many Ibuprofen and a trip to the physio and I am still walking like an 80 year old. The anxiety of the financial markets isn't helping. I think the cross country running is a no goer.
Well, I was feeling good so I thought I would do a slightly longer run. I kept it slow but did 5 miles. During the run I felt a niggle in my leg and back but nothing serious.
When I got home I sat down for a cup of tea, but when I went to get up my back was locked!
Time for the Ibuprofen.
The following day my back was so stiff and I was really hobbling around. I was watching my son playing football when the organisers came over and asked me to referee. I advised them that could hardly move but they insisted they were short and I was needed. "Just stand in the middle and blow the whistle" they said. I reluctantly agreed but advised them it would only be for an hour whilst my sons match was on the next door pitch.
Did I draw the short straw, have you ever tried to referee 24 six and seven year olds?
At the end of an hour of debate with these six and seven year olds and when my sons match was over (they won 6-3) I needed to collect him and go home. The boys on my pitch were supposed to be playing on for another half hour so I spotted a parent on the side of the pitch and told him, he was either taking over as referee or the football was over. After he got over the shock he took the whistle and got on with it. Delegation, the art of good management.
A week later, many Ibuprofen and a trip to the physio and I am still walking like an 80 year old. The anxiety of the financial markets isn't helping. I think the cross country running is a no goer.
Fitness - what fitness?
Yesterday I went out with M for the first ride in the UK since I did the Audax in July. The weather was supposed to be sunny and 19 degrees, but at 8:30 AM it was foggy. Whilst we did encounter sunny spots during the ride I kept my waterproof on the whole ride.
I was on the Specialized Roubaix Expert. It was a brand new replacement frame compliments of the insurance company and Specialized after I accidentally dropped the old one and the carbon crossbar smashed against a step writing it off. This was the first time out for the new frame.
We did 51 miles and I admit it, I was whopped by M (I wasn't just going slow to make him feel good).
After 40 miles we reached Mont Box and I had to climb up the Hill at between 5 and 6 mph in my easiest gear (and I was riding a triple) and was overtaken by anyone and everyone. After tea M rubbed it in by sprinting back along Epsom Race Course and along the A217 between Banstead crossroads and Cheam with me struggling behind wheel sucking when I could (and there were times where I dropped off and M had to stop and wait for me).
I can forgive him as by the time I got to the top of Box Hill he was at the front of the long coffee queue (meaning I didn't have to queue up or wait any time for refreshment) and bought me a coffee and some sponge cake whilst I gulped down a gel.
When we left the Tea Shop at the top of the hill we passed an accident where one of the Kingston Wheelers Cycling Club had been in a collision with a car. The Police were in attendance and an ambulance had been called. He was lying in the road yelling about the excrutiating pain in his back. We wish him the best for his recovery and it definitely served as a reminder to us to ride carefully.
Changing the subject and talking about fashion and lycra (who was?), M and I followed two girls and a bloke for a few miles out of Cobham and up Hungry Hill (their red shirts said their sponsor was Optima, a tri club). One of the young ladies was well built (quite big built but muscled and toned, attractive in this case) but was wearing underwear under her lycra shorts. We couldn't believe the faux pas that’s why we had to follow behind her for so long to make sure we could believe our eyes.
I was on the Specialized Roubaix Expert. It was a brand new replacement frame compliments of the insurance company and Specialized after I accidentally dropped the old one and the carbon crossbar smashed against a step writing it off. This was the first time out for the new frame.
We did 51 miles and I admit it, I was whopped by M (I wasn't just going slow to make him feel good).
After 40 miles we reached Mont Box and I had to climb up the Hill at between 5 and 6 mph in my easiest gear (and I was riding a triple) and was overtaken by anyone and everyone. After tea M rubbed it in by sprinting back along Epsom Race Course and along the A217 between Banstead crossroads and Cheam with me struggling behind wheel sucking when I could (and there were times where I dropped off and M had to stop and wait for me).
I can forgive him as by the time I got to the top of Box Hill he was at the front of the long coffee queue (meaning I didn't have to queue up or wait any time for refreshment) and bought me a coffee and some sponge cake whilst I gulped down a gel.
When we left the Tea Shop at the top of the hill we passed an accident where one of the Kingston Wheelers Cycling Club had been in a collision with a car. The Police were in attendance and an ambulance had been called. He was lying in the road yelling about the excrutiating pain in his back. We wish him the best for his recovery and it definitely served as a reminder to us to ride carefully.
Changing the subject and talking about fashion and lycra (who was?), M and I followed two girls and a bloke for a few miles out of Cobham and up Hungry Hill (their red shirts said their sponsor was Optima, a tri club). One of the young ladies was well built (quite big built but muscled and toned, attractive in this case) but was wearing underwear under her lycra shorts. We couldn't believe the faux pas that’s why we had to follow behind her for so long to make sure we could believe our eyes.
Wednesday 1 October 2008
Cross Country Running
Back in blighty.
I arrived back from Australia on Friday lunchtime. It is so nice to look down on the English countryside as you fly into Heathrow and feel the crisp air as you get off after being cooped up for 25 hours on an aircraft or in a terminal in Dubai.
Actually I was very lucky and got upgraded to First Class on the 14 hour leg from Sydney to Dubai. I can recommend First Class in Emirates. In First Class you get your own little cabin, flat bed, personal mini bar, 23 inch television and food cooked on demand. I got a good 6 hours sleep and watched some films – I can thoroughly recommend a film called “The Children of Huang Shi”. It is not yet out in the UK but was a good film of a true event.
The upgrade was probably to make up for my stationary bag mysteriously disappearing from my luggage on the outward journey and just as mysteriously appearing in someone else’s bag. When the other passenger arrived home in South Africa he opened his bag only to discover my stationary bag containing my business cards, memory sticks, keys to my desk, best pens and computer peripherals. Fortunately he has contacted me by email and hopefully Emirates will arrange for the stuff to be returned to me at some point.
Anyway, TRAINING!!! As I am going to be unable to get some cycling in over the next month due to family commitments I have decided to do some running as this is something that can be fitted in easier than cycling. As an incentive to run I have entered the Interbank Cross Country event in Richmond Park in November. I have previously run this event for Barclays, TSB, and Chase Manhattan. This year it will be for HBOS.
I used to be a formidable runner with a 10 mile PB of 59:50, 10K of 36:20 and half marathon of 1:23, but that was when I was young and 20+ lbs lighter. Eight years ago I managed a 39:50 10K and two years ago I managed a 44 minute 10K so I am getting somewhat slower over time.
I have'nt done any running for a while so I need to get back into it. My cunning plan to get fit is that if I run three runs a week until the event I should be able to finish but I accept that I will struggle not to be last. Fortunately all the fast runners in HBOS are based up North and won’t want to come to London for the day which means I should get on the team (not guaranteed). My motivation is that the more I run the easier the event will be and the better I will do.
So far this week I have done two runs.
I arrived back from Australia on Friday lunchtime. It is so nice to look down on the English countryside as you fly into Heathrow and feel the crisp air as you get off after being cooped up for 25 hours on an aircraft or in a terminal in Dubai.
Actually I was very lucky and got upgraded to First Class on the 14 hour leg from Sydney to Dubai. I can recommend First Class in Emirates. In First Class you get your own little cabin, flat bed, personal mini bar, 23 inch television and food cooked on demand. I got a good 6 hours sleep and watched some films – I can thoroughly recommend a film called “The Children of Huang Shi”. It is not yet out in the UK but was a good film of a true event.
The upgrade was probably to make up for my stationary bag mysteriously disappearing from my luggage on the outward journey and just as mysteriously appearing in someone else’s bag. When the other passenger arrived home in South Africa he opened his bag only to discover my stationary bag containing my business cards, memory sticks, keys to my desk, best pens and computer peripherals. Fortunately he has contacted me by email and hopefully Emirates will arrange for the stuff to be returned to me at some point.
Anyway, TRAINING!!! As I am going to be unable to get some cycling in over the next month due to family commitments I have decided to do some running as this is something that can be fitted in easier than cycling. As an incentive to run I have entered the Interbank Cross Country event in Richmond Park in November. I have previously run this event for Barclays, TSB, and Chase Manhattan. This year it will be for HBOS.
I used to be a formidable runner with a 10 mile PB of 59:50, 10K of 36:20 and half marathon of 1:23, but that was when I was young and 20+ lbs lighter. Eight years ago I managed a 39:50 10K and two years ago I managed a 44 minute 10K so I am getting somewhat slower over time.
I have'nt done any running for a while so I need to get back into it. My cunning plan to get fit is that if I run three runs a week until the event I should be able to finish but I accept that I will struggle not to be last. Fortunately all the fast runners in HBOS are based up North and won’t want to come to London for the day which means I should get on the team (not guaranteed). My motivation is that the more I run the easier the event will be and the better I will do.
So far this week I have done two runs.
Tuesday 30 September 2008
The High and the Mighty
That John Wayne film turns out to be "The High and the Mighty" and has just been repeated on Australian TV.
I was just going to bed when my colleague telephoned me to say that the film was on. I turned on the TV and blow me down, the film was just where I left it. I sat up late late watching it.
John Wayne made San Francisco and landed on the last drop of fuel. What a hero. It was certainly a life and death epic. Funny thing is, according to Wikipedia, the airplane used in the film disappeared over the pacific in real life. The wreckage was never found.
24 hours more here in the southern hemisphere then flying back to blighty.
I was just going to bed when my colleague telephoned me to say that the film was on. I turned on the TV and blow me down, the film was just where I left it. I sat up late late watching it.
John Wayne made San Francisco and landed on the last drop of fuel. What a hero. It was certainly a life and death epic. Funny thing is, according to Wikipedia, the airplane used in the film disappeared over the pacific in real life. The wreckage was never found.
24 hours more here in the southern hemisphere then flying back to blighty.
Would you hug a koala?
There is an animal park somewhere between Sydney and the Blue Mountains where you can pay to hug a koala. Why would you want to pay to hug a smelly sharp clawed, rough haired, sleepy, heavy, bear when if you find a eucalyptus tree you can throw stones at one until it falls from the tree then hug it without having to pay?
This weekend was the Sydney Marathon and half marathon. This meant that half the city roads were shut down from early morning to mid afternoon. The marathon was won by one of the usual African athletes, however, the time was rather slow at 2 hours 19 minutes and he won by 5 minutes. I am sure one of you guys could have given him more of a run for his money.
Saturday morning I decided to sleep in as Friday I had a bit of a"Sticky Bed" incident. Don't jump to conclusions! All I was trying to say was that I was tired when I woke up and couldn't be bothered to get up out of my bed, thus I was late to breakfast, which I didn't rush,then late to work (just later than usual, i.e. 9:00 AM rather than theusual 8:15 AM). Anyway, Saturday I didn't rise from my pit until 9:30 AM, had a leisurely breakfast then went shopping for tat and souvenirs.
Saturday night I went to the business lounge in the hotel (we are lucky enough to be on the Club floor) and finished off their stock of Bacardi. I had had a late lunch so I didn't bother with dinner.
Sunday morning I had to meet a colleague at 5:30 AM. He was going to drive us up to Pymble where we were going to meet some others and cycle. As I left the hotel at 5:15 AM (dawn was at 5:47) the city was alive with Marathon runners heading towards the start and girls in short black skirts and high heels on their was home from clubs (don't quote me on those interpretations of their intentions, they are assumptions on my part, for all I know Australians might have a precedent for running marathons in short skirts and high heels). We drove up North of Sydney to Pymble, Bobbin Head Rd, and parked. Here we met 3 other guys.
Together we cycled Pymble to Galston Gorge to Berowra Waters to Bobbin Head and back to Bobbin Head Rd, Pymble. A 61km route through three gorges with 3 big hills climbing out of those gorges. It was nice being the second fastest as it took the pressure and angst out. I cycled out of the gorges then turned around and cycled back down to meet the slowest rider then cycled back up with him.
The scenery was lovely, the hills no more than 8% and the temperature rising to the low 30s.
As usual, I had the usual equipment failure. This week I managed to keep the saddle on the bike, however, my cleats came unscrewed from the bottom of my shoes. I was climbing out of a gorge and I was thinking to myself how the cleats had rather a lot of play and thus may be worn out. Just after I got to the top I suddenly found my right shoe coming adrift from the pedal. The cleat stayed on the pedal and the separated from the shoe. Fortunately I didn't loose too many screws and managed to reattach the cleat. I then found that the left cleat was also about to come off so I tightened that up as well.
We got back to the car just after 10:00 AM. As I was hardly warmed up I decided to cycle along the Pacific Highway back into the city, some 20Km (I did 85 Km in total). The nearer I got to the city the more marathon and half marathon runners I saw returning home (strangely, none in high heels and short skirts).
After cycling across Sydney HarbourBridge I got back to my hotel at 11:10 AM. Unfortunate as breakfast stops being served in the Clubroom at 11:00 AM. I put my bike in my hotel room then still sweaty and wearing my baggy lycra shorts and cycling shirt I popped my head around the club room door. Breakfast was being cleared but a swift grab at a plate and a raid on the fast disappearing buffet rewarded me with fruit juice, a couple of slices of toast, and a couple of croissant (one ham and cheese and one chocolate). The staff took pity on me a brought me coffee and a pot of tea. Breakfast was enjoyed along with the Sunday papers.
After breakfast I had a shower and I laid on my bed (in my boxers and a tee shirt) watching a John Wayne Film. I never saw the end as a colleague telephoned and invited me out for afternoon coffee. In the film John Wayne was a co-pilot on a plane flying from Hawaii to California and I saw up to the point where they had gone beyond the point of no return, one engine had failed, a fuel leak meant there was insufficient fuel to make to coast, the weather was bad and the sea below was rough, the radio wasn't working properly and the only radio contact they had was with a ship below who was relaying their messages, one passenger had shot at another after accusing him of sleeping with his wife, they were running out of cigarettes (everyone was chain smoking), and they were throwing the luggage out of the back door of the aircraft to save weight and avoid crashing into the drink.
Does anyone know whether John Wayne managed to save the plane?
This weekend was the Sydney Marathon and half marathon. This meant that half the city roads were shut down from early morning to mid afternoon. The marathon was won by one of the usual African athletes, however, the time was rather slow at 2 hours 19 minutes and he won by 5 minutes. I am sure one of you guys could have given him more of a run for his money.
Saturday morning I decided to sleep in as Friday I had a bit of a"Sticky Bed" incident. Don't jump to conclusions! All I was trying to say was that I was tired when I woke up and couldn't be bothered to get up out of my bed, thus I was late to breakfast, which I didn't rush,then late to work (just later than usual, i.e. 9:00 AM rather than theusual 8:15 AM). Anyway, Saturday I didn't rise from my pit until 9:30 AM, had a leisurely breakfast then went shopping for tat and souvenirs.
Saturday night I went to the business lounge in the hotel (we are lucky enough to be on the Club floor) and finished off their stock of Bacardi. I had had a late lunch so I didn't bother with dinner.
Sunday morning I had to meet a colleague at 5:30 AM. He was going to drive us up to Pymble where we were going to meet some others and cycle. As I left the hotel at 5:15 AM (dawn was at 5:47) the city was alive with Marathon runners heading towards the start and girls in short black skirts and high heels on their was home from clubs (don't quote me on those interpretations of their intentions, they are assumptions on my part, for all I know Australians might have a precedent for running marathons in short skirts and high heels). We drove up North of Sydney to Pymble, Bobbin Head Rd, and parked. Here we met 3 other guys.
Together we cycled Pymble to Galston Gorge to Berowra Waters to Bobbin Head and back to Bobbin Head Rd, Pymble. A 61km route through three gorges with 3 big hills climbing out of those gorges. It was nice being the second fastest as it took the pressure and angst out. I cycled out of the gorges then turned around and cycled back down to meet the slowest rider then cycled back up with him.
The scenery was lovely, the hills no more than 8% and the temperature rising to the low 30s.
As usual, I had the usual equipment failure. This week I managed to keep the saddle on the bike, however, my cleats came unscrewed from the bottom of my shoes. I was climbing out of a gorge and I was thinking to myself how the cleats had rather a lot of play and thus may be worn out. Just after I got to the top I suddenly found my right shoe coming adrift from the pedal. The cleat stayed on the pedal and the separated from the shoe. Fortunately I didn't loose too many screws and managed to reattach the cleat. I then found that the left cleat was also about to come off so I tightened that up as well.
We got back to the car just after 10:00 AM. As I was hardly warmed up I decided to cycle along the Pacific Highway back into the city, some 20Km (I did 85 Km in total). The nearer I got to the city the more marathon and half marathon runners I saw returning home (strangely, none in high heels and short skirts).
After cycling across Sydney HarbourBridge I got back to my hotel at 11:10 AM. Unfortunate as breakfast stops being served in the Clubroom at 11:00 AM. I put my bike in my hotel room then still sweaty and wearing my baggy lycra shorts and cycling shirt I popped my head around the club room door. Breakfast was being cleared but a swift grab at a plate and a raid on the fast disappearing buffet rewarded me with fruit juice, a couple of slices of toast, and a couple of croissant (one ham and cheese and one chocolate). The staff took pity on me a brought me coffee and a pot of tea. Breakfast was enjoyed along with the Sunday papers.
After breakfast I had a shower and I laid on my bed (in my boxers and a tee shirt) watching a John Wayne Film. I never saw the end as a colleague telephoned and invited me out for afternoon coffee. In the film John Wayne was a co-pilot on a plane flying from Hawaii to California and I saw up to the point where they had gone beyond the point of no return, one engine had failed, a fuel leak meant there was insufficient fuel to make to coast, the weather was bad and the sea below was rough, the radio wasn't working properly and the only radio contact they had was with a ship below who was relaying their messages, one passenger had shot at another after accusing him of sleeping with his wife, they were running out of cigarettes (everyone was chain smoking), and they were throwing the luggage out of the back door of the aircraft to save weight and avoid crashing into the drink.
Does anyone know whether John Wayne managed to save the plane?
Early morning rides don't agree with me
I left the hotel at 5:15 AM in the morning - before dawn, on the trusty BH steed. It was a bit chilly and most riders had long sleeves and tights whilst I have only got summer kit so was dressed in shorts and short sleeves. I got to Centennial Park here in Sydney, their equivalent of Richmond Park I suppose (but a lot smaller) and met the guy I was to ride with. We proceeded to ride around the almost flat but windy 3.8 Km circuit. Lots of other riders on shiny bikes with Cervelos and Pinarellos in abundance. First lap 31 Kph, 2nd lap 34 kph, third lap 37 kph, fourth lap 38 (with me at this point having to desparately wheel hug).
I ended up doing 7 laps including two short hill climbs just off of the circuit (well, I did two hill climbs, the other guy did three whilst I sloped (hill/slope, joke, get it?) off to do my last two laps a bit slower on my own). I understand that he did his usual 10 laps in the end.
I was back in the hotel at 7:10 AM, in plenty of time to meet my colleague for a 7:30 breakfast.
I was shattered at my desk with sore legs and no interest in the piece of work I was supposed to be doing and a long evening of business phone calls back to blighty ahead.
I ended up doing 7 laps including two short hill climbs just off of the circuit (well, I did two hill climbs, the other guy did three whilst I sloped (hill/slope, joke, get it?) off to do my last two laps a bit slower on my own). I understand that he did his usual 10 laps in the end.
I was back in the hotel at 7:10 AM, in plenty of time to meet my colleague for a 7:30 breakfast.
I was shattered at my desk with sore legs and no interest in the piece of work I was supposed to be doing and a long evening of business phone calls back to blighty ahead.
Sunday 28 September 2008
Sydney Australia
The Head of IT at the Branch here in Sydney agreed to lend me his triathlon bike for the weekend (together with his helmet, shoes, tools etc. I brought my own customised baggy lycra from the UK to maintain standards). I went out to his house Friday night to collect the bike. I brought it back into the city on the underground (unlike London where bikes are not allowed on the underground, the Aussies are very accommodating and don't bat an eyelid when you lift a bike over the ticket barrier).
The bike is a very nice BH with an aluminium frame, carbon forks and fitted with Ultegra. The gearing is a comp on the front and a 12/25 on the back. The cranks are 172.5 compared to the 170 I usually ride. It also has a built in seat post which means there is very little saddle adjustment without a hacksaw.
Unfortunately the bike is a little big for me so I am stretching to get the cranks around. I can just about cope but it gives me a disadvantage and is not exactly comfortable when the reach to the handlebars is also a stretch.
There are a lot of cyclists here at the branch. A guy on the IT Projects team and one of the Front Office Sales guys arranged to take me out on Saturday morning. At 7:45 AM I came out of my hotel looking for an estate car taxi to take me to the rendezvous point some 30 km north of Sydney at a place called Terrey Hills where we were going to ride in the national park. The taxi driver was not the sharpest of people and looked puzzled when I told him where I was going. I showed him the Google maps print out of the map and instructions on how to get there. He brought out a large magnifying glass and then told me he couldn't read it because it was not in colour. He then proceeded to drive whilst trying to look up the place in a colour road atlas. I decided that safety might be an idea and took the book from him and opened the atlas at the correct page. I then navigated whilst at every set of lights he squinted at the atlas through the magnifying glass. We thankfully arrived safely. I wouldn't want to be his passenger later in the day when there was more traffic around.
Once we were all assembled (there ended up being four of us) we proceeded up the road. About 5 Km out I stood up on my pedals to climb a hill and my saddle fell off! I discovered that the retaining bolt had dropped out some way back along with the retaining mechanism. I resigned myself to a painful ride back to find the nearest bike shop to buy a new saddle. Two of the lads went on and I and one other started back. About 1 Km later the guy I was riding with spotted the parts in the road and I was saved. I rebuilt the saddle (aren't they complicated!) and we set off again.
We did 50 Km over a hilly terrain in the sun and heat. It hit 31 degrees. We even saw the beach where the Australian soap "Home and Away" was filmed.
On the way back into town I was going to catch the train, however, due to track works there were no trains, just a bus replacement service. The driver surprisingly allowed me on with the bike and we started a slow drive back to town. The bus got more and more crowded until we were playing sardines for the last 20 minutes.
I was shattered in the afternoon and after a plate of room service spaghetti bolognaise and a banana split (the banana split was off the childs menu) was just falling asleep on my bed when a colleague called me to invite me to join him and his partner for coffee and cake in town. I was home asleep in my hotel bed by 8:00 PM
On Sundays there is a big group that rides out from Kings Cross (not that far from my hotel in the Central Business District) at 8:00 am and I was planning join them for a ride. On Sunday morning I got up and looked out the window. It was pouring with rain. I did venture down to reception to stick my head out the front door of the hotel just to assure myself it was not going to stop before I decided against going and went back to bed.
A little later when the rain abated, I met up with a colleague and we walked from Bronte passed Bondi up to the ferry at Watsons Point (about 6 miles) stopping occasionally for coffee. At one point we stopped to ask a spotty youth whether there was a route we could walk that went along the coast or whether we had to walk inland. He replied that we might as well take the bus. He looked very perplexed when we insisted that we wanted to walk and asked our question again - I mean, why would anyone want to walk when you could take a bus?
Tomorrow morning (Tuesday) I have to be in Centennial Park at 5:45 AM for laps (a bit like Richmond Park) before work, and I think some of the lads here have got some other challenging rides to test me - oh dear. Well, at least I am getting some riding in.
The bike is a very nice BH with an aluminium frame, carbon forks and fitted with Ultegra. The gearing is a comp on the front and a 12/25 on the back. The cranks are 172.5 compared to the 170 I usually ride. It also has a built in seat post which means there is very little saddle adjustment without a hacksaw.
Unfortunately the bike is a little big for me so I am stretching to get the cranks around. I can just about cope but it gives me a disadvantage and is not exactly comfortable when the reach to the handlebars is also a stretch.
There are a lot of cyclists here at the branch. A guy on the IT Projects team and one of the Front Office Sales guys arranged to take me out on Saturday morning. At 7:45 AM I came out of my hotel looking for an estate car taxi to take me to the rendezvous point some 30 km north of Sydney at a place called Terrey Hills where we were going to ride in the national park. The taxi driver was not the sharpest of people and looked puzzled when I told him where I was going. I showed him the Google maps print out of the map and instructions on how to get there. He brought out a large magnifying glass and then told me he couldn't read it because it was not in colour. He then proceeded to drive whilst trying to look up the place in a colour road atlas. I decided that safety might be an idea and took the book from him and opened the atlas at the correct page. I then navigated whilst at every set of lights he squinted at the atlas through the magnifying glass. We thankfully arrived safely. I wouldn't want to be his passenger later in the day when there was more traffic around.
Once we were all assembled (there ended up being four of us) we proceeded up the road. About 5 Km out I stood up on my pedals to climb a hill and my saddle fell off! I discovered that the retaining bolt had dropped out some way back along with the retaining mechanism. I resigned myself to a painful ride back to find the nearest bike shop to buy a new saddle. Two of the lads went on and I and one other started back. About 1 Km later the guy I was riding with spotted the parts in the road and I was saved. I rebuilt the saddle (aren't they complicated!) and we set off again.
We did 50 Km over a hilly terrain in the sun and heat. It hit 31 degrees. We even saw the beach where the Australian soap "Home and Away" was filmed.
On the way back into town I was going to catch the train, however, due to track works there were no trains, just a bus replacement service. The driver surprisingly allowed me on with the bike and we started a slow drive back to town. The bus got more and more crowded until we were playing sardines for the last 20 minutes.
I was shattered in the afternoon and after a plate of room service spaghetti bolognaise and a banana split (the banana split was off the childs menu) was just falling asleep on my bed when a colleague called me to invite me to join him and his partner for coffee and cake in town. I was home asleep in my hotel bed by 8:00 PM
On Sundays there is a big group that rides out from Kings Cross (not that far from my hotel in the Central Business District) at 8:00 am and I was planning join them for a ride. On Sunday morning I got up and looked out the window. It was pouring with rain. I did venture down to reception to stick my head out the front door of the hotel just to assure myself it was not going to stop before I decided against going and went back to bed.
A little later when the rain abated, I met up with a colleague and we walked from Bronte passed Bondi up to the ferry at Watsons Point (about 6 miles) stopping occasionally for coffee. At one point we stopped to ask a spotty youth whether there was a route we could walk that went along the coast or whether we had to walk inland. He replied that we might as well take the bus. He looked very perplexed when we insisted that we wanted to walk and asked our question again - I mean, why would anyone want to walk when you could take a bus?
Tomorrow morning (Tuesday) I have to be in Centennial Park at 5:45 AM for laps (a bit like Richmond Park) before work, and I think some of the lads here have got some other challenging rides to test me - oh dear. Well, at least I am getting some riding in.
Tuesday 12 August 2008
The Poconos and The Delaware River
I've been working in New York, The Big Apple.
Cycling had to take a back seat, however, I did manage 83 miles in the gym the first week and 23 miles the second. During the weekend in between I went to the Poconos Mountains in Pennsylvania with my Friend D and his family.
He won't cycle with me after my last visit to his house 4 years ago when he couldn't wear me down (that was before I though of entering the Etap). We kayaked and cycled that weekend near Princetown New Jersey.
This time we had a great weekend in the Poconos Mountains in Pennsylvania
My mate D is Head of Risk at a European bank in NY and I went to stay with him and his family at their holiday home. It is beautiful up there in the Poconos mountains.
Friday night I took the train from NY Penn Station out to Princetown Junction where he lives with his family (wife and two kids, boy and girl). We had dinner then drove off to the Poconos. It is about a 2 hour drive from there. His holiday home is a three bedroom house (mansion more like) on a gated community (estate) around a golf course and country club.
Saturday morning it poured with rain (really heavy it was) and so we watched a DVD and played cards with the kids.
Saturday afternoon it cleared up nicely and we went off and walked along the Appalachian trail for about four and a half hours (I've got the insect bites to prove it). Then we went to the country club to go swimming then dinner at the Golf club.
Sunday we went to the Shawnee Resort. This is a hotel / country club/ holiday resort on the Delaware river (look it up on the internet, it is just as you see on the old movies). The US open golf used to be held here (the golf course is on an island in the middle of the Delaware River). We rented a raft and for over four hours and drifted down the Delaware River (the Delaware is the river that supplies drinking water to NY city). It was a lovely warm day and the river is crystal clear and amazingly warm (I did ask if the warm water came from a nuclear power station or factory upstream and was assured it didn't as there wasn't one). We spent the afternoon throwing each other off the raft, swimming and enjoying the sunshine.
My son would have loved it and we will have to go up there with him sometime.
It turns out that this resort used to be a bad debt for my current employers who ended up buying it at the end of the 80's and then selling it on after investing in it. Small world eh!
Sunday night we drove back to New Jersey. Everyone (except my mate who was driving, someone had to) was asleep in the car. We then had dinner (pizza) outside the back of his New Jersey place on his patio before I caught a late train back to the city.
The one downside was that near the end of the rafting trip I was thrown in the water and my mate landed on top of me (his mean kids and wife threw us both in). I lost my glasses and we could not find them on the bottom of the Delaware River (only 5 feet deep and clear). I had to finish the trip blind. Fortunately I had a set of prescription sunglasses in the car so I wore them for the rest of the day.
It was a bit strange coming back to NY at 11 PM Sunday night wearing dark glasses. Fortunately I had an old pair of glasses at the hotel which I wore for the week. My wife ordered a new pair of glasses for me in London. I got them this morning (unusually fast as the glass has to come special order from Germany (Zeiss) as I am a very high prescription). Well done Boots Opticians. At least I will be able to see clearly on our fortcoming Disney Florida holiday.
The Guilford Peloton is proposing a Sportif at Lake Como in October this year and a Pyrenean Raid in 2009. There is also bold talk about the Marmotte but that is something for the young, the bold and the foolish in my current opinion especially as there is talk of combining it with the Etap on the same weekend.
Cycling had to take a back seat, however, I did manage 83 miles in the gym the first week and 23 miles the second. During the weekend in between I went to the Poconos Mountains in Pennsylvania with my Friend D and his family.
He won't cycle with me after my last visit to his house 4 years ago when he couldn't wear me down (that was before I though of entering the Etap). We kayaked and cycled that weekend near Princetown New Jersey.
This time we had a great weekend in the Poconos Mountains in Pennsylvania
My mate D is Head of Risk at a European bank in NY and I went to stay with him and his family at their holiday home. It is beautiful up there in the Poconos mountains.
Friday night I took the train from NY Penn Station out to Princetown Junction where he lives with his family (wife and two kids, boy and girl). We had dinner then drove off to the Poconos. It is about a 2 hour drive from there. His holiday home is a three bedroom house (mansion more like) on a gated community (estate) around a golf course and country club.
Saturday morning it poured with rain (really heavy it was) and so we watched a DVD and played cards with the kids.
Saturday afternoon it cleared up nicely and we went off and walked along the Appalachian trail for about four and a half hours (I've got the insect bites to prove it). Then we went to the country club to go swimming then dinner at the Golf club.
Sunday we went to the Shawnee Resort. This is a hotel / country club/ holiday resort on the Delaware river (look it up on the internet, it is just as you see on the old movies). The US open golf used to be held here (the golf course is on an island in the middle of the Delaware River). We rented a raft and for over four hours and drifted down the Delaware River (the Delaware is the river that supplies drinking water to NY city). It was a lovely warm day and the river is crystal clear and amazingly warm (I did ask if the warm water came from a nuclear power station or factory upstream and was assured it didn't as there wasn't one). We spent the afternoon throwing each other off the raft, swimming and enjoying the sunshine.
My son would have loved it and we will have to go up there with him sometime.
It turns out that this resort used to be a bad debt for my current employers who ended up buying it at the end of the 80's and then selling it on after investing in it. Small world eh!
Sunday night we drove back to New Jersey. Everyone (except my mate who was driving, someone had to) was asleep in the car. We then had dinner (pizza) outside the back of his New Jersey place on his patio before I caught a late train back to the city.
The one downside was that near the end of the rafting trip I was thrown in the water and my mate landed on top of me (his mean kids and wife threw us both in). I lost my glasses and we could not find them on the bottom of the Delaware River (only 5 feet deep and clear). I had to finish the trip blind. Fortunately I had a set of prescription sunglasses in the car so I wore them for the rest of the day.
It was a bit strange coming back to NY at 11 PM Sunday night wearing dark glasses. Fortunately I had an old pair of glasses at the hotel which I wore for the week. My wife ordered a new pair of glasses for me in London. I got them this morning (unusually fast as the glass has to come special order from Germany (Zeiss) as I am a very high prescription). Well done Boots Opticians. At least I will be able to see clearly on our fortcoming Disney Florida holiday.
The Guilford Peloton is proposing a Sportif at Lake Como in October this year and a Pyrenean Raid in 2009. There is also bold talk about the Marmotte but that is something for the young, the bold and the foolish in my current opinion especially as there is talk of combining it with the Etap on the same weekend.
Monday 14 July 2008
Straight On At Rosies
I did my first audax on Saturday in Nottingham. What an experience. The day was windy and cool but most importantly it remained dry.
My first Audax (a sportive is a race that pretends to not be a race, an audax is not a race that pretends to be a race) was 125 miles around Nottinghamshire with only 1100 metres of climb.
I had been invited to join two fellows (one being my friend S) from Team MK on this audax. I stayed overnight at S's in MK and we were up at 4:30 AM for a cooked breakfast. 5:45 A joined us and we set off for Junction 28 on the M1.
We arrived in plenty of time, checked in, had a biscuit and a cup of tea. There were only 42 riders in the event. I assumed we could start at our leisure, WRONG! It was a Grand Prix type start at 8:00 AM. I was wandering towards the toilets at that time and had to let the riders all pass in front of me before I could cross to the conveniences. Then, after completing that task I returned to my bike and the three of us set off to catch everyone else - except that I had not adjusted my saddle. We stopped and I got the Allen key out and did the adjustment.
After getting going we kept up a steady 20-22 MPH slowly going through the field. At just after 22 miles we caught the main bunch (of about 8 riders) and settled in the pack. When we got to the first stop at 38 miles (Rosies) the faster riders who arrived before us (about 4 riders) were enjoying their snacks.
The prevailing wind on the outward section was a cross wind.
We left Rosies after a muffin and a tea. There were about 4 riders on the road ahead of us and the bunch were behind. They caught us some 10 miles later and we split a few miles later when there was some confusion over the directions and we stopped to check the map. The last 10 miles before the half way point you go out and back on the same route. The route then splits and you return in a westerly circle. The advantage of this is you get to see how far people are in front of you and we were quite pleasantly surprised to see that there was not much between us and the leaders. We stopped at the turning point and watched as others got there and turned.
We got on our way after 10 minutes or so. The next checkpoint was another 13 miles. This turned out to be a very pleasant cafe serving excellent cakes and cream teas. All the riders were gathered there and we stopped for refreshment. We sat outside at a table and chairs enjoying the atmosphere. The bunch offered to wait for us but we were tiring and they were obviously faster than us at this point so we let them go.
We got going again and passed through a number of villages, one hosting a wedding which was just finishing as we passed. Everyone was coming out in their finery returning to their cars. I remarked to S about one particularly large cuddly lass in a low top, short skirt and high heels. Just after that I got my punishment as we rode into a strong head wind and I found myself in front of S and A. It was a nightmare and the speedo was dropping. It was a struggle to keep up 10 mph. After what seemed like an eternity (but was probably only a couple of miles) we turned sharply and got the cross wind back.
Strangely, as they had left the cafe before us, the bunch caught us up. It seems that their navigation skills were not up to those of A. We jumped on the back, wheelsuckers that we are. A few miles further I turned around and S and A were no where to be seen. Decisions, do I stop and wait or continue with the bunch. I was feeling a bit tired so I stayed with the bunch. As time went on I kept falling off the back. With about 15 miles to go one of the older veteran gentlemen who was also suffering stopped (there were two guys in that bunch over 70 and another younger guy on an old steel 531 frame!). I stopped with him, not from good manners but from exhaustion.
I consumed half a loaf of Soreen, another gel and a lot of water and after about 5 minutes we set off again (I was fully expecting S and A to pass me like S had done on the Dragon last month). The veteran gentleman got off and walked at the next hill whilst I continued in my lowest gear (34 X 28).
I struggled to the finish alone. It was definitely longer than advertised which is always a challenge at the end. A time of 8:36 and a top ten finish. The veteran gentleman came in closely followed by S and A (13 minutes after me). I was collapsed with a cup of tea and a biscuit at the time. As usual, my face caked with salt.
The organisers were telling us that they also organise 300 and 400 Kilometre events - not that I will be doing them.
We reflected in the car on the way home how it had been a good day, but we were all tired.
Post Scrip added by S
Duncan,
Sorry, but I had to clarify/emphasise a few things:
1. We actually visited five different counties on this ride (Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, South Yorkshire, South and North Humberside... and we went very close to Lincolnshire)!
2. You correctly pointed out that there was little climbing, but at times the headwind over some very flat countryside made it feel as if we were climbing mountains!
3. The organiser mentioned that they had a 600k coming through Alfreton at the half-way stage. I'm still struggling to understand how that could be done in a single day!
Cheers,
S
My first Audax (a sportive is a race that pretends to not be a race, an audax is not a race that pretends to be a race) was 125 miles around Nottinghamshire with only 1100 metres of climb.
I had been invited to join two fellows (one being my friend S) from Team MK on this audax. I stayed overnight at S's in MK and we were up at 4:30 AM for a cooked breakfast. 5:45 A joined us and we set off for Junction 28 on the M1.
We arrived in plenty of time, checked in, had a biscuit and a cup of tea. There were only 42 riders in the event. I assumed we could start at our leisure, WRONG! It was a Grand Prix type start at 8:00 AM. I was wandering towards the toilets at that time and had to let the riders all pass in front of me before I could cross to the conveniences. Then, after completing that task I returned to my bike and the three of us set off to catch everyone else - except that I had not adjusted my saddle. We stopped and I got the Allen key out and did the adjustment.
After getting going we kept up a steady 20-22 MPH slowly going through the field. At just after 22 miles we caught the main bunch (of about 8 riders) and settled in the pack. When we got to the first stop at 38 miles (Rosies) the faster riders who arrived before us (about 4 riders) were enjoying their snacks.
The prevailing wind on the outward section was a cross wind.
We left Rosies after a muffin and a tea. There were about 4 riders on the road ahead of us and the bunch were behind. They caught us some 10 miles later and we split a few miles later when there was some confusion over the directions and we stopped to check the map. The last 10 miles before the half way point you go out and back on the same route. The route then splits and you return in a westerly circle. The advantage of this is you get to see how far people are in front of you and we were quite pleasantly surprised to see that there was not much between us and the leaders. We stopped at the turning point and watched as others got there and turned.
We got on our way after 10 minutes or so. The next checkpoint was another 13 miles. This turned out to be a very pleasant cafe serving excellent cakes and cream teas. All the riders were gathered there and we stopped for refreshment. We sat outside at a table and chairs enjoying the atmosphere. The bunch offered to wait for us but we were tiring and they were obviously faster than us at this point so we let them go.
We got going again and passed through a number of villages, one hosting a wedding which was just finishing as we passed. Everyone was coming out in their finery returning to their cars. I remarked to S about one particularly large cuddly lass in a low top, short skirt and high heels. Just after that I got my punishment as we rode into a strong head wind and I found myself in front of S and A. It was a nightmare and the speedo was dropping. It was a struggle to keep up 10 mph. After what seemed like an eternity (but was probably only a couple of miles) we turned sharply and got the cross wind back.
Strangely, as they had left the cafe before us, the bunch caught us up. It seems that their navigation skills were not up to those of A. We jumped on the back, wheelsuckers that we are. A few miles further I turned around and S and A were no where to be seen. Decisions, do I stop and wait or continue with the bunch. I was feeling a bit tired so I stayed with the bunch. As time went on I kept falling off the back. With about 15 miles to go one of the older veteran gentlemen who was also suffering stopped (there were two guys in that bunch over 70 and another younger guy on an old steel 531 frame!). I stopped with him, not from good manners but from exhaustion.
I consumed half a loaf of Soreen, another gel and a lot of water and after about 5 minutes we set off again (I was fully expecting S and A to pass me like S had done on the Dragon last month). The veteran gentleman got off and walked at the next hill whilst I continued in my lowest gear (34 X 28).
I struggled to the finish alone. It was definitely longer than advertised which is always a challenge at the end. A time of 8:36 and a top ten finish. The veteran gentleman came in closely followed by S and A (13 minutes after me). I was collapsed with a cup of tea and a biscuit at the time. As usual, my face caked with salt.
The organisers were telling us that they also organise 300 and 400 Kilometre events - not that I will be doing them.
We reflected in the car on the way home how it had been a good day, but we were all tired.
Post Scrip added by S
Duncan,
Sorry, but I had to clarify/emphasise a few things:
1. We actually visited five different counties on this ride (Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, South Yorkshire, South and North Humberside... and we went very close to Lincolnshire)!
2. You correctly pointed out that there was little climbing, but at times the headwind over some very flat countryside made it feel as if we were climbing mountains!
3. The organiser mentioned that they had a 600k coming through Alfreton at the half-way stage. I'm still struggling to understand how that could be done in a single day!
Cheers,
S
Monday 19 May 2008
What Happened to the Roubaix and where did the Look 585 come from?
Two weeks ago four of us did a ride from Worcester Park down to Bury Hill (just before Arundel) and back. This a ride of some 90 plus miles. There was M on his Look KG381, My brother C on his Shorter (his Roubaix was in the cycle shop awaiting a new cassette), R on his Lightspeed and me on my Roubaix. We followed the route of the SWRC 100 down to West Sussex.
It was obvious the R and C were a lot stronger than M and I. This was most obvious when we were climbing Bury Hill and they went up the hill as if it was flat.
On the way back R lost a spoke and his wheel went out of true. Fortunately we were in the vicinity of Pulborough station and he was able to get a train home.
I struggled to keep up with M and C the rest of the way.
Once we got home I put my bike out in the back garden leaning up against a table. The wind blew and it fell over, the crossbar striking a stome step. It damaged the carbon. I subsequently took the bike to my local dealer, Corridori cycles in Banstead. They arranged for the bike to go back to Specialized who advised the bike should not be ridden. They have kindly offered to provide me with a replacement frame at a discounted price - now there is customer service. I am now waiting for the replacement frame and the rebuild.
In the meantime I saw a Look 585 for sale on ebay. My friend M has just bought one new. My other friend Big G has a Look 595. The 585 on ebay was secondhand but never ridden. The bidding was low with two hours of the auction to go. I placed a bid and was quickly overbid. I placed another thinking 1. it would be below the reserve price, and 2. I would be overbid as my bid was very low. This was good as I had not got permission from the Finance Committee to make such a purchase.
Two hours later I was the sucessful bidder and my bid had reached the reserve. I was very suspicious as the seller only had one piece of feedback and there are lots of counterfeit bikes around. I contacted the seller and he gave me his story. I googled him and his story checked out. The following Saturday my brother C and I (as the seller lived in his area) went and collcted he bike.
The bike was as described, unused last years colours, and highly spec'd. The seller was in the Cycling business and we hung around talking to him for about an hour.
When my wife got back from being away at her mothers for the weekend I had to fess up and look for retrospective acceptance from the Committee. She took it well saying "I knew you were looking and it had to happen".
It was obvious the R and C were a lot stronger than M and I. This was most obvious when we were climbing Bury Hill and they went up the hill as if it was flat.
On the way back R lost a spoke and his wheel went out of true. Fortunately we were in the vicinity of Pulborough station and he was able to get a train home.
I struggled to keep up with M and C the rest of the way.
Once we got home I put my bike out in the back garden leaning up against a table. The wind blew and it fell over, the crossbar striking a stome step. It damaged the carbon. I subsequently took the bike to my local dealer, Corridori cycles in Banstead. They arranged for the bike to go back to Specialized who advised the bike should not be ridden. They have kindly offered to provide me with a replacement frame at a discounted price - now there is customer service. I am now waiting for the replacement frame and the rebuild.
In the meantime I saw a Look 585 for sale on ebay. My friend M has just bought one new. My other friend Big G has a Look 595. The 585 on ebay was secondhand but never ridden. The bidding was low with two hours of the auction to go. I placed a bid and was quickly overbid. I placed another thinking 1. it would be below the reserve price, and 2. I would be overbid as my bid was very low. This was good as I had not got permission from the Finance Committee to make such a purchase.
Two hours later I was the sucessful bidder and my bid had reached the reserve. I was very suspicious as the seller only had one piece of feedback and there are lots of counterfeit bikes around. I contacted the seller and he gave me his story. I googled him and his story checked out. The following Saturday my brother C and I (as the seller lived in his area) went and collcted he bike.
The bike was as described, unused last years colours, and highly spec'd. The seller was in the Cycling business and we hung around talking to him for about an hour.
When my wife got back from being away at her mothers for the weekend I had to fess up and look for retrospective acceptance from the Committee. She took it well saying "I knew you were looking and it had to happen".
Hampshire Hilly Hundred 2008
Well, I am exhausted, sore (bottom and legs) and a bit down after the HHH yesterday. My own fault for not getting enough training training miles in this year.
C (my brother) and I turned up early at the start in Alresford (outside Winchester) at 7:15 AM, assembled the bikes and registered before the rush. The day was slightly chilly but bright. Neither of us was feeling in particularly good form. In addition, as my Roubaix has been confirmed as written off by Specialized, I was on my new Look 585 which I had only ridden for a total of 50 miles and to which a new 11-28 rear cassette was fitted only on Friday (to go with the 50-34 on the front).
We lined up on the start line and got away at 8:14 AM. C whizzed off and I was moving in my own time through the slower riders. At about 20 miles I passed C repairing a puncture. It was amazing how many people had punctures, more than I have noticed in previous races. I was pleased that I had taken the time Friday night to fit Specialized Pro Armadillo tyres (23/25).
C caught me up and I was just behind him at the first checkpoint/feed station at 25 miles. After the stop I didn't attempt to follow him, I just let him go. He is strong this year.
I had noticed that my heart rate was particularly and unusually high during the first 25 miles and had been trying to throttle back whenever I noticed. At about 40 miles my thighs began to cramp and I knew I was in trouble. At the second checkpoint/food station at 50 miles I paused longer than usual to get my breathe back and refuel. I then left there with the intention of just surviving.
The hills got to my legs and at about 65 miles I had to walk on one hill, not because of not having the gearing or because it was too steep, but because I was exhausted and cramping.
This week I have changed from Ultegra cleats to Look cleats. I must say the Ultegra are more comfortable to walk in but the Looks are easier to use. The other thing I noticed was that with Look cleats you need to remember to take off the cleat covers (Ultegra do not have cleat covers). Before the start I was cycling around the car park trying to work out why my cleats would not clip into the pedals. It took a minute or so before I remembered that I hadn't taken the covers off the cleats - embarrasing.
The HHH has a final loop of which includes a good hill and makes the course a round 100 miles, but you can elect to take a shortcut from here and do a 87 mile route and avoid the loop if you so desire. By 70 miles I knew I was going to have to take the shortcut even though it pained me to do so. I reckoned that I would have been walking the hill and would be a safety hazard on the flat if I did not. I had already had a coordination problem and had ended up riding in the ditch beside the road and breakneck speed before a miraculous recovery. I got some compliments off those riders following me as to the way I skilfully managed to extract myself (it didn't feel like skill at the time, more like panic).
At the 80 mile feed station/checkpoint I grabbed a chair and sat for 10 minutes trying to get my strength for the 7 miles back to the start/finish avoiding the loop, but still including one last hill. I finally got the motivation to rise from my chair and struggle on. Up the final hill I got past the photographers before again dismounting and walking a few minutes. The first of the 100 milers were passing me at this point (last 6 miles of loop is same as the shortcut) and I got a few comments about being careful the photographers didn't turn around and snap me walking.
I was a bit disorientated when I got back to the start/finish. I had trouble finding the car initially. My result was 5:48 elapsed time for 87 miles (1750 metres of climb) including time stopped at feed stations. A bit of a come down after completing the whole 100 mile course in 5:50 last year.
On the bright side, the new bike went nicely, I didn't get any punctures or fall off (or scratch the new bike) and I was pleased with the way it rode.
I dismantled the bike and packed it away in the car and was sitting on the tailgate of the car drinking the flask of tea I had brought with me when C finished. His result, a fantastic 5:56 for 100 miles (and 2250 metres of climb), gold standard, even though he had the puncture.
One month to go until the Dragon, and a lot of work to do if I am going to finish.
C (my brother) and I turned up early at the start in Alresford (outside Winchester) at 7:15 AM, assembled the bikes and registered before the rush. The day was slightly chilly but bright. Neither of us was feeling in particularly good form. In addition, as my Roubaix has been confirmed as written off by Specialized, I was on my new Look 585 which I had only ridden for a total of 50 miles and to which a new 11-28 rear cassette was fitted only on Friday (to go with the 50-34 on the front).
We lined up on the start line and got away at 8:14 AM. C whizzed off and I was moving in my own time through the slower riders. At about 20 miles I passed C repairing a puncture. It was amazing how many people had punctures, more than I have noticed in previous races. I was pleased that I had taken the time Friday night to fit Specialized Pro Armadillo tyres (23/25).
C caught me up and I was just behind him at the first checkpoint/feed station at 25 miles. After the stop I didn't attempt to follow him, I just let him go. He is strong this year.
I had noticed that my heart rate was particularly and unusually high during the first 25 miles and had been trying to throttle back whenever I noticed. At about 40 miles my thighs began to cramp and I knew I was in trouble. At the second checkpoint/food station at 50 miles I paused longer than usual to get my breathe back and refuel. I then left there with the intention of just surviving.
The hills got to my legs and at about 65 miles I had to walk on one hill, not because of not having the gearing or because it was too steep, but because I was exhausted and cramping.
This week I have changed from Ultegra cleats to Look cleats. I must say the Ultegra are more comfortable to walk in but the Looks are easier to use. The other thing I noticed was that with Look cleats you need to remember to take off the cleat covers (Ultegra do not have cleat covers). Before the start I was cycling around the car park trying to work out why my cleats would not clip into the pedals. It took a minute or so before I remembered that I hadn't taken the covers off the cleats - embarrasing.
The HHH has a final loop of which includes a good hill and makes the course a round 100 miles, but you can elect to take a shortcut from here and do a 87 mile route and avoid the loop if you so desire. By 70 miles I knew I was going to have to take the shortcut even though it pained me to do so. I reckoned that I would have been walking the hill and would be a safety hazard on the flat if I did not. I had already had a coordination problem and had ended up riding in the ditch beside the road and breakneck speed before a miraculous recovery. I got some compliments off those riders following me as to the way I skilfully managed to extract myself (it didn't feel like skill at the time, more like panic).
At the 80 mile feed station/checkpoint I grabbed a chair and sat for 10 minutes trying to get my strength for the 7 miles back to the start/finish avoiding the loop, but still including one last hill. I finally got the motivation to rise from my chair and struggle on. Up the final hill I got past the photographers before again dismounting and walking a few minutes. The first of the 100 milers were passing me at this point (last 6 miles of loop is same as the shortcut) and I got a few comments about being careful the photographers didn't turn around and snap me walking.
I was a bit disorientated when I got back to the start/finish. I had trouble finding the car initially. My result was 5:48 elapsed time for 87 miles (1750 metres of climb) including time stopped at feed stations. A bit of a come down after completing the whole 100 mile course in 5:50 last year.
On the bright side, the new bike went nicely, I didn't get any punctures or fall off (or scratch the new bike) and I was pleased with the way it rode.
I dismantled the bike and packed it away in the car and was sitting on the tailgate of the car drinking the flask of tea I had brought with me when C finished. His result, a fantastic 5:56 for 100 miles (and 2250 metres of climb), gold standard, even though he had the puncture.
One month to go until the Dragon, and a lot of work to do if I am going to finish.
Saturday 26 April 2008
I don't like girls!
This is the usual statement of my 8 year old son.
On Sunday whilst we were time trialling around Box Hill my son was left with a friend of my wife who was walking her dog on Box Hill. R's wife was doing the timing so their 7 year old daughter was also with the friend and her dog.
When I finished the time trial the two kids were in the process of taking my car apart from the inside out whilst reading comics, clowning around and listening to music on the radio. Whilst we all enjoyed a well earned cup of tea and the National Trust cake the kids were in the National Trust gift shop spending their pocket money buying tat together.
As we drove away from Box Hill my son made the remark - "H is really nice, when are we meeting up again".
R made me aware that Liquigas, the Tour de France team are running a childrens camp (for 7 to 12 year olds) in the summer in Italy and he is considering sending his daughter, I have suggested to my wife that our son might enjoy the camp, however, she thinks he might be a bit young?
On Sunday whilst we were time trialling around Box Hill my son was left with a friend of my wife who was walking her dog on Box Hill. R's wife was doing the timing so their 7 year old daughter was also with the friend and her dog.
When I finished the time trial the two kids were in the process of taking my car apart from the inside out whilst reading comics, clowning around and listening to music on the radio. Whilst we all enjoyed a well earned cup of tea and the National Trust cake the kids were in the National Trust gift shop spending their pocket money buying tat together.
As we drove away from Box Hill my son made the remark - "H is really nice, when are we meeting up again".
R made me aware that Liquigas, the Tour de France team are running a childrens camp (for 7 to 12 year olds) in the summer in Italy and he is considering sending his daughter, I have suggested to my wife that our son might enjoy the camp, however, she thinks he might be a bit young?
Subject: Guildford Peloton - Box Hill Circuit Time Trial II - Sunday 20th April Results
Well done to all those who completed the 2nd Box Hill TT. In contrast to the first race 5 weeks ago conditions were perfect - dry, 9c and a gentle breeze. This had a bearing on times with all riders recording improved times. A and Turbo P knocked more than 10 mins off their previous times. A timed his race expertly, saving his fastest effort until the last lap and is very close to breaking the 1-30 mark. This would be an amazing achievement on a mountain bike. Turbo P's 1-27 confirmed that he is on course for etape glory. Dynamo and MK Steve put in good performances which will improve as their familiarity with the course grows.
The third race is set for Sunday 18th May, 0930.
The results (splits in brackets)
1st R 1.17-55 (26-12, 25-39, 26-04)
2nd M 1.23-54 (27-11, 28-57, 27-56)
3rd Dynamo 1.25-44 (28-20,28-28,28-56)
4th SC 1.26-35 (27-10, 29-56,29-29)
5th Turbo P 1.27-20 (28-59,28-55,29-26)
6th MK Steve 1.29-27 (29-24,29-38,30-25)
7th AC 1.31-35 (30-39, 31-20, 29-36)
With two races left, M has a four point lead over SC.
Standings
M - 18
S C - 14
Turbo P - 10
R - 10
Dynamo - 6
AC- 5
MK Steve W - 3
1st = 10 pts; 2nd = 8 pts 3rd = 6 pts 4th = 5 pts 5th = 4 pts; 6th = 3 pts.
Thanks everyone who made a donation to Sport Relief. We managed to raise £60. We have now raised £120.
The third race is set for Sunday 18th May, 0930.
The results (splits in brackets)
1st R 1.17-55 (26-12, 25-39, 26-04)
2nd M 1.23-54 (27-11, 28-57, 27-56)
3rd Dynamo 1.25-44 (28-20,28-28,28-56)
4th SC 1.26-35 (27-10, 29-56,29-29)
5th Turbo P 1.27-20 (28-59,28-55,29-26)
6th MK Steve 1.29-27 (29-24,29-38,30-25)
7th AC 1.31-35 (30-39, 31-20, 29-36)
With two races left, M has a four point lead over SC.
Standings
M - 18
S C - 14
Turbo P - 10
R - 10
Dynamo - 6
AC- 5
MK Steve W - 3
1st = 10 pts; 2nd = 8 pts 3rd = 6 pts 4th = 5 pts 5th = 4 pts; 6th = 3 pts.
Thanks everyone who made a donation to Sport Relief. We managed to raise £60. We have now raised £120.
Tuesday 15 April 2008
Sundays Box Hill time trial
Monday
R.
I am pleased to announce that the second Box Hill time trial is set for 20th April. We will start at 0930 adjacent to the NT café on top of Box Hill. Riders will depart on 2 min intervals. They will complete 3 laps of the 8 mile Ball Buster course. This the second in a series of 4 races. M is the current leader.As per the first race, I will ask for a donation of £10 per rider. Unless there are any objections, I will donate all the money raised to Sport Relief. I need to have your confirmed entry by Tuesday 15th April. I will then send the final arrangements by email on Thursday 17th April. Feel free to forward this invite anyone you think might be interested.
All the best
Dynamo
My wife is away this weekend so I have sole charge of my 8 year old. This means either I volunteer to do the timing or the timer volunteers to babysit. Alternatively my brother convinces his family to come down to walk on scenic Box Hill with my son.
Any suggestions?
R.
My wife will be doing the timing and she will bring my 7 year so she would be happy to look after him.
Dynamo
That's great news and allays my wife’s fears that I was going to abandon him at the top of Box Hill.
That confirms me for the TT.
Note, as I carry less weight on the descents and don't have the "power thighs" of M for the ascents I will slower than him, at least on the second and third lap as I will be employing my usual tactics of going off hell for leather then fading badly after the first climb. In fact I think my fitness is dreadful this year. Anyway, the TT gives me an excuse to taper my training this week and load up on Pizza and Pies. CU all Sunday
R.
There are days when I feel like that could be a good idea. See you on Sunday.
Dynamo
Is that good idea; (1) feeling like abandoning your child on Box Hill, or (2) feeling that fitness is not up to standard, or (3) feeling like Pizza and Pies, or (4) feeling like M is going to beat you?
There are days where I feel any or all or are applicable. M and I have just been out this lunchtime to indulge in the Italian food option (I am trying to feed him up and take away training opportunities to slow him down for Sunday) Regards
Tuesday
Dynamo
After being very good yesterday and having a Chicken & Avocado salad at lunchtime and doing a session at the gym last night followed by Sushi, I sinned big time today. I have had a chocolate muffin, lots of chocolate biscuits and for lunch I had 3 sausages, Yorkshire pud, potato, onion gravy and baked beanz. This is part of my cunning plan to increase my weight for Sunday to give me a downhill advantage. My diary is full for the rest of the week so unlikely to get any more sessions in the gym before Sunday so no risk of dropping those hard gained Kilos.
Turbo P
Dynamo - sounds to me like you are playing those usual mind games! I've seen you powering along with all those London Dynamos trailing in your wake! Nice try though. However, I can say that from personal experience, whilst eating pies etc is brilliant for speed on the downhill, it does tend to mar the overall experience of the Ascent...
Dynamo
Aahhhh - the Ascent... Yes I have noticed that since I am getting heavier it coincides with the ascents getting harder, but I don't think the two facts are related. I put the fact that the ascents are getting harder down to the fact that as M loses weight and gets fitter (1) he is getting faster, and (2) he creates a smaller drag coefficient for me to follow in and thus I have to work harder to try to keep up with him. So nothing to do with Pies, Cakes, Pizza and sausages I assure you.
Turbo P
Just one quick request,though - please can you promise NOT to eat that combo for breakfast on the day of the TT? The resultant "tailwind" could prove hazardous to those cycling behind you...(or is this yet another tactic??)...
Dynamo
All is fair in love and war (and time trials)!!!
R.
I am pleased to announce that the second Box Hill time trial is set for 20th April. We will start at 0930 adjacent to the NT café on top of Box Hill. Riders will depart on 2 min intervals. They will complete 3 laps of the 8 mile Ball Buster course. This the second in a series of 4 races. M is the current leader.As per the first race, I will ask for a donation of £10 per rider. Unless there are any objections, I will donate all the money raised to Sport Relief. I need to have your confirmed entry by Tuesday 15th April. I will then send the final arrangements by email on Thursday 17th April. Feel free to forward this invite anyone you think might be interested.
All the best
Dynamo
My wife is away this weekend so I have sole charge of my 8 year old. This means either I volunteer to do the timing or the timer volunteers to babysit. Alternatively my brother convinces his family to come down to walk on scenic Box Hill with my son.
Any suggestions?
R.
My wife will be doing the timing and she will bring my 7 year so she would be happy to look after him.
Dynamo
That's great news and allays my wife’s fears that I was going to abandon him at the top of Box Hill.
That confirms me for the TT.
Note, as I carry less weight on the descents and don't have the "power thighs" of M for the ascents I will slower than him, at least on the second and third lap as I will be employing my usual tactics of going off hell for leather then fading badly after the first climb. In fact I think my fitness is dreadful this year. Anyway, the TT gives me an excuse to taper my training this week and load up on Pizza and Pies. CU all Sunday
R.
There are days when I feel like that could be a good idea. See you on Sunday.
Dynamo
Is that good idea; (1) feeling like abandoning your child on Box Hill, or (2) feeling that fitness is not up to standard, or (3) feeling like Pizza and Pies, or (4) feeling like M is going to beat you?
There are days where I feel any or all or are applicable. M and I have just been out this lunchtime to indulge in the Italian food option (I am trying to feed him up and take away training opportunities to slow him down for Sunday) Regards
Tuesday
Dynamo
After being very good yesterday and having a Chicken & Avocado salad at lunchtime and doing a session at the gym last night followed by Sushi, I sinned big time today. I have had a chocolate muffin, lots of chocolate biscuits and for lunch I had 3 sausages, Yorkshire pud, potato, onion gravy and baked beanz. This is part of my cunning plan to increase my weight for Sunday to give me a downhill advantage. My diary is full for the rest of the week so unlikely to get any more sessions in the gym before Sunday so no risk of dropping those hard gained Kilos.
Turbo P
Dynamo - sounds to me like you are playing those usual mind games! I've seen you powering along with all those London Dynamos trailing in your wake! Nice try though. However, I can say that from personal experience, whilst eating pies etc is brilliant for speed on the downhill, it does tend to mar the overall experience of the Ascent...
Dynamo
Aahhhh - the Ascent... Yes I have noticed that since I am getting heavier it coincides with the ascents getting harder, but I don't think the two facts are related. I put the fact that the ascents are getting harder down to the fact that as M loses weight and gets fitter (1) he is getting faster, and (2) he creates a smaller drag coefficient for me to follow in and thus I have to work harder to try to keep up with him. So nothing to do with Pies, Cakes, Pizza and sausages I assure you.
Turbo P
Just one quick request,though - please can you promise NOT to eat that combo for breakfast on the day of the TT? The resultant "tailwind" could prove hazardous to those cycling behind you...(or is this yet another tactic??)...
Dynamo
All is fair in love and war (and time trials)!!!
Sunday 9 March 2008
SWRC 100 (Km) Sunday February 24th 2008
It a good ride, the weather was excellent, the course challenging but fun, well organised and a good result.
I was a bit worried as the course included a Polesden Lacey which is the 20% gradient that I fractured my pelvis on in November last. On the start they announced that for safety reasons that hill and the particularly tiring Ranmore which followed were being dropped but another hill had been added in the middle (and don't worry it more than made up for the hills dropped).
The organisation worked well and everyone was very friendly. I managed to get around without loosing my way although I missed one sign but fortunately another rider called me back on course. Even the distance was accurate. My Polar CS600 shows 99.8 Km and my CatEye shows 62.77 miles.
I should think there were some sore legs in the morning, mine were a bit stiff. A few people must have been smelling of embrocation at their desks.
No doubt all you readers who took part took the time to lovingly clean your bikes and do any neccesary maintenance as soon as you got home after the race so it is ready for training next week
I enjoyed the ride, and was very pleased to get under the 4 hours mark (3 hours 59 mins). Over the last half hour my legs were cramping but all I could think about was pushing to break the 4 hour barrier (or was it pushing to get higher up that enormous tea queue, they did rather underestimate the demand for refreshments).
I am a bit worried as to how S from MK on his Specialized Allez (with a slashed tyre on the start which had been lined with a plastic bag to protect the tube) and Big G (riding with Team Bianchi) managed to be right on top of me time wise (4:01 and 4:11). They did very well and at this rate give them another month and I will be trailing in their wake.
The official results came through and I was 82nd out of 276 finishers. Whilst my time of 3:59 (just ver 16 mph) was respectable someone managed it in 3:16 (was that on a motorbike, can anyone cycle that fast?).
I was a bit worried as the course included a Polesden Lacey which is the 20% gradient that I fractured my pelvis on in November last. On the start they announced that for safety reasons that hill and the particularly tiring Ranmore which followed were being dropped but another hill had been added in the middle (and don't worry it more than made up for the hills dropped).
The organisation worked well and everyone was very friendly. I managed to get around without loosing my way although I missed one sign but fortunately another rider called me back on course. Even the distance was accurate. My Polar CS600 shows 99.8 Km and my CatEye shows 62.77 miles.
I should think there were some sore legs in the morning, mine were a bit stiff. A few people must have been smelling of embrocation at their desks.
No doubt all you readers who took part took the time to lovingly clean your bikes and do any neccesary maintenance as soon as you got home after the race so it is ready for training next week
I enjoyed the ride, and was very pleased to get under the 4 hours mark (3 hours 59 mins). Over the last half hour my legs were cramping but all I could think about was pushing to break the 4 hour barrier (or was it pushing to get higher up that enormous tea queue, they did rather underestimate the demand for refreshments).
I am a bit worried as to how S from MK on his Specialized Allez (with a slashed tyre on the start which had been lined with a plastic bag to protect the tube) and Big G (riding with Team Bianchi) managed to be right on top of me time wise (4:01 and 4:11). They did very well and at this rate give them another month and I will be trailing in their wake.
The official results came through and I was 82nd out of 276 finishers. Whilst my time of 3:59 (just ver 16 mph) was respectable someone managed it in 3:16 (was that on a motorbike, can anyone cycle that fast?).
Tuesday 19 February 2008
Not my luck at the moment
I may have won £10.00 on the lottery over the weekend and Sainsburys were selling Valentine roses off cheap on Sunday just in time for The Wife's return from a week away with her mother, but yesterday and today haven't been quite so lucky.
This morning I waited 20 minutes for a train on the cold station platform. When it did turn up it was crowded. After getting on and standing in the crush whilst the train was stationary for 10 minutes we were told the train was faulty and was being withdrawn from service. We all had to get off back on to the cold platform. Ten minutes later another train arrived, sardines was not the word for the crush all the way to Waterloo. I got to work half hour late.
On top of that. I was in the gym last night. I did 5000 metres on the rower (21 mins, 2:05 avg @21 spm) and then proceeded to sit on the cycle planning to do an hour. 59 minutes into the cycle some bufoon tried to adjust the machine next to mine and kicked the wire for my machine tearing it out of the plug. Everything went blank and all the data was lost. I must admit I gave him a glare and may have made a rude comment or three. I then had to report the damage to the reception desk (as the bufoon was not interested in reporting the damage he had done) and I could not get the inclination to finish off the last minute, so I went home .
This morning I waited 20 minutes for a train on the cold station platform. When it did turn up it was crowded. After getting on and standing in the crush whilst the train was stationary for 10 minutes we were told the train was faulty and was being withdrawn from service. We all had to get off back on to the cold platform. Ten minutes later another train arrived, sardines was not the word for the crush all the way to Waterloo. I got to work half hour late.
On top of that. I was in the gym last night. I did 5000 metres on the rower (21 mins, 2:05 avg @21 spm) and then proceeded to sit on the cycle planning to do an hour. 59 minutes into the cycle some bufoon tried to adjust the machine next to mine and kicked the wire for my machine tearing it out of the plug. Everything went blank and all the data was lost. I must admit I gave him a glare and may have made a rude comment or three. I then had to report the damage to the reception desk (as the bufoon was not interested in reporting the damage he had done) and I could not get the inclination to finish off the last minute, so I went home .
Saturday 16 February 2008
Longest ride so far in 2008 – 95.5 miles 1500 metres of Climb
It was a cold sunny day Saturday – cold being the word.
I arrived at M’s at just after 10:00 AM after getting my chores accomplished. Neither of us felt great, and M was a bit anxious having got in very little riding lately.
The planned ride was Bury Hill (on the A29 Bognor Road just before Arundel) which we anticipated to be a 80-90 mile ride.
We rode out through Esher and Fetcham, Effingham, Leith Hill and on to Mole Street that runs parallel to the A29. It was a slow start and we were suffering as we arrived at the top of Bury Hill.
The plan was to stop for lunch at a roadside café about 8 miles back up the A29 the other side of Pulborough from Bury Hill, but tiredness got the better of us. With the computer already showing 52 miles we stopped at Hikers Café at the top of Bury hill. There is no inside to Hikers Café as it is a kiosk (and don’t ask for tomato or lettuce in your cheese sandwich as you will be told in no uncertain terms “we don’t do those vegetables thingies”) so we had to drink our coffee outside in the cold.
We were not looking forward to riding back against the cold headwind so agreed to take the A29 all the way back as it is the flattest and fastest route. It was hard work. After Ockley we turned off the A29 and headed up into the Surrey Hills through Coldharbour. At Dorking we agreed to miss out Ranmore (will we pay for this lapse in the season to come?). We went up Mont Box at a steady 8.5 mph and stopped at the top for another coffee.
At this point we knew we had 12 miles to go giving us a total of 95 miles back to my house. It was getting dark so we set off. Four miles from home M had a puncture!!! It was getting dark, we were on a main road (A217 at Banstead junction) and our hands were freezing. We could not find anything in the tyre that might have caused the puncture so we put in a new inner tube and kept our fingers crossed that there was nothing in the tyre that would cause another immediate puncture. In the dark with only one rear light between (and no front lights) us we set off for home. Fortunately there were no other incidents.
I think after about 75 miles, once we got to the top of Coldharbour we began to feel better and by the time we got home we were moving well (it may just have been that we could smell home).
A good 95.5 miles and 1500 metres of climb.
No ride tomorrow (Sunday) as I have a "List" to try to complete, including a trip to Sainsburys, before I have to be at Gatwick at lunchtime to pick up my wife and son.
I arrived at M’s at just after 10:00 AM after getting my chores accomplished. Neither of us felt great, and M was a bit anxious having got in very little riding lately.
The planned ride was Bury Hill (on the A29 Bognor Road just before Arundel) which we anticipated to be a 80-90 mile ride.
We rode out through Esher and Fetcham, Effingham, Leith Hill and on to Mole Street that runs parallel to the A29. It was a slow start and we were suffering as we arrived at the top of Bury Hill.
The plan was to stop for lunch at a roadside café about 8 miles back up the A29 the other side of Pulborough from Bury Hill, but tiredness got the better of us. With the computer already showing 52 miles we stopped at Hikers Café at the top of Bury hill. There is no inside to Hikers Café as it is a kiosk (and don’t ask for tomato or lettuce in your cheese sandwich as you will be told in no uncertain terms “we don’t do those vegetables thingies”) so we had to drink our coffee outside in the cold.
We were not looking forward to riding back against the cold headwind so agreed to take the A29 all the way back as it is the flattest and fastest route. It was hard work. After Ockley we turned off the A29 and headed up into the Surrey Hills through Coldharbour. At Dorking we agreed to miss out Ranmore (will we pay for this lapse in the season to come?). We went up Mont Box at a steady 8.5 mph and stopped at the top for another coffee.
At this point we knew we had 12 miles to go giving us a total of 95 miles back to my house. It was getting dark so we set off. Four miles from home M had a puncture!!! It was getting dark, we were on a main road (A217 at Banstead junction) and our hands were freezing. We could not find anything in the tyre that might have caused the puncture so we put in a new inner tube and kept our fingers crossed that there was nothing in the tyre that would cause another immediate puncture. In the dark with only one rear light between (and no front lights) us we set off for home. Fortunately there were no other incidents.
I think after about 75 miles, once we got to the top of Coldharbour we began to feel better and by the time we got home we were moving well (it may just have been that we could smell home).
A good 95.5 miles and 1500 metres of climb.
No ride tomorrow (Sunday) as I have a "List" to try to complete, including a trip to Sainsburys, before I have to be at Gatwick at lunchtime to pick up my wife and son.
Friday Night and I am "Nobby No Mates"
Friday night everyone goes out and like everyone else I had plans. Unfortunately at the last minute those plans were thwarted so I was “Home Alone”. The best offer I got was to babysit three children with Big G who was doing a friend a favour and having the children for 24 hours. I settled for washing my hair; catching up on the ironing and watching TV – Dorothy Domestic me, make someone a good wife.
Saturday I was supposed to be riding with M, however he told me during Friday that he had childcare problems (I suggested that Graham wouldn’t notice one more but M was of the opinion that his partner would not stand for that). As Big G was still babysitting all day Saturday and Turbo P was in the Lake District on matrimonial duty it was looking like I was going to be riding alone.
Riding alone is not something I like as in the event of an accident there is no one to look out for you. In addition it is boring riding alone.
My brother rang me and suggested that I be in St Albans at 7:30 AM (St Albans is an hours drive from home) for a ride from St Albans to Leicester to visit his mother in law. I was not averse to this despite the early start as I wanted to ride and my daughter is at university in Leicester and it might give me a chance to meet up with her.
In preparation for the early start I dismantled my bike and loaded it into the car.
No sooner had I finished the loading than I got a text from M to say the childcare situation had been resolved and he was riding – that gave me a problem – who do I let down.
My wife and son are away this week. However, my wife had left me with a list o tasks to accomplish before she returned. Some of those tasks could only be accomplished on Saturday and riding to Leicester would prevent me from ticking those tasks off.
I rang my brother to give him the bad news, he was out and I spoke to his wife and gave her the message. I felt bad as I did not want him to have an accident riding alone, especially as he was starting so early and it was going to be a cold night leaving ice on the roads, and I told his wife that. Unfortunately for him his wife thought about this and banned him from riding alone Saturday so he did not get out.
I did also leave the message that he could join us in Surrey.
I rang M and agreed on a run to Bury Hill (on the A29 Bognor Road just before Arundel) starting at 10:00 AM. The 10:00 start would give me time to do the Saturday items on the list left by my wife.
I then had to unpack my bike from the car and get it built ready for the morning.
Saturday I was supposed to be riding with M, however he told me during Friday that he had childcare problems (I suggested that Graham wouldn’t notice one more but M was of the opinion that his partner would not stand for that). As Big G was still babysitting all day Saturday and Turbo P was in the Lake District on matrimonial duty it was looking like I was going to be riding alone.
Riding alone is not something I like as in the event of an accident there is no one to look out for you. In addition it is boring riding alone.
My brother rang me and suggested that I be in St Albans at 7:30 AM (St Albans is an hours drive from home) for a ride from St Albans to Leicester to visit his mother in law. I was not averse to this despite the early start as I wanted to ride and my daughter is at university in Leicester and it might give me a chance to meet up with her.
In preparation for the early start I dismantled my bike and loaded it into the car.
No sooner had I finished the loading than I got a text from M to say the childcare situation had been resolved and he was riding – that gave me a problem – who do I let down.
My wife and son are away this week. However, my wife had left me with a list o tasks to accomplish before she returned. Some of those tasks could only be accomplished on Saturday and riding to Leicester would prevent me from ticking those tasks off.
I rang my brother to give him the bad news, he was out and I spoke to his wife and gave her the message. I felt bad as I did not want him to have an accident riding alone, especially as he was starting so early and it was going to be a cold night leaving ice on the roads, and I told his wife that. Unfortunately for him his wife thought about this and banned him from riding alone Saturday so he did not get out.
I did also leave the message that he could join us in Surrey.
I rang M and agreed on a run to Bury Hill (on the A29 Bognor Road just before Arundel) starting at 10:00 AM. The 10:00 start would give me time to do the Saturday items on the list left by my wife.
I then had to unpack my bike from the car and get it built ready for the morning.
Monday 11 February 2008
Weather to Ride - It certainly was Glorious!
The weekend weather was glorious, you almost felt summer was early with 13 degrees C (aprox 55 degrees F) and very sunny and dry, just a little crisp first thing as the frost lifted. Big G and I took full advantage getting 52 miles Saturday and 46 Sunday with over 1000 metres of climbing each day.
Saturday at 9:00 as usual (last three Saturday mornings) I was at the local bike shop (Corridori Banstead) to pick up my bike. Last week it had an Shimano 105 front mech that would only cover two of the three chainwheels. This week with no fuss or extra expense Corridori has swapped it for an Ultegra front mech. It worked beautifully and on Sunday my tired legs certainly appreciated the extra gearing.
At 10:40 AM Big G (on his Look 595) and I (on my Roubaix) set off from his place in East Ewell. A good 52 miles in the sunshine taking in the usual hills but as we went off Leith Hill, instead of going towards either Shere or Coldharbour, we went down Mole Street following the route of the SWRC 100Km course towards Ellens Green. At a nice relaxed pace we chatted until we met the junction of the A281 and A29. From there we rode back up the A29, up Leith, through Coldharbour, Dorking, through Dorking, over Ranmore and up Mont Box.
For a change I opted for the National Trust vegetable pastie with my coffee (choice of hot or cold (the pastie not the coffee!), I opted for hot with brown sauce). I can recommend the veggie pasties and will certainly be enjoying more of them (perhaps not a good idea when my Doctor told me this week that my Cholesterol level is 7.1 - yikes). The ride from the top of Mont Box home is always the best bit of the ride as it is more downhill than up and you can get quite a pace going (except up blasted Banstead Hill).
Saturday PM I spent up a ladder swearing and cutting my hands and arms to shreds trimming the Leylandi at the end of our garden.
Also Saturday PM, Big G went to collect his new top of the range Bianchi before having a late afternoon nap (oh the joys of the single man). It is a lovely looking machine. Bianchi has perfected the Italian styling, good looks and romance. Whilst it is not quite up to the absolute efficiency of a race trimmed Look 595, you buy the Bianch for the looks and at less than half the price the performance is still good. Big G thought it was heavy when he picked it up, but then a Helium balloon is heavy compared to his Look 595.
Gig G doesn't want to ruin the Look 595 riding through the winter so opted for the Bianchi for a winter bike. He has had it fitted with a comp and a better saddle and tyres. Corridori did him a deal and gave him a generous discount (seeing as we seem to be regulars in the store). Corridori fitted it so that the geometry is as near that on his 595 as possible.
Sunday morning I telephoned Big G at 8:30 to get him out of bed. He started the day complaining of the stiffness in his muscles from Saturdays ride. At 9:30 we started out from his house (Big G on the new Bianchi) and I promised him a slow easy ride (he believed me, 46 miles and 1100 metres of climb later he was able go home for his Mums roast and an afternoon nap!). I was a bit stiff myself, but you know the form - show no weakness to get the psycological upper hand.
We went over the hills one by one, and where as on Saturday Big G was up front, on Sunday he was tailing behind (I maintained just enough to stay in front so he didn't see the pain on my face). At the beginning I agreed we would think about Leith when we got there and Ranmore was definitely out, however, he gamely knocked each hill off with his new Comp as I reintroduced each hill to the route.
At the top of Mont Box my Wife and son together with her friend and her dog Zippy met us. They had parked at the bottom at Rikers and had walked up the hill. Fortunately they were near the front of the very slow moving tea queue when we arrived saving us from having to wait long for our refreshment.
After the ride home my wife, son and I went ten pin bowling. I won the first game and I let her win the second (OK, I admit it, I was bowling like a dozy and was beaten fair and square). A pleasant afternoon followed by a nice roast chicken dinner.
What of the others? M was on parenting duty all weekend. S went out with Team MK and managed to finish the 47 mile ride. My brother was parenting Saturday but got in 70 miles with the club Sunday. Recently he has been using his old Raleigh 531 but Sunday he saw the sunshine and got out the Roubaix, and he says that he appreciated the difference it makes.
Two weeks to go to the SWRC 100, time to get in those last hard miles this coming weekend before tapering for the race weekend.
PS: I write this for my own fufilment but if you think it drones on please let me know.
Saturday at 9:00 as usual (last three Saturday mornings) I was at the local bike shop (Corridori Banstead) to pick up my bike. Last week it had an Shimano 105 front mech that would only cover two of the three chainwheels. This week with no fuss or extra expense Corridori has swapped it for an Ultegra front mech. It worked beautifully and on Sunday my tired legs certainly appreciated the extra gearing.
At 10:40 AM Big G (on his Look 595) and I (on my Roubaix) set off from his place in East Ewell. A good 52 miles in the sunshine taking in the usual hills but as we went off Leith Hill, instead of going towards either Shere or Coldharbour, we went down Mole Street following the route of the SWRC 100Km course towards Ellens Green. At a nice relaxed pace we chatted until we met the junction of the A281 and A29. From there we rode back up the A29, up Leith, through Coldharbour, Dorking, through Dorking, over Ranmore and up Mont Box.
For a change I opted for the National Trust vegetable pastie with my coffee (choice of hot or cold (the pastie not the coffee!), I opted for hot with brown sauce). I can recommend the veggie pasties and will certainly be enjoying more of them (perhaps not a good idea when my Doctor told me this week that my Cholesterol level is 7.1 - yikes). The ride from the top of Mont Box home is always the best bit of the ride as it is more downhill than up and you can get quite a pace going (except up blasted Banstead Hill).
Saturday PM I spent up a ladder swearing and cutting my hands and arms to shreds trimming the Leylandi at the end of our garden.
Also Saturday PM, Big G went to collect his new top of the range Bianchi before having a late afternoon nap (oh the joys of the single man). It is a lovely looking machine. Bianchi has perfected the Italian styling, good looks and romance. Whilst it is not quite up to the absolute efficiency of a race trimmed Look 595, you buy the Bianch for the looks and at less than half the price the performance is still good. Big G thought it was heavy when he picked it up, but then a Helium balloon is heavy compared to his Look 595.
Gig G doesn't want to ruin the Look 595 riding through the winter so opted for the Bianchi for a winter bike. He has had it fitted with a comp and a better saddle and tyres. Corridori did him a deal and gave him a generous discount (seeing as we seem to be regulars in the store). Corridori fitted it so that the geometry is as near that on his 595 as possible.
Sunday morning I telephoned Big G at 8:30 to get him out of bed. He started the day complaining of the stiffness in his muscles from Saturdays ride. At 9:30 we started out from his house (Big G on the new Bianchi) and I promised him a slow easy ride (he believed me, 46 miles and 1100 metres of climb later he was able go home for his Mums roast and an afternoon nap!). I was a bit stiff myself, but you know the form - show no weakness to get the psycological upper hand.
We went over the hills one by one, and where as on Saturday Big G was up front, on Sunday he was tailing behind (I maintained just enough to stay in front so he didn't see the pain on my face). At the beginning I agreed we would think about Leith when we got there and Ranmore was definitely out, however, he gamely knocked each hill off with his new Comp as I reintroduced each hill to the route.
At the top of Mont Box my Wife and son together with her friend and her dog Zippy met us. They had parked at the bottom at Rikers and had walked up the hill. Fortunately they were near the front of the very slow moving tea queue when we arrived saving us from having to wait long for our refreshment.
After the ride home my wife, son and I went ten pin bowling. I won the first game and I let her win the second (OK, I admit it, I was bowling like a dozy and was beaten fair and square). A pleasant afternoon followed by a nice roast chicken dinner.
What of the others? M was on parenting duty all weekend. S went out with Team MK and managed to finish the 47 mile ride. My brother was parenting Saturday but got in 70 miles with the club Sunday. Recently he has been using his old Raleigh 531 but Sunday he saw the sunshine and got out the Roubaix, and he says that he appreciated the difference it makes.
Two weeks to go to the SWRC 100, time to get in those last hard miles this coming weekend before tapering for the race weekend.
PS: I write this for my own fufilment but if you think it drones on please let me know.
Tuesday 5 February 2008
Evidence of an undisplaced fracture
Because of the continued discomfort in my hip over the festive season I wanted to get my hip looked at further so at the start of the New Year I went to my GP and got him to refer me to a consultant under my private healthcare scheme. I saw him earlier in January and he had new xrays done of my hip. They did not show anything at the time and he then referred me for an MRI scan.
I had the MRI scan last week and went back today for the results.
The scan shows evidence of an undisplaced fracture of the right hip. Once you know where it is and go back to the xray then you can see evidence of the bone growing over the fracture. No wonder it hurt so much for so long.
His opinion was that it should continue to heal but best I avoid sports such as running. Cycling, rowing and swimming are OK. He also said it was probably best not to fall off the bike again.
He sees no reason that it should give me problems in the future.
As for the school ski trip in March, he thinks that by then it should have healed further and be fine.
Discharged (but come back if problems occur).
I had the MRI scan last week and went back today for the results.
The scan shows evidence of an undisplaced fracture of the right hip. Once you know where it is and go back to the xray then you can see evidence of the bone growing over the fracture. No wonder it hurt so much for so long.
His opinion was that it should continue to heal but best I avoid sports such as running. Cycling, rowing and swimming are OK. He also said it was probably best not to fall off the bike again.
He sees no reason that it should give me problems in the future.
As for the school ski trip in March, he thinks that by then it should have healed further and be fine.
Discharged (but come back if problems occur).
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