Dark Side (of the Moon)!
I crossed to the dark side over the weekend and competed in the Rat Race in Bristol. They are GREAT fun and I can totally recommend them. It's a kind of race with a difference. We did a 2.5hr race around the city on foot on Sat evening trying to find various checkpoints and complete challenges along the way, incl drinking beer (!), rolling our teammate up and down a hill in a sumo suit, singing karaoke etc.
Then yesterday (Sunday) we took to our Mountain Bike (hence the dark side reference!) for a 65km ride from Bristol City Centre to Chepstow and back, taking in yet more challenges, incl a couple of abseils (one down a car park, one down the side of a quarry!), kayaking, mud packs on the beach, running up a slippery slope, getting round a BMX track (twice!), and acting at Chepstow Castle.
It was brilliant fun (despite me not being a jogger) and biking practice will be very helpful I'm sure, even if it was a mountain bike. There were plenty of hills to take in too!
Here's a link if you fancy checking it out - there's more Rat Racing in Edinburgh and London later in the year: Rat Race website
Back to the road bike this week though, but maybe not today!
Monday, 7 June 2010
Monday, 31 May 2010
Some pictures - at last!
I've been a bit rubbish about taking pictures during training, but remembered the camera yesterday, a beautifully sunny day!
Sunday, 30 May 2010
The Proclaimers
I will walk ride 500 miles......:-)
That was today's target - 50 miles in whatever time it took! I picked the Sustrans Route 5 from Wallingford to Oxford (plus about 5miles on either end for the journey from home), and it was wonderful!
Not too hilly - one or two unduldations to keep me on my toes, but a very pretty (most of the time, sorry Didcot, but you will never be pretty!) ride taking in some lovely countryside and villages and mostly staying off the main roads.
I did it 52.5 miles in just over 5 hours, with about half an hour in total of stoppages (photos, snack stops etc), so probably about 4.5 hrs of cycling time, which I am pretty satisfied with at this stage of the game.
The legs still feel good, but my hands are tired - perhaps need to think about my riding position where they are concerned.
Off to a friend's tonight for some hard earned BBQ & wine!!
That was today's target - 50 miles in whatever time it took! I picked the Sustrans Route 5 from Wallingford to Oxford (plus about 5miles on either end for the journey from home), and it was wonderful!
Not too hilly - one or two unduldations to keep me on my toes, but a very pretty (most of the time, sorry Didcot, but you will never be pretty!) ride taking in some lovely countryside and villages and mostly staying off the main roads.
I did it 52.5 miles in just over 5 hours, with about half an hour in total of stoppages (photos, snack stops etc), so probably about 4.5 hrs of cycling time, which I am pretty satisfied with at this stage of the game.
The legs still feel good, but my hands are tired - perhaps need to think about my riding position where they are concerned.
Off to a friend's tonight for some hard earned BBQ & wine!!
Tuesday, 18 May 2010
Take That?
Back for good????
Seems appropriate since its been exactly a month since my last post - what a slacker!!
I've had a quiet few weeks in terms of training as I went out on my mountain bike and within 50yds of the house (on the way out!) underestimated the power of the disc brakes (my roadie has rim brakes) and went straight over the handlebars! The shame! I did a great job of tearing my left leg to shreds and with a little encouragement from my ever sympathetic other half, took a photo, posted it on Facebook and got back on the bike!
We did have a nice ride that day, but I had underestimated the internal bruising to me knee which was pretty sore, and my confidence was a little knocked, especially when I got back on the SPDs. I actually felt more wobbly than usual and the last couple of times I've been out on the road bike, have had some silly falls off the cleats, leading to more bruising. However, I think I can safely say that I'm getting over the fear of falling, because I'm getting so much practice!
Anyway, headed out today for a much needed blast around the local lanes and had a super ride. A few hills, some more challenging than others (!!!!), but I managed a nice 28 mile circuit round the Stoke Row area which is bursting with bluebells at the moment.
Off to see Mark Beaumont at the Wycombe Swan tonight which I'm really looking forward to, and with a new found group of friends to go out with on a Thursday night (Freewheeling Abingdon if anyone's interested), I think I have confirmed myself as being firmly "back in the saddle"!
Seems appropriate since its been exactly a month since my last post - what a slacker!!
I've had a quiet few weeks in terms of training as I went out on my mountain bike and within 50yds of the house (on the way out!) underestimated the power of the disc brakes (my roadie has rim brakes) and went straight over the handlebars! The shame! I did a great job of tearing my left leg to shreds and with a little encouragement from my ever sympathetic other half, took a photo, posted it on Facebook and got back on the bike!
We did have a nice ride that day, but I had underestimated the internal bruising to me knee which was pretty sore, and my confidence was a little knocked, especially when I got back on the SPDs. I actually felt more wobbly than usual and the last couple of times I've been out on the road bike, have had some silly falls off the cleats, leading to more bruising. However, I think I can safely say that I'm getting over the fear of falling, because I'm getting so much practice!
Anyway, headed out today for a much needed blast around the local lanes and had a super ride. A few hills, some more challenging than others (!!!!), but I managed a nice 28 mile circuit round the Stoke Row area which is bursting with bluebells at the moment.
Off to see Mark Beaumont at the Wycombe Swan tonight which I'm really looking forward to, and with a new found group of friends to go out with on a Thursday night (Freewheeling Abingdon if anyone's interested), I think I have confirmed myself as being firmly "back in the saddle"!
Sunday, 18 April 2010
Stravinsky??
Rite of Spring?
Well, it certainly felt lovely and Spring like out there today, almost summery in fact!
Had a tough ride today, but I guess that's why they call it "training" and not "a nice potter in the sunshine"!!!
I did a circular route from home to Henley and back which was lovely. A really nice route, away from the main roads, but one or two "unduldations" to challenge the legs and breathing!
One defeated me and I had to walk the last section, but I managed to cycle up all the others, abeit with the odd stop to get my breath back.
All in all, not totally delighted with my performance as I felt tired, but feel like I'm getting a bit better at tackling the hills each time I go out now.
Still don't like them though!!!!!
Well, it certainly felt lovely and Spring like out there today, almost summery in fact!
Had a tough ride today, but I guess that's why they call it "training" and not "a nice potter in the sunshine"!!!
I did a circular route from home to Henley and back which was lovely. A really nice route, away from the main roads, but one or two "unduldations" to challenge the legs and breathing!
One defeated me and I had to walk the last section, but I managed to cycle up all the others, abeit with the odd stop to get my breath back.
All in all, not totally delighted with my performance as I felt tired, but feel like I'm getting a bit better at tackling the hills each time I go out now.
Still don't like them though!!!!!
Sunday, 11 April 2010
Today belongs to Blur
for the WOO HOO! in their epic track Song 2.
Despite doing 31miles on the road bike on Friday (chuffed!), then about 15miles on a mountain bike (with hills!) yesterday, I decided that today it would be a good idea to cycle to and from the Abingdon Freewheeling bike ride of 27 miles! WHY??!!!
The guided ride turned out to be 28 miles and my rides to and from the start totalled 23 miles, so in a very WOO HOO! frame of mind, I find myself sitting here enjoying a post ride beer, having completed a frankly astonishing 51miles today!
I am delighted to have survived and even picked up some great tips along the way. Apparently I'm making my life harder than it needs to be because my bike's cassette is set up for racing and the hills are pretty testing with that set up. So I've decided that my next priorities are to sort a female-friendly saddle out and look into a larger (and hopefully more forgiving) cassette!
Totally chuffed though, and strangely, can't wait to get out again!
Despite doing 31miles on the road bike on Friday (chuffed!), then about 15miles on a mountain bike (with hills!) yesterday, I decided that today it would be a good idea to cycle to and from the Abingdon Freewheeling bike ride of 27 miles! WHY??!!!
The guided ride turned out to be 28 miles and my rides to and from the start totalled 23 miles, so in a very WOO HOO! frame of mind, I find myself sitting here enjoying a post ride beer, having completed a frankly astonishing 51miles today!
I am delighted to have survived and even picked up some great tips along the way. Apparently I'm making my life harder than it needs to be because my bike's cassette is set up for racing and the hills are pretty testing with that set up. So I've decided that my next priorities are to sort a female-friendly saddle out and look into a larger (and hopefully more forgiving) cassette!
Totally chuffed though, and strangely, can't wait to get out again!
Friday, 9 April 2010
Got to be U2 today!
It's such a Beautiful Day!
Had a funny old week, a few distractions and general lethargy meant that I only got out on Tuesday (until today).
However, Tuesday's ride was a great achievement as I tackled a b****r of a hill which I've been putting off for a while. I did have a couple of brief respites along the way, but made it up and completed a 15mile round trip which felt good.
Today, I was feeling rubbish all morning, so decided to go for distance (and try and make up the training targets!) rather than ascents, so off I headed towards Abingdon.
I tried a new approach....a very achievable first target, no real plan after that, a couple of maps and a couple of hours. Oh, and not looking at the bike computer every 2mins - only used it to keep an eye on the time and my speed today.
Well, to my surprise and delight, my legs felt good, my breathing felt good, and I made a 31 mile round trip and it hasn't killed me!
Sooooo pleased!!
Going to try and get out again tomorrow for another distance ride, but let's see how the legs feel in the morning!
Had a funny old week, a few distractions and general lethargy meant that I only got out on Tuesday (until today).
However, Tuesday's ride was a great achievement as I tackled a b****r of a hill which I've been putting off for a while. I did have a couple of brief respites along the way, but made it up and completed a 15mile round trip which felt good.
Today, I was feeling rubbish all morning, so decided to go for distance (and try and make up the training targets!) rather than ascents, so off I headed towards Abingdon.
I tried a new approach....a very achievable first target, no real plan after that, a couple of maps and a couple of hours. Oh, and not looking at the bike computer every 2mins - only used it to keep an eye on the time and my speed today.
Well, to my surprise and delight, my legs felt good, my breathing felt good, and I made a 31 mile round trip and it hasn't killed me!
Sooooo pleased!!
Going to try and get out again tomorrow for another distance ride, but let's see how the legs feel in the morning!
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