Derbyshire Training

I knew this before, but a couple of days in Derbyshire have just proved it :
 I'm rubbish at going up hills.

There are lots of excuses (ridden a lot this week, wrong gearing, etc) but it is quite a realisation. I exploded on anything steeper than about 1:7 As the gradient rose, my speed slowed and my heart-rate went through the roof. I need to be a lot stronger for the Etape.

2 days in Derbyshire has proved "useful", but sole destroying.

1st TNT done.

95 Days to go.

Last night was my first time trial of the season. A bit of a rush in preparation, so not much warm up, but made it to the start, without forgetting anything essential.

Decided to ride a considered race. Keep the heart rate to around 150 - 155. Seemed to work OK. Outward leg had a bit of a tail wind, and speed was good. After the turn I tried to push rate up a little, but computer (Sports Track Phone app) showed HR as 152..... push a bit harder..... still 152.   Harder ...... still 152. Closer look showed the phone had locked up !?! A bit annoying, but nothing to worry about. not had it happen before. Think it may be at the same time as I got a text message from Jo.

Also had phone strapped between tri bars in a ipod arm band thing. That worked surprisingly well too. Thought it may wobble too much or flap in the wind, but was fine.

Came home with a 27:25. Pretty good for me, and about a minute faster than I had expected beforehand. Good start to the season.

Teenage Cancer Trust

If I'm going to do this, then it would seem a waste not to do it for charity. When Jo ran the London Marathon last year, it felt almost compulsory for the “fun runners” to get sponsored (why else would you do it !?!). Jo Ran for Macmillan Nurses, obviously a cause close to our hearts and raised around £900. I'm not sure if people look upon the Etape in the same way, for some "proper" cyclists this would be one of many similar events. For me this is very definitely a one-off, and a challenge big enough for me to think that sponsorship is appropriate. Just because I ride a couple of 10 mile time-trials (and I’m not very good at them!) doesn’t mean this is going to be easy.

After much deliberation, I have finally picked the charity. There are obviously lot to choose from that have played a part in our lives over the last couple of years, with cancer, strokes and heart problems all up there. In the end I have picked the Teenage Cancer Trust. There is something most upsetting with the idea that kids get cancer too. For those at the age where they understand what is happening to them it must be doubly difficult and scary beyond words. And for parents the feelings must be all consuming. The sense of helplessness as you stand by knowing that there is nothing you can do to fix it. I just can’t contemplate how I would feel if it were Fin or Josh.
In those dark hours when I bitch and moan about work, or money, or training, or not having a shiny new bike, there will always be the voice in the back of my head that tells me it all means nothing. I am healthy. I have 2 healthy boys.     Shut up and get on with it.

99 bottles of beer on the wall... 99 bottles of beer....

99 days to go. and they are ticking off fast.

I need to get some big miles in over the next 8 weeks, but looking at the calendar I can see the next few weekends getting lost in the tangle of family life. Fin's birthday party next Saturday. Nuneaton mini-rugby festival on Sunday. Rugby tour the folloing weekend. then we are into easter, school holidays and the like.

At least the weather is getting warmer and my rugby has come to the end of the season. ( Apart from the possibility of a mid-week Vets' cup, and Pup's cup ) So should be able to get a bit more training in while I'm not feeling so battered!

Where Did February Go ?

Training was going well in January. Despite not being able to get out for the much needed long rides at weekends, I still felt I was clocking up some good hours on the turbo. Feeling that I was improving. Feeling that the legs were starting to get stronger.

Then, all of a sudden, we are in March.

I don't know why by I seem to have lost a month somewhere. The last time I went out was the 50 miles on Feb 20th, and now it is March 15th. Looking back, I had a bit of a smack playing rugby that knocked me about more than I thought ( probably a bit of concussion, whiplash ) and then a busy week at work before a week away skiing.

The results of all those reasons excuses is that I've taken several steps back. The turbo session on Monday was really hard work, and I wasn't even close to finishing the Intervals I had got scheduled. I struggled to hold 300 watts for more than a minute. Went out again last night and really struggled to get the enthusiasm up to keep turning the pedals. I ended up watching YouTube clips on my phone while spinning for an hour.  That is the first time I've ever had to find some distractions while on the turbo. Usually I'm happy concentrating on the numbers on the computer and getting the intervals done.

I need to find a big chunk of motivation and get back up to speed.

First Tuesday 10 is only a couple of weeks away
Etape is 117 days away.

Oh Bugger - That's Steep !

I've just come back from a family skiing holiday....

    ... in Alpe d'Huez.



The ride up to the hotel on the transfer bus was interesting, and my first real feel for what I've let myself in for. Initial reaction : it's steeper than I thought ! 

By the time we got to the top I was deathly silent and white as a sheet. I am now properly scared.

I have a lot of friends who have ridden the Etape, and plenty who have ridden the Alpe d'Huez climb. To any good club rider it is quite do-able..... I just don't think of myself as a good club rider, more a "normal person" who happens to be a member of a cycling club. Add to that my general inability to climb hills and we've got a problem.

Just need to get on with it. As my friend Kelvin says : "stop being a big fairy"

Etape : A Family Outing

After a few months of faffing, we have decided that the whole family will be going to the Etape.

The logistics of all of this is a pain in the neck, and is going to cost way more that I had ever imagined, but it will be nice to have the boys and Jo there.

As Monday 11th July is in the last week of the boys' school term, we will have to complete the paperwork for an Authorised absence, and are likely to get it rejected.


On the up side, I have now booked a room for all of us for Saturday and Sunday nights, just north east of Modane. Should be only 20-30 minutes away.

Planning on driving down on Friday and staying 2/3 of the way down on Friday night. Same on way back.