A tough week - four commutes on top of the sunday ride.
The decision to forgo the Sandown Sportive in favour of the Wiggle Ups 'n' Downs sportive may backfire. A week of rain - and forecast rain for tomorrow (the day of the sportive) have led organisers to abandon the Epic (100) mile ride. I have dusted down the cagoul - bought a pair of overshoes (previously deemed unnecessary on my commute as I happily splosh my feet around for an hours discomfort) and am bracing myself.
Havent spoken to dave yet - but I dont think he will be keen. The Gold time attempt is surely out of the window too. Have to settle for silver - or - heaven forbid bronze.
My reckoning as as follows:
As a commuter - I am more used to riding in painful weather
My gear is ok
this is good training for the etape - as I have been informed to expect the unexpected.
Hopefully an update will be posted tomorrow or sometime after. Fingers crossed the weather improves - or I can dig deep and pull a quick time out the bag.
Other instances of note - the tour of britain culminates with a surrey hills ride - all the favourites - Leith Hill, Ranmore etc etc.
Here's hoping.
Saturday 28 April 2012
Saturday 21 April 2012
Rainy Week.
Worst week ever for rain. 150 miles+ this week - though no improvement on time. I resisted the urge to enter the Sandown Sportive - in favour of a training ride with Dave tomorrow (Sunday).
Hopefully this willbe an attempt on the hill climbs for the Sportive next sunday and a sub one hour for the first three climbs.
Looks like I wont be able to do the bovington 100 mile sportive - as I have to work on Sat 12 May, this is a big blow. I spoke to someone at Sandown today who said it was a good event - with lots of rolling coastal climbs.
Bed early - and a 9Am start. Poewr down in Hong Kong means I will have to be available around 13:00.
Bit depressed - though I know the next two sundays are good sportive events - and Dave and i hope we can get a Gold time next week.
Hopefully this willbe an attempt on the hill climbs for the Sportive next sunday and a sub one hour for the first three climbs.
Looks like I wont be able to do the bovington 100 mile sportive - as I have to work on Sat 12 May, this is a big blow. I spoke to someone at Sandown today who said it was a good event - with lots of rolling coastal climbs.
Bed early - and a 9Am start. Poewr down in Hong Kong means I will have to be available around 13:00.
Bit depressed - though I know the next two sundays are good sportive events - and Dave and i hope we can get a Gold time next week.
Saturday 14 April 2012
Lazy Easter Sunday
Another week - and not much accomplished. Easter came and went - and my bad organisational skills meant that I did not take my bike onteh family vacation to Dorset - which would have been ideal - as there is plenty of juicy hills that looked ripe for climbing - especially a long drag of Lyme Regis.
Tomorrow is a training day - and in preparation I have purchased some Look style pedals (saw an advert inthe bike of Cycling Weekly) and Mavic shoes (thanks to Cycle Dauphine - half price)
Exited as I thinkk these pedals will make the Ranmore and Leith torture trail a little more bearable.
Only 60 miles this week - so I need to bump up the elavation and mileage tomorrow.
there are two sundays left before the Gold medal attempt in the Wiggle ups and Downs sportive - the first three hills will be attempted tomorrow with an attempt on 51 minutes (daves record).
Tomorrow is a training day - and in preparation I have purchased some Look style pedals (saw an advert inthe bike of Cycling Weekly) and Mavic shoes (thanks to Cycle Dauphine - half price)
Exited as I thinkk these pedals will make the Ranmore and Leith torture trail a little more bearable.
Only 60 miles this week - so I need to bump up the elavation and mileage tomorrow.
there are two sundays left before the Gold medal attempt in the Wiggle ups and Downs sportive - the first three hills will be attempted tomorrow with an attempt on 51 minutes (daves record).
Sunday 1 April 2012
Lazy Sunday
Small training ride with David T today. Over to Dorking - up Ranmore - the hill that never fails to flog me -> down to Dorking and up Box Hill. Coffee and cake in Cycles Dauphine and an ogle at the cycling porn of Cervelo frames and beautiful Colnago bikes.
That reminds me - do the lottery this week.
Home and back out with Lisa on the MTB to the Star. This is not good Etape training - as it involves a shandy - a roast dinner then back to david Lloyd for a cookie and coffee and catch the end of Newcastle United beating Liverpool.
After a 200+ mile week last week - and hearing that Cav did Box Hill (6 times) on friday - I feel there is some justification in having a relaxed day. This will turn in to a relaxed week - as Good Friday will mean only four days of commute.
Its just such days that Etapes are failed. However - I know I have the distance in my legs - and I must climb harder climbs than Ramore and Box Hill to train seriously.
Dave and I have targeted the Wiggle Ups'n'Downs 80 mile sportive. the first three climbs are within us - and the last one (probably Leith Hill) we have ridden a number of occasions (dave more than me). If we can get lucky on the straights and downhills then we should get a reasonable time.
There is a LongLegged sportive on the following week-end - and this also has a few Surrey climbs included. As I sup tea and and reflect on a lazy day I comfort myself with the upcomming sportives and the Fixie ride to work over the next four days.
That reminds me - do the lottery this week.
Home and back out with Lisa on the MTB to the Star. This is not good Etape training - as it involves a shandy - a roast dinner then back to david Lloyd for a cookie and coffee and catch the end of Newcastle United beating Liverpool.
After a 200+ mile week last week - and hearing that Cav did Box Hill (6 times) on friday - I feel there is some justification in having a relaxed day. This will turn in to a relaxed week - as Good Friday will mean only four days of commute.
Its just such days that Etapes are failed. However - I know I have the distance in my legs - and I must climb harder climbs than Ramore and Box Hill to train seriously.
Dave and I have targeted the Wiggle Ups'n'Downs 80 mile sportive. the first three climbs are within us - and the last one (probably Leith Hill) we have ridden a number of occasions (dave more than me). If we can get lucky on the straights and downhills then we should get a reasonable time.
There is a LongLegged sportive on the following week-end - and this also has a few Surrey climbs included. As I sup tea and and reflect on a lazy day I comfort myself with the upcomming sportives and the Fixie ride to work over the next four days.
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