Thursday 29 April 2010

About 1 Stone Gone, 500 Miles Under My Belt

Well, last night I cycled up to the Seend Beer Festival setup to put barrels on the scaffolding (41 beers this year). On the way there I clocked up 500 miles on my milo :D Whoohoo! That's since the start of March.

Then this morning I weighed in at 15 stone 7 lbs. Fantastic! Well on my way to getting below 15 stone by the time we go on the charity ride. Perhaps I'll even get to 14 and a half stone. That would be brilliant, and the weight that Capt is aiming for. I do have some trouble though trying to balance weight loss food/energy or cycling food. Still, it seems to be working.

Not much cycling today. Thought I would give myself a day off - my legs are rather tired, and tomorrow I shall be cycling to work again. I have put together a nice back road route totalling about 18 miles each way. Looking forward to it.

My wife says I have curves now where I have never had them. Lost some bad curves, added some good ones :D

Tuesday 27 April 2010

It's for Charity, Mate!

So, the dates and places are set.

Friday 18th June leave Start Point on the south east tip of Devon. By Sunday the 20th we will have reached Mortehoe, the north west tip of Devon. Approx 150 miles, taking in Dartmoor on the way.

We may be able to reach Mortehoe by Saturday eve. That would be an extra achievement!

The Bonk?

Went out for a 50 miler on Sunday with Capt and Purser. We were having good fun up until Purser's route took us up the hill at Cliffe Pypard - crikey it's a steep one! We were about 20 miles in at this point and the hill went on and on. Trouble was I couldn't get my bike into gears 1-7, so three quarters of the way up I had to stop. Capt was behind me as well and having gear jumping probs so he dismounted too.

I managed to get the chain into the lowest front cog and into 1st gear. At this point, going the other way, were loads of 'professional' looking cyclists, looking at poor old Capt and I with a touch of disdain. So, I tried and set off in 1st gear, but with the torque the front wheel lifted off and I almost wheelied into a cyclist going the other way! I tried again and ended up trying to ride up the bank by the side of the road! So, with a touch of disappointment, Capt and I walked the last 20 yards.

Trouble was, unknown to us, I had punctured my tyre when wheelieing up the bank. A mile or so further on Purser spotted it so we stopped for 10 mins while I changed the inner tube.

The new inner tube was a touch dodgy to say the least! It was like riding a circus bike, I was bouncing up and down caused by a bulge in the inner tube/tyre. I managed to get to Avebury but then we noticed that the tyre was deflating again! Oh woe. I was getting quite tired by now, perhaps psychological, perhaps physical with the amount of tyre friction on the road. So we pumped again, another couple of miles, and it had gone down again :(. Luckily Capt had another tube, so we put that on, and life was much better. Trouble was I was shattered, and still with about 20 miles still to go!

I struggled on, but I had no energy at all. Just running on empty. We managed to get to Devizes where I got a choccie bar and an energy drink and felt much better, but still I was out of gas. Got home about half an hour later and fell asleep for about half an hour after a long soak. Was it the famous 'Bonk'? Not sure, but I was definitely out of energy.

Thing is, later in the day I felt fine. A bit tired, but fine. I decided that I need to build my stamina, so Monday eve I went out for a 10 miler round the three peaks, and then this morning another 13 miler, three peaks plus Bromham and Spout Lane. That's it, cycle every day from now on unless I have a *really* good reason not to.

Not sure if I mentioned the date of the charity ride - I'll post that in a mo...

Thursday 22 April 2010

King of the Mountains!

Last Sunday when we were on our first Epic ride, Purser and I were talking about what it will take to be fit enough for the full charity ride. The thought was that if we could do Bell Hill, Bollands Hill, Inmarsh and then Spout Lane, twice, in under 1hr 15mins then we would be on to a winner. So tonight I thought I would give it a go!

It's worth saying first that I hadn't ridden from Sunday to last night when I cycled to Seend to go the pub and get our trip organised. It felt good to be out on the bike again, but I thought that given the state of my body after the cycle on Sunday I would have a bit of a rest.

So, tonight, I got to the bottom of Bell Hill by the farm and set my stopwatch. Then I went for it. Up Bell Hill - no probs. Down the Pelch and had a quick 2 mins chat with Capt who was in his garden drinking Studley Gold Cider :). The round and up Bollands. Still felt good. Down Bell Hill and up Inmarsh, sucking in loads of bugs on the way! Then down to Seend Fork, along to Sells Green and up Spout Lane. No probs again. Back down Inmarsh, checked my watch, 33 mins! So I went for it again, up, down, up, down, up, down, up, down, back at the farmhouse at a time of 1hr 7 mins! No longer the second time than the first. Hurrah!

So I now declare myself ready to take on the hills on Devon. Bring 'em on!

As an added bonus I have now clocked up over 400 miles since the start of March. Cool.

Monday 19 April 2010

Done! The first 50 miler!

Went out yesterday with Capt, Purser and Gandalf, and did a grand tour of Wiltshire. Took in Devizes, then the vale of Pewsey and into Pewsey itself, then back out and up near Calne and back home.

We got to Seend and I left the chaps, then went round via Bulkington to make up my 50 miles, getting home with a 50.5 registering on my 'puter. Brill!

Only trouble is that I felt absolutely knackered, both yesterday and still today. I was useless yesterday afternoon, could hardly stay awake but if I tried to doze off my legs hurt too much, my back ached, my head ached!

Not much better today. What I do know is that if this happens when we are on 'The Ride' I'm going to be in trouble.

Still, nil desperandum! Having a day off today, back tomorrow for a short cycle to keep the legs moving.

Saturday 17 April 2010

I'm Shrinking!

Well, done a fair bit of cycling since my last post.

I took my daughters out for a cycle on Weds. They did really well, but it took an hour to go 6 miles (not surprising given their little legs) so I didn't really get a workout.

Feeling rather guilty on Thursday I got uber early and did a 15 miler. Three peaks to Devizes, along the canal to Seend then conquered the north face of Everest (Bollands Hill - I hadn't done this to date only because I hadn't been round that way). Funny how once I conquered Westbury White Horse all the other seemingly insurmountable hills now look like pimples!

Then yesterday I went out in the morning and did 9 miles, out towards West Lavington and then up through Great Cheverill and Erlestoke. A nice little route, and one that I was glad of as I was feeling so tired. Then in the evning I did another 9 miles, this time out to Seend, up Bell Hill, down past Capt and Purser's houses, up Bollands and back home. No problemo!

And the result of my weeks activities? I am now lighter than I have been since 2004 and 15 stone 10! Oh, to get under that 15 stone mark for the bike ride....!

Tuesday 13 April 2010

Of Weight Loss and Small Routes

Well, only did a 6 miler yesterday, and am cycling to skittles tonight. This is down to my legs recovering from the White Horse extravaganza on Sunday! Mind you, I'm going up Bell Hill to skittles, that's going to seem like a small hillock now :D I'm considering cycling to work either tomorrow or Thursday as the roads are quiet with it being Easter holidays (schools are closed).

Lost a bit more weight, but not much. I still reckon my body is removing fat and adding muscle, so hopefully the weight loss will speed up. I'm eating half as much as I used to, and doing loads of cycling, so I must be doing something right!

Sunday 11 April 2010

Conquered! Westbury White Horse!

Met up with Purser (Gandalf stayed at home, he was washing his beard or something) and we went out on a roundabout route to Westbury White Horse. Nice day, although there was a keen, cold breeze.

My legs were still tired after last Friday, and psychologically I was at a disadvantage, however we got to the bottom on Bratton and pushed on up through the village. My legs were burning by the time we met the main road where we had a 2 minute break and then set off up to the top of the White Horse.

Gosh what a climb! Half a mile of constant, unforgiving climb. Purser set off in front, I put it in 5th gear and stood up for the first bit. As soon as it levelled off a touch I sat down in 2nd gear, then stood up again for the steep part which was actually most of the hill. The killer was a really steep bit that you could see from almost the bottom of the hill, but once this was done you round a corner and there is another, even steeper bit, which takes you right to the top.

I made it. Purser was there and snapped a photo of me groaning and puffing and panting past. We both agreed that if it wasn't for the fact that we were both there we would have stopped :D. But we didn't, we made it, and what an achievement it is! Back home I had done 22 miles.















Here's me, trying to suck in all the air in Wiltshire as I got to the top...















And here's Purser and I at the top - taken by Purser on timed photography (he even had the energy to sprint across the road in the 5 second timeout)...

However, now back at home, my legs are killing me. Still, a medicinal beer is helping with the pain. Next cycle is probably going to be Tuesday (last skittles game of the season), although I might do a shortie tomorrow evening to keep the engine in working order.

Meditation and Purchases

Tell you what I find quite amazing, it's the thinking time that you get when you are cycling on your own.

It's like top quality meditation. I find my mind wandering off and sorting things out. It's almost, at times, like an out of body experience (whoa, hang on, did I really just cycle that last 5 miles?).

Off out this morning with Purser and Gandalf, although my legs are still sore from Friday. Going to do some hill climbs. I purchased a few things yesterday...

toe clips
pannier rack
upright handlebar grips (the ones that sort of stick up at the end of the handlebars)

I had to drill a couple of holes for the clips as the pedals weren't of the right sort, but along with a couple of washers it has done a decent job.

So, let's see how these toe clips help me climb these pesky hills!

Friday 9 April 2010

Back in the Sadlle

Those most observant of you will have noticed that my blogging has dried up for a week or so. This is down to one thing - holidays!

I wanted to take my bike, and bought a superduper bike rack that you can fit to a tow hitch and then still pull a trailer (brill for the trailer tent). Trouble was Capt and I couldn't fit it, and then on Easter Friday the garage was shut so I couldn't get them to fit it either!

So, what could I do? I ended up having a lovely relaxing week in Lyme Regis. I took my trainers in case I fancied a run, but my plantar fasciitus played up on the very first day, so I had to make do with some beer drinking exercises instead! Tell you what though, those hills are viscious around there! We were in the middle of the village, and whichever way was a huuuuge climb to get up onto the coast road.

After my previous exercises my legs felt rather tired for the first five days, and then then just felt a touch dead, so I came back earlier today with a touch of trepidation and was on my bike within 30 mins and back out on the road.

And how brilliant it was! My legs were like pistons. I reckon I was overdoing it and not letting my legs recover, so a week off was perfect. I shot up to Devizes, went out on the Andover road, turned off cross country and went through Woodborough, then along the canal at Honeystreet (not great as the towpath is just grass there, so it was only for a mile or so), then to All Cannings, up onto the road and back to Devizes.

That was about 23 miles, but my legs were still full of beans, so I went round Roundway way :D, and up to the white horse! Whoa, big hill, I was knackered at the end, but I did it. This will make up for Capt and Purser conquering Bell Hill earlier in the week (well done chappies)!

Then, back down to Rowde and home. 31 miles in all, and I feel great.

Hurrah! Back on track again!

Thursday 1 April 2010

Whoohoooo!

I did it! This morning I defeated the south face of Everest, better known as Bell Hill. I set off from home at 6:15 and felt pretty good. On the way to the hill a beautiful Barn Owl flew past about 3 metres away. "Got to be a good omen", I thought.

So I got to the bottom of the hill and put the bike into 4th gear, stood up in my pedals, and went for it. A bit of puffing and panting and a few minutes later and I was at the summit, with a big grin on my face.

I sort of fancied the north face afterwards (Bollands Hill), but decided against it. I’ll do that next time.

Hail or Shine

Yesterday I did the three peaks and then cycled to skittles in the evening. 18 miles in all. Both cycles were made interesting given the weather!

On the three peaks in the morning I cycled through Devizes and then came down Caen Hill just a huge hailstorm hit. The wind was blowing so hard that I stopped – admittedly I was freewheeling – but even so, normally I go down there at about 25 miles an hour!

When I got home my legs were red raw with the hail.

Then in the evening I get dressed up in my waterproofs and cycle up to skittles. Half way through, again the hail! Fortunately it wasn’t as bad as earlier in the day, but with the effort the south face of Everest still beat me. Next time….

On the way back home I was interested in a vehicle coming towards me with flashing lights, a lorry or something. It was only when I was level with it that I realised it was gritting lorry! Tell you what, it hurts that stuff, when it hits you full in the face!