Thursday 31 May 2007

Beat the rain today!

Ah-ha! Got up this morning and the sun was shining. The forecast said rain by 10 but I thought I’d take a chance anyway. Guess what? No rain – hooray!! But then I did double the distance I had planned to do which meant I was knackered by the time I was three quarters of the way round the route. Never mind, still good fun. Well, good fun apart from the saddle that is. My sit bones (thanks to Tatia for that phrase) are in agony and I had to half ride, half stand for the last 5 miles. So I have given up trying to break the saddle in and have ordered a new Specialized Gel Saddle . With luck it will be here by the weekend, if not the mtb saddle is defiantly going on until it does arrive!

Distance: 18.8 miles, Av speed: 14.1 mph

Wednesday 30 May 2007

Rain, rain, rain

So, I take a week off to get some serious training in and what happens? Rain, rain and yet more rain . In fact rain everyday apart from Tuesday morning when I did my first 30+ miles.

And what is the forecast for the remainder of my time off? Rain Tursday and rain Sunday so at least I met get out Friday and Saturday

Oh and I have just signed up for a 40 mile sponsored ride on the 10th June - so what's the betting it will rain then too!

Tuesday 29 May 2007

My First 30+ miles

Yay I have just completed my first 30+ ride. I started out on what was a warmish sunny morning and the weather forecast said that there should be no more rain today.

I had planed the route and drilled it into myself to be sensible, pace myself and not worry about speed. Which I did manage to keep to. This was also the first outing for my road bike and wow, what a difference from the hybrid. Great fun going down a slight hill at 30mph! Waved and smiled at several other friendly cyclists on the way which is a bonus.

Living in Essex which, in my part of the world, is relatively flat is another big bonus, but cycling in a 20 mph wind wasn’t so much fun at times, particularly when cycling alongside exposed fields. Oh and lesson number 1, never believe the weather forecast! About 4 miles from home and the heavens opened. By the time I got home I was soaked through and freezing cold. But feeling very satisfied. One hot shower and a cup of tea later and I am itching to get out and ride again! I think I will wait tomorrow though as the bum is a bit sore right now – and I am going to put my gel saddle on to the road bike!

I ended up doing 32.5 miles in 2 hours 27 minutes which works out to what is for me a respectable average speed of around 13mph.

And here's the route:



Saturday 26 May 2007

26 May - Sitting Around

I haven’t been able to get out for a decent ride all week and am getting really itchy feet. Still, I am off to get the new bike tomorrow which is cool. The only problem is though that the weather forecast doesn’t look to great – rain starting about 3 o’clock on Sunday and carrying on all through Monday – shame! The Met Office website says that Tuesday should be ok so I guess I will just have to sit around with a new bike and wait patiently until then *sigh*

Sunday 20 May 2007

21 May - New Bike

I bought a new bike today - yippee

But I can't collect it until next Sunday - bummer

Friday 18 May 2007

Friday, 18 May - Headwinds

It was a nice sunny day so I couldn’t resist going out for a ride this evening. Working from home was a plus as it meant I could get out on time so planned a slightly longer ride than the usual 12 miles. Checked the weather forecast and 22 mph winds were said to be blowing from the SW. So decision time. Do I battle along the seafront or go the other way round the route I had planned and then get an easy ride for the final six miles home. Being a lazy sort, I decide to do the reverse route and get blwn home.

BIG MISTAKE

The other route was basically 12 miles of gentle uphill into a 22 mph wind. So the gentle uphill suddenly turned into the south face of mount Everest. Still finally battle over and its time for a downhill run to the sea front and a nice easy ride home.

Yeah right! That’s when the foot cramp struck.

Fully recovered and it’s off looking forward to that wind to blow me home. I should have guessed really, the way things were going tonight that wasn’t to be. I turn along the seafront and wham! The headwind turned into a crosswind coming straight off the sea.

The gods must have been having a good laugh at my expense today.

Still I did manage a respectable 18.75 miles at an average speed of 13.1 mph

Tuesday 15 May 2007

Tuesday 15 May

Just back from another ride which wasn’t as long as I’d hoped for. Got in from work later than I had planned so I had to cut it short as it was getting dark. Still, it was a good ride along the sea front with not too much of a headwind – although it did feel cold around the ears at times. I can definitely feel it getting easier. Really looking forward to covering a longer distance this weekend.

Now, why is it that cycle lanes act like a magnet for people walking their dogs, going for a stroll or jogging. Don’t they realise that getting hit by a bike travelling at 16 miles an hour hurts – both them and me! Hey people, the clue is on the word bike lane – B – I - K – E. That’s something with two wheels, you have two legs. Please try and remember that!

Total distance: 12 miles
Average speed: 14 mph

Sunday 13 May 2007

Sunday 13 May

I used to cycle quite a bit many moons ago (and I mean many!). I have just got back into the saddle again and realised just how much I enjoy it. I am almost embarrassed to say that I am doing only 20 miles at a time with an average speed of 14 mph – but being very unfit I don’t think that’s too bad and we all have to start somewhere right?

My aim is to step up the pace a bit and get out three evenings a week as well as my regular Sunday ride (to which I am adding a few extra miles a week) so will get there eventually.

I didn’t think I was going to be able to get out for a ride today as the weather forecast said rain, rain and yet more rain. Still, I got up early and low and behold, although it was overcast, there was no rain. A quick check on the Met Office website said that rain wasn’t due until 11:00 so it was goodbye grocery shopping and hello bike.

I had a really good run which I thoroughly enjoyed. It did start raining about three quarters of the way through so I decided to head back home. At least I could blame the weather for having to cut my ride short.

Total distance covered was 20 miles at and average speed of 13.75 mph.

What's this all about

This blog will probably be of no interest to anyone but me, but then that's cool.

I have signed up to for the London to Southend cycle ride, which will take place on 15th July, and thought I'd start a about the progress I am making in training for the event, then about the big day it's self.

If you do stumble across this page and would like to sponsor me, no matter what the amount, then please visit http://www.bhf.org.uk/sponsor/tonysingleton