I'm aware I haven't posted for ages and have been meaning to do so but as I think I said earlier, blogging or writing doesn't come naturally to me so it was lower down on my list of priorities after cycling, family and working (yes cycling has come before family recently I have to admit).
I'm trying to recall what I have been up to since my last post... so I have referred to my friend Strava!
But... one thing comes to mind before I cover riding, and that's sponsorship. As I write this my total is £2310. Yes, £2310! Nuts. A few weeks ago I got a fiver from someone named Raneure who had found this blog from the net and felt the need to donate. Thankyou whoever you are, I'm glad you enjoyed the read and your donation means a lot.
Ok... training (which in my primitive world means rides)....
I did about three commutes a week on average, free time without impacting work or home life and that got an average of 100 miles a week in. Not great riding though but made much more bearable by the presence of +Dave Douglas-Jones and +Alistair Barlow . Cheers guys!
Next of note has to be my recent family holiday to Majorca - Is a great family holiday one where my daughter Amy is happy playing with friends in the pool, my wife is happy sunbathing and I get an opportunity to ride a bike? Well yes, definitely!
I got a hire bike, a titanium Van Nicholas Euros for the first 4 days...
Verdict? Seriously gorgeous raw metal finish but a bit heavy and because of that it wasn't for me.
And for the second 4 days I hired a carbon Massi - ok but I've really been spoilt with my new De Vinci which is a seriously good bike by my experiences. Unfortunately the only pic I have is against it's box!
The best ride in Majorca, and a major achievement for me, was the day I rode out to Soller over Puig Major and back via Sa Calobra. That won't mean anything to anyone unless you've been to Majorca but that was a 95 mile ride with 5300 metres of climbing, 2/3rds the height of Everest. I left at 7am and got back at 3pm with aching knees, no money and a 6000 calorie deficit but that was a massive achievement for me which I don't think I'll beat.
One thing about this training and that holiday was that I had to get up at 6:30am for several mornings to make it back for 10/11am in time for the family part of the holiday. Being an hour ahead meant that was actually 5:30 UK time and coupled with the all inclusive booze that made for some tough mental challenges when the alarm went in the mornings! Unintentionally all part of the training I guess since the alarm calls on RAB will be at 5:30am.
With 1 week to go I'm now in the "tapering" phase and being totally rubbish in terms of scientific training requirements I'm not sure exactly what that means, other than slow it down gradually. This has resulted in me being bored and twitchy, desperate to get back on the bike. My parents said I should spend time with my family - probably a very good idea but I'm so focussed on the bike it's going to take a mental shift to get back to normal!
Finally can I say a MASSIVE thankyou to +Lesley, my wife, who constantly encourages me to do whatever it takes to train for this and who puts up with me strutting around in lycra (although I think she secretly likes it). You are my rock.
I'm trying to recall what I have been up to since my last post... so I have referred to my friend Strava!
But... one thing comes to mind before I cover riding, and that's sponsorship. As I write this my total is £2310. Yes, £2310! Nuts. A few weeks ago I got a fiver from someone named Raneure who had found this blog from the net and felt the need to donate. Thankyou whoever you are, I'm glad you enjoyed the read and your donation means a lot.
Ok... training (which in my primitive world means rides)....
I did about three commutes a week on average, free time without impacting work or home life and that got an average of 100 miles a week in. Not great riding though but made much more bearable by the presence of +Dave Douglas-Jones and +Alistair Barlow . Cheers guys!
Next of note has to be my recent family holiday to Majorca - Is a great family holiday one where my daughter Amy is happy playing with friends in the pool, my wife is happy sunbathing and I get an opportunity to ride a bike? Well yes, definitely!
I got a hire bike, a titanium Van Nicholas Euros for the first 4 days...
Verdict? Seriously gorgeous raw metal finish but a bit heavy and because of that it wasn't for me.
And for the second 4 days I hired a carbon Massi - ok but I've really been spoilt with my new De Vinci which is a seriously good bike by my experiences. Unfortunately the only pic I have is against it's box!
The best ride in Majorca, and a major achievement for me, was the day I rode out to Soller over Puig Major and back via Sa Calobra. That won't mean anything to anyone unless you've been to Majorca but that was a 95 mile ride with 5300 metres of climbing, 2/3rds the height of Everest. I left at 7am and got back at 3pm with aching knees, no money and a 6000 calorie deficit but that was a massive achievement for me which I don't think I'll beat.
One thing about this training and that holiday was that I had to get up at 6:30am for several mornings to make it back for 10/11am in time for the family part of the holiday. Being an hour ahead meant that was actually 5:30 UK time and coupled with the all inclusive booze that made for some tough mental challenges when the alarm went in the mornings! Unintentionally all part of the training I guess since the alarm calls on RAB will be at 5:30am.
With 1 week to go I'm now in the "tapering" phase and being totally rubbish in terms of scientific training requirements I'm not sure exactly what that means, other than slow it down gradually. This has resulted in me being bored and twitchy, desperate to get back on the bike. My parents said I should spend time with my family - probably a very good idea but I'm so focussed on the bike it's going to take a mental shift to get back to normal!
Finally can I say a MASSIVE thankyou to +Lesley, my wife, who constantly encourages me to do whatever it takes to train for this and who puts up with me strutting around in lycra (although I think she secretly likes it). You are my rock.
