Month: February 2017

Sunday 26th February 2017

Training has gone almost to plan this week with 10 1/2 hours completed. Unfortunately only one outing on the bike due to storm Doris and the high winds that seem to be around all week. After next week I will have less excuse for not going out as the gym membership stops on Tuesday. This week I shall set the next few weeks targets based on miles to ride not hours completed. One thing that was always a bit of a worry with increasing activity levels, as I have, is the increased risk of injury. So far no problems, in fact the reverse in that the knee that used to pay up occasionally has been good – touch wood that I have not put the mockers on that.

Weeks to go  Target      Achieved

Week 20         6 hours      6.5 hours (5.5 hours gym & 1 hour bike)

Week 19          7 hours      7.5 hours (6 hours gym & 1.5 hours bike)

Week 18          7 hours      8.5 hours (2.5 in the gym & 6 on the bike)

Week 17          8 hours       8 hours ( all in the gym)

Week 16          9 hours.      9 hours (5.5 in the gym & 3.5 on the bike)

Week 15        10 hours       10.5 hours (8.5 gym & 2 on the bike)

Week 14        10 hours

Weight loss was the big topic last week and I am pleased to report that good progress has been made this week. Kirsteen and I have both started a more planned diet which we have managed to stick to and  both lost weight. I lost about 4 pounds so the target of one and a half stone (9.5 kgs for the post decimalisation generation) by the start of May is back on course.

The cheap advance booking rail fares for the start of June should appear this week so I will keep an eye on that.

Sunday 19th February 2017

Another good week of training with the hours achieved. Two rides on the bike covering 47 miles and 650 meters of climbing in 3.5 hours riding time.

Weeks to go  Target      Achieved

Week 20         6 hours      6.5 hours (5.5 hours gym & 1 hour bike)

Week 19          7 hours      7.5 hours (6 hours gym & 1.5 hours bike)

Week 18          7 hours      8.5 hours (2.5 in the gym & 6 on the bike)

Week 17          8 hours       8 hours ( all in the gym)

Week 16          9 hours.      9 hours (5.5 in the gym & 3.5 on the bike)

Week 15        10 hours

Week 14        10 hours

 

Weight loss this week only 1 pound so now a bit behind schedule so must try harder, I think I said that last week. If I can reduce my weight by about one and a half stone over the next 15 weeks it will make a substantial difference to the ride in June. Hills play a big part in Cornwall, Cumbria and Scotland so any weight loss can only be a good thing.

Signed up this week to do the New Forest sportive on the 8th April. This is 83 miles so should be a good guide to where my training has got to.

In the coming week the target is 10 hours with, if possible, at least 2 rides. Also must take weight loss a bit more seriously.

Sunday 12th February 2017

This has not been a bad week in training but due to various reasons did not get out on the bike. Gym work was good and I upped the effort on a couple of sessions. Next week requires an additional hours work.

Weeks to go  Target      Achieved

Week 20         6 hours      6.5 hours (5.5 hours gym & 1 hour bike)

Week 19          7 hours      7.5 hours (6 hours gym & 1.5 hours bike)

Week 18          7 hours      8.5 hours (2.5 in the gym & 6 on the bike)

Week 17          8 hours       8 hour ( all in the gym)

Week 16          9 hours

Week 15        10 hours

Week 14        10 hours

Weight loss has not gone very well this week, in fact I lost none. The take away  steak and kidney pie and chips on Thursday or all the cake on Friday probably did not help. Must try harder this week. Continue reading “16 weeks to go” →

Sunday 5th February 2017

This has been a good week with the training going well.

Weeks to go  Target      Achieved

Week 20         6 hours      6.5 hours (5.5 hours gym & 1 hour bike)

Week 19          7 hours      7.5 hours (6 hours gym & 1.5 hours bike)

Week 18          7 hours      8.5 hours (2.5 in the gym & 6 on the bike)

Week 17          8 hours

Week 16          9 hours

Week 15        10 hours

Week 14        10 hours

I went on the CTC ride on Wednesday but the weather was very wet so cut it short to 45 miles. Also did a ride on Saturday of 22 miles so 67 miles in the week is OK.

Weigh has come down another 2 pounds so that is still on track.

Been reading some blogs of people that have done the same tour that I will be doing. The first 3 days in Devon & Cornwall seem to be hard with lots of short but steep climbs. Will need to start some targeted training for this, luckily there are a number of hills like that round here. I will try a set of reps up a local hill this week to see how I am getting on in that area.