Category: Preperation

Saturday 3rd June 2017

After the farewells it was off to Cosham station to start the adventure. A last farewell to my long suffering wife who has put up with my tales of hills climbed and miles covered over the past months – not to mention the list of jobs around the house promised but forgotten (I said not to mention that).

One of the things that has worried me over the past few weeks has been the 3 trains required to get me and the bike down to Lands End. Not so much the trains but the two changes that had to be made between trains – only 10  and 12 minutes with a change in platform each time. Any delays could have been a major problem. I can now report that everything went perfectly all trains on time, GWR staff very helpful and each change of platforms completed in good time.

I was meet at Penzance by the Peak Tours guides as arranged and driven down to St. Just to the Wellington Hotel in the centre of the town. See picture below.

Had dinner tonight with all the other riders, about 26 in all, and they all seem very nice. Will get to know them better over the next few days. I have forgotten most of the names already, maybe I should suggest we all wear name badges.

Early night now as we have breakfast at 7:30 tomorrow then off to start the adventure.

 

Sunday 28th May 2017

Very nearly there, final week of serious training done. This week I have cycled 206 miles over 5 rides and climbed 3,024 vertical meters in the process. Wednesdays CTC ride alone was 72 miles and 1,039 meters climbed. During this coming week I shall just be doing 2 or 3 gentler rides to keep the legs working.

The closer I get to the ride the more I seem to be worrying that the training has not been enough. It is only once the ride starts will I know for sure but I am certain that I have not been as fit as I am now for a great many years.

Peak Tours have been in touch with the final route notes and satnav files. Once these have been printed and the Garmin devise loaded it will all ready to go.

I will do a “0 weeks to go”  blog next Friday then hopefully a daily blog for the adventure as it unfolds.

All I have to do now is pack my bag and check that I have every thing I need and it all works.

Nearly there, very close to the Grand Depart (Tour de France term). Another good week on the training front with 125 miles and 2,031 meters climbed. The climbs included 3 times up to Ditcham Park School, at the top of the South Downs, which is a 100 meter climb over 1 mile. See picture below for proof I did it – quite some view from the school playing fields. The picture was taken by one of the teachers that lives up there and had just come back from a ride – every ride he does ends with this climb.

This next week will be my last for full on training before the ride so I will try to do better than this week. I have to say that I am very pleased with were my fitness is now.

Need to start thinking about what to take with me and start collecting it all together. Probably need to cover all types of weather – we are going to Scotland in mid summer.

Weight still going down but still overweigh according to the NHS website.

Last week I mentioned the new mirror (the third so far) so I am pleased to  report that it works very well.

Really getting excited about the adventure now.

Sunday 14th May 2017

Where does the time go – 3 weeks today I will be on my way to John O’Grotes.

Training still going very well 4 rides this week covering 151 miles and 1641 meters climbed. More miles than last week but less climbing as the CTC ride was along the coast not up the South Downs. I am still very pleased with where I am on the fitness front. Next 2 weeks will have more climbing as that is the area that will give most benefit on the ride.

Regular readers may remember that I was very excited with 9 weeks to go about my new mirror. Well bad news this week it broke. I think it would cost more than the £1.73 that I paid for it to send it back to China. Therefor I have invested in a new one see picture below.

This one is on the down tube and you look between your legs to see what is behind. Not to sure about this one but will give it a go, can always revert to the one that attached to my glasses.

Nothing much else to report this week, I just keep getting more excited about the challenge to come.

 

• Continue reading “4 weeks to go” →

Sunday 30th April 2017

This weeks training targets reach easily – total miles nil, no meters climbed. Wonderfull week in Rye, East Sussex. Plenty to see and do and the weather was kind to us, must return soon and see the things we missed this time.

Now starts some serious training sessions over the next 4 weeks then tapper down for the week before the big ride. This week I shall ride on 5 days with rest days on Tuesday and Friday. The ride days will consentrate on hills and not worry to much about distances. The CTC ride on Wednesday looks to be a good hilly ride.

Probably put on a couple of pounds this week as the scones and cakes always looked so tempting – back to sencible eating tomorrow.

 

Sunday 23rd April 2017

Another week completed and just 6 to go to the big day. Last week was very good, missed the miles target by 10 miles but did a lot of good hill work. Nearly 1,800 meters of climbing including 6 times up Old Winchester Hill. I keep surprising myself with the progress that has been made over the last 6 weeks since all my training has been all on the bike. There is a hill near me called Road Hill that runs from near The Bird in Hand in Lovedean to The Farmers Arms in Catherinton. The first 150 meters of the climb is 16% and over the past 25 years I have failed miserably every time I have tried it. There are only 2 options if you stop on the Hill, roll back down or walk to the top, as it is to steep to restart cycling. On Friday I climbed the hill for the first time – great feeling (once my breathing and heart rate returned to normal).

Weeks to go.   Target       Achieved

Week 19          7 hours      7.5 hours

Week 18          7 hours      8.5 hours

Week 17          8 hours       8 hours

Week 16          9 hours.      9 hours

Week 15        10 hours       10.5 hours

Week 14        10 hours       10 hours

Week 13         100 miles    91 miles

Week 12.        110 miles    132 miles – 1975 meters of climbing.

Week 11         120 miles    84 miles – 1001 meters climbing.

Week 10.        130 miles   130 miles – 1425 meters of climbing

Week 9           140 miles   152 miles – 1,339 meters of climbing

Week 8           120 miles   70 miles – 928 meters of climbing

Week 7            120 miles.  110 miles – 1,793 meters of climbing

The plan for the next 6 weeks is to have a low activity week this week, as we are away in the caravan for most of it. Then 4 weeks of high mileage and good climbing followed by a gentle week before the big ride.

Weight came down another pound this week so pleased with that.

Pulled all my cycle kit from the cupboard to see what I still need for the ride. Basically I have all I need already, cycle tops just never seem to wear out, I have two that are over 20 years old and look as good as new.

Looking forward to the gentle week coming up and visiting East Sussex.

 

 

 

Sunday 16th April

Not a very good week for reaching this week’s target of 120 miles including 3 hours of hill repetitions. Achieved just 70 miles on 3 rides but with 928 meters of climbing. The bike service on Tuesday ran into Wednesday which resulted in missing the CTC ride, good news is that the bike is working very well. Also I had forgotten that this weekend is Easter so other things took presidence over riding a bike. Yesterdays 40 mile ride was very good and made up for missing out during the week.

Weeks to go.   Target       Achieved

Week 19          7 hours      7.5 hours

Week 18          7 hours      8.5 hours

Week 17          8 hours       8 hours

Week 16          9 hours.      9 hours

Week 15        10 hours       10.5 hours

Week 14        10 hours       10 hours

Week 13         100 miles    91 miles

Week 12.        110 miles    132 miles – 1975 meters of climbing.

Week 11         120 miles    84 miles – 1001 meters climbing.

Week 10.        130 miles   130 miles – 1425 meters of climbing

Week 9           140 miles   152 miles – 1,339 meters of climbing

Week 8           120 miles   70 miles – 928 meters of climbing

Week 7            120 miles with 3 hours Hill reps

Not much else happened this week. I changed the pannier rack and bag for a lighter large saddle bag – picture below.

As on the big ride all my luggage will be taken ahead all I need to carry can be in the two bags on the bike now.

Weight still coming down but only by 1 pound this week. More rides this week should help with the weight but I am not going to stress about it.

Only 7 weeks to go is motivation enough to get out and ride this week. CTC ride this week has a number of hills so, hopefully, I will go on that. Other rides this week will consentrate on hills.

 

Sunday 9th April 2017

Only got out on the bike 3 times this week but managed 152 miles. Wednesday 60 miles to Arundel, Thursday 1 hour of hill repetitions and 82 miles yesterday in the new Forest Sportive. The New Forest is surprisingly hillier than I thought with 775 meters climbed in the 82 miles. Most of the climbs are short but steep, up to 10%, then one hill towards the end is about 500 meters long and peeked at 12%. I was going quite well at a steady pace when the chap 10 meters ahead of me stopped and fell across the road. He had cramp in both legs and could not unclip from his peddles. No choice but to stop and help him but then found that I could not get started again on such a steep incline. Had to walk the last 100 meters of the climb, fortunately I was not alone walking up. It was good to do 82 miles, which is the same as the longest leg of the big ride, without to much trouble and no bad effects this morning.

The CTC ride this Wednesday is a very hilly one to Milland – twice over the South Downs – which includes a short section that is 25%.

Weeks to go.   Target       Achieved

Week 19          7 hours      7.5 hours

Week 18          7 hours      8.5 hours

Week 17          8 hours       8 hours

Week 16          9 hours.      9 hours

Week 15        10 hours       10.5 hours

Week 14        10 hours       10 hours

Week 13         100 miles    91 miles

Week 12.        110 miles    132 miles – 1975 meters of climbing.

Week 11         120 miles    84 miles – 1001 meters climbing.

Week 10.        130 miles   130 miles – 1425 meters of climbing

Week 9           140 miles   152 miles – 1,339 meters of climbing

Week 8           120 miles + 3 hours of hill repetitions

Week 7            120 miles + 3 hours of hill repetitions

Weight still going down but a little disappointed when I checked the NHS chart for my BMI and it shows that I am still over weight. Still nearly down to what the NHS class as normal.

Main event for the coming week, apart from 120 miles and 3 hours up and down hills, is that the bike is going in for a major service to ensure it is capable for the task ahead.

 

• Sunday 2nd April 2017

Last week was very good for training, achieved the target miles with 4 rides. Last Sunday 28 miles round Rowlands Castle, Monday 23 miles up Old Winchester Hill, Wednesday 66 miles to Arundel with the CTC and finally 13 miles yesterday to complete the target. You may remember that in the blog for 11 weeks to go I was moaning about 4 short climb at between 10% and 13 %. This weeks CTC ride found a climb at 18% for about 150 meters, I thought my heart was going to pop out my chest.

This weeks target is for 140 miles which should be completed with the CTC ride on Wednesday and the New Forest sportive on Saturday. I have now added hill repetitions (riding up a hard hill then rolling down and climbing the same hill again & again) to the target, 3 hours of this in the coming week.

Weeks to go.   Target       Achieved

Week 19          7 hours      7.5 hours

Week 18          7 hours      8.5 hours

Week 17          8 hours       8 hours

Week 16          9 hours.      9 hours

Week 15        10 hours       10.5 hours

Week 14        10 hours       10 hours

Week 13         100 miles    91 miles

Week 12.        110 miles    132 miles – 1975 meters of climbing.

Week 11         120 miles    84 miles – 1001 meters climbing.

Week 10.        130 miles   130 miles – 1425 meters of climbing

Week 9           140 miles + 3 hours of hill repetitions

Week 8           120 miles + 4 hours of hill repetitions

Week 7            120 miles + 4 hours of hill repetitions

Weight is still coming down with 1 stone 2 pounds lost since 1st January.

Final part of the train ticket saga has now been completed. The Inverness to Inverkeithing with bike ticket was purchased on Friday – no more getting up at the crack of dawn to look on the Scotrail website. I still can’t get over the prices of the tickets I have bought – Cosham to Penzance £15.50 and now for the trip to Inverkeithing (150 miles) is just £14.70. Maybe I should do the whole trip by train!

The recovery drinks that I was trying out last week certainly make a difference after a long hard ride. In the  past my legs always felt twitchy after a long ride that does not seem to happen after a recovery drink. The only problem to remember to take the drink as for best results it should be within 30 minutes of finishing the ride.

Purchase of the week:-

Found a bar bag that fits my bars which should make it easier to eat on the move and put on rain jacket if we get a sudden rain shower. Picture below:-

The second great purchase is a mirror. For the past few months I have been using a mirror attached to the leg of my glasses, picture below

This has worked very well but is a bit distracting and has a blind spot when you turn right. The new mirror has been delivered all the way from China and including the delivery has cost a staggering £1.73 – how can they do that?

Used it on the ride to Arundel last Wednesday and it is very good, even in the rain it gave a clear view of what was going on behind.