500 miles in no particular order

Done quite a bit of riding since that last post, even done some longish 75 mile plus rides, but on one of them I hit a tree and twisted my back, didn't think much of it at the time but its been paining me since.

SITS was fun but I knew before I got there that I wasn't going to be racing, did my 1st lap at a sedate pace and then the rain came down, bringing back memories of 2007, our team didn't take much persuasion to hit the beer and relax through the night even though the course was drying.

Getting up at 6 to a glorious sunrise and I took the first lap, tried a bit on this one and enjoyed it but my back was paining me so that was it for me, the others all got out and finished the event in style, it was a good weekend but I've no desire to race for 24 hours again at the moment.

Last two weeks have seen little enthusiasm for riding, just commutes with the odd extension thrown in, last weekend saw me out on the road bike, snapped chain, snapped spoke evaporated that ride, Sunday was better, Trek 69er on dusty trails right until the end when the sky started leaking heavily.

Monday's ride was on the Kite, surprisingly dusty trails again, about 30 miles, today was a straight there and back affair, a run in with a Galaxy was enough to dampen my enthusiasm tonight.

So, I have a ten day break from work starting on Friday, we have plans for the weekends, this weekend at the caravan so I'll be taking the fat bike and exploring around Silverdale/Arneside and a couple of road rides, mid week 3 long rides, next weekend in Anglsey with the fat bike again (hopefully).

500 miles is my target, 500 enjoyable pain free miles.

100 miles

as predicted being on call tempered my enthusiasm for riding, Monday was a car journey to work to take in supplies, Tuesday was a mountain bike ride, 29 miles of dusty durt, and then it rained, Wednesday was road bike day, but just a quick 27 miles, Thurs and Fri were straight there and backs, another 20 miles.

Saturday morning and my thoughts of a weekend 100 were dispelled by the rain, so I got out the mudguarded Croix de Fer and knocked out a sharpish 37 miles, just over two hours, quite happy with that.

Sunday, and again the rain put a dampner on my idea of riding to Delamere, I was hoping for 70 miles today, instead I got maybe 15, but it was around the forest, in the woods in the rain, showing Barney around (its about 15 years since he was last here).

So, 138 miles for the week, not as much as needed but enough to keep me happy till next week.

BTW, the photo has no hidden meaning, I just like it :-)

up da te

Skye


Skye was a big success we had a really nice time

lots of photos taken

a couple of decent rides

a couple of boat trips

all good

1600 miles travelled

phew !

185 miles ridden this last week, back on track now

at least as much next week needed, although being on call might temper that

could always do a Sunday 108 again, thats up and down the river rune 4 times for those who know it

Friday, Saturday and Sunday

25 single speed miles on Friday topped out the week at just over 140 miles.

Saturday saw me and Jack at the Bespoked Bristol hand made bike show, lovely stuff on show, you need to go next year.

Sunday was a wash out, little motivation to ride and even less so when the rain came in, so I didn't.

Was hoping for 3 big days this week before we go to Skye on Friday, however, that may not happen due to a few issues at work but we'll see.

Thursday

Long day at work meant missing a Delamere ride with Tim and Nick, so went out for an hour and a half on the road (croix de fer which is every bit as good as I'd hoped it would be) 23 miles, just spinning, keeping this side of the red line.

2 bottles of beer and a bottle of red (soon to be finished), Salmon, Jersey Royals and Asparagus, on top of a salad day.

starting to feel the benefits on my waistline at last

Hopefully 60 miles tomorrow, day off on Sat (photographing Bespoked Bristol) and then a 100 miles on Sunday - should give me a 275 mile week

we'll see how that goes.........

EDIT - doh, got my sums wrong

meat to sat 40 tomorrow and 60 on Sunday giving me a 200 miles week

Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday

Monday - road bike, 42 miles, moderate to hard, a few hill reps but they are still hurting a lot.

Tuesday - road bike, 28 miles, easy, empty legs, just spinning along at 16mph

Wednesday - big blue IF - 23 miles on dirt, easy as legs still empty, pushed into the wind for a bit but stopped when it started to hurt.

Tired now, drinking hasn't helped, thats stopped tonight.

A missed wedding

circumstances changed which meant that we didn't get to London for Raouls wedding.

however, the sun came out so after making sure the sick were okay I headed out for a ride, mix of road and off road, local trails full of dust

42 miles takes the week up to just short of 150, more than planned but the weather was too good to miss, taking plent of water on board meant that I finished feeling strong, not K100 strong but 2 weeks into a 3 month training plan and I'm feeling okay.