Saturday, June 26, 2010

Horrible, horrible

Terrible ride - too hot (it was 28C out there), legs felt as though they were peddling through treacle. The only consolation was that I climbed about half the length/height of The Muur in one climb and didn't really have to get out of the saddle. Completely knackered at the top though!

I'll have to be a LOT better next week

Cyclemeter Cycle 26 Jun 2010 10:30:19

Finished Ride: 26 Jun 2010 11:26:57
Route: Damflask - 1 Circuit
Google Maps URL: http://maps.google.com/?q=http://share.abvio.com/6ac7/f540/4bad/dd56/Cyclemeter-Cycle-20100626-1030.kml
Shortened Google Maps URL: http://j.mp/aPGCAX
Ride Time: 56:35
Stopped Time: 0:00
Distance: 10.26 miles
Average: 10.88 miles/hr
Fastest Speed: 26.33 miles/hr
Ahead of Worst Ride: 0:17
Climb: 1201 feet
Calories: 588

http://www.cyclemeter.com

Cyclemeter Cycle 26 Jun 2010 09:20:19

Finished Ride: 26 Jun 2010 10:29:12
Route: Don Valley circuit
Google Maps URL: http://maps.google.com/?q=http://share.abvio.com/6ac7/f540/4bad/dd56/Cyclemeter-Cycle-20100626-0920.kml
Shortened Google Maps URL: http://j.mp/doLa53
Ride Time: 1:06:52
Stopped Time: 1:58
Distance: 13.69 miles
Average: 12.28 miles/hr
Fastest Speed: 23.69 miles/hr
Behind Worst Ride: 11:18
Climb: 584 feet
Calories: 611

http://www.cyclemeter.com

Fantastic morning!!

Time for my last big training ride

Sent from my iPhone

Wednesday, June 16, 2010

Road rash!

Another quiet week - just about 30 miles, but with a bit of climbing thrown in.

Mark Cavendish had a rather spectacular crash at the end of yesterday's stage of the Tour of Switzerland. He's not having the best of build-up's to this year's Tour. Fortunately, nothing appears broken but he is "covered in road rash".

'Good' video at: http://tinyurl.com/38dsu3v

Nice though it would be to meet Cav at the end of Stage 2 of this year's Tour de France, I'd rather having to be talking to his team-mates because he is otherwise engaged on the podium.

Saturday, June 12, 2010

Cyclemeter Cycle 12 Jun 2010 09:12:06

Finished Ride: 12 Jun 2010 10:03:05
Route: Damflask - 1 Circuit
Google Maps URL: http://maps.google.com/?q=http://share.abvio.com/6ac7/f540/4bad/dd56/Cyclemeter-Cycle-20100612-0912.kml
Shortened Google Maps URL: http://j.mp/b7wYKl
Ride Time: 50:52
Stopped Time: 0:00
Distance: 10.89 miles
Average: 12.84 miles/hr
Fastest Speed: 26.08 miles/hr
Ahead of Best Ride: 10:07
Climb: 587 feet
Calories: 666
http://www.cyclemeter.com

Dead England flags: 0

Sunday, June 06, 2010

Going up The Wall

School holidays and a social life have meant I haven't exactly been training like a pro over the last few weeks. I've only managed 16 miles a week for the past three weeks, but I've certainly been feeling fitter. The London Eye and the Natural History Museum were the highlights of a few days away with the kids in London last week.

I was sent the Rider Manual for the Right To Play ride when I was down there, which gave me something to read on the train & Tube. You may remember I mentioned that I mentioned the possibility of a section on pavé on the route... ...now we get the detailed route I see it's just 'any old pavé' - this is serious stuff.

We're cycling up the Muur van Geraardsbergen or Kapelmuur - more often just known as The Muur ("The Wall"). It's the huge, next-to-last cobbled climb on the Tour of Flanders; the climb that in April Fabian Cancellara blasted past Tom Boonen to ensure he won the De Ronde. Imagine (seriously) cycling up the Hovis advert hill and you get some idea. I guess I should expect at least one puncture....

Suitably 'inspired', I took off on a ride earlier tonight with plenty of climbs - the road around Damflask Reservoir provides suitable training, both for the hills and a road surface that is a close approximation to cobbles.

300 metres of climb (The Muur is a 92m climb) and 13 miles.

I noticed cars are already making their feeling known about England's chances in the World Cup, and saw 3 dead England flags en-route.

For those of you blissfully unaware of The Muur, you can read about it in Wikipedia or even watch the terrifying YouTube video

Cyclemeter Cycle 6 Jun 2010 19:53:34

Finished Ride: 6 Jun 2010 20:56:58
Route: New Route
Google Maps URL: http://maps.google.com/?q=http://share.abvio.com/6ac7/f540/4bad/dd56/Cyclemeter-Cycle-20100606-1953.kml
Shortened Google Maps URL: http://j.mp/anDveQ
Ride Time: 1:03:16
Stopped Time: 0:00
Distance: 13.08 miles
Average: 12.40 miles/hr
Fastest Speed: 32.15 miles/hr
Climb: 1079 feet
Calories: 839
http://www.cyclemeter.com

Dead England flags: 3