Category Archives: Training

It’s always better when we’re together

Well apparently I was able to get out again this week! Not something I was expecting earlier this week, as I mentioned at the time. But come yesterday, with an improved forecast and following a few Facebook messages, because knowing that company is waiting stops me bailing, Alan and I were set for another ride. His being retired is very handy! Which brings us to 10:00am in the Square this morning. As you can see, it was (for once) pretty much as billed: clear and sunny, but cold and windy. Doable in other words 🙂

sunny Square selfie As I’ve done one hilly ride and two decent workouts already this week, and have my first sportive of the season on Sunday, I was up for riding, but not training, if you see what I mean. This didn’t mean that our coffee run to Sweets and back had to take the most direct route though, it was too nice out there for that, so we sort of wiggled our way out in variations on a theme style, and then came the straight way back. Less than two hours so, but enough 🙂

It was lovely to be out there again. Outside still rocks 🙂 We met our first cow road block of the year, we managed not to find any black ice, and we both occasionally lost feeling in our faces when the wind caught us wrong! As Alan’s been training even harder than ever, and was feeling it, there may actually have been the odd occasion when he had to keep up with me rather than vice versa 😛 Thanks to his cake addiction he made up for it on the way back though, predictably leaving me for dust up Mudgeley Hill. Apparently Victoria sponge is actually rocket fuel! 😉

Cycling time: 1:33
Distance: 23.1 miles
Avg: 14.9 mph
ODO: 7671.3 miles

Once again it went well. How cool is that? Ok, so I clearly wasn’t breaking any records, but I wasn’t pushing it, and I was feeling pretty good again. I feel like I’m still on my way back and I’m quite looking forward to Sunday now 🙂

Let’s go outside

I’ve come to the conclusion that I just like being outside. Whether that be walking, or riding. In company or on my own. So that’s where I’ve been. Though not today. Today it is too windy. And by now we all know how I feel about wind…

So on Saturday I walked around Cheddar Gorge again, though further this time. I took my camera, I took photos, I listened to my music, and all was very well with the world.

On Sunday Gary very kindly came over from Minehead to keep me company, it being one of those weekends, and we looped out to Fairyland for coffee and back. Which was very pleasant, and went surprisingly well. Which was interesting…

Cycling time: 2:07
Distance: 33.6 miles
Avg: 15.7 mph
ODO: 7624.4 miles

And having seen this week’s weather forecast, which indicated that riding later in the week might not be possible, yesterday I cycled out with Alan again, and even went up a hill. And then nailed a downhill 😉 Which also went unexpectedly well. Which was interesting…

Cycling time: 1:47
Distance: 23.8 miles
Avg: 13.2 mph
ODO: 7648.2 miles

So. Hm. It is just possible progress is being made. Sure, I still can’t hear through my right ear, it hurts, and I’m back on antibiotics. But somewhere deep in the depths, something may be stirring. On both of those rides there were moments when some sort of echo of form could be felt (well, it’s not like I could hear it, right?). The odd silly little sprint. The occasional unnecessary out of the saddle climb for the top. It’s possible that I’m doing alright? My PMA has had a bit of a boost for sure. Which is just as well as the list of sportives I’m doing is growing daily… 🙂

Working for the weekend

After some considerable effort, I managed to get all yesterday’s kit washed and dried by this morning. Prêt à porter, as it were. Which means that, despite a Guy induced ice scare, by the time George arrived I was ready to go. Which would be prêt à partir. Ooh, I’m so witty 😉

Was it a great ride? Not really. George was, as ever, indefatigable. Keeping up with her whilst keeping up with the conversation was hard work. All under grey skies, on mucky roads, and even if it wasn’t freezing, t’weren’t far off. I don’t think I ever really warmed up properly, it was just too cold. It was another ride that turned out to be a slog, even though it was ameliorated by company and chat. About two thirds of the way through our longer than planned ride, I lost it completely, supposing I had it in the first place. And yes, before you nag me, I had had breakfast. Two rides in two days too much too soon maybe? I think tomorrow may have to be a rest day. Still, one more in the bank, right? 🙂

Cycling time: 2:04
Distance: 30.7 miles
Avg: 14.8 mph
ODO: 7590.8 miles

I’ve been convinced it’s Friday all day. Which it quite clearly isn’t. Back to never getting the hang of Thursdays presumably. But since I’ve been for a ride, I’ve been to work, I’m still cold, I’m tired (as you can see), and I have nothing to do this evening other than watch TV with a Cassie hot water bottle and paint my nails (if she’ll let me), I have decided that, despite all evidence to the contrary, it is in fact Friday. And therefore…

I keep having dreams

Roads that were wet, but not icy. Air that was cold but not freezing. Skies that were blue under veiled sunshine. And wind that just wasn’t there. So I went out. Which was and is good. Especially because I need to get more miles in. And I did; I broke the two hour barrier, and I even went up the odd hill. All good right?

Cycling time: 2:02
Distance: 30.1 miles
Avg: 14.7 mph
ODO: 7560.1 miles

But there’s a problem lurking in there. I need to get more miles in. I ought to ride my bike. If I don’t, I feel guilty. Would someone like to explain where the love is there? Maybe it’s missing because it’s taking me a while to make my way back? Maybe it’s the lack of a big foreign goal to motivate me? Maybe it’s just winter, and it’s the same roads and the same views and it’s all a bit same old same old?

I just want to enjoy riding my bike. Which I will probably do more as it gets easier and it won’t get easier unless I do more of it. How very circular. Just like my routes. So it’s got to be done. Well, it’s either that or stop doing it at all. And there are things I do want to do. My sportive calendar is filling up. In six weeks I’m off on my Wheels in Wheels training camp. And OK, so I haven’t found that big thing yet, but it could still happen…? So I guess I’ll keep getting out there, putting the miles in, one ride at time. Next week I’ll even start going up hills. Hopefully I’ll get there 🙂

Get up, get down, and get outside

Hello Sunday. Hello sunny day. Oh, and hello Steve 🙂

As ever, the best way of making sure I get out there is to arrange to do so in company. Especially when that company is also recovering from the dreaded lurgy and therefore less likely to leave me for dust than sometimes. In deference to our form, we decided it was more of a rehabilitation ride than a recovery ride 😉 And invalids are supposed to go to the seaside and take in the sea air, right? So we did. Which was a very good call. Like Friday, the weather was still amazing, and my riding was still fair to middling, which I can live with. It was cold, to be sure, but the air was crystal clear, with stunning views all the way over to Wales. And it’s a nice route, which was done in good company, what more does a girl want? It was a very good day to be out there. To be fair, I reckon after the Tour of Pembrokeshire Prologue ride I was probably owed a couple of beautiful bike days 🙂

“So why are you sat at home?
You’re not designed to be alone
You just got used to saying “no”
So get up and get down and get outside
Cos it’s a lovely sunny day“

I’m very glad I said yes 🙂

Cycling time: 1:54
Distance: 27.9 miles
Avg: 14.6 mph
ODO: 7530 miles

Oh, baby, baby, it’s a wild world

Oh baby it was cold outside. But not freezing cold. And the forecast was for sun and little in the way of wind. Which sounded good. But…well… I thought about it. About how I was feeling, and whether or not I wanted to be feeling that way and riding on my own. And I thought about staying in my warm and comfortable bed. And then I thought about yet another day going past without me riding. And…I vacillated. Which is, incidentally, a great word. And then I stopped being all pretentious about my vocabulary and took to Facebook to ping Alan and see if he was riding. Which, unsurprisingly as he always is, he was. Voilà – a ride partner, a reason not to bail, and a reason to get out of bed. Result.

We had a Plan A and a Plan B. And, once we’d reached Wedmore, and it turned out I was feeling better than I thought I would, we turned not right but left, and Sweets metarmophised into Heaphy’s. AKA Plan B. Where I discovered the chocolate espresso, which could possibly count as an energy drink right? Sugar, caffeine, what more do you want? 😉

chocolate espresso Heaphy's

Not wanting to push it, and being a little time poor, we went back pretty much the way we come, in even more pleasant sunshine. More pleasant because it was no longer in your face and everything was all sparkly and fresh and reflective and very lovely. The best weather there’s been around here for quite some time. And it’s just as well we didn’t do more as although I may be getting better, the tank runs dry pretty quickly, and I was fading fast as we got back to Cheddar, partially because I was on the front and not sucking Alan’s wheel for a change. Not that I was doing any great speed you understand, but it’s always harder out in front. I did my best though 🙂

There were signs of improvement however. My PMA may have stirred somewhere down in the depths. And being out there made me smile. OK, so my training needs the miles more than it does the smiles, but I think both are probably required 🙂

Cycling time: 1:48
Distance: 28.8 miles
Avg: 15.8 mph
ODO: 7502.1 miles

I wish today could be tomorrow

I should be riding. I’m not. Again. George came round this morning, and that was the plan…but I still feel rubbish and the forecast was lousy, and I just can’t risk getting cold, wet, and worse. And in addition to that, at the moment keeping up with anyone feels like hard work and it’s depressing. No good for my currently AWOL PMA. So we had coffee and a long chat instead. Yes, even I can be sensible sometimes. However bl**dy frustrating it is to be in here and not out there. Again.

To be honest what I probably need to do is ride on my own, at my own pace, and get some confidence back. I just feel a bit like I’ve forgotten how to ride a bike. But since I still can’t hear properly, or for that matter stand up without wanting to fall over, and my head is still spaced, I’m a tad concerned that riding on my own wouldn’t be wise either. Rock vs hard place.

I did ride on Sunday though. A recovery loop around Fairyland, complete with pinch puncture and patriarchal company to fix it pdq for me. And it went pretty well really. Better than might have been expected anyway. I guess I shouldn’t be complaining really, after all I have been back on the bike, and I have managed a couple of workouts this week, and that’s all training even if it isn’t riding, right? I’m just frustrated at still being ill, and not being able to get on with this year’s training. Hopefully normal service will be resumed shortly…please?

Cycling time: 1:42
Distance: 23.6 miles
Avg: 13.8 mph
ODO: 7473.3 miles

Like to get to know you well

Ok, I declare my 2015 cycling season (finally) open! Thanks to the worst cold I’ve ever had, which is on-going and has led to two ear-aches and two perforated ear drums, I was starting to wonder if I’d ever get back on the bike at all. It was with some trepidation that I set off this morning to meet Alan for a coffee run, even though he’d promised to take it easy for me. open

Which he did, which is just as well. Not just because I’m unsurprisingly off form, but because lack of hearing and weird head makes riding a little interesting… It’s harder to hear cars coming up behind you for starters. My balance is a little off. And with gaps in my ears where there shouldn’t be, it’s like you can feel all the road noise vibrating inside your hollow head somehow. It’s virtually impossible to describe, but it sure is weird. All that whilst feeling one step removed from reality, because since you can’t quite hear it properly and you’re still ill, you can’t quite connect with it either. Surreal.

It’s not always about the coffee….

However it went a lot better than I expected. Alan nurse-maided me all the way to Sweets setting an easy steady pace, while I coated the roads of Somerset with snot. Apart from an impressive coughing fit when we arrived, it went well enough that, following my restorative cup of hot chocolate and Alan consuming the largest slice of chocolate cake known to man, we came back by a longer route than planned. It was a slightly tough call. Do you do the longer ride because you feel up to it, or do you keep it shorter so as to not overdo it and thus lengthen the road to recovery? Longer of course! But judging by the involuntary and rather longer than usual nap I ended up taking this afternoon, I think it wore me out a bit. Still I’m relieved and glad to have finally gotten back out there – thanks for taking it easy for me Alan! Hello beautiful bike, I’ve missed you 🙂

Cycling time: 1:41
Distance: 25.3 miles
Avg: 14.9 mph
ODO: 7416.3miles

So it’s the New Year. A new year. I could bore you by comparing 2014’s stats to those of 2013. I’m not going to. I could bore you with my cycling goals, hopes and dreams for this year. But I’m not going to. Let’s face it, they’re none of your business and you’re probably not that interested anyway. I’ll tell you what I would like though. I’d like to do it better 🙂

There’s more than just existence

Since my legs are a little sore after yesterday’s jaunt on Shank’s pony, riding with Guy & Martyn today was always going to be an interesting exercise. But it would be exercise and that is always what is called for. Yes it is, don’t argue. Besides the sun was shining, the skies were blue, they’d done a fair few miles before picking me up at a most civilised 10:00am, and would therefore hopefully go easy on me. Which they did. Most appreciated chaps 🙂 It was a short loop that, due to the vagaries of the festive season, did not include its planned coffee stop since Banwell Garden Centre was closed. Which was in some ways just as well, as I’d got my layering just about right and didn’t really fancy getting cold and then having to warm up again just to get home. So it all worked. I worked. Probably harder than I would have done left to my own devices, but not too hard. And I got to ride my bike in the sun again. A few more miles in the legs, all ready to fight another day. Good times 🙂 Though my legs proper hurt now!

Cycling time: 1:19
Distance: 19.1 miles
Avg: 14.3 mph
ODO: 7391 miles

This champagne shore washing over me

“Gonna put the world away for a minute,
Pretend I don’t live in it,
Sunshine gonna wash my blues away“

And that’s what riding in the sunshine with friends is for 🙂

Since Strava and/or my Garmin was off on one, I have no idea whether or not I did what I set out to do…*grrr*…which means I can officially call it my fastest time down the Gorge ever and no-one can argue, right? 😉 It’s not important. I rode my bike on Christmas day, in the sun, with a friend. Now that is, and that rocks! 🙂

Cycling time: 1:30 ish
Distance: 19 miles ish
Avg: 13.0 mph
ODO: 7371.9 miles

Btw, it SO wasn’t – bl**dy traffic! *grin*

Time for more fizz… 🙂