Last long training ride completed, now for the real thing!

Completed my last 50-miler before the C2C yesterday... didn't feel like going out, especially as I was starting off with an ascent of Streatley hill, but managed to get out and ride.
Felt lethargic for the first 10 miles, but gradually got into it and was enjoying it by the later stages. Three Cat 5s and a Cat 4 (the 5s were harder!!), a lovely long downhill, and back home. Nice.
That took me past 1000 training miles too, which feels good!


Training from now on means lots of pasta between now and next Friday I reckon :)


Good luck everyone... I'm sure the work we've all put in will bring its rewards when we arrive triumphantly in Bridlington, but don't forget to enjoy the journey as well! :)

Uptonogood

Had a rellay good MTB ride on Saturday with Gary and my mate Andy, we took park in the 2012 Uptonogood MTB event. 25 miles of ups and downs and more ups followed by bogs and puddles up to your knees.... all in all a really good laugh and good training.

The cider and burgers afterwards helped out with the recovery!

great week

The Mortors Etape Part Deux was excellent (for those who could make it anyway!) Great route, great company, great hills! Very envious of Dave and Jared's 50+ mph. I need to eat more pies!

Very much looking forward to the C2C now. Have managed about 136 miles this past week which included a 7am 63 miles route from my house out into the Notts countryside and back on Sunday, broken up nicely with a bacon buttie in Newark. I'm away with work all of this coming week and my bike will be coming along so I'd better get plotting some rides in Swansea and Truro.

back to the muddy stuff

Switched back to some off roading for a couple for weeks before the trip just to break up the training a bit and keep my interested but I admit how much I've forgotten about offl roading.
I've booked in a mtb event for the weekend so I went out for a scouting trip yesterday to check out the course and see what I'd let myself in for.
Took a 9 mile ride to get there and then carried out 20 miles of the 25 mile course before taking the 9 mile ride back home. Absolutely shattered when I got home.....
The hills are brutal, not only because of the steepness of the incline but the surface isn't exactly consistent or stable. Need to keep all your body weight over the front end to keep the front wheel on the track! The downhills are either fast and loose with a danger of loosing the front end or single track where a bounce of the front will have you in the hedge. Tree roots prevent any traction, flooded sections of track, rain worn gullies filled with sand and mud enough to stop your bike in full flight are other obstacles to overcome. 24 hours later and my arms and legs are still numb from the nettle stings..... but to be honest it's been the best days cycling I've had in a while.
Looking forward to the event tomorrow but a sub 3 hour time for 25 miles is optimistic....

Really positive week...

My trepidation (see last post) about this week's challenges proved unfounded...
Starting on Sunday with a very challenging 64.5 mile Evans Ride-It event, through to Tuesday's freezing cold outing and Wednesday's Etape pt II (which was hugely enjoyable - good hills, new top speeds for me and Jared (51.7 and 51.4mph respectively!), drafting with Ollie over the last few miles - and a high-speed ride in this morning (world record attempt spoiled only by a slow truck stuck behind a slow cyclist for a mile :( ), I've covered a total of 174 miles and climbed 4400 feet since Sunday morning, and I feel great right now!!
I'm finally starting to feel confident about the C2C, and am looking forward to it with great anticipation!!!

fulfilling weekend

Had a very fulfilling weekend. Tried out a gas barbecue for the first time and must say I'm very impressed. I've always frowned upon them believing them not to hold the same flavours as charcoal but I take it all back. Burgers were gorgeously succulent and by far the best barbecue burgers I've ever had. Sausages were equally impressive and I'm most definately converted, I'll never go back to coals.
All washed down with copious amounts of beer made for a satisfying weekend.
Really looking forward to the Upton ride next weekend where they have further barbecue opportunities and a beer tent.....

Little and unoften....

Had a relatively small weekend, did a quick 25 miler on Saturday which included my favourite run downhill where i managed a max speed of 45.6MPH, i've got a plan to break the 50 barrier next time i'm up there. On Sunday did a little 15 mile MTB ride, felt pretty good but not helped out by having to do it on my brothers MTB which is a smaller frame and has a broken saddle meaning it was pointing upwards (gents i'm sure you can feel my pain!)

Looking forward to the team ride on Wednesday, hoping the weather holds out....