Yep, I will be glad when this (add swear words) month is out as its been nothing but horrible to me. What with a bad knee to start and then rain...more rain...a bit of wind...rain and wind...wind and rain and for good measure, wind and rain. Sigh. Oh, and its now dark until 7.59am and dark again at 3.30pm!!! Grrrr.
Anyway, trying not to rant too much but it was quite nice on Saturday morning so off for a ride I went along a route I had used a couple of times before...la la la la la la la ...... no problems until.....hissssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss (that's with a "H" just in case you thought otherwise).... I get a visit from that little bugger the puc***ure fairy! Sigh. I will pull her wings off and make her eat them if she visits me again!!!! I get home, go to fix it but I don't have any spare innertubes or patches!!!!
http://www.bikehike.co.uk/mapview.php?id=27269
One trip to Halfords and a quick grovel to her in doors, off I went later in the afternoon for another ride. Well I had this silly idea to do 80 miles plus this weekend (including Monday).
This ride was fine apart from the fact that it was bleeping cold out there and I managed to get lost...just as it started to drizzle. Sigh. On a positive note, the traffic was very light and I climbed a major long slope back into Stafford from Bradley without even reasiling that what I was doing. Please about that as its always been a bit of a pain that hill.
http://www.bikehike.co.uk/mapview.php?id=27099
Sunday sunday here again.... and the weather forecast said heavy rain around lunch time with some light rain before hand....so up and out at 7.45am just as it got light. That should give me a couple of hours without any rain...so I thought.
Now the current wife has a saying that you should never believe the weather forecast... I, of course, disagree and say that weather forecasters all have good degrees and have some of the best computers in the world....of course their forecasts are accurate and can be trusted. No put a coat on if they say sunny for me!!!!
Of course, I get a mile from town and it starts to rain.... only lightly. Nevermind eh, I will "man up" and head on further....half a mile later I am wet to the skin as the heaven opened and down came more cats and dogs than the local dogs home sees in a hundred years!!!!
Indeed, it got so wet that I had to pull over and stand in a bus shelter for 15 mins whilst the worse of it blew over. I finally got home half an hour later cold, wet and miserable.
Nevermind eh, it was going to rain all day so at least I tried to go for a ride...... oh, actually, apart from that bit of rain, we had a clear dry day! So why didn't I go out for a ride later....I had to paint the fence. Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr................... sigh.
www.bikehike.co.uk/mapview.php?id=27271
So, its Monday and my boss is off, that must mean a ride today??!!! Well actually yes as I have to go to the Halifax to close by second bank account. Its an account which I haven't used for years and to be honest, as "they" are going to start charging £1 a day if you go overdrawn, I thought it would be best to get rid of it. Seems I wasnt the only one to think so as there were two other people in the queue wanting to do so! Oh, talking about queues in banks (banks used to be really good back in the 80's... I used to go into one in the City of London to see this vision of loveliness...) why have a bank with three windows and then staff two of them with trainees??? Seem to me better to put one trainee on; especially when they were busy.
One half an hour wait in the bank later, I had cooled right down so decided not to bother going much further; especially as it was really cold out there and the sun was really low in the sky making visability really difficult.
www.bikehike.co.uk/mapview.php?id=27268
So, not really a good weekend cycling wise. The total for the four rides are as follows:
Total 36.52 Months total 125.93 (terrible!!!)
Height climbed 1159 Months total 3899 (really terrible!!!!!)
The longest ride was 21.45 miles long with a climb of 691 feet. My average speed was 12mph.
Monday 30 November 2009
Tuesday 24 November 2009
Later the same day...still raining
Yes, its still raining and windy so, as I seem to have my mojo back (or am enjoying the feel of muscles in my legs...something I havent had for years!) I hit the rollers this morning for a quick half an hour blast.
Nothing much to report from it as, well its just cycling on the spot (oh...did come backwards off them when getting off which is funny!) but over half an hour I did 6.34 miles at an average of 14.3mph.
.....yet later the same day..... okay, had a jacket potato for lunch and the current wife has just made some fresh bread so I can see me snacking all afternoon....so I headed out for another ride at lunchtime. This time on 20mins as work gets in the way of a good ride. This time I did 4.38 miles at 14.7mph. I feel quite warm and strangely happy.
Overall today 10.72 miles.
....even later.....well just done another 4.03 miles at 13.9mph in 20 mins...well wanted to work off the home made (by me) pizza for tea.
Overall today then....14.75 miles...shame I didnt make it to 4.28 as that would have been a nice round 15 miles. Oh, wind out there now is blowing at a steady 25mph!
Total for the month 49.56
Nothing much to report from it as, well its just cycling on the spot (oh...did come backwards off them when getting off which is funny!) but over half an hour I did 6.34 miles at an average of 14.3mph.
.....yet later the same day..... okay, had a jacket potato for lunch and the current wife has just made some fresh bread so I can see me snacking all afternoon....so I headed out for another ride at lunchtime. This time on 20mins as work gets in the way of a good ride. This time I did 4.38 miles at 14.7mph. I feel quite warm and strangely happy.
Overall today 10.72 miles.
....even later.....well just done another 4.03 miles at 13.9mph in 20 mins...well wanted to work off the home made (by me) pizza for tea.
Overall today then....14.75 miles...shame I didnt make it to 4.28 as that would have been a nice round 15 miles. Oh, wind out there now is blowing at a steady 25mph!
Total for the month 49.56
Still raining and windy.
Won't this winter ever end (note to self...its only November!!!)
So, once again it was too crappy to go out on the bike...well winds of over 20mph doesnt make cycling fun: oh, "they" had a tornado in Derby yesterday...did £1 000 worth of improvements.
Anyway, all I could manage was half an hour on the rollers during which I covered an unimpressive 5.61 miles at an average of 13.7mph. Nothing really to write home about.
Oh, and for some reason, the "Fat Boy" event in Manchester this weekend has been cancelled.
So, once again it was too crappy to go out on the bike...well winds of over 20mph doesnt make cycling fun: oh, "they" had a tornado in Derby yesterday...did £1 000 worth of improvements.
Anyway, all I could manage was half an hour on the rollers during which I covered an unimpressive 5.61 miles at an average of 13.7mph. Nothing really to write home about.
Oh, and for some reason, the "Fat Boy" event in Manchester this weekend has been cancelled.
Sunday 22 November 2009
Local myth...
Tales are told around here of a strange object once seen in the sky above Stafford.... the old folks say that its yellow and gives out heat and light... other mad people say that it rises in the east and sets in the west and that there is something called nice weather. Of course I do not believe a word of it as the sky has been grey and raining with heavy wind for the last few days.
These tales of something called the Sun are of course totally crap. There is no such thing, just rain and miserable cyclists (well okay, this one is miserable. The rest I saw out there seemed to be enjoying themselves!)
So, as you can tell from my rather crap opening to this post, its been raining most of the weekend which, as I hate cycling in the rain, cut back the amount of road work I did.
Rewinding to yesterday then....well it was like cycling through a cloud most of the 21 miles I did to Stone Hockey Club and back.... wet but not not really raining. And don't talk to me about wind but blimey, at times it was like cycling through glue!!!
The route: http://www.bikehike.co.uk/mapview.php?id=26504
So: 21.08 miles done.
Height climbed: 541 feet
Average speed: A terrible 11.4mph.... I blame the wind!
Today (sunday)...well it was a real struggle to go out as once again it was glowing a gale but dry.... I decided to MTFU (either that, or go down to the skip for her in doors....I would rather not) and go out for a ride. So, off I went knowing that I only had a couple of hours before the weather guessers said it was going to rain. Hummmmm....lets try Hyde Lea bank.... not a good idea as I am never that "warm" when I hit it but thankfully I managed to get to the top without stopping (its about 140 foot climb at around 5%....not over impressive in the scale of things but still a bit of an effort when you weight over 18 stone!). The rest of the ride to Penkridge was okay, if a bit windy on... Windy Ridge! Surprising that eh!.
Well once in Penkridge the sky darkened even more and the rain started..... hang on, its not supposed to start raining until 12noon...the BBC said so. So I have two choices... I can either man up and carry on to Cannock Hockey Club (strange how hockey clubs are my destinations!) or turn back....yep I turned back.
Not a nice ride back in the rain but at least the wind was in my favour and not in my face as it was when I was heading south. Overall, I did not enjoy the ride and at 13 miles, it was really rather short.
The route: http://www.bikehike.co.uk/mapview.php?id=26588
Distance: 13.41. Total for the month. 89.41
Average speed: 11.8mph (poo but then, I can only manage Hyde Lea bank at 6mph and the wind, the wind!!!)
Height climbed: 418. Total for the month 2470.
Looks like I will completely miss this months targets.
These tales of something called the Sun are of course totally crap. There is no such thing, just rain and miserable cyclists (well okay, this one is miserable. The rest I saw out there seemed to be enjoying themselves!)
So, as you can tell from my rather crap opening to this post, its been raining most of the weekend which, as I hate cycling in the rain, cut back the amount of road work I did.
Rewinding to yesterday then....well it was like cycling through a cloud most of the 21 miles I did to Stone Hockey Club and back.... wet but not not really raining. And don't talk to me about wind but blimey, at times it was like cycling through glue!!!
The route: http://www.bikehike.co.uk/mapview.php?id=26504
So: 21.08 miles done.
Height climbed: 541 feet
Average speed: A terrible 11.4mph.... I blame the wind!
Today (sunday)...well it was a real struggle to go out as once again it was glowing a gale but dry.... I decided to MTFU (either that, or go down to the skip for her in doors....I would rather not) and go out for a ride. So, off I went knowing that I only had a couple of hours before the weather guessers said it was going to rain. Hummmmm....lets try Hyde Lea bank.... not a good idea as I am never that "warm" when I hit it but thankfully I managed to get to the top without stopping (its about 140 foot climb at around 5%....not over impressive in the scale of things but still a bit of an effort when you weight over 18 stone!). The rest of the ride to Penkridge was okay, if a bit windy on... Windy Ridge! Surprising that eh!.
Well once in Penkridge the sky darkened even more and the rain started..... hang on, its not supposed to start raining until 12noon...the BBC said so. So I have two choices... I can either man up and carry on to Cannock Hockey Club (strange how hockey clubs are my destinations!) or turn back....yep I turned back.
Not a nice ride back in the rain but at least the wind was in my favour and not in my face as it was when I was heading south. Overall, I did not enjoy the ride and at 13 miles, it was really rather short.
The route: http://www.bikehike.co.uk/mapview.php?id=26588
Distance: 13.41. Total for the month. 89.41
Average speed: 11.8mph (poo but then, I can only manage Hyde Lea bank at 6mph and the wind, the wind!!!)
Height climbed: 418. Total for the month 2470.
Looks like I will completely miss this months targets.
Friday 20 November 2009
Something different.....
Well, its still blowing a gale out there (Lucky Gail) so really didn't fancy riding on the road....too many trees dropping stuff to run over or to be hit by, so should I go on the rollers again, or try something different...
Yep, as you can tell from the title of this post, I did something different and went on my treadmill.
Yes, you remember the treadmill.... I was really impressed when I got it when I managed to do a mile in just over 12 minutes.... until I realised that the machine reads in Km not miles, so 1Km in 12 mins works out at around 3mph.... not impressive. Sigh. So....could I improve on that today???
Well off came the shirt and out came the shorts and off I padded like...well like a fat bloke on a treadmill really. I didn't really have much idea what I was planning to do but noted that the first km came up in just over 13 mins and the next in around 26.... the machine takes ages to scan over between measurements so I can never be that sure. After 30 minutes I felt I had done enough and stopped for the afternoon after just over 2.2km (I say just over as the machine had been reading that for two scans. Its likely it was closer to 2.3km but I can't prove that. Working it out, 2.2km in 30 mins works out as being 2.64mph which really isn't that impressive. I suppose I can say that the machine is set on a slope so I am walking up hill...perhaps I should work out how much of a slope so I can work out how much "climbing" I have done??)
So, how do I feel? Well, I was nice and warm and to be honest, a bit smelly. Do I think I will get to like the treadmill....don't really think so. The view is crap.
Later....the same day......
Come the end of the day I have two choices.... I can watch Eggheads or can do some more walking. Strangely, I decided walking would be better for me fitness wise.
So, off I went for another 30 min slog up "hill" and 29.40 seconds later, Sharon arrvied home just in time to see me pant to a stop! No wonder why I was sweating buckets but I managed to do 2.5 km in the 30 mins set aside...around 10% more than at lunchtime. And.... I broke the 3mph barrier!!!!
So today then: 4.7km in an hour. Overall average speed of 2.82mph!
Yep, as you can tell from the title of this post, I did something different and went on my treadmill.
Yes, you remember the treadmill.... I was really impressed when I got it when I managed to do a mile in just over 12 minutes.... until I realised that the machine reads in Km not miles, so 1Km in 12 mins works out at around 3mph.... not impressive. Sigh. So....could I improve on that today???
Well off came the shirt and out came the shorts and off I padded like...well like a fat bloke on a treadmill really. I didn't really have much idea what I was planning to do but noted that the first km came up in just over 13 mins and the next in around 26.... the machine takes ages to scan over between measurements so I can never be that sure. After 30 minutes I felt I had done enough and stopped for the afternoon after just over 2.2km (I say just over as the machine had been reading that for two scans. Its likely it was closer to 2.3km but I can't prove that. Working it out, 2.2km in 30 mins works out as being 2.64mph which really isn't that impressive. I suppose I can say that the machine is set on a slope so I am walking up hill...perhaps I should work out how much of a slope so I can work out how much "climbing" I have done??)
So, how do I feel? Well, I was nice and warm and to be honest, a bit smelly. Do I think I will get to like the treadmill....don't really think so. The view is crap.
Later....the same day......
Come the end of the day I have two choices.... I can watch Eggheads or can do some more walking. Strangely, I decided walking would be better for me fitness wise.
So, off I went for another 30 min slog up "hill" and 29.40 seconds later, Sharon arrvied home just in time to see me pant to a stop! No wonder why I was sweating buckets but I managed to do 2.5 km in the 30 mins set aside...around 10% more than at lunchtime. And.... I broke the 3mph barrier!!!!
So today then: 4.7km in an hour. Overall average speed of 2.82mph!
Thursday 19 November 2009
An experiment....
So.... what am I going to do???? Well, just watched the X files so could try to find an ET to cut up, or something like that.... but sadly no beam of light have arrived today to take me away to be probed... sadly.
Anyway, I have decided to see how many rides I can do today on the rollers and how far I can do..... if the first ride this morning is anything to go by.... the answer will be not far and not many...sigh again.
So, so far today:
8.40am.
3.4 miles in 20 mins at an average speed of 14.1mph. That means I stopped quite often to get my breath back. Perhaps I need to cycle slower so I don't need so many stops?
12.50 update.
Well tried to stick to a reasonable average speed rather than "blasting off" and dying a few yards later with this ride. I had planned to stay between 14.0 and 14.9 mph but managed for a couple of miles to keep that above 15mph. And yes, it did seem to result in me being less breathless and needing less stops.
I managed to achieve 4.2 miles in 20 mins with an average speed of 14.9mph. So... I went slower to go faster...!
4pm update....
Well, what I learned earlier was soon forgotten as off I went far too fast, only to stop to listen to the bloke from the Irish FA say that last nights match against France should be replayed....like that's going to happen. In fact, if it happens, I go out naked on my next ride..... and you don't want to see that!!!
Anyway, back on topic, I managed slightly less than last time at 4.15 miles with an average speed of 14.7mph.
5pm update....
As I couldn't be bothered to go back into the house: the rollers are in the garage, due to the amount of "air freshner" the current wife had been using (please don't get me started on that stuff!) I decided to do another "run" before tea...... hummmmm, bit of a mistake as I had very little left in the "tank." Sigh.
Having said that, I managed more "miles" than my first ride this morning at 3.74 miles at an average speed of 14mph.....oh, that's slightly slower than before!!! I must therefore have cycled at a steader pace with less stops. Not sure about that. Well, the current wife is cooking tea so better go and eat that. Wish me luck.
9pm update....
Still alive after tea....it was okay although she never cooks the onions enough for my liking and the potatoes were over wet.
So, did I go out to and do some more cycling...did I heck as like. Sorry, but I feel too tired this evening so that's it.
Total distance done...not sure. Will add it up in a second or so (added it up...15.5miles).
Was it worth it? Not sure... but someday I will look back on this and think...hummmm, I was really crap then wasnt I.
So, 15.5miles done. Total 29.5miles.
Anyway, I have decided to see how many rides I can do today on the rollers and how far I can do..... if the first ride this morning is anything to go by.... the answer will be not far and not many...sigh again.
So, so far today:
8.40am.
3.4 miles in 20 mins at an average speed of 14.1mph. That means I stopped quite often to get my breath back. Perhaps I need to cycle slower so I don't need so many stops?
12.50 update.
Well tried to stick to a reasonable average speed rather than "blasting off" and dying a few yards later with this ride. I had planned to stay between 14.0 and 14.9 mph but managed for a couple of miles to keep that above 15mph. And yes, it did seem to result in me being less breathless and needing less stops.
I managed to achieve 4.2 miles in 20 mins with an average speed of 14.9mph. So... I went slower to go faster...!
4pm update....
Well, what I learned earlier was soon forgotten as off I went far too fast, only to stop to listen to the bloke from the Irish FA say that last nights match against France should be replayed....like that's going to happen. In fact, if it happens, I go out naked on my next ride..... and you don't want to see that!!!
Anyway, back on topic, I managed slightly less than last time at 4.15 miles with an average speed of 14.7mph.
5pm update....
As I couldn't be bothered to go back into the house: the rollers are in the garage, due to the amount of "air freshner" the current wife had been using (please don't get me started on that stuff!) I decided to do another "run" before tea...... hummmmm, bit of a mistake as I had very little left in the "tank." Sigh.
Having said that, I managed more "miles" than my first ride this morning at 3.74 miles at an average speed of 14mph.....oh, that's slightly slower than before!!! I must therefore have cycled at a steader pace with less stops. Not sure about that. Well, the current wife is cooking tea so better go and eat that. Wish me luck.
9pm update....
Still alive after tea....it was okay although she never cooks the onions enough for my liking and the potatoes were over wet.
So, did I go out to and do some more cycling...did I heck as like. Sorry, but I feel too tired this evening so that's it.
Total distance done...not sure. Will add it up in a second or so (added it up...15.5miles).
Was it worth it? Not sure... but someday I will look back on this and think...hummmm, I was really crap then wasnt I.
So, 15.5miles done. Total 29.5miles.
Wednesday 18 November 2009
Back on the rollers again.
Bleeping hull, I am crap at titles!!!!
I don't suppose I could convience you that this post is about an epic 100 miles ride I did before breakfast, backward....without my seat being in place....on one wheel. Well, that's what I did......
Okay, perhaps I didn't! What I did do is go "ouch" at 4am when I got a nasty case of cramp in my left calf. I have had the resulting pain all day...sigh.
Anyway (a word I use far too often), I decided that I do need to MTFU a bit and went for a ride on my rollers....why not use the road you may ask? Have you seen the weather out there? We had rain for most of the day with winds over 40mph!
So, what did I do I can hear you say (hearing voices again.... I know they aren't really but they have such good ideas......)? Well at lunch time I did 4.3 miles at an average of 13.4mph. Hummmm. It didnt feel that good; whilst this evening after a curry I did another 5.71 miles in 30 minutes at an average of 14.2mph.
So, 10 miles done which when added to the 4 miles I had done previously this month, makes a grand total of 14miles. It looks like the rollers will get more action over the next few days as, to be honest, the weather looks really, really, really crap.
Finally, good news. I brought a cycling hi viz jacket in May which I could not get into. Well, I put it on today and it fits (almost). Well, I can do it up now without breathing in. Perhaps I might try it on the bike one day soon.
I don't suppose I could convience you that this post is about an epic 100 miles ride I did before breakfast, backward....without my seat being in place....on one wheel. Well, that's what I did......
Okay, perhaps I didn't! What I did do is go "ouch" at 4am when I got a nasty case of cramp in my left calf. I have had the resulting pain all day...sigh.
Anyway (a word I use far too often), I decided that I do need to MTFU a bit and went for a ride on my rollers....why not use the road you may ask? Have you seen the weather out there? We had rain for most of the day with winds over 40mph!
So, what did I do I can hear you say (hearing voices again.... I know they aren't really but they have such good ideas......)? Well at lunch time I did 4.3 miles at an average of 13.4mph. Hummmm. It didnt feel that good; whilst this evening after a curry I did another 5.71 miles in 30 minutes at an average of 14.2mph.
So, 10 miles done which when added to the 4 miles I had done previously this month, makes a grand total of 14miles. It looks like the rollers will get more action over the next few days as, to be honest, the weather looks really, really, really crap.
Finally, good news. I brought a cycling hi viz jacket in May which I could not get into. Well, I put it on today and it fits (almost). Well, I can do it up now without breathing in. Perhaps I might try it on the bike one day soon.
Tuesday 17 November 2009
Back on my bike 3....
Well, not been a very good boy this month as its been 8 days since my last ride..... yes, that is bad. Its not as if I haven't had time... there have been a few times I could have gone out or on the rollers, but, sigh, I just lost my mojo for a bit, what with the evenings creaping in and the mornings not getting light until 7.30am or so.
I suppose I could also put up that I have been away for at least 4 days in this period and the fact that its been raining cats and dogs most days. But come on, admit it, I have been lazy and need to MTFU and get out there!!!
So that's what I did today despite the fact that the wind was gusting to 30mph and the roads were wet and and and and and.... and I got on the scales this morning and discovered I had put on a pound!!!! Sigh.
Anyway, off I went and blimey, it hurt for the first three or four miles as, well I didnt warm up sufficiently and I was trying to ride into the wind. Indeed, at the end of School Road I was almost ready to turn around and come home. Thankfully, I MTFU a little and carried on to Penkridge.
Now the road the other side of Penkridge is one of my favourites as it has very few cars on it...indeed I only saw 6 in the 40 mins I was riding around there. Oh, I did laugh when I went over the humpback bridge only to find a road roller coming the other way. Now, do I take "primary" or do I pull over and let it by?????
I did the loop towards Cannock and then back home along the Old Penkridge Road. (averaged about 15mph along there!!!)...it was starting to get dark and school run mums (the second worse drivers in the world) were about, so I stopped to put my lights on. Thankfully, no one tried to pull out on me, so the ride home was without incident.
Well, my knee currently feels fine (although my soft bits are a little sore) and generally I am pleased I didnt turn back after 4 miles.
The route: www.bikehike.co.uk/mapview.php?id=26249
Distance: 24.33. Total distance 53.66. To do...loads.
Height climbed: 572 feet.
Average speed 12.3mph.
I suppose I could also put up that I have been away for at least 4 days in this period and the fact that its been raining cats and dogs most days. But come on, admit it, I have been lazy and need to MTFU and get out there!!!
So that's what I did today despite the fact that the wind was gusting to 30mph and the roads were wet and and and and and.... and I got on the scales this morning and discovered I had put on a pound!!!! Sigh.
Anyway, off I went and blimey, it hurt for the first three or four miles as, well I didnt warm up sufficiently and I was trying to ride into the wind. Indeed, at the end of School Road I was almost ready to turn around and come home. Thankfully, I MTFU a little and carried on to Penkridge.
Now the road the other side of Penkridge is one of my favourites as it has very few cars on it...indeed I only saw 6 in the 40 mins I was riding around there. Oh, I did laugh when I went over the humpback bridge only to find a road roller coming the other way. Now, do I take "primary" or do I pull over and let it by?????
I did the loop towards Cannock and then back home along the Old Penkridge Road. (averaged about 15mph along there!!!)...it was starting to get dark and school run mums (the second worse drivers in the world) were about, so I stopped to put my lights on. Thankfully, no one tried to pull out on me, so the ride home was without incident.
Well, my knee currently feels fine (although my soft bits are a little sore) and generally I am pleased I didnt turn back after 4 miles.
The route: www.bikehike.co.uk/mapview.php?id=26249
Distance: 24.33. Total distance 53.66. To do...loads.
Height climbed: 572 feet.
Average speed 12.3mph.
Monday 9 November 2009
Back on the bike 2
Well, after a weeks rest, I finally decided to try my knees out so did a slowish 3 miles on the rollers on Friday. It felt fine and didn't cause any real reaction....so lets go for a reasonable ride on Saturday eh....
Okay, that was the plan but somehow the current wife got in the way and decided I had DIY to do instead. Sigh. By the time I had finished my tasks for the day, it was getting dark so I missed out.
Sunday came....bleeping cold it was but out I went. I had decided that I had a choice of two routes...either a flat one, or I could try and climb the largest hill around here....yep, I "manned up" and took the second option. Sadly, I am still not fit enough to get right to the top, but managed to do the majority of the hill.... the last bit really ramps up so its something to work on eh.
The rest of the ride was fine, if a bit muddy and although I only managed to average 11.7mph, when you consider that I tried to climb the main hill and no doubt only did 5mph up it, the average was likely to be higher than it was recorded (not sure if that makes sense) if I had taken a flatter route.
So, how is the knee??? Well it was fine when I first came home but there are a few odd pains in it now and again. Don't really have time this week to go out on it again, so will get some more rest before trying it again next Sunday (if awake- I am gigging it this weekend! Yes, at my age!)
So the route: http://www.bikehike.co.uk/mapview.php?id=25500
Distance done: 30.33 To do....not sure but I don't think I am going to make it.
Height climbed: 934 feet
Average speed 11.7
Rollers: 3 miles Total done: 4 miles To do....forget
Average speed 13.5mph.
Okay, that was the plan but somehow the current wife got in the way and decided I had DIY to do instead. Sigh. By the time I had finished my tasks for the day, it was getting dark so I missed out.
Sunday came....bleeping cold it was but out I went. I had decided that I had a choice of two routes...either a flat one, or I could try and climb the largest hill around here....yep, I "manned up" and took the second option. Sadly, I am still not fit enough to get right to the top, but managed to do the majority of the hill.... the last bit really ramps up so its something to work on eh.
The rest of the ride was fine, if a bit muddy and although I only managed to average 11.7mph, when you consider that I tried to climb the main hill and no doubt only did 5mph up it, the average was likely to be higher than it was recorded (not sure if that makes sense) if I had taken a flatter route.
So, how is the knee??? Well it was fine when I first came home but there are a few odd pains in it now and again. Don't really have time this week to go out on it again, so will get some more rest before trying it again next Sunday (if awake- I am gigging it this weekend! Yes, at my age!)
So the route: http://www.bikehike.co.uk/mapview.php?id=25500
Distance done: 30.33 To do....not sure but I don't think I am going to make it.
Height climbed: 934 feet
Average speed 11.7
Rollers: 3 miles Total done: 4 miles To do....forget
Average speed 13.5mph.
Thursday 5 November 2009
Back on the bike....
After Fridays ride, I was left, as you know good reader, with an extremely sore left knee. Well, it didnt want to be alone so the right one came out in sympathy leaving me unable to ride and indeed, in pain when trying to walk. So the only thing left to do was to rest it, use a cold compress and generally let it get better over time.
Well, today I finally decided that it was feeling better so used the bike on the rollers....after putting the seat up which is supposed to be good for bad knees.... but first, some news.
So, I've not been able to cycle so to carry on trying to get fit I used the weights a couple of time, including one session where I did reps of 15 kilo after two lots of 10kg reps... blimey, 15kg is hard in some excerises!
Oh...and I brought a treadmill.
Why on earth would I do that? Well, it would be nice to learn to run but first, perhaps I need to learn to walk fast first. So, off to Chesterfield (the same place I got the gym) and £90 later I have a powered machine which goes up to 6mph...that's certainly fast enough to get your heart beating!!! I used it this lunchtime getting doing 1 mile in around 14 minutes with a top speed of 5.2mph.... oh no.... I see more targets coming on!!!!
To make it a full work out, I did some more 10kg reps before heading onto the bike for a quick blast. Okay, it wasnt a long ride.....only 2 miles at an average of 13.4mph but it nice to get some movement in my legs.
So how are my knees? I'll let you know.
So, Rollers 2 miles....to do....loads
Average rollers speed 13.4mph
Treadmill: 1 mile. 14 mins.
Well, today I finally decided that it was feeling better so used the bike on the rollers....after putting the seat up which is supposed to be good for bad knees.... but first, some news.
So, I've not been able to cycle so to carry on trying to get fit I used the weights a couple of time, including one session where I did reps of 15 kilo after two lots of 10kg reps... blimey, 15kg is hard in some excerises!
Oh...and I brought a treadmill.
Why on earth would I do that? Well, it would be nice to learn to run but first, perhaps I need to learn to walk fast first. So, off to Chesterfield (the same place I got the gym) and £90 later I have a powered machine which goes up to 6mph...that's certainly fast enough to get your heart beating!!! I used it this lunchtime getting doing 1 mile in around 14 minutes with a top speed of 5.2mph.... oh no.... I see more targets coming on!!!!
To make it a full work out, I did some more 10kg reps before heading onto the bike for a quick blast. Okay, it wasnt a long ride.....only 2 miles at an average of 13.4mph but it nice to get some movement in my legs.
So how are my knees? I'll let you know.
So, Rollers 2 miles....to do....loads
Average rollers speed 13.4mph
Treadmill: 1 mile. 14 mins.
Sunday 1 November 2009
Cheshire Cat 2010
Well finally, I have gone and done something silly.... or actually not that silly! I have gone and signed up for the above sportive due to take place on the 28th March 2010.
And before you ask, no, I have not signed up for the 60 and 100 mile rides which go up a 25% hill but for the shorter one which is "only" 45 miles or so. Well, its a start.
Details: http://www.kilotogo.com/index.php?option=event_detail&event_id=11
This (I think) is the route map: http://www.bikehike.co.uk/mapview.php?id=24952
Better get practicing!!!!
And before you ask, no, I have not signed up for the 60 and 100 mile rides which go up a 25% hill but for the shorter one which is "only" 45 miles or so. Well, its a start.
Details: http://www.kilotogo.com/index.php?option=event_detail&event_id=11
This (I think) is the route map: http://www.bikehike.co.uk/mapview.php?id=24952
Better get practicing!!!!
November Targets
Well, its that time of the month again...lets set some targets for me to fail!!!
Okay, Distance first...... its getting colder and wetter (well that's winter for you), so I don't expect I will be able to hit the road that often this month so best make the target achieveable....lets say 250 miles.
Average speed....I made 12.2mph last month and would like to improve on that. Lets say an average of 12.4mph.
Height climbed....never ever going to be a climber so lets just see if I can improve on last month and do at least two 1000 foot climbs and average more than 600 feet.
Rollers. I am not sure what to get this month. I did 88 miles last month so know a good distance is possible but don't want to spend too much time on them when I could be on the road. How about 70 miles this month?
Weight loss. Well, I would like to go from 258.8lb to 251.... 7lb which would take me to less than 18 stone for the first time in years. A tough target but possible (if I don't over eat!!!).
Going to start the month positive... GOING TO MAKE ALL OF THESE (perhaps).
Okay, Distance first...... its getting colder and wetter (well that's winter for you), so I don't expect I will be able to hit the road that often this month so best make the target achieveable....lets say 250 miles.
Average speed....I made 12.2mph last month and would like to improve on that. Lets say an average of 12.4mph.
Height climbed....never ever going to be a climber so lets just see if I can improve on last month and do at least two 1000 foot climbs and average more than 600 feet.
Rollers. I am not sure what to get this month. I did 88 miles last month so know a good distance is possible but don't want to spend too much time on them when I could be on the road. How about 70 miles this month?
Weight loss. Well, I would like to go from 258.8lb to 251.... 7lb which would take me to less than 18 stone for the first time in years. A tough target but possible (if I don't over eat!!!).
Going to start the month positive... GOING TO MAKE ALL OF THESE (perhaps).
October targets revisited
Well, its the first of the month so time to revisit the targets I set at the start of October.
They were:
Distance: As the nights are drawing in, I will have less chance to get out on the road so I am going to set this at 250 miles this month. Well due to injury and being lazy, I failed to achieve this target making only 212 miles this month...the worse I have done for a couple of months..... So, Fail.
Rollers: Given the above, I want to do at least 50 miles on these this month. Well, its a bit of a surprise but I made 88 miles month so not only achieved the target but beat it by miles! Achieved.
Height climbed: At least one 1500 ride and at least two more over 1000! Blimey, that's going to be hard. I would like an average ride of 750 feet. Came no where near doing this doing only one ride of over 1000 feet (by three foot!!!!) Must pull my finger out....So Failed!!! Average climb was 561 foot so again Fail.
Average speed.... I am crap at going fast and given the fact I want to do more climbing, I think an average of 12mph seems about right. Hummm.... I might be getting quicker...average 12.2mph. Achieved.
Average distance. Up a little from last month I think... how about 25 miles. Came close but again its a fail at 23.3miles. So Fail.
Weight loss. Down from 263 to 258lb. Just about achieved as I am 258.8lbs...lets say Achieved.
So, overall, still room for considerable improvement.
They were:
Distance: As the nights are drawing in, I will have less chance to get out on the road so I am going to set this at 250 miles this month. Well due to injury and being lazy, I failed to achieve this target making only 212 miles this month...the worse I have done for a couple of months..... So, Fail.
Rollers: Given the above, I want to do at least 50 miles on these this month. Well, its a bit of a surprise but I made 88 miles month so not only achieved the target but beat it by miles! Achieved.
Height climbed: At least one 1500 ride and at least two more over 1000! Blimey, that's going to be hard. I would like an average ride of 750 feet. Came no where near doing this doing only one ride of over 1000 feet (by three foot!!!!) Must pull my finger out....So Failed!!! Average climb was 561 foot so again Fail.
Average speed.... I am crap at going fast and given the fact I want to do more climbing, I think an average of 12mph seems about right. Hummm.... I might be getting quicker...average 12.2mph. Achieved.
Average distance. Up a little from last month I think... how about 25 miles. Came close but again its a fail at 23.3miles. So Fail.
Weight loss. Down from 263 to 258lb. Just about achieved as I am 258.8lbs...lets say Achieved.
So, overall, still room for considerable improvement.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)