Or lack there of being the actual case in reality…
Total, 2 Rides really… =/
Epic Fail, I know.
2 rides so far this year and just over 30 miles on the legs, it really is a pitiful state and one I am not happy with. If the weather plays ball though and I can squeeze the time off I get into the weather playing nice, I sense some nice miles this year, not as many as I’d like but I have to pay the bills.
On to breaking my 2012 Duck; first I guess?
Same excuse as has been for a while, work gets in the way when weather doesn’t and vice versa?
I can think of a good 10 days I looked at a few guys and girls at work and shared a look that declared “yeah, I’d rather be out riding the weather is prime for it…”
Some changes at work have eased up my physical workload so I am getting into the zone where if I can ride I have the energy and am willing to spare it. Not sure if you grasp my meaning but when my time to relax is short due to life commitments; even cycling takes a back seat till I have had my fill of doing little or nothing to let my brain drain or settle and relax because it is at ease and stood down. If I am physically tired I require down time for my body also, running around enough on a daily basis to kill a pair of trainers from new nearly shows me in my mind I move a fair bit during the working day, so when the weekend rolls around I want to put my feet up and give them some relaxing time while I chill and switch off for a while.
During that time though I am still a struggling writer and geek, this place is a luxury and one that costs money to exist. so I have to spend as much time trying to make this work as I do log enough miles to justify this place as a training diary which it is first and foremost.
For those of you wondering what I mean, this place was never set up as a Review or eCommerce venture. It was a Training Log that got extended to do some reviews and for me to air my thoughts to express myself and help me enjoy my efforts on the back and share any knowledge of a passion I gleaned from taking part in it.
This site is focussed firstly on my passion and efforts within my cycling world and the parts of it I like or enjoy, or can share something about if I can or choose to do so.
Sadly the adverts cover a portion of the costs to run this place so don’t fool yourself into seeing them and believing I am making money with this site. I’m far from breaking even let alone earning a living yet but that is what I would like to do with this place eventually, but the time for that is not yet sadly.
Ride of a life time?
A little closer to the ride I promise, but a big turn events is the ride I am planning, talk between the missus and I have lead to me being able to plan a once in a life time bike ride in an exotic location. It’s a few years off in the event actually taking place but the plans are being discussed.
This ride if you had not guessed would take place on the honeymoon, as those who pay attention (Brownie points for you kind people) I got engaged at Christmas, and we are looking at dates in a year or 2, and we both want it to be somewhere warm with White sandy beaches, but somewhere a nice bike ride could be had.
So while I am asking for comments and suggestions on where to go, I’d like to rule out a few places to show you what we are thinking so if you know a spot or area in those regions, that’d be awesome.
Paris and Le Tour is a no thanks, neither one of us fancies that area of the world even at that time as we are both TDF fans. Think more Hawaii and tropical, road riding and smooth enjoyable tarmac and cyclist friendly attitude highly desirable so the missus and I can ride as I am more used to riding in bonkers traffic than she and it would push her comfort zone too far and spoil the enjoyment.
Need to find an extra Mile I guess?
O.K, the 24 Miler, I did promise after all…
First time out in ages, was aching and itching for the weather to play nice, then when it did I couldn’t find overshoes, so couldn’t ride. Finally replaced the ones I lost and when the time came, the weather was right I got out!
Overshoes, leg warmers and arm warmers required, but my favourite Skins summer bibs and the usual Gore summer Mitt / Gloves, so no Sealskinz long fingered gloves needed!
Daytime and light but overcast and sub 10 degrees Celsius, also sub 10 mph winds. Not ideal but of so far better than my previous Winter experiences sub Zero and 20 mph winds ! Which was nice…
Ahem.
I stuck with a route I know, so I could gauge how bad the bill for not getting out anywhere near enough to maintain the Stamina or legs I used to have pre Summer last year.
It was pretty steep to be honest.
Firstly and most amusing, I think I broke my arse.
Well I had to break it back in and it honestly felt like I did it all in one go. The sit bones even with my Specialized Avatar saddle screamed Blue murder after I got halfway around the Route I had chosen, and the next day was misery. I deserved it and I took it, albeit with a little bit of bitching about it but all in good humour because in a sadistic way it did feel bloody good to know I had been riding the day before and this was the cost of the session.
Normally and what I have always advised along with other more knowledgeable people who instructed me when I had the problem initially; is a few small rides over a few days or weeks to build it back up again.
It worked a charm for me and I echo that good advice I was given as it worked for me. Like many things cycling related though, individuality means no set rules, or very few.
The Route I picked was an old friend in some ways, I decided a lap of the Water was the only real test of my fitness levels and I did want to ride it in another season to see the difference of the area I now live, especially one as stunning as Rutland Water.
As much as it killed me to see my average speed was now well below the 18mph average I used to be able to roll by at, seeing any average speed was making me smile as it was nice to be back in the saddle, the fact it was in double digits warmed my soul down to the core and then some.
