Training Week -6

Daffodils have at last flowered and trees and bushes are sprouting leaves and blossom. The weather was mild with showers, including a heavy storm that caught me on the way home. I had a waterproof trousers and jacket on but my feet got drenched as I didn't have time to get my overshoes on, and my 'waterproof' gloves got wet via my wrists. I did a 69 mile ride yesterday via Chinnor, Thame, Brill (nice town on a hill), Buckingham and Wing. I felt a bit stiff on Sunday and had the odd twinge in my knees, so maybe I need to have more rest days in future. Although, I no longer find cycling the 8 miles each way to work on flatish roads much of an effort - as I've been doing it for 2 years or so. I plan to get my saddle and shoe cleat positions checked next week as this can cause knee problems on long rides.

This week's diary:

• Mon - cycled to work (16 miles)
• Tues - cycled to work (16 miles) plus spinning
• Wed - cycled to work (16 miles)
• Thurs - cycled to work (16 miles) plus swim
• Fri - gym
• Sat - 67 mile ride
• Sun - walk and allotment (planted early pots)

Total cycled: 133 miles. Weight 11st 8lb.

Training Week -7

I took my bike in for a service this week, partly because there was a clicking sound when I pedalled, but mainly to avoid any problems on the trip. The workshop (Bucks Bikes) said I needed new brake pads, brake and gear cables, chain and casette, plus their 'silver service'. The bill was almost half the cost of the bike - £155! Anyway as they were replacing the gear casette I decided to change it from a 11-28 to a 11-30 sprocket one so I had an extra low gear - or 'granny gear'. Trouble is I can't find any hills steep enough to try it out (with my 28/38/48 chainwheels). In bottom gear going uphill my speed is around 4 mph, and if you go any slower than this it's difficult to balance (and you might as well walk anyway). I'm sure though it will be used when I'm tired, going up hills with the wind in my face.

I had a good week training wise, and did an 83 mile bike ride yesterday, mostly in the rain. My route was Thame, Wallingford, Henley, Marlow, Stokenchurch, Chinnor and home - in about 8 hours. I think I may be overdoing the sweet drinks and chocolate on a trip, as I seem to put on weight after a ride. I like to think I'm turning fat to muscle though. I felt ok afterwards and today - just a little stiff.

• Mon - cycled to work (16 miles)
• Tues - cycled to work and back the long way (20 miles) plus spinning
• Weds - gym (band practice)
• Thurs - cycled to work (16 miles) and swim
• Fri - cycled at lunchtime (13 miles)
• Sat - cycled 83 miles
• Sun - 5 mile walk plus allotment

Total cycled: 148 miles Weight 11st 9 lb

Training Week -8

I had to work in Cambridge at the start of the week, so couldn't do any training, except exercises those days. However I was quite pleased as I was a bit stiff from my weekend 64 mile ride. I only managed to cycle to work once this week, and missed my spinning class too. However I've just done a 72 mile round trip via Buckingham, Bicester and Thame in 6.5 hrs (averaging 11mph inc stops). I was passed by lots of road/racing bikers, but they were probably only doing 30 or so miles.

The weather was dry with sunning intervals - as you can see from the photo of Great Horwood, near Buckingham where I had some of my flask of coffee and biscuits. This week's diary:

• Mon & Tues - no training except weights and exercises at home
• Weds - gym
• Thurs - cycled to work (16 miles) plus swim
• Fri - 3 mile run
• Sat - 72 mile ride
• Sun - walk

Total cycled 88 miles. Weight 11st 8lb

Training Stats

I've been keeping track of how many miles I've been cycling per week, my weight and time spent in the gym. As you can see my weekly cycling miles has increased, my weight hasn't changed much and the time spent in sports centre (inc gym, spinning and swimming) has fluctuated a bit.

Training Week -9

The weather was much better for cycling this week - dry and sunny, and cold but not icy. So I put in the miles. I've just returned from a 64 mile round trip to Wallingford (pictured) via Chinnor, then back via Thame. I did the trip in 5.5 hrs including a break for lunch and numerous coffee stops, which is an average speed of 11.63 mph. So our 85 mile daily average should take around 7.5 hours - if we set off at 9am we'll finish at around 4:30pm, which sounds about right.

The roads are still full of potholes and ruts, so I'm glad of my comfy saddle and 35mm width tyres. I haven't had any saddle sores yet - either with or without padded shorts.

This week's diary:

• Mon - cycled to work (16 miles)
  
• Tues - cycled to work (16 miles) plus spinning class


• Weds - rest day (band practice)


• Thurs - cycled to work (16 miles) plus gym


• Fri - cycled to work (16 miles) plus swim


• Sat - 64 mile ride


• Sun - rest day - probably go for walk and dig the allotment - so not exactly 'rest'

Total cycled: 128 miles. Weight 11st 7lb