Having not posted for a while I thought it was time I gave an update of how things are going this season. After waiting until the end of April for my first road race, I was hit by a cold two days before, but I rode anyway and was pretty pleased with my time trial result, although dissapointed with my result in the road race, having to drop out after four laps, deciding it was better to pull out than tool around in the rain after being dropped.
Since then I have had to dissapointedly turn down rides in the Bedford 2 Day Women's Stage Race, which was gutting, with an awesome field to race against and some really tough looking courses it would have been good, and in the Olveston Road Race, one of the women's national series. Unfortunately my cold turned into a chest infection which has dragged on for the last three weeks, and I'm still not fully over it. I do feel I am getting back to where I was though, time trialling tonight on Bassenthwaite I felt as though I was definately not up to scatch in the lung department, but my legs felt really strong (even if, or perhaps because they resemble the legs of a man...).
My first race back is going to be this weekend, the Wallace Hill Women's National Series event in Ayrshire. Hopefully I'll be back on form by then, and 'the black lung' as I have christened it will have retreated.
Well done to everyone for some awesome results in the Fred Whitton, very impressive!
Showing posts with label Training. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Training. Show all posts
Tuesday, 13 May 2008
Thursday, 3 April 2008
first ride of the passes...
Well, it's only 4 weeks until the fred whitton challenge and as my weekends from now on are fully booked with rounds of the national youth circuit series, CDNW league and Rudy Project Time trial series, i decided to just get out and test myself on some of the climbs.
It was the first time since last April that i had been over any of the passes, not including whinlatter as that features quite regulary in training rides, and boy had i forgotten the pain they put you through!!!
I had decided to get a decent ride in my legs before heading towards the first "hill", as then i would get a better feel for how it will actually be on the day. So, after fueling-up i set off on my adventure. Following the start of one of my 4 hour training rides, i set off towards cockermouth before taking the back roads towards keswick, heading round braithwaite and cat bells. After crossing the bridge and turning left to head towards honister, i realised i had a nice 100min ride already in the bag, so i settled down into a nice rythm and carried on. i've got to say, i thought it was quiker to the foot of honister! Anyway, i passed through the little village and started to head up... up... up... up!
That gave the legs a shock, and the lungs, and the arms! it was a case of trying not to drop below 6mph, which i nearly managed to achieve... the last bit before the cattle grid got me! after that though it was all good and i got to the top 2hrs into my ride.
After dropping down the valley and getting along to buttermere, i was at newlands. I have to say, i have never been up there better in my life! The kick honister gave me must have got my legs working, and i set about a nice rythm all the way up the climb, before reaching the top and plumiting down to braithewaite.
Whinlatter was next, and how i love that climb! again, i just kept my rythm going and pushing over the pedals and before i knew it, i was at the top. The best part about whinlatter was the applause i got passing the lay-by where the ice cream man seems to live... it made me feel like a true pro!
Well, that was all the big climbs over, and i wasn't feeling that bad. So i decided to prolongue my ride. i set off towards eaglesfield and did a 10mile loop around some back roads before heading towards deanscale, where i jumped back onto the main road. Checking my ride time now, which was around 4hrshrs, i carried on adding on extra loops, and extra hills until it reached 4.30hrs. By this time my legs where starting to feel heavy, so i decided to get home.
Of course that meant getting back onto the top of cold fell... I just out my head down and grinded my way up, selefield traffic charging down towards me! after hitting the cattle grid, i checked my time. 4hrs 45mins. So i decided to kill myself and get home before 5hrs!
I managed, all be it I got cramp washing afterwards and fell out of the shower landing on the floor in a heap! all in all a good ride. 83miles over some big hills in 5hrs seemed like quite an achievement!
But for now, i'm off to the second round of the Rudy Project time trial series on saturday, and then the first round of the national youth circuit series on sunday. i shall write a report on how i did when i return.
adios
It was the first time since last April that i had been over any of the passes, not including whinlatter as that features quite regulary in training rides, and boy had i forgotten the pain they put you through!!!
I had decided to get a decent ride in my legs before heading towards the first "hill", as then i would get a better feel for how it will actually be on the day. So, after fueling-up i set off on my adventure. Following the start of one of my 4 hour training rides, i set off towards cockermouth before taking the back roads towards keswick, heading round braithwaite and cat bells. After crossing the bridge and turning left to head towards honister, i realised i had a nice 100min ride already in the bag, so i settled down into a nice rythm and carried on. i've got to say, i thought it was quiker to the foot of honister! Anyway, i passed through the little village and started to head up... up... up... up!
That gave the legs a shock, and the lungs, and the arms! it was a case of trying not to drop below 6mph, which i nearly managed to achieve... the last bit before the cattle grid got me! after that though it was all good and i got to the top 2hrs into my ride.
After dropping down the valley and getting along to buttermere, i was at newlands. I have to say, i have never been up there better in my life! The kick honister gave me must have got my legs working, and i set about a nice rythm all the way up the climb, before reaching the top and plumiting down to braithewaite.
Whinlatter was next, and how i love that climb! again, i just kept my rythm going and pushing over the pedals and before i knew it, i was at the top. The best part about whinlatter was the applause i got passing the lay-by where the ice cream man seems to live... it made me feel like a true pro!
Well, that was all the big climbs over, and i wasn't feeling that bad. So i decided to prolongue my ride. i set off towards eaglesfield and did a 10mile loop around some back roads before heading towards deanscale, where i jumped back onto the main road. Checking my ride time now, which was around 4hrshrs, i carried on adding on extra loops, and extra hills until it reached 4.30hrs. By this time my legs where starting to feel heavy, so i decided to get home.
Of course that meant getting back onto the top of cold fell... I just out my head down and grinded my way up, selefield traffic charging down towards me! after hitting the cattle grid, i checked my time. 4hrs 45mins. So i decided to kill myself and get home before 5hrs!
I managed, all be it I got cramp washing afterwards and fell out of the shower landing on the floor in a heap! all in all a good ride. 83miles over some big hills in 5hrs seemed like quite an achievement!
But for now, i'm off to the second round of the Rudy Project time trial series on saturday, and then the first round of the national youth circuit series on sunday. i shall write a report on how i did when i return.
adios
Tuesday, 25 March 2008
Training in Spain
The roads, the weather, the terrain, the drivers, did i mention the weather? Just come back from a couple of weeks training in Spain, it was absolutly incredible! Brilliant routes in the mountains, superb road surfaces, hours without seeing a car, not a drop of rain in 2 weeks and good company.
Based in Denia, just north of Benidorm the camp was the perfect kick start to the season, although by no means a holiday (i came back to work to rest) i had a fantastic time and have already started looking for a flat there for next winter (no more British winters for me!).
With route plans for each day, guides for the two groups and a support vechicle all i needed to concentrate on was the riding. In the first week everybody was out to test each other which resulted in blistering pace up many of the long climbs and not much time to enjoy the scenery, with a change of personel for the second week things where a bit more relaxed. Two weeks of hard riding left me exhausted (and one week later i'm still not back up to speed) but should give me a much more solid base for my season than i have ever had before. The weeks where not without incident, two crashes for myself and numerous others, the organiser of the camp Dave Lloyd came of worst with a broken wrist with two days of the camp left.
I also met up with ex KeswickBikes rider and staff member Jimmy Taylor who was also out enjoying the sunshine, best of luck to him for the coming season.
Many thanks to Dave Lloyd and hope your back on the bike soon, also thanks to John and Terry of Ciclocosta Blanc (http://www.ciclocostablanca.com/) and also to the guides Ian, Peter and Ron.
Based in Denia, just north of Benidorm the camp was the perfect kick start to the season, although by no means a holiday (i came back to work to rest) i had a fantastic time and have already started looking for a flat there for next winter (no more British winters for me!).
With route plans for each day, guides for the two groups and a support vechicle all i needed to concentrate on was the riding. In the first week everybody was out to test each other which resulted in blistering pace up many of the long climbs and not much time to enjoy the scenery, with a change of personel for the second week things where a bit more relaxed. Two weeks of hard riding left me exhausted (and one week later i'm still not back up to speed) but should give me a much more solid base for my season than i have ever had before. The weeks where not without incident, two crashes for myself and numerous others, the organiser of the camp Dave Lloyd came of worst with a broken wrist with two days of the camp left.
I also met up with ex KeswickBikes rider and staff member Jimmy Taylor who was also out enjoying the sunshine, best of luck to him for the coming season.
Many thanks to Dave Lloyd and hope your back on the bike soon, also thanks to John and Terry of Ciclocosta Blanc (http://www.ciclocostablanca.com/) and also to the guides Ian, Peter and Ron.
Friday, 7 March 2008
recent activities....
its been a while since my last post but heres a quick rundown of the latest, on feb 24th me and ally headed down to the bashall eaves circuit for the clayton velo spring classic and despite the bad weather it was a good race, i took all the primes for the 3rd cat category after riding away from them after just one lap and ally did the same for the 2nd cat group. unfortunately after spending much of the race off the front the large chasing group eventually got the better of us and we were caught, it all went down hill from there really and we both finished the race off the back of the main group, it did however show great promise for my time trialling... thanks to vicky for the useful split times throughout the race. last weekend i travelled to fylde near blackpool, on the way there i was told it was flat, how flat? well very flat, and windy, the elite riders in the group drove the pace on from the start and with the windy conditions the group soon split and many of the riders packed in, after 3 laps killing myself to try and get back to the main group i threw in the towel and was forced to call it a day, apparently having an incredibly aerodynamic bike doesnt make ALL the difference. it was a useful experience as its been earmarked as an area to avoid. well its two weeks till the easter four day which ill no doubt have some comment on. until then ill be erm.... preparing. (i love my cervelo, i think everyone should have one, incredible machines.)
Sunday, 2 March 2008
Venturing Over to the Dark Side
Today I decided to try something a little different. I did the Eden Runners Haweswater Half Marathon - 13miles and 400metres with not a wheel in sight! No pedals! No let-up whatsoever! I'm honestly not sure if I'll be able to walk tomorrow, I think I'll be on the turbo trainer first thing to check my legs still work.
One thing I would advise if anyone else is thinking of taking part in such escapades - at least make sure your running shoes are not still these-have-just-been-taken-out-of-the-box bright sparkling white. At least run in them more than once before the big event.
At least I got a mug at the end of it all, to show for my achievment. I'd rather have had a big shiny cup to be fair. Maybe next time.
One thing I would advise if anyone else is thinking of taking part in such escapades - at least make sure your running shoes are not still these-have-just-been-taken-out-of-the-box bright sparkling white. At least run in them more than once before the big event.
At least I got a mug at the end of it all, to show for my achievment. I'd rather have had a big shiny cup to be fair. Maybe next time.
Wednesday, 16 January 2008
Doncha just love January?
I think I spoke too soon in my first post on here when I said I liked Miss Pendleton's Oakly shoot... Her "my SPorting Life" section in pro cycling has to be without doubt the sourest, most bitter thing i've ever seen a cyclist write.
No matter... For tis January! New year and all that! Although the new year didn't start all that well for me as I missed the training ride due to "sleeping in" ( i think Ali bought it...), since then i've been hammering the Turbo on weeknights, mixed in with that cross training staple American Football, and getting the long rides in at weekends.
The weight loss was greatly aided by the virus i had over xmas and new year which caused me to have 2 days off work last week. 73kg and still falling now... and i've been off the pies for nearly 8 weeks.
Going to start working in some intensity in the next couple of weeks, i've been going out with HOnister 92 on a sunday and have discovered that being able to spin up Whinlatter at a nice heart rate and 85 cadence is all well and good until somebody attacks you and you're left gasping like a dying fish and muttering about it being "only january"... yup, i've become that guy. First race isn't for another 6 weeks though, so it'll all be fine. Although i entered the Paris-Roubiax Sportif, so maybe it wont.
Laters.
Phil
Phil Likes: The Frog emergency backlight
Phil Dislikes: Cold and flu
No matter... For tis January! New year and all that! Although the new year didn't start all that well for me as I missed the training ride due to "sleeping in" ( i think Ali bought it...), since then i've been hammering the Turbo on weeknights, mixed in with that cross training staple American Football, and getting the long rides in at weekends.
The weight loss was greatly aided by the virus i had over xmas and new year which caused me to have 2 days off work last week. 73kg and still falling now... and i've been off the pies for nearly 8 weeks.
Going to start working in some intensity in the next couple of weeks, i've been going out with HOnister 92 on a sunday and have discovered that being able to spin up Whinlatter at a nice heart rate and 85 cadence is all well and good until somebody attacks you and you're left gasping like a dying fish and muttering about it being "only january"... yup, i've become that guy. First race isn't for another 6 weeks though, so it'll all be fine. Although i entered the Paris-Roubiax Sportif, so maybe it wont.
Laters.
Phil
Phil Likes: The Frog emergency backlight
Phil Dislikes: Cold and flu
Monday, 7 January 2008
Can training really be this good?
The hollidays are now over and with the extra time i managed to put in some serious miles! it was a routine of getting up at 8am, stocking up on energy and then plowing through wind and rain for hours every day. i worked out that after 18 days i had dun nearly 800miles wich was quite a shock concidering my usual weekly milage is around 200! recovering between each ride got easier and easier and with the racing season now only 2 months away its time the turbo got some real battering! (whilst im on this subject, if anyone is interested VC Cumbria are holding a turbo training session at eaglesfield village hall on a tuesday, 6.45pm START!) hopefully i will have gained a good enough base fitness for the year so lets cross out fingers for some results.
the first team ride on new years day was an excellent affair, all be it that only 4 riders turned up, one of thm being an ex-rider! however this was all made up for after a very nice man at the nickel end cafe decided to give us a free scone (the size of a breeze block) and practically all our money back in change... there was no telling him of his mistakes! i recomend the cafe if ur up that way! Hopefully another meet will be happening soon?
as i write, whitton enrty forms will soon be posted on the web so im perched on the end of my chair ready to download. Everyone says that my target of a sub 7hrs should be easily achieved and if its a good day, maybe the possibilty of a 6.30hrs. looks like i best not dissapoint so its off to the hills of cumbria for some steap ass climbing.
the first team ride on new years day was an excellent affair, all be it that only 4 riders turned up, one of thm being an ex-rider! however this was all made up for after a very nice man at the nickel end cafe decided to give us a free scone (the size of a breeze block) and practically all our money back in change... there was no telling him of his mistakes! i recomend the cafe if ur up that way! Hopefully another meet will be happening soon?
as i write, whitton enrty forms will soon be posted on the web so im perched on the end of my chair ready to download. Everyone says that my target of a sub 7hrs should be easily achieved and if its a good day, maybe the possibilty of a 6.30hrs. looks like i best not dissapoint so its off to the hills of cumbria for some steap ass climbing.
Monday, 24 December 2007
Plans for the Year Ahead
Am currently planning my 2008 calendar. Why does it seem to be that there are some months with nothing and then Mountain Mayhem, the National Road Race Champs and then the Marmotte all run consecutively? Answers on a post card please.
Other than that, haven't been racing, as there haven't been many races to do...will be doing the couple of cross races that are left in January, and then it will be looking towards the early season RTTC-Rudy Project Time Trials and then Road Racing! Wohoooo. OOoooh, and I have decided I am going to try some Triathlons this season, there are two main reasons: a) I would like to be a well-rounded individual, not just legs with twigs poking out the top (body, arms ect.), b) I have discovered I am still counted as a juniour in Triathlon terms, yeeeeeeey!
Other than that, haven't been racing, as there haven't been many races to do...will be doing the couple of cross races that are left in January, and then it will be looking towards the early season RTTC-Rudy Project Time Trials and then Road Racing! Wohoooo. OOoooh, and I have decided I am going to try some Triathlons this season, there are two main reasons: a) I would like to be a well-rounded individual, not just legs with twigs poking out the top (body, arms ect.), b) I have discovered I am still counted as a juniour in Triathlon terms, yeeeeeeey!
Thursday, 20 December 2007
No Rain In Spain... And Mainly on the Turbo Train(er)
As the title suggests, sub zero temperatures have severely limited my riding since I returned from what, rather grandly, be called the KMB training camp.
During the course of the week I shed 4 kg, probably on the first day's utter shoeing from Ali and Neil over 3 large passes. I bucked my ideas up seriously after that and was actually starting to feel like a cyclist at the end of the week. I always find that after an utter disaster of a day the best thing to do is remind yourself tomorrows another day and your first chance to put it right, and i'm getting it right now.
Back to Cumbria and i've been tapping out really easy 4 hour base rides at the weekends, largely on main roads due to icy conditions, and (stunningly for me) staying off the hills. I'm feeling better every ride and just about to go onto a rest week timed conviniently for Christmas (coincidence? Don't you believe it). After that i can start to put some tempo work into my rides on the road and the turbo.
And speaking of Turbo training... I have now exhausted my collection of cycling DVDs that i watch through the winter months of sweating it out on the home trainer. Donations or recommendations welcome. Something really exciting and inspiring, i'm thinking, like the Pantani retrospective or some burly guy shouting "motivational" slogans. Wait a second... Good God! Thats.. Thats Andy Wrigleys music!
During the course of the week I shed 4 kg, probably on the first day's utter shoeing from Ali and Neil over 3 large passes. I bucked my ideas up seriously after that and was actually starting to feel like a cyclist at the end of the week. I always find that after an utter disaster of a day the best thing to do is remind yourself tomorrows another day and your first chance to put it right, and i'm getting it right now.
Back to Cumbria and i've been tapping out really easy 4 hour base rides at the weekends, largely on main roads due to icy conditions, and (stunningly for me) staying off the hills. I'm feeling better every ride and just about to go onto a rest week timed conviniently for Christmas (coincidence? Don't you believe it). After that i can start to put some tempo work into my rides on the road and the turbo.
And speaking of Turbo training... I have now exhausted my collection of cycling DVDs that i watch through the winter months of sweating it out on the home trainer. Donations or recommendations welcome. Something really exciting and inspiring, i'm thinking, like the Pantani retrospective or some burly guy shouting "motivational" slogans. Wait a second... Good God! Thats.. Thats Andy Wrigleys music!
Tuesday, 11 December 2007
Just thought i'd leave my first comment on the new blog! Sounds like you had a great time in Spain... whilst we where all riding in freezing rain and wind! I've been trying to knock out the miles over the last 3 months, but a pulled muscle in my left bum cheek, followed by a chest infection, have managed to force 3weeks off. I've been back riding again, getting the 180-200 miles a week in plus a gym session; a weird site as i go with a runner, so there are two little weedy kids surrounded by men chocablock with muscle! well thats all i can think of for now, so hopefully i'l hear or see from you soon
Monday, 10 December 2007
No Rain in Spain!
So, back to good old England it is then. Pity that. Spain was rather nice, around 25degrees most of the time, which I'll be honest with you here, I can cope with. Phil, Ali, Neil Withington (Anderson Racing) and I have just spent seven days in Estopona, on the South Coast of Spain.
My main objective for the week was to do base training, just riding easy and having plenty of time for rest and recovery. I had been advised to do no more than 3hours a day, as the road season is still a long way off, but this was actually quite difficult to manage, it was such a joy to ride over there, so easy to get out and stay out, that I didn't want to stop riding. Having other people to ride with was also a huge benefit, not only did it mean there was always someone to hide behind if it got windy, but it made the time just fly by too. Having only ever trained on my own before this was a revelation!
Having done very little research on the area we were going to be riding in, it was a little suprising to find that the only non-major road that took us away from our apartment was a 15km long pass, which lead to...more passes. I personally love riding in the hills, so this was all good with me. If we wanted to do easy miles on the flat then we went along the main coast road which was rolling and had very tolerant drivers. It can be all to easy in this area to look at the map and take a 'short-cut' which turns out to have about 2000metres of climbing.
One of my major downfalls is my lack of ability to eat and drink the amount I should while riding, so this is something else I was really concentrating on 8while in Spain, Torq bars and gels along with Sports Beans were all the order of the day, just need to actually drink something along with them now...
At the end of every ride we all had the joy of riding back up the road to the apartment, a 'lovely' sweeping, extremely steep, hill which I'm sure on a number of occasions we could have done without.
All in all, a really good week, and definately an excellent oppurtunity to get some miles in while the weather has been so dreary in England. Perhaps the most important thing of all about the whole trip? My bike survived the two flights without being crushed, dented, chipped or otherwise harmed, wohooo!
Weeeell, most of the time (Gibraltar in the background).
My main objective for the week was to do base training, just riding easy and having plenty of time for rest and recovery. I had been advised to do no more than 3hours a day, as the road season is still a long way off, but this was actually quite difficult to manage, it was such a joy to ride over there, so easy to get out and stay out, that I didn't want to stop riding. Having other people to ride with was also a huge benefit, not only did it mean there was always someone to hide behind if it got windy, but it made the time just fly by too. Having only ever trained on my own before this was a revelation!
Having done very little research on the area we were going to be riding in, it was a little suprising to find that the only non-major road that took us away from our apartment was a 15km long pass, which lead to...more passes. I personally love riding in the hills, so this was all good with me. If we wanted to do easy miles on the flat then we went along the main coast road which was rolling and had very tolerant drivers. It can be all to easy in this area to look at the map and take a 'short-cut' which turns out to have about 2000metres of climbing.
One of my major downfalls is my lack of ability to eat and drink the amount I should while riding, so this is something else I was really concentrating on 8while in Spain, Torq bars and gels along with Sports Beans were all the order of the day, just need to actually drink something along with them now...
At the end of every ride we all had the joy of riding back up the road to the apartment, a 'lovely' sweeping, extremely steep, hill which I'm sure on a number of occasions we could have done without.
All in all, a really good week, and definately an excellent oppurtunity to get some miles in while the weather has been so dreary in England. Perhaps the most important thing of all about the whole trip? My bike survived the two flights without being crushed, dented, chipped or otherwise harmed, wohooo!
The views while riding were pretty good.
Weeeell, most of the time (Gibraltar in the background).Monday, 3 December 2007
Rain, rain, rain
the last few weeks all seem to have something in common, there hasnt been a dry ride in them, this recent 250 mile a week flurry of activity has been a bit damp but hopefully will pay off in the coming season. as a result im a bit jealous of peoples trips to spain but looking forward to getting a track bike to do some of the friday night leagues on the velodrome. (warm and dry) for now its off into the rain.... again. talk soon.
Friday, 30 November 2007
Winter Training, Baby!
The 1st of December has rolled around again which means a number of things... A new page on my Girls Aloud calendar, only 25 sleeps to Christmas and that training for the new season starts in earnest.
As Alistair pointed out, base training is the order of the day, I've been trying to keep going through November to prime myself a little but i had to take last week off to get a new mech and chain fitted (after the old ones had an unplanned coming together with my back wheel), and this week due to getting some wire removed from my elbow.
All in i reckon i've got 7kg to lose before the new season, but the KMB trip to Spain and Ali's fat jokes will help a lot. Me him and Vicky are flying from Liverpool to Malaga on Sunday for a week of long, warm (hopefully) base rides. I'll leave my ego at home and just keep one eye on the HRM and one on the scenery and I'll hopefully be in better shape when i get back than when I left. Sadly, i don' think i'll be pulling out the same sort of performances as one J. Ullrich when i saw him on Majorca a couple of years ago, twiddling along without a care in the world at 22mph on a 39x16!
Hopefully, i'll have some photos of the week to put up when i get back but before i set off i've still got to find my passport, clean my specializeds and remind the rest of them about Spain's killjoy helmet laws.
Phil likes: Vicky Pendleton's Oakly shoot.
Phil Dislikes: Muddy lanes.
As Alistair pointed out, base training is the order of the day, I've been trying to keep going through November to prime myself a little but i had to take last week off to get a new mech and chain fitted (after the old ones had an unplanned coming together with my back wheel), and this week due to getting some wire removed from my elbow.
All in i reckon i've got 7kg to lose before the new season, but the KMB trip to Spain and Ali's fat jokes will help a lot. Me him and Vicky are flying from Liverpool to Malaga on Sunday for a week of long, warm (hopefully) base rides. I'll leave my ego at home and just keep one eye on the HRM and one on the scenery and I'll hopefully be in better shape when i get back than when I left. Sadly, i don' think i'll be pulling out the same sort of performances as one J. Ullrich when i saw him on Majorca a couple of years ago, twiddling along without a care in the world at 22mph on a 39x16!
Hopefully, i'll have some photos of the week to put up when i get back but before i set off i've still got to find my passport, clean my specializeds and remind the rest of them about Spain's killjoy helmet laws.
Phil likes: Vicky Pendleton's Oakly shoot.
Phil Dislikes: Muddy lanes.
Wednesday, 28 November 2007
ANIMAL TESTING
Last Sunday 3 Team KeswickBikes.co.uk riders gathered in Whitehaven to undergo the first round of testing with their new coach Andrew Patterson (http://www.pattersontraining.com/). Andrew Wrigley and Chris Hope made the decision to work with a coach to help them prepare for there major objective of 2008, the Trans Alp mountain bike stage race, and I decided a bit of structured train
ing probably wasn't such a bad idea either.
ing probably wasn't such a bad idea either.Andy's new conservatory was the location of choice for some early morning ramp tests to determine our baseline performances. The gruelling 'test to exhaustion' protocol was just the ticket for a Sunday morning in late November and a cruel reminder of what really pushing yourself feels like.
Renowned power monster Andy Wrigley produced the biggest numbers but also topped the post test weigh in at .......... an undisclosed figure (at least for now). For myself i was left a little shy of donning my skin suit any time in the near future after the skin fat calipers revealed some terrible truths. 
With our bench marks now in place it we just need to put in the hard miles to see how we improve (we hope!) for the next round of testing.
We would like to thank Andy Patterson for making the long trip up from Maccalsfieldup to do the testing and for his patience and words of encouragement while conducting three back to back tests. We'd also like to thank Andy W's wife for her patience in the face of invading cyclists.
Friday, 16 November 2007
Greetings from sunny Keswick
Having been a bit lax in race reports during the season i will be posting a season review in the near future. Currently i'm settling back into my base training after a well earned end of season break. The current unseasonal weather is making road night rides not just possible but a pleasure, hopefully the KeswickBikes.co.uk riders will be organizing a regular weekly night ride through the winter so look out for more details as to when and where. Until then get out there when the weathers good and when its not get out there anyway (or get a turbo trainer, they're great!).
Tuesday, 13 November 2007
Emotional Goodbye with Bike Imminent
Everyone from the team should now be able to post on the blog, so hopefully we will be updated on everyones progress and plans over the coming weeks.
I'm off to Morocco for a couple of weeks to do some climbing (of rocks, rather than roads), I scheduled this in specifically so that I would have a couple of weeks off the bike, as I know this wouldn't happen if I was sitting at home with a bike in front of me. It means that I will miss a couple of the cyclo cross league races that I wanted to do, but if I am going to have any time off then this can't be helped.
On return from Morocco I'll be off to Spain, as I said earlier, so I'll not be back on the bike in Sunny England until the middle of December, when hopefully I will be racing cyclo cross again.
I'm off to Morocco for a couple of weeks to do some climbing (of rocks, rather than roads), I scheduled this in specifically so that I would have a couple of weeks off the bike, as I know this wouldn't happen if I was sitting at home with a bike in front of me. It means that I will miss a couple of the cyclo cross league races that I wanted to do, but if I am going to have any time off then this can't be helped.
On return from Morocco I'll be off to Spain, as I said earlier, so I'll not be back on the bike in Sunny England until the middle of December, when hopefully I will be racing cyclo cross again.
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