Arrived Saturday in Austria after a pretty miserable journey. Three days in the car, big traffic jams thanks to lots of German road works and a yukky hotel in Nuremberg with bust air-conditiong. So it was not the best of preparation that I lined up the very next day for a 10km hill climb up the Egger Alm after a crit loop round the town. Legs felt like lead, and I failed to match my pb, coming in 4 minutes slower at 1h and 3 minutes. To put that into context the fastest man on the day came in in 33 mins!
But better news later in the week. I rested Monday and then did a 160km ride yesterday taking in 5 mountains, riding from Austria into Italy and back into Austria lower down the valley. I was joined by three Dutch guys. The pace was fairly slow at times, but then it was planned that way, and very slow on the 18% bits. I was pleased as I kept up on the climbs, even though the others were thinner and more acclimatised than I. And I wasn't so done in that I wasn't able to tow them back over the final, flat 35km, which we did in under an hour. I even got told 'rustig aan' and 'niet te gek' - otherwise 'slow down!' 11 hours later we arrived back at the campsite. I didn't feel too bad, and that surprised me. So maybe the fatsprinter is doing better than I thought.
So now its rest, rest, rest. Maybe a short leg spinner, but decided not to go to the spnning session at the gym tonight.
See you all very soon.
Nathan Evington
28/02/77 - 03/11/07
Wednesday, 30 July 2008
Wednesday, 23 July 2008
Grit and determination...
Well, that's it. We leave these sunny shores for Austria tomorrow, where I will do my last minute altitude training to acclimatise ready for the big day. Sunday I will be taking part in the annual Radclassic - a 'hill' climb up the Egger Alm, which is basically straight up a mountain with 10-12% average gradiant (16% in places). I'll be aiming to beat my pb of 59 minutes from the town to the top. To warm up, there is crit lap of the town and then it's pain, pain, pain all the way. Included in the race entry is free pasta and beer at the top (well they are Austrians after all). On this occasion I'll be riding for Team Schluga with skinny, lanky Dutch colleagues/campers. Maybe I'll add a training loop in after.
Then I'll fit in one or two 4-6 hour mountain bike rides with Norbert Schluga and yet more skinny, lanky Dutch friends. Hopefully then I be ready. Ready as I'll ever be.
Unfortunately training lately has consisted of painting, laying flooring, looking for cars, hospital visits (poorly Mum and Mrs Fat Sprinter - who is neither fat nor sprints - had car accident and wrote hers off). But no excuses. I'll be there and I will finish. Grit and determination. And most importantly I will have Nathan and bro Wayne willing me on, fantastic team mates and a brilliant support team.
See you all there very soon.
Go Nathan's Flyers. Good luck guys.
Then I'll fit in one or two 4-6 hour mountain bike rides with Norbert Schluga and yet more skinny, lanky Dutch friends. Hopefully then I be ready. Ready as I'll ever be.
Unfortunately training lately has consisted of painting, laying flooring, looking for cars, hospital visits (poorly Mum and Mrs Fat Sprinter - who is neither fat nor sprints - had car accident and wrote hers off). But no excuses. I'll be there and I will finish. Grit and determination. And most importantly I will have Nathan and bro Wayne willing me on, fantastic team mates and a brilliant support team.
See you all there very soon.
Go Nathan's Flyers. Good luck guys.
Ready.... 1st Group
"BRING IT ON!"I'm so excited packed ready to go, consisting of Nathan (the star of the show), yellow sunglasses, yellow shoes, yellow earphones, nat's ipod, Nathans Flyers t.shirt x2 ,to hell with the rest. Also a few euros for a lemonade to toast both my brave beautiful boys. Nat would say "Mum make a show of meee" - (East is East) eyebrows raised.
The rest of the support group follow on Thursday, Jay ,Rich ,Steve, James and Claire. And as Jay would say "Living the dream Nath, Living the dream".
As for the riders i have avidly watched your progress on the blog, a mammoth challenge. I was always certain you would meet it and you have.
I don't have to thank you pip for the love of a brother, we can go forward with him in our hearts and our minds always. Thank you, you are the light of my life.
All that's left is to do it!
Tuesday, 22 July 2008
IT DIDN'T RAIN !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
For the first ride in a very long time it didn't rain today ! Its been that bad that I had to take the seat off my bike and pour the rain water out yesterday !
Can't believe I will be in France in just over a week with the rest of the Flyers and support team, it seems to have come round really quick and I think I'm almost ready !
I did my first 100 mile ride a couple of weeks ago into the North Yorkshire Moors which was great until 50 miles from home the heavens opened and then at 80 miles I ran out of food and water ! so I thought I'd stop at one of those oh so convenient open all hrs village shops ! Unfortunately in the east Riding we don't have any of those so just fresh air to keep me going !
Today it was nice and warm with the ever present wind blowing just shy of a gale for a change which was nice , I set off to do my usual 80 mile ride over some really steep but short hills , I was a bit tired from training ride on sat but warmed up towards the end , No village shops for me, home to get a bite to eat and fill my bottles at 4hr 30 min 80 miles, a kiss for my two girls as Ollie was at nursery and back out for some more ! The motor bike was firing well after the re-fuel and on the way back a rider came past me and the old race instincts kicked in ! straight on the wheel as we crossed over the Humber Bridge he had me in the wind against the barrier ! so I went to the front to do my turn then he sprinted by me (obviously didn't want to ride with TG) this just encouraged me more ! so at 100 miles there I am sprinting to beat this guy to the end of the bridge !
Stats for today: 104 miles 17.6 av 6hrs feeling great
Cant wait to see the Tour tomorrow its the stage we're all riding on ITV4 from 12pm its live !
I'll be studying the route assessing the best possible point to launch the killer attack to be the first to the finish or maybe to make sure I'm not the last !
Can't believe I will be in France in just over a week with the rest of the Flyers and support team, it seems to have come round really quick and I think I'm almost ready !
I did my first 100 mile ride a couple of weeks ago into the North Yorkshire Moors which was great until 50 miles from home the heavens opened and then at 80 miles I ran out of food and water ! so I thought I'd stop at one of those oh so convenient open all hrs village shops ! Unfortunately in the east Riding we don't have any of those so just fresh air to keep me going !
Today it was nice and warm with the ever present wind blowing just shy of a gale for a change which was nice , I set off to do my usual 80 mile ride over some really steep but short hills , I was a bit tired from training ride on sat but warmed up towards the end , No village shops for me, home to get a bite to eat and fill my bottles at 4hr 30 min 80 miles, a kiss for my two girls as Ollie was at nursery and back out for some more ! The motor bike was firing well after the re-fuel and on the way back a rider came past me and the old race instincts kicked in ! straight on the wheel as we crossed over the Humber Bridge he had me in the wind against the barrier ! so I went to the front to do my turn then he sprinted by me (obviously didn't want to ride with TG) this just encouraged me more ! so at 100 miles there I am sprinting to beat this guy to the end of the bridge !
Stats for today: 104 miles 17.6 av 6hrs feeling great
Cant wait to see the Tour tomorrow its the stage we're all riding on ITV4 from 12pm its live !
I'll be studying the route assessing the best possible point to launch the killer attack to be the first to the finish or maybe to make sure I'm not the last !
Monday, 21 July 2008
Mountain Profiles
For those that haven't seen them, here's the mountain profiles that we have to go over in a week's time. The route looks like this:
The first climb is about 12mile in, the Cote de Sainte Marguerite, but apparently this is too small for anyone to publish a profile of. It's only about twice the size of anything around Hull... The first climb-proper is the Col De Lautaret, which officially starts near Briancon after 26 miles. This is fairly gently climb for the first 11miles before starting to kick up over the last 6.
The Col de Lautaret wouldn't be too bad were it not for the fact that the top of this climb is the bottom of the next - the Col de Galibier. Apparently we do this from the easy side, but as you can see below, there is no easy bits (green bits) and it has a particularly nasty sting in its tail, with a 1:8 section right at the top... If my form in Hull a few weeks ago is anything to go by then the top of the Lautaret is about where I crack and TGMM whizzes off into the distance. Dez meanwhile will meander by, Tortoise and Hare style... We'll have been going uphill non-stop for 22 miles at the top of the Galibier. Luckily, 21 of the next 24 miles are downhill. Yippee!
Unfortunately, the downhill has to end somewhere, and for us it does so at the foot of the Col de la Croix de Fer - the Iron Cross in English, so named because apparently it feels like you're hauling one of the these up behind you when you ride it... Although this has a couple of slight downhill sections (the green bits), this just means that the "ups" are that bit steeper. The last 4 miles are particularly savage. My monies on a nice steady ascent of this all round. We'll have 97 miles in our legs when we hit the top; the reality of the day will have well and truly kicked in and we'll all know we need to keep a tad back for the grand finale... Croix de Fer is another 16 miles going uphill, total so far 38miles.
Another 17miles mostly downhill to recover before the last 7 miles through to Bourg D'Oisan and the bottom of the final 9 mile climb - Alpe D'Huez. Although this is a fair bit shorter than the other climbs , we will have covered 121 miles when we hit the bottom of this, and as you can see below, Alpe D'Huez is no pussy cat! It's designed to break you right at the bottom with the first mile averaging over 1:10. It then only backs off to 1:12 and pretty much stays at that all the way to the top! You can see there's only two short sections were it eases off marginally. Again based on Hull form, the first of these is where I'm off of there's an ounce of energy left in my legs and the section is where I crack big style and Mr Motor bike cruises off... Or, if I've learned anything over the last couple of weeks, the first is where I cling to TG's back wheel , and the second is where I stay clinging to TG's wheel!
Well, hope this gives you a good feel for the punishment we face in two weeks time (just under now!)... Can't wait.
Cheers,
Col.
The first climb is about 12mile in, the Cote de Sainte Marguerite, but apparently this is too small for anyone to publish a profile of. It's only about twice the size of anything around Hull... The first climb-proper is the Col De Lautaret, which officially starts near Briancon after 26 miles. This is fairly gently climb for the first 11miles before starting to kick up over the last 6. 
The Col de Lautaret wouldn't be too bad were it not for the fact that the top of this climb is the bottom of the next - the Col de Galibier. Apparently we do this from the easy side, but as you can see below, there is no easy bits (green bits) and it has a particularly nasty sting in its tail, with a 1:8 section right at the top... If my form in Hull a few weeks ago is anything to go by then the top of the Lautaret is about where I crack and TGMM whizzes off into the distance. Dez meanwhile will meander by, Tortoise and Hare style... We'll have been going uphill non-stop for 22 miles at the top of the Galibier. Luckily, 21 of the next 24 miles are downhill. Yippee!
Unfortunately, the downhill has to end somewhere, and for us it does so at the foot of the Col de la Croix de Fer - the Iron Cross in English, so named because apparently it feels like you're hauling one of the these up behind you when you ride it... Although this has a couple of slight downhill sections (the green bits), this just means that the "ups" are that bit steeper. The last 4 miles are particularly savage. My monies on a nice steady ascent of this all round. We'll have 97 miles in our legs when we hit the top; the reality of the day will have well and truly kicked in and we'll all know we need to keep a tad back for the grand finale... Croix de Fer is another 16 miles going uphill, total so far 38miles.
Another 17miles mostly downhill to recover before the last 7 miles through to Bourg D'Oisan and the bottom of the final 9 mile climb - Alpe D'Huez. Although this is a fair bit shorter than the other climbs , we will have covered 121 miles when we hit the bottom of this, and as you can see below, Alpe D'Huez is no pussy cat! It's designed to break you right at the bottom with the first mile averaging over 1:10. It then only backs off to 1:12 and pretty much stays at that all the way to the top! You can see there's only two short sections were it eases off marginally. Again based on Hull form, the first of these is where I'm off of there's an ounce of energy left in my legs and the section is where I crack big style and Mr Motor bike cruises off... Or, if I've learned anything over the last couple of weeks, the first is where I cling to TG's back wheel , and the second is where I stay clinging to TG's wheel!
Well, hope this gives you a good feel for the punishment we face in two weeks time (just under now!)... Can't wait.
Cheers,
Col.
Sunday, 20 July 2008
Slacking off...
Today was supposed to be another big ride, but whatever I did to my knee last weekend is still niggling me... 10 miles in today and it was already sore. Can't afford an injury right now so I bailed out and was home with just 28 miles, on top of the 32 I did on Friday... that's it for the week. Will rest again this week and see if I can get it in shape for one last ride next Friday. Anyway, the unsung heroine of my training (Mrs S) was pretty pleased to have me home for the day. Can't say I was too upset at missing grovelling for the other 90 miles into 25mph winds! It was freezing here today too. I'd set of with full length arm and leg warmers on and I was still cold!
So I sat and watched the tour live this afternoon. It looked like it was blowing a gale at the top of the first mountain which is bad news... I've been telling myself that at least the wind doesn't blow in the Alps and so I wouldn't have that to put up with. Hmmmm... Still, was watching the bit were the favourites were playing with each other up the final climb - I like those bits were they all slow down waiting to see who's going to jump next! They look like good bits - I think we should have plenty of those slowing down bits! Thought it was very decent of the Pros to make the climbs look so easy today as well - it would have been pretty demoralising for them to be suffering when that's all they do for a living.
Well, one last week of work to get through before setting off for France. Better go and get on with it.
Cheers for now.
Col.
So I sat and watched the tour live this afternoon. It looked like it was blowing a gale at the top of the first mountain which is bad news... I've been telling myself that at least the wind doesn't blow in the Alps and so I wouldn't have that to put up with. Hmmmm... Still, was watching the bit were the favourites were playing with each other up the final climb - I like those bits were they all slow down waiting to see who's going to jump next! They look like good bits - I think we should have plenty of those slowing down bits! Thought it was very decent of the Pros to make the climbs look so easy today as well - it would have been pretty demoralising for them to be suffering when that's all they do for a living.
Well, one last week of work to get through before setting off for France. Better go and get on with it.
Cheers for now.
Col.
And now I'd have to ride Alpe d'Huez.....
Today I did 119 miles and instead of coming in and lying on the floor comatosed like I did today, in 2 weeks I'll then have to cycle up 8 miles of one of the most famous climbs in the world. And I'll have 2 other huge climbs in the legs too. When you look at it like that, we must be mad, indeed I think we are mad. Nevertheless it's all for an excellent charity and in honour of a fantastic man and I'm sure we'll all be spurred on to complete this ultimate challenge.
I have to say it's pretty impressive that we're all mostly able to do 100 mile training rides, what are we going to do after it I wonder?! I'm going to try and keep fit I think, maybe do some other big rides in the future like the classics or something like that. Some big challenges, that's what I need now I don't race anymore.
Glad to be back from South Africa, I like the place/people/work but it's always best to be home with Holly eating homemade lasagne ;-). Got a little bit done in the gym and rode a different bike in there and it had a 'mountain' setting so I did that quite a few times. Did 45mins of those and that was very hard. I used it on level 16 - there are only 16 levels ;-) - and one time after I got off this other guy got on and he couldn't pedal it. So he looked at me, warming down on the cross trainer, drenched in sweat and didn't understand my comment to him 'I've got to keep up with a Ducati you know'
Anyway, that's probably my last big ride before the main event, got to drive there next weekend and then it'll be too close to go out flogging myself but I think I'm there or thereabouts fitness wise.
Data from todays ride for those who read it (ie Seatpin)
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/387602
I have to say it's pretty impressive that we're all mostly able to do 100 mile training rides, what are we going to do after it I wonder?! I'm going to try and keep fit I think, maybe do some other big rides in the future like the classics or something like that. Some big challenges, that's what I need now I don't race anymore.
Glad to be back from South Africa, I like the place/people/work but it's always best to be home with Holly eating homemade lasagne ;-). Got a little bit done in the gym and rode a different bike in there and it had a 'mountain' setting so I did that quite a few times. Did 45mins of those and that was very hard. I used it on level 16 - there are only 16 levels ;-) - and one time after I got off this other guy got on and he couldn't pedal it. So he looked at me, warming down on the cross trainer, drenched in sweat and didn't understand my comment to him 'I've got to keep up with a Ducati you know'
Anyway, that's probably my last big ride before the main event, got to drive there next weekend and then it'll be too close to go out flogging myself but I think I'm there or thereabouts fitness wise.
Data from todays ride for those who read it (ie Seatpin)
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/387602
Sunday, 13 July 2008
If only they did Arsenal Strips with full length zips...
Well, it was only forecast at 16degC today but I reckon it might have broken 20 in some of the sheltered wooded areas I went through today. Typically these were all on the climbs and so the old zipper was pretty much all the way down. My biggest worry about France is how I'll cope with the heat. Aberdeen might be good prep for the last km of the climb when it might well be approaching sub zero temperatures, but it's no prep for the 30+ valleys...
The last time I was in France was with Nat. We took a drive over the Col D'Iseran one day out of the back of Val D'Isere. When we got to the top we found snow lining the road and managed to snap the car's thermometer at -1degC! Naturally, the car was stopped whilst we engaged in a spot of skiing. Nat's pumps were the ideal launching pad for getting about one meter into a skid before he promptly fell on his @rse and slid the remainder thus. Naturally he was in shorts... Even when we went to the top of Monte Bianco (yes, we were on the Italian side...) he still refused steadfastly to put trousers on, and lambasted Dez, Sarah and I for having "wimped out" and gone for the jeans. Hmmmmm.... it was freezing up there though... On the way back from the Col D'Iseran we followed the route of that year's Tour (I think over the top of the Col du Columbiere?), picked up a souvenir yellow route marker (after a very quick stop...) and just about made it through the road closures to the Chalet half way up Courcheval... The next day we didn't get past the Gendarme, despite me even managing to slip "Alors" and "merde" into a pigeon French conversation with said policeman... apparently these are not too rude. Well, not rude enough to get me locked up anyway. Nat of course did he best to help by laughing loudly at my Hull-come-French accent. Not even he could crack a smile from the policeman though...
Enough reminiscing... I managed to get out in the hills today even if no one else appears to... Memory Map let me down for the first time this week, and my planned 120mile route turned out to be just 116miles. Climbing somewhere around 3000m - for a profile just look at last weeks and replace anything vaguely resembling a flat spot with a hill. My legs weren't in the best of shape today. I rode my 25mTT course on Friday and took 3mins of my season best (1:08:45, still no tri-bars...). I slacked on the stretching though, so 5miles into today's ride my legs ached and my knees ached. Not good when you're expecting another 115miles before getting home...
I'd put the 27t sprocket on for today to try it out pre-France. Made a big difference on the steep hills. I climbed Cairn O'Mount today in 16:25, nearly a minute faster than last week. Despite this, the 7hrs in the saddle (plus ~45mins of stops to get liquid in and out) took its toll and I averaged 16.6mph - half an mph slower than last week. The last 20miles where torture too. My left knee had totally seized, and the left foot was going dead in my shoe... I guess this is why I need to do 7hr training rides - so I find these things out now and not in France when it's too late to do anything about it. I put new gel/cork bar tape on after my hands started giving me electric shocks last week - hands were a lot better this week.
Well, only 2 more long rides left before I set off for France. It's getting very close now... Can't wait to get there!
See you all soon, those that are going.
Seatpin.
The last time I was in France was with Nat. We took a drive over the Col D'Iseran one day out of the back of Val D'Isere. When we got to the top we found snow lining the road and managed to snap the car's thermometer at -1degC! Naturally, the car was stopped whilst we engaged in a spot of skiing. Nat's pumps were the ideal launching pad for getting about one meter into a skid before he promptly fell on his @rse and slid the remainder thus. Naturally he was in shorts... Even when we went to the top of Monte Bianco (yes, we were on the Italian side...) he still refused steadfastly to put trousers on, and lambasted Dez, Sarah and I for having "wimped out" and gone for the jeans. Hmmmmm.... it was freezing up there though... On the way back from the Col D'Iseran we followed the route of that year's Tour (I think over the top of the Col du Columbiere?), picked up a souvenir yellow route marker (after a very quick stop...) and just about made it through the road closures to the Chalet half way up Courcheval... The next day we didn't get past the Gendarme, despite me even managing to slip "Alors" and "merde" into a pigeon French conversation with said policeman... apparently these are not too rude. Well, not rude enough to get me locked up anyway. Nat of course did he best to help by laughing loudly at my Hull-come-French accent. Not even he could crack a smile from the policeman though...
Enough reminiscing... I managed to get out in the hills today even if no one else appears to... Memory Map let me down for the first time this week, and my planned 120mile route turned out to be just 116miles. Climbing somewhere around 3000m - for a profile just look at last weeks and replace anything vaguely resembling a flat spot with a hill. My legs weren't in the best of shape today. I rode my 25mTT course on Friday and took 3mins of my season best (1:08:45, still no tri-bars...). I slacked on the stretching though, so 5miles into today's ride my legs ached and my knees ached. Not good when you're expecting another 115miles before getting home...
I'd put the 27t sprocket on for today to try it out pre-France. Made a big difference on the steep hills. I climbed Cairn O'Mount today in 16:25, nearly a minute faster than last week. Despite this, the 7hrs in the saddle (plus ~45mins of stops to get liquid in and out) took its toll and I averaged 16.6mph - half an mph slower than last week. The last 20miles where torture too. My left knee had totally seized, and the left foot was going dead in my shoe... I guess this is why I need to do 7hr training rides - so I find these things out now and not in France when it's too late to do anything about it. I put new gel/cork bar tape on after my hands started giving me electric shocks last week - hands were a lot better this week.
Well, only 2 more long rides left before I set off for France. It's getting very close now... Can't wait to get there!
See you all soon, those that are going.
Seatpin.
Thursday, 10 July 2008
Winter Training!
Hello Boys and Girls
Quick note from the other side of the world. As I left the airport here on Monday morning I realised something. It's the middle of winter here! In a mad rush Sunday I of course forgot to pack a jacket so I'm a little cold in the mornings and evenings. Oh well, keeping warm burns extra calories so I like to think I'm shivering myself thinner ;-)
Managed to get to the Gym last night and didn't feel too bad, a cheeky little hour of sweat and heavy breathing. I thought to myself though that in a few weeks all that effort might get me 2/3rds the way up one of these mountains and then I'd have to do it again, and again, and again....... That's an awful lot of sweat and heavy breathing - yak!!!
TTFN
Quick note from the other side of the world. As I left the airport here on Monday morning I realised something. It's the middle of winter here! In a mad rush Sunday I of course forgot to pack a jacket so I'm a little cold in the mornings and evenings. Oh well, keeping warm burns extra calories so I like to think I'm shivering myself thinner ;-)
Managed to get to the Gym last night and didn't feel too bad, a cheeky little hour of sweat and heavy breathing. I thought to myself though that in a few weeks all that effort might get me 2/3rds the way up one of these mountains and then I'd have to do it again, and again, and again....... That's an awful lot of sweat and heavy breathing - yak!!!
TTFN
Sunday, 6 July 2008
Getting slower and slower
Not what you need now we're within a month of the big ride but I seem to be slower and feeling worse on these bike rides :-(. Today I managed 110 miles at 18mph but it was flat compared to Seatpins ride although it was decidedly windy - I must've brought that back with me from last week. My pulse just wouldn't go up and once I got over 170bpm I was really struggling. I felt much better in May, think I did 2 rides over 100 that month and felt ok at the end of them. Maybe it's all the travelling (off again tonight for 2 weeks) that tires you out? It's definately not all the riding I've done! I've only got one more ride before we leave for the Alps on the Sunday after I come back - I'll try and get a long one in but normally I'm a bit knackered after a long flight. Anyway got to pack and find something to eat so I can leave for the airport....
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/305942
We've got sponsorship forms getting pushed under peoples noses so hopefully we can just get over that finish line too.
ps. is it just me having nightmares about 10hours on the bike? ;-)
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/305942
We've got sponsorship forms getting pushed under peoples noses so hopefully we can just get over that finish line too.
ps. is it just me having nightmares about 10hours on the bike? ;-)
A lesson on pace...
On reflection, here's how last weekend went. I cracked 2/3rds of the way up the climbs, I was broken 2/3rds of the way round and we covered less than 2/3rds of the distance we have to in the alps... I figured I needed to try pacing myself a bit better! I also figured that it was probably time to try and work out how to translate braining myself for 80 miles into making it to the finish, whatever the speed, over 130miles...
Friday I had a bit of a warm up - 42 miles home from work the long route on an unseasonably good day in Aberdeen. Ave 18.4. Not a bad start to the weekend...
Today I decided I needed to go for a long one, so I plotted a hilly 110miler, with 2800m of climbing according to memory map (600m more than my previous max, and more than twice what was done in Hull last weekend...). The weather was pretty much as good as it could have been today, light northerly winds, and low cloud keeping the temp around 16degC. Given the distance I decided I'd better ease off on the pace, and duly engaged the 25 sprocket at the bottom of just about every climb. What a difference!
With 90 miles done I'd reached the top of the last big climb of the day and still had a bit left in the legs. Normally I'm weeping at that stage! So, head down for the last 20, I managed to haul the average speed up to a fairly respectable 17.1mph. So, that's 85% of the distance we do in France, without cracking - I even mustered up a sprint for the Aberdeen sign and broke 30 on the flat (just!). (I know, the other Col's probably thinking that barely counts as a sprint but trust me, for me breaking 30 in a sprint is like TG having a bad hair day, or Haley's comet passing...) All I need to do now is be able to double the amount of climbing and double the temperature and add another 20miles and I'm sorted! The Alps should be a walk in the park...
Route profile below for anyone interested.
I see we've had another flurry of sponsorship! Many thanks to all the generous donors. It's a good incentive having all your hard earned donations to live up to! With the offline donations as well there's just £500 left to go before we beat our target.
Cheerio,
Col.
Friday I had a bit of a warm up - 42 miles home from work the long route on an unseasonably good day in Aberdeen. Ave 18.4. Not a bad start to the weekend...
Today I decided I needed to go for a long one, so I plotted a hilly 110miler, with 2800m of climbing according to memory map (600m more than my previous max, and more than twice what was done in Hull last weekend...). The weather was pretty much as good as it could have been today, light northerly winds, and low cloud keeping the temp around 16degC. Given the distance I decided I'd better ease off on the pace, and duly engaged the 25 sprocket at the bottom of just about every climb. What a difference!
With 90 miles done I'd reached the top of the last big climb of the day and still had a bit left in the legs. Normally I'm weeping at that stage! So, head down for the last 20, I managed to haul the average speed up to a fairly respectable 17.1mph. So, that's 85% of the distance we do in France, without cracking - I even mustered up a sprint for the Aberdeen sign and broke 30 on the flat (just!). (I know, the other Col's probably thinking that barely counts as a sprint but trust me, for me breaking 30 in a sprint is like TG having a bad hair day, or Haley's comet passing...) All I need to do now is be able to double the amount of climbing and double the temperature and add another 20miles and I'm sorted! The Alps should be a walk in the park...
Route profile below for anyone interested.
I see we've had another flurry of sponsorship! Many thanks to all the generous donors. It's a good incentive having all your hard earned donations to live up to! With the offline donations as well there's just £500 left to go before we beat our target.
Cheerio,
Col.
Tuesday, 1 July 2008
Tour de 'Ull
Hey - said with a French accent, 'Ull sounds just like it sounds with a local accent. Clearly it's fate then that our illustrious Leader (aka Big Bruv) now sun's himself in Paris???
Having had the bonus of checking out the form this weekend, I would add this to Damian's commentary:
I measured Saturday at 83.5miles, 17.7 mph and 4300' of climbing. A good start for the final run in... Looking forward to it now! My longest ride for a while.
Route profile below for info. The big lump in the middle is Birdsall Brow followed by the peaks of Nunburnholme and South Cave.
Cheers,
Col.
Having had the bonus of checking out the form this weekend, I would add this to Damian's commentary:
- That I have now had a 4hr reccie of TG's slipstream - wind will not be a problem for me in France!
- That when it comes to the "first 50 meters of the steepest climb of the day" competition - climbing form is nothing! Sprinting is all that counts. Nunburnholme proved it. I guess the next 28,950 meters is just a bit of a jolly with that success under your belt.
- That cracking 2/3rds of the way up a hill, my speciality on Saturday, means thousands of meters of Alpine grovelling rather than hundreds! The tortoise did not beat the hare by accident!
- That borrowed bikes have intolerably uncomfortable saddles - never trust the man in the bike shop when he tries to convince you otherwise!
I measured Saturday at 83.5miles, 17.7 mph and 4300' of climbing. A good start for the final run in... Looking forward to it now! My longest ride for a while.
Route profile below for info. The big lump in the middle is Birdsall Brow followed by the peaks of Nunburnholme and South Cave.
Cheers,
Col.
Different bikes
One of the guys turned up on his motorbike (TG), two of us had to do with borrowed bikes (Seatpin and I) and Sprinter had a bike with creaky spokes ;-) but for the first time in a long time (maybe ever seen as Seatpin wasn't in Hull for Uni) we rode together on Saturday and it was great. Well, I say great, I think TG enjoyed it but the other 3 of us probably had mixed feelings. Such is the way when you're not at the front....or 100m off it like TG was on the climbs! I say TG had a motorbike based on the fact that his went alot faster than ours and I never caught him breathing hard.
I found myself chuckling a few times. On the train over I'd been thinking about how people would be on the ride. One by one my thoughts turned to reality - I smiled as Sprinter went for every sprint point he could but then faded when we went up, Seatpin went fast on the climbs and had 2 foot of seatpin showing, TG got a little bit competitive and made sure he got to the top first and me.....? I just enjoyed myself, dazzled the boys with my power (NOT!) and complained about all the headwind. We don't have that over here!
It was good to get out together because you can't compare the different rides we're doing. We all have different terrain, different weather and ride different distances. On Saturday it was the same for everyone (TG's Yamaha excluded) and I guess the guys would agree with me that everyone is about where they probably expected to be, fitness wise. Poor Sprinter lives life at 1,000,000mph (making training difficult to squeeze in!) and had just moved the day before so he struggled on the hills a bit, Seatpin Col was good on the hills - behind TG but ahead of me, TG was the best full stop and the guys found out that it's not me doing these 18mph rides I post - it must be someone else!
I'm hoping the competitiveness remains under control a little longer in August otherwise we're not all going to make it and the one's that do won't know what day it is when they finish. Keep watching to find out in August - Can TG ride like a madman up mountains (probably) - Can Seatpin stay with him (maybe) - Can Sprinter suffer enough to complete it (hope so) - Can I ride any worse than Saturday (please no!).
Here's the ride route by the way... 84 miles, 17.4mph
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/277236
Only another 46miles and twice the climbing boys ;-(
I found myself chuckling a few times. On the train over I'd been thinking about how people would be on the ride. One by one my thoughts turned to reality - I smiled as Sprinter went for every sprint point he could but then faded when we went up, Seatpin went fast on the climbs and had 2 foot of seatpin showing, TG got a little bit competitive and made sure he got to the top first and me.....? I just enjoyed myself, dazzled the boys with my power (NOT!) and complained about all the headwind. We don't have that over here!
It was good to get out together because you can't compare the different rides we're doing. We all have different terrain, different weather and ride different distances. On Saturday it was the same for everyone (TG's Yamaha excluded) and I guess the guys would agree with me that everyone is about where they probably expected to be, fitness wise. Poor Sprinter lives life at 1,000,000mph (making training difficult to squeeze in!) and had just moved the day before so he struggled on the hills a bit, Seatpin Col was good on the hills - behind TG but ahead of me, TG was the best full stop and the guys found out that it's not me doing these 18mph rides I post - it must be someone else!
I'm hoping the competitiveness remains under control a little longer in August otherwise we're not all going to make it and the one's that do won't know what day it is when they finish. Keep watching to find out in August - Can TG ride like a madman up mountains (probably) - Can Seatpin stay with him (maybe) - Can Sprinter suffer enough to complete it (hope so) - Can I ride any worse than Saturday (please no!).
Here's the ride route by the way... 84 miles, 17.4mph
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/277236
Only another 46miles and twice the climbing boys ;-(
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