177. Here comes the rain

This being summertime, we have now (just) passed through the period of high winds. Probably. And have moved quite firmly into the period of endless relentless rain (it appears). The forecast for the next 10 days is rain. That's it. The only variation was a brief forecast of hail for one day - that's right, it's late June, and the predominant weather forecast for one day was hail.

Awesome.

It does occur to me that when I am thinking on what my next challenge should be, I should just start with a list of things I hate and go with that. All previous challenges, including this one, have pretty much ticked quite a lot of said boxes.

Today I had to get up well before 7am (to start an exercise at 7am): hate that. Had to rush around this morning thereafter to get to work on time: hate that. In the very near future I will have to go outside to do some exercise at length while it is raining: hate that. My weekends are full of things to do within a constrained schedule rather than being empty with lots of time for sleep: hate that. Have to go places I don't know where I'll be surrounded by people I don't know and be stressed: hate that.

I mean, it doesn't cover all the things I hate... But it's not doing too badly, either.

:o)

Today's stats:
RPM - 50 mins [7am class, ridiculously hard work, start working day ready for bed]

176. Making the distance

Today I turned up for a 20km walk.

Now, to be clear up front, I was looking forward to this. Walking, thinks I, now that I can do.

It's not cycling, which seems to be all about hills: you're either ascending (Why. Am. I. Doing. This??) or descending (Aaarrgh! Aaargh! I'm going to die!), or transiting between hills.

It's not running, which is an awful lot of work and everyone else seems to enjoy it and I'm always the odd person out because I'm dragging myself around at back and broadly uncaring how fast I do so.

It's walking. OK, a bit dull if it goes on for any length... But I've got this. I'm a fast walker. This is my event!

It didn't start well. First announcement - 1km has been cut from the route because of some other event. Everyone else was probably thinking (inside) "oh, well, that's quite good, finish sooner". Me? Well, you can see the problem. I NEED 20km today, the plan does not allow for the odd km to drop off here and there.

Anyway, off we go. Follow the signs and don't get lost, says the man. All well and good but, as it turns out, it helps if you make sure that you've removed all the signs from the preceding 10km run first... A whole group of us went off on a big loop (ending up back at the start) before being sent back onto the right path ("oh, look, there's a big yellow sign pointing right - that wasn't there earlier"). People were quite annoyed, people on the 10km walk actually gave up rather than keep going with their extra mileage (the 10km route was unaffected by the "other event")... And I was thinking "oh, good, that'll have got me back up to 20km then".

Admittedly, I think our diversion was more than 1km. And I think that the reduction due to the other event was more than 1km. And not all of the route was perhaps as clear as I would have liked: what with the diversion and the very small starting group (maybe 50 people doing the 20km walk total) I did end up doing the vast majority of the route on my own, slightly concerned by the whole "going the wrong way" at the start...

But overall I enjoyed it. The weather was good (for walking 20km), the route was interesting (to me), and I was pretty consistently speedy.

Totally shattered now, mind, but still - the world needs more walking events!!

:o)

Today's stats:
Walking - 26 mins, 1.63 miles [to the walk]
Walking - 3 hr 21 mins, 12.427 miles [actually 13 miles, but better too many than too few!] 
Walking - 32 mins, 1.67 miles [and home again]

175. Night buses

So at 11pm on Friday off I set for my first night ride.

Now, I was quite nervous about this: 60 miles is a big step up from 30 miles, which was a traumatic horror only 2 weeks ago... But as it turns out, the impact of gale-force winds and fairly testing hills cannot be underestimated. This was 60 miles of fairly flat riding at a nice steady pace, with lots of stopping to catch the group up. And it seemed rather easy, all in all, which might mean that I've actually had my first experience of drafting - because, realistically, I can't be that much fitter than I was. Anyway, it was significantly less traumatic than I was expecting.

I can't say as I entirely see the point, mind. OK, if there's a fantastic dawn, maybe there's more of a point (it was cloudy), but still... You cycle through the countryside (yawn) in the dark and so can't even see the "views" that are apparently normally the point of cycling through the countryside. And I did find night cycling in the true dark (no street lights!) very disconcerting. You have to cycle within the limits of your lights (note to self: Boris needs bigger/brighter lights if we're doing any more night cycling) and that sounds OK until you realise that this means you lose all ability to anticipate what's coming. Going uphill or downhill? You can't tell until you're doing it! And then you're focused on the ground ahead of you and that's just disconcerting and nauseating and ultimately scary. I can't say I'm a fan - but if you're trying it, around the summer solstice is good, because there's not a lot of dark going on!

Nonetheless, that's another 60 miles down and I'm through the first 100 miles! Also, I was not the slowest or weakest cyclist this time (hard to believe, I know, but there you go) and that was a nice change. Boris seemed to have fun also - just as well given he had a mini-service and a brake change beforehand!

Speaking of Boris... Either he's incredibly fast, or I'm incredibly heavy, or I'm missing something. Coasting downhill, surrounded by people on proper professional-looking road bikes, and Boris is getting faster and faster while everyone else is kind of holding steady. This is most noticeable when riding in a group - I'm having to sit on the brakes to not cycle into the person in front, and they're not only not braking but spinning their wheels a bit to keep up speed! What's that about??!! Must learn the secret of holding a nice speed going downhill without braking, rather than my current reality of ever-increasing speed and frantic braking (see Boris's need for new read brakes). Or have a word with Boris about affecting a bit of ennui rather than boundless enthusiasm...

Oh, and buses? Well, there'll be another one along in a minute...

;oD

Friday's / Saturday's stats:
Cycling - 6 hours 30 mins, 60 miles [Friday Night Fever...]

174. The endless requirement for kit

The increase in cycling has led to the inevitable realisation that kit - more and more kit - can solve my problems.

Not sure how to ensure you follow the sportive route without getting lost? There's a Garmin for that.
Need to go night-cycling? There's a bewildering array of lights for that.
Trying to ensure that you have enough clean cycling clothes so that this is not one of the excuses that you use to not go cycling? Endless array of clothing out there which will apparently make you cycle like you're Lance Armstrong...
Need to transport your bike and tired of the trickiness of fitting it into the back of the car? There's a bike rack for that (several in fact - all of which look like scaffolding but which are apparently "easy to use"...).
Terrified of descending? There's some new brake pads for that.

Luckily, I am already skint and so am not actually able to solve all my problems by the means of kit... But it's all still there - just looking at me. Ready, willing and able to make all this cycling lark so very much easier...

:o)

Today's stats:
Nothing yet...

Wednesday's stats:
RPM - 50 mins [Good Lord but that was hard work! At 7am too!!]

Tuesday's stats:
Pilates (DVD1) - 35 mins [Bit of stretch and relax - which is also really quite hard work...]

Sunday's stats:
Walking - 1 hr 38 mins, 4.28 miles [post-10K wander... Completely unnecessary!]
Walking - 29 mins, 1.6 miles [x2 - to the 10K and home again!]

173. Off to work we go...

Much to my surprise, I did manage to convince myself to take Boris and cycle into the sunset, erm, cycle to work and back.

This is a huge logistical operation: must make sure that I have everything with me that I need, and that when I get to work I can shower and change and actually do a day's work. Took several days to remember all the things I'd forgotten (shoes, towel, little things like that) but finally the day was here.

The Council have actually improved parts of the (long, long, uphill) route to work - miraculous widening of some paths, for example. Some bits they can't change (which is a shame, as there's nothing quite so terrifying as a long steep downhill into a blind left turn where the only cars the locals seem to drive are behemothic 4x4s). And, as usual, some bits they have decided to improve now - which means once more there are roadworks on my cycle route to work. *sigh* This time at least there is no diversion: on the other hand there is a steep descent into a pedestrian crossing (bad enough) which is not operational as the cars are down to one lane and 3-way lights (slow and confusing); cyclists have an alternate route, but cyclists have just been left to work out how to cross the road and climb the immediate hill without dying in the attempt. Good thing it's not a main cycle route in high usage, then, eh?!

Am completely shattered and rapidly going off pasta. Was proud of myself for making a big bowl (and eating it) last night - with enough left over for today! Ate two thirds of bowl today and then couldn't force myself to eat any more. Will be eating it again tomorrow for lunch. Carb-loading has its definite downsides!

Otherwise... The trip to work was OK (bit slow, but it's uphill and the route is tricky in places - signs for sudden right and left turns late or just missing!). The trip back was OK apart from missing a sign and setting off down a massive hill by mistake. Since apparently "No! Stop Boris!" doesn't work as a braking mechanism, I eventually managed to stop, get off Boris, and walk back up said hill. On the basis that cycling it would have destroyed me enough that I would have missed the signs for a second time and I didn't need to be giving myself extra work...

Posterior is wincing. Back right shoulder is throbbingly painful. I'm shattered. Exercise - it's bad for you - fact!!

/o)

Cycling - 1 hr 43 mins, 15.04 miles [To work!]
Cycling - 1 hr 51 mins, 16.05 miles [Home again!]

172. Ups and downs

OK, well, didn't actually cycle to work today. Note entirely sure why (I did keep remembering things that needed to be at work that I didn't want to carry with me, but...). Still, there's always tomorrow. God bless tomorrow!

On the other hand, Boris and I did take advantage of the suddenly summer-like weather to do an early evening tour of the area. Quick test of part of the route tomorrow - not least since I don't trust the Council not to have changed huge elements of it while I wasn't looking.

I did find the route back easier than the route out, and suspect that if I can get over that particular psychological block then things might go rather more smoothly. Or, at the very least, I might start consistently starting events and doing training as scheduled. I'll just add that to the list of things that I have to work on... *sigh*

The other side of sunny weather suddenly appearing is that everyone else throws themselves out of their houses to "enjoy" the local parks and "countryside". So it was busy out there, folks. Also, there was the heady scent of hurriedly organise barbecues in the air. This might possibly also be why I saw at least 2 fire engines rushing off purposely with lights and sirens going tonight... But possibly not. I did cycle past one barbecue which really looked more like a bin smouldering smokily (might have indeed been a bin whose contents were on fire) - slightly disturbed that there was no discernible distinction in smell between that and the proper barbecues.

I remain confused about the allure of barbecues (the flies! The smoke! The lengthy wait for food which then has to be eaten outside as the day cools down significantly!). Perhaps I merely don't understand the fascination with fire... Grr!

:o)

Cycling - 56 mins, 9.89 miles [Testing out a bit of the route to work.]

171. Self-sabotage

Mini update...

Was supposed to cycle the 15 miles or so to work (and then home again) today... But after much preparation of myself and Boris, I discovered that I had rather thoughtlessly brought my work laptop home with me (which was far to heavy to cycle with).

So - tomorrow.

On the good news front - bit of tidying today unearthed my gel seat! Woo-hoo!

Fingers crossed that helps...

:o)


Today's stats
Absolutely nothing... But did do some tidying - does housework count?

170. Reflect and stretch

Boris and I are hastily trying to recover from Saturday's exertions (the latest schedule for The Proclaimers Challenge allows for little weakness or time off).

For Boris, this requires.... Well, nothing, really. He's just hanging out in the hall, as per usual.

I, on the other hand, am taking seat gingerly, and trying to stretch my back out (right shoulder is convinced that I'm stabbing something into it). Which is really quite normal for ye olde cycling fun and games. Although I am adding into the mix my new secret weapon: eating more.

Yes indeedy. I cannot afford to have the week-long session of fatigue that I had after the RideLondon 100 (schedule, see above), and so food intake is being judiciously and deliberately increased (unless I fall off the training waggon again, at which point it'll need to be held steady). On Saturday, for example, I had breakfast (sawdust aka muesli - mmm, mm, mmmm), as much food as I could face at the mid-way feed point, post-event food (pie and cake!), pasta when I got home (that might have been lunch) and then dinner in the evening. Most of which food I really wasn't interested in eating, but the secret weapon does seem to be working.

Leading to me attending my first Bodybalance session in months. Rather reassuringly, my basic core strength seems OK (not that there's not work to do). Rather worryingly, and as suspected, my hips are not impressed by this exercise party and, in the wonderful words of the Evil Podiatrist, are "a bit stiff".

You should probably prepare yourself for lots of updates on my progress in trying to shimmy my hips into shape. Something to look forward to there...

:o)

Sunday's stats
Bodybalance - 1 hr, 0 miles [Balance a bit wobbly, hips creaking most definitively.]

169. Blown away

We've got to the point in The Proclaimers Challenge where I really do have to attend and finish each event in the plan. Due to a certain lack of application to date... There's a lot to do in not a lot of time and it has to be done in such a way that it does not utterly destroy me....

I make this point up front so that you understand that today's efforts were little more than grim, dogged determination. Today I had to cycle 30 miles in a nice little sportive: challenging (particularly given the dearth of training to date) but not excessively so. 30 minutes into the ride I was seriously considering stopping: which would naturally have led to the end of this year's Challenge (so much failure, so little time).

It wasn't the rain that made me want to stop (although that was unhelpful). It wasn't the fact that my posterior was not on board with the whole cycling activity (must find gel seat). It wasn't even that I probably wasn't quite fit enough and the start of the course was largely uphill (on, and on, and on, up, and up, and up).

It was the wind. Today was forecast as being very windy, with gusts around 50 mph. But... That doesn't sound too bad until you've tried it. Tried cycling up a gentle slope with the wind in your face, in the lowest gear you have, feeling the bike slowly dying under you as your legs cannot generate enough power to overcome the pressure of the wind. Tried cycling down a steep incline with the wind in your face, startled to discover that you have to pedal as if you don't you'll stop moving (and fall off). Tried cycling in a straight line as the wind batters at you from the side (wobble, wobble) and cars drive past you (damn them!). Basically, today was not good weather for cyclists.

I learnt a lot today on various points, but the main thing I took from today was, unusually, a sense of pride. Normally, I am happy to finish an event but don't really see it as that big a deal (I'm so slooooow). Today - the fact that I started (over 100 people didn't bother turning up), cycled the whole route on my own (no drafting for me! Again!), and quite literally forced myself to the finish line - today, I'm quite impressed with myself.

Despite having finished 30 miles in a ridiculously slow time.

:o)

Today's stats
Cycling - 3 hrs 49 mins 28 secs, 30 miles [Note to self - avoid gale-force winds in future...]

168. It's just like riding a bike...

Boris is back!!

And, quite possibly, not a moment too soon... As someone (that would be me) is supposed to get up early tomorrow and set off on a perky 30-mile sportive. In what is forecast to be some interesting wind conditions. On open roads. Over in all probability an unnecessary number of hills....

Still, Boris is back!

I have to say, I have been really struggling for motivation. I'm not entirely sure that tonight's cycle will have cured that, but having quite literally forced myself to leave the house to check that I could still work out how to cycle (mostly the gears thing. Again.), I am a lot calmer. I can still use gears (OK, it took me a while to work out which way was up and which way was down... But not nearly as long as it took me originally!). I didn't fall over. I cycled 10 miles without collapsing at the end (although I really do need to do more training)... All good, really.

Of course, the Council (who hate me) have been out again. I meant to cycle to a really obvious junction, turn round and cycle home (this would have been faster and shorter). Except they've "improved" the junction, and so I didn't recognise it (improving it involved more signage but not better signage)! It has proper give way lines now. On a shared pedestrian-/cycle-path. Just... They did this on purpose, you know.

And since I went the wrong way, I ended up at completely the other end of town (in fairly short order, it has to be said) and suddenly found myself on an unexpected steep down-ramp leading to some trains (and/or trams). Which was really confusing as that path did not use to go there! All very exciting and exploratory... But a slightly shorter route would have been the more sensible and pragmatic choice.

Nonetheless... Boris is back!

:o)

Today's stats
Cycling - 59 mins, 10.29 miles [Outside! In a very confused fashion, but... Outside!]