Tuesday, 3 April 2012

April Cool's

Time: 3 Hours 53 Minutes
Distance: 64.56 Miles
Weight: 14st 5lb

Totals: 28 Hours 22 Minutes, 463.57 Miles

Two solo days coming into work and with the advent of April comes the return of the cold snap. I have been trying to avoid looking at the milometer so I can spend more time looking at the scenery. It really is beautiful countryside around these parts and well worth sitting up and taking notice!

1,536.43 to go!!!!

Friday, 30 March 2012

20% (1 Mile Short!)

Time: 2 Hours 21 Minutes
Distance: 39.72 Miles
Weight: 14st 4lb

Totals: 24 Hours 29 Minutes, 399.01 Miles

How frustrating to be 1 mile short of the 20% target. I specifically cycled the long way home last night to clock up enough miles to achieve the target and then blow it by being 0.99 miles short. So I'm 1 mile off 400 for the year and 1 mile off 4000 on the bike in total. I'll achieve the feat when I get to the bypass on my way home tonight!

The ride in today was tough as I was flying solo. Nobody to shield me and nobody to encourage me. Still made good time though and still stayed in the saddle for the whole journey. Only had two gears left when I hit the Glemsford hill and used them both going up but thankfully didn't feel like I needed any more!!

1,600.99 to go!!!!

Thursday, 29 March 2012

Tough hills

Time: 1 Hour 59 Minutes
Distance: 33.52 Miles
Weight: 14st 6lb

Totals: 22 Hours 8 Minutes, 359.29 Miles

The hills today were tough. The pace set was good at first. I was a bit tardy and so pushed us up to a 22mph from home to Little Waldingfield and everything felt fluid and easy. I am even regaining confidence with the downhill sections and sweeping corners - Hurrah! Then the long inclines happened and we ran out of gears, so much so that I actually didn't think I'd make it up the last tough climb into Glemsford. I did though! Recovery time is getting quicker as well - although I definitely need to catch up on some sleep!!

1,640.71 to go!!!

Tuesday, 27 March 2012

Like Summer, but cold...

Time: 1 Hour 26 Minutes
Distance: 24.22 Miles
Weight: 14st 4lb

Totals: 20 Hours 9 Minutes, 325.77 Miles

So the weather is being very cruel. We're starting the day in nice bright sunshine but it's bitterly cold so we have to truss up like your average Antarctic Explorer. Then as the day goes on things warm up so by the time we ride home our 3 layers and thermal overs are making us arrive at our destination hot and very red!!
Last night was a struggle, the legs just didn't want to play and Jody had to blow me away once we got to Lavenham as he TT'd back to Sudbury. I kept him in sight once he'd stretched a lead but just couldn't catch back up for the tow! C'est la vie!

1,674.23 to go!!!!

Monday, 26 March 2012

Prague and the extended break

Time: 3 Hours 28 Minutes
Distance: 58.59 Miles
Weight: 14st 8lb

Totals: 18 Hours 43 Minutes, 301.55 Miles

Okay, so we went to Prague last week for our first break of 2012 and it certainly impacted the progress on bike. However, cycling aside for the moment, Prague is a glorious city. We went mid week (Monday thru Thursday) to avoid any stag or hen parties but ended up competing with Italian school trips instead (more later...).
The hotel (paid for with Tesco vouchers!!) was brilliant and we ended up with a suite with an upstairs super king size bedroom. It was on the edge of the old town so only five minutes from the old town square making everything easily accessible on foot. We must ahve walked miles over the four days! Places visited included the castle (a must see), the clock, Charles Bridge, the Fountains, the Jewish Quarter, a bit of the new town and we even took an excursion out to Karlstjen Castle and the long climb up that hill (on foot!).
The Italians though. They clearly use Prague as a school trip venue but the kids (80% of them) clearly are not interested - so much so that whilst visiting the Cemetry where all the Jewish victims of the occupation are buried (a shocking and emotional place) they showed a blatant disrespect for the place and ruined what should be a meditative and soul searching place.
Back on the bicycle on Friday last week I felt good during the morning but crap going home, although I buried mysefl for Jody from Lavenham to Sudbury because I felt guilty. Then having the weekend off I really felt off my game again this morning, even though we did the 23 Mile route in an hour and fifteen minutes.
Hopefully I'll be back on form by the end of the week!!!

1,698.45 to go!!!!

Friday, 16 March 2012

Beep Beep

Time: 1 Hour 57 Minutes
Distance: 32.95 Miles
Weight: 14st 5lb

Totals: 15 Hours 15 Minutes, 242.96 Miles

This morning we got beeped at. Not because we were doing anything wrong. Just because it took a couple of nanoseconds for Jody to get back into my slipstream so some impatient woman could go past us in her car. The tractor that followed us from preston through to Lavenham didn't even get that precious!
Today we tackled the Chelsworth, Bildeston route with a couple of long inclines. I felt good for it and didn't even have to get up into my biggest sprocket. Nice to see the weight coming off as well!!

1,757.04 to go!!!!

Tuesday, 13 March 2012

10%

Time on Bike: 2 Hours 3 Minutes
Distance: 34.65 Miles
Weight: 14st 7lb

Totals: 13 Hours 18 Minutes, 210.01 Miles

Another 23 mile inward journey today saw me make the first milestone of 2012 - target 10% complete. At the current rate I will probably smash it sometime in July or August. The extra mileage is at least doing me some good weight wise whilst at the same time making me tired. Last night was a struggle to force myself to take the 10 mile route home when all my legs wanted to do was go up Tesco hill for a 5 minute burst! How on earth am I going to cope with Badminton tonight?!!

1,789.99 to go!!!!