Greg Lemonds TDF winning Z team jersey for the road:
and a cute Ben & Jerrys Pearl Izumi jersey for the mtb:
It could be said that i've got all the gear & no idea!
Tuesday, 14 February 2012
They'll make me ride faster honest....
In the bid to go faster, i've treated myself to yet more cycling jerseys! This time ebay retro numbers.
Greg Lemonds TDF winning Z team jersey for the road:
and a cute Ben & Jerrys Pearl Izumi jersey for the mtb:
It could be said that i've got all the gear & no idea!
Greg Lemonds TDF winning Z team jersey for the road:
and a cute Ben & Jerrys Pearl Izumi jersey for the mtb:
It could be said that i've got all the gear & no idea!
Sunday, 12 February 2012
Trough Of Bowland with the Simpson boys
With an average temperature of -4 and a constant eye on the road for frozen rain and black ice, (which there was lots of!) we set off from Scorton for my first proper ride round the Trough of Bowland.
It was no way near as tough as I thought, probably due to being a Peak local and Rik also said it was easier than his childhood memories of riding round it; but don't get me wrong or take that as a cocky remark, I was out of the saddle up the cows mouth (1 in 5 short climb) and pushing my granny gear in many stages along the way!
Rik was a whippet as ever, Rik's dad was last on the hills due to insomnia but first on the descents without even trying! I was in the middle somewhere, happy with my overall climbing (although i wasn't trying that hard as i was sooo cold, i was just concentrating on getting round the ride without frost bite.) I did get a max speed of 37mph which was pretty good considering all the ice on the roads.
Not a great shot, as Rik took it with his nose through a plastic bag! here i am at the top of the Trough.
I can't wait to go back again on a warmer day, its a stunning area where i'd like to explore more of. Another lovely ride with Rik & his dad.
My new Garmin Edge 200 stats: http://connect.garmin.com/activity/149099838
Distance: 32.42 mi
Elevation Gain: 2,389 ft
Max speed: 37 mph
Average Speed: 11 mph
ps. i'm a fatty and now 9'10!
It was no way near as tough as I thought, probably due to being a Peak local and Rik also said it was easier than his childhood memories of riding round it; but don't get me wrong or take that as a cocky remark, I was out of the saddle up the cows mouth (1 in 5 short climb) and pushing my granny gear in many stages along the way!
Rik was a whippet as ever, Rik's dad was last on the hills due to insomnia but first on the descents without even trying! I was in the middle somewhere, happy with my overall climbing (although i wasn't trying that hard as i was sooo cold, i was just concentrating on getting round the ride without frost bite.) I did get a max speed of 37mph which was pretty good considering all the ice on the roads.
Not a great shot, as Rik took it with his nose through a plastic bag! here i am at the top of the Trough.
I can't wait to go back again on a warmer day, its a stunning area where i'd like to explore more of. Another lovely ride with Rik & his dad.
My new Garmin Edge 200 stats: http://connect.garmin.com/activity/149099838
Distance: 32.42 mi
Elevation Gain: 2,389 ft
Max speed: 37 mph
Average Speed: 11 mph
ps. i'm a fatty and now 9'10!
Wednesday, 8 February 2012
The Carrot
As you may have gathered from my last post, Ive entered my first road sportive at the end of May, Wiggles Tour of the Peak as preparation to help me to complete my years target of riding 100 miles. (and i'm very excited about it all!)
The carrot to help me get slimmer & faster is this little beauty:
crazy expensive, but a real deserved treat for when i'm either 9'4 again ( wedding weight ) or have ridden 65 miles.
For now it'll just hang in the wardrobe to remind myself of what i need to do...
ps. tried to go for a night ride but lasted 2 miles before bailing. Dangerously icy and completely numb/dead hands.
The carrot to help me get slimmer & faster is this little beauty:
crazy expensive, but a real deserved treat for when i'm either 9'4 again ( wedding weight ) or have ridden 65 miles.
For now it'll just hang in the wardrobe to remind myself of what i need to do...
ps. tried to go for a night ride but lasted 2 miles before bailing. Dangerously icy and completely numb/dead hands.
Monday, 6 February 2012
Challenge 100 miles road ride 2012 & race entry
That's the challenge!
I'm riding 40 odd miles with 1000m ascent no probs at the mo, but another 60 miles on top of that seems like a tough ask right now.
Time to stay motivated and start increasing my mileage. Summertime's the aim but we'll see.
Rough training plan longest distance ride mph aims:
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug
35 45 50 60 70 80 90 100
I'm really excited to try to achieve this. Wish me luck.
Hell yeah Team Bimbo has entered this race! 65 miles version as training.
http://www.kilotogo.com/index.php?option=event_detail&event_id=42
I'm riding 40 odd miles with 1000m ascent no probs at the mo, but another 60 miles on top of that seems like a tough ask right now.
Time to stay motivated and start increasing my mileage. Summertime's the aim but we'll see.
Rough training plan longest distance ride mph aims:
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug
35 45 50 60 70 80 90 100
I'm really excited to try to achieve this. Wish me luck.
Hell yeah Team Bimbo has entered this race! 65 miles version as training.
http://www.kilotogo.com/index.php?option=event_detail&event_id=42
Sunday, 5 February 2012
Snooooooooooooow day
I love riding in the snow and the conditions today were perfect. Sheer fun, slip sliding along wondering if your brakes will work at the end.
Rik going down the scary steps
Dh track bend, glad that he changed to flats for the day. Action packed.
Less action packed shots of me... just cruising along in my shades.
A great couple of hours fun.
Rik going down the scary steps
Dh track bend, glad that he changed to flats for the day. Action packed.
Less action packed shots of me... just cruising along in my shades.
A great couple of hours fun.
Saturday, 4 February 2012
Cutgate, Wharncliffe & Greno Woods
Racing to beat the snow, we rode from Langsett to do the quick version of Cutgate but after only 4 miles we turned back to find shelter in the woods. The artic wind was bitterly cold when exposed fully to it.
The ground was crunchy and solid where its normally a mud fest, taking the wrong line and getting caught inside the frozen tyre runnel's was not pleasant, which kept us on our toes at all times.
It was fascinating to see so many trails in the woods. There are probably hundreds of different junctions to pick your path across. Rik did a great job of navigating us and i just followed a bright orange blob in the distance to keep on track.
The skyline trail and Wharncliffe edge sections were my favourites.
Greno woods dh course ( NB. not a proper dh course )was really fun; being frozen solid so rode as fast as it would in summer. Here I am at the end going down a bomb hole. I'd have loved to have seen some of the nutters that do the free ride jumps to the left and right of where i went down. Mad!
Overall I feel quite depressed how slow and fat I felt all day, really really struggling to pedal along on the flats and hills. Pathetic. But, the trails we rode were really cool and we only just beat the snow due to my speed! (or lack of)
Must try harder.
The ground was crunchy and solid where its normally a mud fest, taking the wrong line and getting caught inside the frozen tyre runnel's was not pleasant, which kept us on our toes at all times.
It was fascinating to see so many trails in the woods. There are probably hundreds of different junctions to pick your path across. Rik did a great job of navigating us and i just followed a bright orange blob in the distance to keep on track.
The skyline trail and Wharncliffe edge sections were my favourites.
Greno woods dh course ( NB. not a proper dh course )was really fun; being frozen solid so rode as fast as it would in summer. Here I am at the end going down a bomb hole. I'd have loved to have seen some of the nutters that do the free ride jumps to the left and right of where i went down. Mad!
Overall I feel quite depressed how slow and fat I felt all day, really really struggling to pedal along on the flats and hills. Pathetic. But, the trails we rode were really cool and we only just beat the snow due to my speed! (or lack of)
Must try harder.
Thursday, 2 February 2012
A new toy
After years of blogging and monitoring my mileage via tracklogs, guess work and if on the road using my cateye wireless strata, its time for an upgrade! The fact that rik has the big brother garmin 800 its also helped my decision.
I've got a garmin 200 on its way!
I've got a garmin 200 on its way!
Sunday, 29 January 2012
The Rutland Red Kites Ride
35 miles, 790m ascent, avg speed 12.9 mph, max speed 41.5 mph, 1'c,
3 red kites, 1 buzzard, 2 pints and lots and lots of smiles.
A fantastic ride from parents house through all the lovely South Leicestershire villages briefly into Rutland.
I felt strong for the first 25 miles, but gradually I got more tired and my avg speed was waning. Overall I was quite pleased with my legs considering my fitness levels.
I got out of the saddle multiple times, i enjoyed sprinting down the hills trying to beat my top speed and pushing myself on the flats. There's still so many skills that i need to learn.
Here I am after a tough out the saddle climb past Launde Abbey,( my back wheel kept on slipping so i now know that i need to put less weight over my front wheel ):
Rik approaching Launde Abbey past a sleepy hollow style tree:
We had a very close encounter with 3 red Kites in Rutland which was quite a surprise and very very cool! I nearly fell off my bike i was staring in the sky in awe! Just round the corner there was a massive Buzzard too that wasn't fussed about us cycling past where it was perched.
The other highlight was my 41.5 mph fastest speed. I know this isn't that fast for road riders, but bare in mind how terrified of descending i am! Leicestershire hills were perfect practice for me to gain more confidence though as they aren't anywhere near as steep as the Peak.
A lovely ride and a nice weekend spent with my parents and Daisy the dog.
3 red kites, 1 buzzard, 2 pints and lots and lots of smiles.
A fantastic ride from parents house through all the lovely South Leicestershire villages briefly into Rutland.
I felt strong for the first 25 miles, but gradually I got more tired and my avg speed was waning. Overall I was quite pleased with my legs considering my fitness levels.
I got out of the saddle multiple times, i enjoyed sprinting down the hills trying to beat my top speed and pushing myself on the flats. There's still so many skills that i need to learn.
Here I am after a tough out the saddle climb past Launde Abbey,( my back wheel kept on slipping so i now know that i need to put less weight over my front wheel ):
Rik approaching Launde Abbey past a sleepy hollow style tree:
We had a very close encounter with 3 red Kites in Rutland which was quite a surprise and very very cool! I nearly fell off my bike i was staring in the sky in awe! Just round the corner there was a massive Buzzard too that wasn't fussed about us cycling past where it was perched.
The other highlight was my 41.5 mph fastest speed. I know this isn't that fast for road riders, but bare in mind how terrified of descending i am! Leicestershire hills were perfect practice for me to gain more confidence though as they aren't anywhere near as steep as the Peak.
A lovely ride and a nice weekend spent with my parents and Daisy the dog.
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