Wow, what a difference a few degrees makes! I went out for a ride on both Saturday and Sunday, and the weather was so much more comfortable than anything I've experienced over the last couple of months. It may sound incredibly dull to keep harping on about the weather, we are in winter after all, but it's a relief to be able to ride for a few hours without having to worry about my fingers and toes going numb, or whether I'm going to make it round the next bend without hitting ice.
On Saturday I was out on my old stomping ground in Surrey's North Downs, aka The Surrey Alps, taking in Leith Hill and a couple of ascents of Box Hill - covered 75 miles. Although I of course notice the poor state of the roads on my daily commute in London, there are always holes appearing throughout the year, especially near junctions and bus stops. But going out on a route like Saturday's, where I haven't been for several weeks, really shows how much the roads have deteriorated this winter. In many places there are quite dangerous potholes and fissures, ready to catch out the unwary. I set out on my own, but after exiting Richmond Park started chatting to another rider at a set of lights - yes we had both stopped on red - great to have some company and we rode together for the next 10 miles or so, until we parted company shortly after Cobham. I rode fairly conservatively, aiming to maintain a heart rate under 160bpm, including uphill, to see if that meant I had more in reserve at the end of the ride having not gone into the red zone like on the last TdF outing. Seemed to work a touch, although I remain a bit doubtful.
I wasn't originally planning a ride on Sunday, but was tempted to round up to 100 miles over the weekend after hearing that my mate Gilbs was going out to Richmond Park for a few laps with his friend Ben - hard to resist. But had to be back by 9.10am, so Cress (Mrs G) and Mrs Gilbs could leave in time for their spin class. After starting out from the Roehampton Gate cafe a touch late, we reached the end of two fairly quick laps (HR well over 160bpm!) at 8.40am. Having ummed for a couple of seconds about whether we had time for a final lap, we set off at an uncomfortably fast pace up Sawyers Hill, led by a crazed Gilbs, who had discovered a new 'Contador' gear in his legs. This is the same Gilbs who'd told me that he was so unfit and that me and Ben were going to destroy him on the ride. Anyway I tucked in behind him and clung on for a sub-20 minute lap. Got home bang on 9.10am to spare myself a hiding for being late.
Joined up with Ben and Dave for a very enjoyable Sunday afternoon at the Bridge watching Chelsea humiliate Arsenal 2-0. I've not been to many games this season as I thought it would be asking too much of the family, with the additional cycle training I'm now doing at weekends, so nice to have a good game to see. Wenger had the nerve to suggest Arsenal were the better side - have a look at the table old boy, it suggests otherwise.
On my mid-week turbo session I decided to watch a DVD that had come with this month's Cycling Plus magazine. It was essentially a recce of stage 17 of the 2010 Tour de France and the stage chosen for the Etape. So I thought quite apt, seeing as I am going to be riding it myself in July. It was quite picturesque, but was really just a long advertisement for Science in Sport, a sports nutrition company, that had filmed the ride. It did make me laugh - at the end of the ride it gave a summary of what each person had eaten/drunk over the day, suggesting that is what's needed to complete a ride like that. If I was to buy that amount of their product on the high street, I'd be spending about £20 on every ride just on food/drink! Totally unrealistic...
Weekly totals
Commute - 60 miles
Other rides - 101 miles
Turbo - 1 hour
Swim - 1500m
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