My biggest week to date by a long way.
I used the Keiser properly for the first time on Monday evening after work. I set up the TV in front of the bike to relieve the monotony of spinning out for 60 minutes. I think it's going to be a really useful part of my training and I'll try to get in at least an hour once a week - but also really useful to help me understand how to train properly using a heart rate monitor and determine what heart rate I can comfortably work at for long periods. The kids were highly amused by the sight of me working out and sweating profusely. They are madly keen to use the machine too, which means the set-up keeps changing while I'm away at work...
Rested on Saturday, but had a very long ride on Sunday to complete my first century of the year. The Tour de Force monthly meet was in Knebworth this time, so I cycled out there to meet a really big group of about 25 people - best turnout yet. And, importantly, my mate Tommy was there for his first cycle ride in a couple of years, looking resplendent in his new kit and proudly standing astride his shiny new Specialized. Turned out that his twice weekly spin classes have given him a pretty good base level of cycle fitness and he coped admirably, given the pace set by some of the seasoned cyclists. We did a couple of 20-mile loops around the area, split by the most awesome cake and tea stop in the village hall, organised by family/friends of Darren, our guide for the day. Met three guys also signed up to do the full route, who I guess I'll know pretty well by the middle of July. Rick Wates has done a great job in organising the rides and getting people signed up for the Tour de Force, and I think there are now 14 doing the whole route and around 80 riders in total doing part or all of the route.
My ride back to London was terrifyingly painful and I seemed to be running on empty with nothing left in the legs. Probably wasn't helped by a couple of silly sprints and high speed catch-ups during the main ride. My state of mind wasn't helped by two of the Tour de Forcers overtaking me, stopping to water the verge a mile or so later, then overtaking me again...as if to show how slow I really was! But tired though I was, I felt a real sense of achievement at completing 114 miles. Now I've just got to get to the stage where I can manage that distance day after day, over much more challenging terrain. Mmm, bit of a wake-up call there I think.
Finally, good to see the new Team Sky picking up a couple of wins in the Tour Down Under to kick-start their debut season.
Weekly totals
Commute - 75 miles
Other - 114 miles
Turbo - 1 hour
Swim - 1500m
I used the Keiser properly for the first time on Monday evening after work. I set up the TV in front of the bike to relieve the monotony of spinning out for 60 minutes. I think it's going to be a really useful part of my training and I'll try to get in at least an hour once a week - but also really useful to help me understand how to train properly using a heart rate monitor and determine what heart rate I can comfortably work at for long periods. The kids were highly amused by the sight of me working out and sweating profusely. They are madly keen to use the machine too, which means the set-up keeps changing while I'm away at work...
Rested on Saturday, but had a very long ride on Sunday to complete my first century of the year. The Tour de Force monthly meet was in Knebworth this time, so I cycled out there to meet a really big group of about 25 people - best turnout yet. And, importantly, my mate Tommy was there for his first cycle ride in a couple of years, looking resplendent in his new kit and proudly standing astride his shiny new Specialized. Turned out that his twice weekly spin classes have given him a pretty good base level of cycle fitness and he coped admirably, given the pace set by some of the seasoned cyclists. We did a couple of 20-mile loops around the area, split by the most awesome cake and tea stop in the village hall, organised by family/friends of Darren, our guide for the day. Met three guys also signed up to do the full route, who I guess I'll know pretty well by the middle of July. Rick Wates has done a great job in organising the rides and getting people signed up for the Tour de Force, and I think there are now 14 doing the whole route and around 80 riders in total doing part or all of the route.
My ride back to London was terrifyingly painful and I seemed to be running on empty with nothing left in the legs. Probably wasn't helped by a couple of silly sprints and high speed catch-ups during the main ride. My state of mind wasn't helped by two of the Tour de Forcers overtaking me, stopping to water the verge a mile or so later, then overtaking me again...as if to show how slow I really was! But tired though I was, I felt a real sense of achievement at completing 114 miles. Now I've just got to get to the stage where I can manage that distance day after day, over much more challenging terrain. Mmm, bit of a wake-up call there I think.
Finally, good to see the new Team Sky picking up a couple of wins in the Tour Down Under to kick-start their debut season.
Weekly totals
Commute - 75 miles
Other - 114 miles
Turbo - 1 hour
Swim - 1500m
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