And then there was three...

One of my RS relay team mates, Yvonne, joined Fred and I on our training ride today.  Not only was it her first time on a road bike, we also took her along main roads where there was plenty of traffic, but you couldn't tell that it was her first time out on the roads - it won't be long until we're doing three hours non-stop!

Today's ride was only an hour however we bumped in to some of the club riders from my old club, so I was chatting to them for a while, which then meant that I had to do some catching up - I wouldn't mind but Fred and Yvonne hadn't waited for me - they were still doing 17mph when I caught them!  What a cheek! ;-)

I recovered pretty quickly after that fast blast too, so I must be getting fitter - finally!  I was starving when we got back mind; note to self - I obviously should have had some beans and sausage as well as the potato waffle butties for lunch! 

Whilst I wait for the next bike ride to come along I shall continue on my epic health kick - sunflower seeds and pumpkin seeds on my Shredded Wheat, trying not to eat any biscuits/chocolate, more fruit and less caffeine - but will it have any effect?  Only time will tell...

Back to basics (also known as Cheshire)

Today's ride was the first ride back on the flat after staying in Haworth over New Year.  Funnily enough, the ride seemed pretty easy after last week's attempts - well, there are no 1 in 10 climbs for a start!  However, it must be said that there seemed to be more idiots on the road around here than over the border, mainly people telling us that it was illegal to ride two abreast on a (quiet-ish) road.  Interesting!

I must admit that I am enjoying this bike riding malarkey now - years ago it seemed like a bit of a bane, training more or less every day, but I think the break has been a good thing, as I am looking forward to going out on the bike at the weekends - something that I didn't really do first time around.  Maybe being a bit older gives you the ability to appreciate the finer things in life, who knows?

Anyway, I've now applied for my racing licence, which I'm waiting to receive from my new club's secretary.  I can't wait to start racing again - I'm so excited, especially about doing the crits - there wasn't that many of those when I used to race, it was more long distance road racing, but I loved riding crits because they're so technical!  I can't wait!

In the meantime, I just need to keep on top of this chronic fatigue.  I've only got one more reduction to go before I'm off the Lamotrigine completely, so fingers crossed, everything will be top banana in 2011!

Back on track

Well, I'm now back from a week's skiing in Austria and have done my first ride - albeit only a small one - 40 minutes.  We're staying in Haworth at the moment - where the roads seem to be incredibly steep and the mist is rolling along the tops - it's easy to see why the Bronte sisters managed to write such great novels here!

I've just been diagnosed with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, so I am going to be completing sleep diaries and activity lists, as well as trying to train for the RAB and racing.  2011 will be busy, methinks!

Frostbite and hypothermia

Well, I think I can safely say that I have never been as cold on a bike as I was today, despite wearing two pairs of overshoes, two pairs of gloves, a snood, a hat to cover my ears, my helmet, two thermal tops (vest and base layer) two thermal jackets and a gilet - my legs were freezing as I should have put two pairs of thermal tights on really, but hindsight is a wonderful thing!  At one point, I thought I was getting frostbite, as the tips of my fingers and toes were extremely cold and I could hardly feel them!  Not good.

It is difficult training when the temperature has not even reached freezing point (-2°C in the sun, when we set out) as you need to keep your legs spinning to keep the blood flowing, but it is really hard trying to do that when your brain keeps telling you that you want to stop and have a hot drink.  Keeping the revs going can be hard at the best of times, but when you've not been doing it for a while and it's freezing cold, it makes it harder than normal. 

The sooner I get back on the track, the better I suppose, as that will get me used to spinning again!  It will have to wait until the New Year though, as I want to make sure I get to Austria injury-free and I am not risking a crash on a taster improver course, thank you very much, as I've been looking forward to going skiing since March!

I think I must have moaned for Britain today - I don't do being cold - but I got back in one piece and am now knackered.  I'll sleep well tonight!

Thermals needed!

Well, it may be snowing everywhere else in the UK, but there's no sign of it near us.  However, the termperature is still just as low as everywhere else, with the risk of icy roads still high. 

Bearing that in mind, we delayed our ride until about 2pm, by which time it had reached the heady heights of 2oC!  With a merino top on, plus two thermal jackets, two pairs of gloves and two pairs of overshoes, the majority of me was warm enough - my only problem were my legs, which never warmed up.

I had taken some strawberry liquorice out with me too, only slight problem is that it isn't particularly malleable or chewy when it's cold, so I think I used as many calories trying to get it out of my pocket and eating it as I did riding the bike.  Back to the drawing board with that one, I think.

There also seemed to be a lot of drivers out and about today who either overtook us only to turn left straight away, or pulled out without looking, or just thought that they would honk their horns much too loudly for my liking.  I don't think the low sun helped either, as I know I couldn't see properly for 80% of the time on the way out.

By the time we got back, the sun was beginning to fall as were the temperatures, and by the time we got back at 4.00pm, the temperature had dropped to -1°C - and don't my legs know it!  Bright red from the cold and, nearly an hour later, they still haven't warmed up!  Oh well, a good reason to sit close to the fire!

Progress

After yesterday's energetic ride, Fred and I went out for an hour around the Dunham Massey loop, to give our legs a spin out.  It kept trying to rain and it was definitely windier than yesterday, but it didn't dampen our spirits.

I feel now as if I am starting to make some headway into getting fit - at one point I lost Fred's wheel and thought about shouting him to get him to wait for me, but instead I just digged in a bit further and got back on his wheel, where I managed to stay for the rest of the ride apart from where I was riding next to him.

We're both joining VC St Raphael next season and can't wait to get back into racing, 10 years after last doing it!  I can't believe I'm a 'Master' - God, I must be getting old!

There'll be no hills next week - we'll be back over in Saddleworth in a couple of weeks though, weather-dependant.  In the mean-time, I'll be sprinting for signs and trying to keep up with buses, with the hope that my speed and ability to 'kick' begins to develop again - I've got my eye on a couple of track events, but the road programme looks interesting too.  Looks like it's game on!

Into the twilight

We set off today at 2.00pm - it seemed like it would be okay daylight-wise, as although it was a bit overcast, it didn't seem too dark.  The four of us rolled through Carrington and Partington towards Lymm, and I decided to sprint for the Partington, Lymm and Warrington signs, telling Fred as I passed him that I would beat him to the signs, which I subsequently did!

As we headed away from Lymm towards Arley and deeper into the Cheshire lanes, the sky seemed to get darker and darker, and the number of cars with their headlights on increased.  As we turned back over the A50 to head for home, we started to speed up so that we could get home before it got too dark, especially as two of us didn't have any lights - something for the shopping list I think!

In total we did 31 miles at an average speed of 15 mph - the longest ride yet! 

A hilly ride?

We went out with our friends around Mossley and Saddleworth yesterday, in the hills. 
Unfortunately, I discovered that my brakes weren't quite as good as everybody else, and realised that I couldn't stop at the bottom of the hill, with a bus and two cars coming towards me.  Luckily, my friend managed to stop the traffic so that I didn't crash in to anybody - new brake blocks are required!

Anyway, our husbands dropped us and rode off, so we decided to carry on and do our own training ride instead.  20 miles, a few hills, and 1 hour 45 minutes later and we were back to where we had started.  I was quite proud of what we had achieved - we had done some real climbing and proper descending - it's definitely made me realise that I can compete next year!

Role on next season...

In the traffic

You forget how busy the roads are until you actually have to ride in the traffic.  We rode out through Carrington, where I had a slight disagreement with somebody in an Audi who obviously thought I needed to ride on the pavement, he drove that close, but on the way back we rode down Washway Road, through Sale.  Quite busy, even for a Sunday, but at least you can go quite fast in the traffic - I managed 18/19 mph all the way back, so not too bad really.

I will only be able to go out next Saturday, as I travel to Glasgow next Sunday, but hopefully I will be able to start building the distance up soon.

Anyway, I've included some pictures from today's ride:

Until next time, stay safe and enjoy the sunshine (while it lasts)!

Game on!

I haven't been on the bike for two weeks, due to having a cold, dance exams, etc, etc, so I was keen to get out today.  The good weather also helped, I'm sure.  I was a bit wary as to how I would get on, having just reduced my medication again on Thursday night, but I seemed okay.  We did the 19 mile circuit at an average speed of 15.2 miles per hour - not that quick, but not bad considering I haven't been on the bike for two weeks...

I am now a fully-fledged member of British Cycling too - although I won't be getting my racing licence until January.