Sometimes you just have a good ride. I guess this time it was good because a) it wasn’t lashing it down and b) I hadn’t just had a big fatty meal. The miles just flew by and before I knew it I was in the pub with the Shipham lot with 45 miles under my belt. A quick lemonade, some crisps and banter and back on the road for the last 15 miles home. Amazingly managed to get all the way up Burrington Combe, right to the Mendip Wood Shavings sign in my big ring. Not sure my legs will thank me tomorrow. Here is the route:
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“Do not pass GO. Do not collect £200”
Normally its a tune that was last playing on the radio, so I have no idea why today this phrase was going around my head during the last 5 miles of todays ride ?! What I DO know is that it was raining cats and dogs, there was a high wind and the visibility was very poor and as a result I was very pleased to be wearing a particularly flourescent jacket… That still didn’t stop an idiot passing me on one side of the road as I cycled through the coned off roadworks area just up the road. I just wish drivers would treat people as well as they treat horses!
You know you will always get a good workout if you go down to Blagdon lake and back as it involves climbing the second most aggressive hill in the area: Two Trees. Check the elevation profile!
Fish & chips + 20 miles = bad idea
I took the weekend off cycling for various reasons so decided to ease back into it this evening with a short 20 mile loop. I didn’t completely think this through however and had just stuffed a large plate of fish and chips and a pear cider down me before I left. Needless to say, I didn’t feel great, at all, most of the way around. Still, it got me thinking about the perfectly simple rule governing the success of the entire challenge: as long as I keep turning the pedals I’ll get there. Doesn’t matter how quick or slow, I just have to keep turning them. Here is the route:
60 miles in the wind and rain
It’s a little against normal human instinct to head off cycling into heavy wind and rain but I was resolved to complete a long ride come what may. I calculated a 60 mile route and headed off wondering if I would have to wimp out and ring for a lift half way round. It really was blowing a gale and within 5 miles my shoes were filled with water to the extend where it was spilling out the top on downstrokes! I battled on enjoying the test of my determination to complete the route. Within 10 miles I was soaked through to the skin, but still warm and so it was bearable. Finally after nearly three hours I reached the Miners pub to meet the usual Shipham MTB lot after their ride. Spent an hour or so catching up with the guys then headed home. 61 miles completed.
Loop down to Bruton and up to Kilmerston
Shame to again only have time for a 30 ish mile ride, but I guess its better than nothing. The road to Bruton was fast and the road up out of Bruton in the Frome direction was amazing – I’m sure the wind was with me the whole way! I couldnt help myself sneaking a Wispa bar at the petrol station, and a few ‘fastics a bit later on. Overall a fair bit of mild up and down, and a good little ride. Top speed was ehm, a little fast! Here it is:
First draft of the route is up
After having a search around the internet for JOGLE routes people have already used, I have made my own first draft. You can see this in the route page of the website.
The major headache I have at the moment is figuring out how to do the accomodation. I’m thinking B&Bs would be best as they are relatively cheap, and they are everywhere. The question is do I book all the B&Bs before I go or just the first few days? I’m concerned about having a technical problem or picking up an injury and becoming a day out of sync with the accomodation. Likewise I may find I can do much more one day and gradually get ahead of myself…
I’ll have to have a read around and see what other JOGLE people have done before.
Good ride before breakfast
I don’t normally make a habit of getting up before 6am but decided today I would make an exception! I decided to cycle to Kingswood in time for my nephew’s christening. Here is the route:
Long loop around three lakes
I was pretty tired today, in fact so tired that I fell asleep in my chair. So much for power napping – I didn’t wake up for a good 30 minutes! Although I was half tempted to not cycle tonight I decided that for that very reason I should. After all, I wont get the choice come September… I went on a very round about route to Chew Valley lake, then to Blagdon lake with a wrong turn that ended up in another loop in-between. Feeling OK I decided to hang a right down to Rickford, Churchill and Shipham then through to Cheddar and up the gorge. I got heckled a bit by some weird group of older people (pot holers) but the trip up the gorge at night is always a pleasure. Total length was 47 miles, and it was a slowish ride due to a fair amount of elevation and a lot of small country back roads.
For the next two months I’ll be mostly consuming Sci-Mix and Tangfastics!
Lee gave me a tub of Sci-Mix Recovery powder for my birthday (we call it ‘cheating powder’ at the club) which I thought I may as well give a try. I’m not really into these supplement powders but I was finding myself a little knackered the day after training, and amazingly it really helped that problem. If you take it the moment you come back then you definitely feel less knackered the next day, as it supplies your body with the stuff if needs right then, rather than your body taking that from your own tissues.
Anyway.
So I ran out. I figured I would get some more, and since the tub i got last time was only half full I went for twice the weight (assuming they would completely fill it this time). Wrong. It just came in an even bigger tub, and we are talking HUGE. So, I apologise in advance to my wife for when she comes back from work and sees that I have taken over even MORE of the house with my bike bits and pieces.
But yes, my strategy for training rides is simple: Tangfastics half way around and some of the magic powder when you get back. Sorted. By the way, it just dawned on me that readers who dont know better might think I am referring to an illicit substance when I say ‘magic’ powder. Its not that exciting I’m afraid, and boringly available over the counter as its just a mix of protein and carbs and vitamins and stuff.
Blagdon lake and back
New gloves, lycra (!) and saddle! Turns out the saddle is pretty good, although it will take a while for my behind to get used to the change! The gloves are the same – fingerless is good but they need to give a little, which they will over time. The shorts are great, although I feel like an idiot… And here was the short and fast route for today – I decided to go down to the lake this time – the hill from the lake up to Blagdon then up two trees to the top is a proper benchmark hill and it was good to be able to ride it out of the saddle for most of the way – check the elevation plot!