31/12/07 –
First training ride (on my off-road bike) after a year of virtually no training – 20 miles averaging 11mph – very tiring but it’s a start.
20/01/08 –
Changed my thick nobbly tyres to thinner, smoother tyres – upped the speed to about 13mph.
17/02/08 –
My first 30 mile ride since training started
02/03/08 –
Started using my newly acquired road bike instead of my old off-road bike – what a difference.
20/04/08 –
After a long weekend in North Wales last week (it’s hilly!), when I did about 130 miles over 5 days, I have been recovering and didn’t go out again until yesterday (Saturday). My first 45 mile ride since training started.
27/04/08 –
This weekend I did 65 miles over two days. I have just
started using energy drinks on the long rides and they make a real difference.
Now averaging 15-16mph when I put my mind to it. The team lycra has arrived
this week and you can see how handsome it makes me look in the photo on the
home page! For extra sponsorship I shall be giving personal viewings – email to
arrange a time (and your place or mine)! The dedicated supporters have booked
their Eurostar tickets and hotel rooms in Paris. If you want to join them I can
send you details.
ps – Due to overwhelming demand I am now having to turn down all requests for personal viewings of the team lycra until further notice (unless you are prepared to give me particularly large sums of money).
05/05/08
–
A
fairly uneventful week – no injuries, no breakdowns (not even a puncture), no
falling off my bike. Team Star Inn are holding an Auction of Promises and
Goodies on 7th June 7:30 at the Star. Tickets are £10 and include a
buffet and a glass of champagne. For a list of bargains click here. Any promises or goodies
that anyone can provide will be gratefully accepted.
11/05/08
-
I
intended to do a 50 mile ride today but I had a spoke break 10 miles into the
ride and had to limp home. ps - that’s the second spoke so far so I have had
the wheel rebuilt (to take the extra strain of a heavyweight!).
08/06/08
This
weekend I have done about 120 miles over 3 days.
15/06/08
This
weekend I have done 150 miles over 5 days (including cycling home from work on
Thursday and back again on Friday and a 100km ride round the New Forest, Avon
and Test Valleys today (Sunday).
22/06/08
I
have averaged more than 125 miles a week over the last 5 weeks including, on
average, a single 60 mile ride each week. My longest ride so far is 77.7 miles,
which I did last Friday. This comprised a ride with others between Portsmouth
and Frimley and then riding home by myself.
06/07/08
We
had a very successful stall at the Bentworth Fete last Saturday where people
could see how far they could ride in 2 minutes on turbo trainers. We raised
about £50, got quite a bit of extra sponsorship and had a generous donation
from the fete committee.
13/07/08
We
had a very successful stall at the Medstead Fete last Saturday similar to the
one at Bentworth. The Standardz also played, having offered their services at
the Auction of Promises which raised another £235 for us. The bike has been
serviced this week. Training has gone well but has been hampered slightly this
week by the weather. Although I have not done my target total mileage this
week, I did do my target 75 mile ride today and I am feeling ready for the real
thing. I have averaged about 140 miles a week over the last 5 weeks including,
on average, a single 69 mile ride each week. My longest ride so far is still
77.7 miles.
20/07/08
The 2300 miles of training is over and the bike is
oiled and polished (and I’ve had my rear wheel rebuilt AGAIN this week, this
time with a new hub fitted) so I’m really raring to go. On Tuesday 22nd
July eleven of us will be setting off from the Star Inn at about 13:15. We
would love a big send off from our supporters and for them there will be a free
buffet from 12:45.
Training – is over! This week has been a week of
relative rest in terms of distance, having only done 65 miles all week. I did,
however, do my fastest 23 miles in a group at 18 mph and my fastest 12 miles on
my own at 17.6 mph (I now expect my average speed on the actual ride to Paris
to be about 14-14.5 mph). I have been training since 31st December
and have done a total of over 2350 miles. I averaged about 140 miles a week in
the 5 weeks prior to this including, on average, a single 69 mile ride each
week. My longest ride is 77.7 miles.