Archive for the ‘training’ Category

Day 2 – 105 = Melting Tar & Melting Rider

Posted: July 9, 2013 in charity, COPD, Cycling, training, Travel
Tags: , , ,
0

The ferry dropped us in St Malo at 07:15 (08:15 French time) having released all our bikes from the back of the van. Our first task was to locate the train station as we needed to. Get the 09:30 to Rennes as we had lost one day due to the Saturday ferry being full.

We now know that the Ferry’s were so full because there were loads of poxy cyclists coming over to see the Tour in the area.

Having found the station, found the train, hooked up the bikes in their special hooks on the trains, we all settled down for a 50 minute snooze before the cycling began.

Heading out of Rennes ( having agreed to meet the support crew, Graeme and Norman in Chateaubriante) we quickly split into two groups with one going off route while the other pair, the two old Codgers, staying on route. How smug were we.

20130709-062454.jpg

Am I Ready

Posted: July 5, 2013 in charity, COPD, Cycling, training
Tags: , , , , ,
0

I started my training proper on the 7th April and over the subsequent weeks, increased the ride mileage from the initial 14 mile ride to the longest ride at 74 miles.

Over that time, My average speed has gone up by 2.5 mph while my average heart rate has dropped from 130 to 118. These facts suggested to me that I must be at least more ready than I was for the Hungerford to Ligueil Cycle Challenge. So, when the time came for my regular respiratory test, I was quite naturally upbeat.

how misguided was I!

After numerous goes at getting my best blow into the machine, nearly passing out each time, the results came back worse than they were in March. The figures suggested that my COPD had deteriorated from moderate to severe. The nurse could see that I was clearly downbeat, especially with all my efforts over the last three months and she tried to impress upon me that irrespective of the results, the main thing was how I felt in myself and I must be doing all the right things: nevertheless, my lung performance had dropped.

disheartened? Of course I was, and very upset.

But, having had time to mull it over, I decided, I’m not going to give in. I’m going to complete the challenge: I’m going to lose even more weight: I’m going to keep on cycling; and when I can cycle no more, I shall organise and support cycle rides by whatever means I can. The one thing I’m not going to is resign myself to becoming inactive. Neither am I going to quit cycling. Now, it truly is what I live for, and Debbie of course who is just so supportive: I’m not sure what I’d do without her. And then of course there are her two boys, Matt & Nick who carry on my passion for cycling. I love them all though in slightly different ways…..

So, until the Good Lord decides otherwise, cycling shall be my driver for life. After this years ride, I start to prepare for next years ride to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the D-Day Landings. My aim is to find 70 riders. Tall order, but it’s the stake in the ground. Give me nudge if you might be interested.

Must Cycle Harder

Go Podge, Go

The Hungerford Big Wheel

Posted: July 2, 2013 in Cycling, training
Tags: , , , , , ,
0

Ok, so there I am, lying in bed on a Sunday morning, recovering from the previous days cycle ride down to see Mummy, when the 07:30 alarm goes indicating time for me to get up and psyche myself for today’s great adventure. To be honest, after the 50, 60, 70+ mile rides of late, the 26 mile family ride wasn’t really going to be an issue!

It would however be different..

All the banners advertising The BigWheel suggested a start of 10:00 but I suspected otherwise and that 10:45 was nearer the mark: I was right 🙂

Actually I wasn’t right: we started at 10:43 but what’s 2 minutes between friends?

Anyway, Charles, Nick and I arrived to register and pay our fee, plus donations to the causes as well of course (as we weren’t getting sponsorship for this ride). Then came Nicks turn: oh, have I got to pay? ‘Err, yes you do” I replied. Now I should of course known that ‘oh, have I got to pay’ actually meant ‘get your money out’ 🙂 still it was for a good cause and I knew Nick would enjoy the ride! Especially as he’d brought his Colnago EP (all carbon) to do the ride! Mind you, it was decked out with Shimano 😦
So, at the allotted hour of 10:43 we were set off from Hungerford Common (pleased to note that the cows had been moved away: I hate cows) along the back roads. Then it happened, we were directed off the road into a field where we followed a single track across farmland, crossed A338 and into a private estate with yet more tracks. Generally speaking, we were off road more than we were on road. Small wonder then that Nick buggered off with his brother, Matt, to do their own thing. The next time I was to see them was to be back at home.
Down track, up track, along track we went. I was amazed to see just how many homes there actually down these tracks, though we never saw any inhabitants. Curious. Then we came to a long track under low hanging trees all flooded. 2-choices faced me: go through the flood (but what was under the water) or work round a small track made by previous riders (that’s right, we weren’t at the front): I opted for the latter. Trouble is, I didn’t see the outcrop of flint against bare tree roots. Both were slippery and both went in different directions as did and my bike. The bike folded and laid down while I went over the bats into the lake (okay, the ‘lake’ was a puddle) where I found the water to surprisingly warm, as was the day.
Naturally, with the minimum of fuss and just a slight murder of ‘oh bother’ I remounted my steed and carried on. And on I went wondering what was the rattling, scraping sound coming from my rear tyre. Charles quickly appraised me of the situation, my mud / crud guard had loosened and fallen onto the wheel. This was an easy fix, rip it off and shove it in my back pocket on on we went, deeper and deeper into Savernake Forest until at last, the BBQ was espied. Burgers, Hot Dogs, Flap Jack, Cake (all makes), tea, coffee & juice. We had arrived at cycling heaven. And so Charles and I relaxed and pigged out. Well actually, I had two burgers and a very very small piece of cake while Charles tucked into his Veggie burger.
All too soon, it was time to leave, but which way? There were no signs. But, secretly, I’m an expert tracker so we followed the wheel tracks left by previous cyclist (still not at the front). Charles had already warned me about the next bit. Apparently, it was to be a very very steep drop down a grassy bank and though trees. F%#*k me he was right. There were even signs (confirming we were on the right route) advising us to dismount – believe me, I already had. It was steeper than stairs down to a town house cellar but, slippery as well. Down we went through small trees and huge stinging nettles, all desperately trying to sting my wounds from my earlier fall) until at last, we reached level ground.
From here on it was a dioddle, an absolute doddle. All the way, it wad flat, bumpy (very bumpy) but flat. Charles provided a running commentary on who lives where and which greedy cad owns which fields and the scoundrel who gave over the minimum amount to public right of way (I don’t think Charles likes rich land owners) until at last we reached the point from where we started. After that, it was down to thee Downgate for a pint, or two, of rehydration fluids (beer). And then off home to rest an recuperate.
So that was that: 26 miles, mostly off road, which must equate to 40 miles on road.
The next big ride will be the BIG one, to Ligueil.

Go Podge, go

The Final Weekend

Posted: July 1, 2013 in COPD, Cycling, training
Tags: , , ,
0

The weekend just gone was the last weekend: the last chance for any long distance training. So with that in mind, I decided to visit my Mummy on Saturday and as we [the Wheelsforrotary riders] had decided to take part in the Hungerford Big Wheel on the Sunday, I chose go see her by bicycle.
Given that my Mummy lives in Waterlooville it did mean that I would be following most of the roads that we would be taking on the way to the Ferry for Saint Malo next Sunday so it would be a good test for my level of preparedness. As it turned out, I was pretty much ready. I may not be fast but then anybody with COPD isn’t going to be I’m afraid.
My idea was to leave at 08:00 so that I could get down early enough to get Mummy her Fish & Chips, which I know she so enjoys. But, due to my own eternal state of ‘faffing’ I eventually got away just before 09:00.
As I left I thought I’d just see what route my Garmin would send me if I punched in the address and asked to take me there! The lowest I could get mileage down to was 51 miles. The Garmin came up with 42. Having confirmed that I had entered the correct address and that it was taking me to the right place, I set off. Before long I was approaching the ‘foothills’ of Combe Gibbet and then heading skywards. In the style of Micky Flanagan this wasn’t a hill, it was a was a Hill Hill. Eventually, I reached the top, ok, ok, I might have walked the last bit but I’m not sure that walking isn’t harder so I definitely didn’t take the easy option. After that, the rewards were worth the effort: all downhill for at least four miles, His Podgeness was in heaven. Eventually, I reached Hurstbourne Tarrant. Here, I would expect to turn left and head for Whitchurch. Mr Garmin however decided and tried to send me straight through and onwards and Upwards. It was that I espied a sign indicating a 14% climb was ahead. Stuff that I thought, I’m going my way and so turned around and took the turning I would normally have taken. From here on, the Garmin had the occasional sulk as I refused to do as I was told and it had to keep recalculating the route.
Eventually, I came through the picturesque village Cheriton and I knew I was on the last leg but, I had one long slog upwards and upwards and upwards. By now the sun was shining and as beads of sweat dripped off my face onto my constantly turning legs, I slowly climbed until reaching the top iAd the most glorious views over the Meon Valley: it was, for me the most beautiful site to behold. But, time was marching and I had to get Mummy her Fish & Chips so I set off, down, down and down gain. Eventually I reached the valley and knew I just had 10 miles left. 4 miles of switchbacks to Hambledon, a gentle ride to Denmead where all traffic had come to a halt. The blue lights on police cars and ambulance was not a nice sight. The road was closed. I don’t know what happened, neither do I want to know. I just know that somebody’s weekend had been ruined.
As it happened, I needed money so I dismounted and made my was to a service till only to find it was empty, as was the next one further up. Bugger I thought as I made my way on foot through the village until I passed the mayhem in the road where I remounted and set off for my last four miles. After just two I found a till with money in and so cash in hand I raced to the last chippy before Mummy’s. Guess what? it shut at 13:30 and the time 13:38. I always have a Plan B though. There was a KFC across the road.
Two Boneless Banquets in handled I cycled the last mile and arrived at Mummy’s. Job done and, I felt good. I felt even better for knowing that Debbie was driving down so I wouldn’t have to cycle. But, the way I felt and with hindsight I reckon I could have cycled back as well. Maybe next time.
So, that was that. 58 miles! All I had to do now was prepare for the Hungerford Big Wheel on Sunday [next post].
Go Podge, Go

When you have wind, Go with it!

Posted: June 25, 2013 in Cycling, training, Travel
Tags: , , , , , , , , ,
0

After my 74 mile epic last Sunday, I decided [on behalf of the others] that this weeks ride would be a shorter one. I did concede however that hills ought to be included and so the decision was to redo the Gibbet ride of a few weeks ago when I was plagued with punctures. This should give us about 40 miles plus three or four series climbs. We also had the added benefit of very, very strong winds.
After the first mile, straight into the wind, Mike suggested we did a straight out and back flat ride; the logic being straight out into the wind (resistance training) and then straight back (fast riding). Excellent idea I thought and so we stopped and reset the Garmin 800 (cycle sat nav) to take us to the centre of Devizes via Burbage and Pewsey. That done we set off, into the wind, following the purple line on the Garmin for a long 25 mile flat ride out.

  • I’ve used the Garmin (other makes available) for some time and can’t recommend them enough. On a trip through France, we would type in the hotel address we needed to get to and simply did as we’re told, and it never let us down.

    • On reflection, the concept of a flat ride through Wiltshire was perhaps a little flawed, but the scenery is stunning. And, I saw another White Horse carved into the chalk: that’s two in as many weekends.
    After passing Pewsey, poor old Charles shouted ‘PUNCTURE’ at the foot of what looked like being a long, long drag uphill with no cover and all into the wind, but stop we had to do. ‘poor Charles’! Well, he’s been riding his trust 23 year old steel ‘mountain’ bike without a single problem, then we switch him to a Colnago Road Bike. Since then, he’s had punctures every time and his gears needed needed to be adjusted as many times. The latter is more down to me not setting them, but nevertheless it’s ironic.
    Puncture fixed, off we set, onwards and upwards, straight into the wind. The rest of the ride was much of a muchness, head down and pumping pedals, we eventually reached Devizes where Charles asked that we stop while he went into the local Lidl for supplies. Basically this consisted of chocolate, and very yummy it was too.
    So, hunger staved off, we reset the Garmin to take us back home, this time with the wind. Such joy. Hills? Of course we had hills, but who cares when you have such strong winds helping you along, but we deserved it. 25 miles headwind had been good resistance training, now it was time for speed. At one point, Mike was doing 30+ mph trying to catch me: His Podgeness had been released. No more punctures, no hill trouble, just lots of speed. It was so much worth the effort going out.
    Before long, the finish arrived and it was all back to Podge’s Towers for a couple of Speckled Hens and a Desperado for Charles and just chilled in the afternoon sun, yes the sun was coming out to greet us, as we ‘lived the dream’ reflecting on our adventures.
    And that was that, 50 miles clocked up. Our first ride of the year on the 7th April, we did 14 miles and both Charles and I were knackered. Now, here we are, chilling after 50. We are all definitely fitter. Tomorrow, I shall do another 20.

    Go Podge, go.

    Update , I did do the 20 miles the next day.

    Older Entries
    Newer Entries