Friday, January 19, 2007
My Training Goals
Well guys, the London to Paris ride is getting nearer. The months will soon whizz by and before I know it I'll be mounting the bike with 300 miles of anglo-french tarmac between me, the Eiffel Tower and probably a whole wall, a bit of roof, some books and maybe a new toilet, in the new school in Malawi...
I'm starting to worry as I'm still only averaging 12 mile rides, mainly due to time constraints, altthough the record is 24 miles. So, I've created a target plan with some realistic goals for me to achieve:
January - several 12-15 milers and at least one 20 mile ride (get back into the swing of things gradually)
February - 2 x 20 mile rides, 1 x 30 miler, lots of 12-15 milers
March - as above but a 40 miler as well
April - the first 50 miler - covering almost the entire East Suffolk cycle circuit
May - another 50 miler and several 30-40 milers
June - the big one. I'm going to go for a 70 miler. I also want to do a couple of relatively big rides (30/40 miles) on two consecutive days to help improve my recovery times.
So those are the goals. I'll keep you posted as to how I get on...
I'm starting to worry as I'm still only averaging 12 mile rides, mainly due to time constraints, altthough the record is 24 miles. So, I've created a target plan with some realistic goals for me to achieve:
January - several 12-15 milers and at least one 20 mile ride (get back into the swing of things gradually)
February - 2 x 20 mile rides, 1 x 30 miler, lots of 12-15 milers
March - as above but a 40 miler as well
April - the first 50 miler - covering almost the entire East Suffolk cycle circuit
May - another 50 miler and several 30-40 milers
June - the big one. I'm going to go for a 70 miler. I also want to do a couple of relatively big rides (30/40 miles) on two consecutive days to help improve my recovery times.
So those are the goals. I'll keep you posted as to how I get on...
A Long Walk Home
Now that Christmas is out of the way I've started training again in earnest. When the weather is too wet, I'm determined to keep training, so I've started using the rowing machine when the rain's pelting down.
I've also got out on the bike a few times this week clocking up a modest 11.6 miles the first time out which isn't bad considering I'd had a two week break from cycling and had half a million kilograms of turkey slushing around my intestine...
The last time I went out I was storming along. I wore my iPOD whilst cycling for the first time and it was working wonders as I was reaching record speeds and counting off the miles in record time. After six and a half miles though disaster struck. Back tyre went flat. So there I was, middle of nowhere in the freezing cold, almost five miles from home. I tried to ride but got worried about the rim on the wheel getting damaged so began to push the bike along. Now anyone who's worn road cycling shoes will know this is no easy feat. You have to walk on the balls of your feet and look like a penguin. After about a mile I was starting to get desperate. The heat of excercise had long since left my muscles and the thin fleece cycling top wasn't keeping me very warm. Luckily, a pick-up truck went by and, for the first time in my life, I stuck out my thumb and hitched a lift. They stopped, I chucked the bike in the back then climbed into the cab. They were life savers and dropped me off a few yards from home, despite the fact they were going in the opposite direction. The jibes like "in my day we carried puncture repair kits with us" were worth it - thanks guys whoever you are....
I think I've now secured two new corporate sponsors for the big Paris ride in June. I'm not going to reveal anything yet but watch this space for who they are and how much they're coing to contribute. I still think the £2,500 target is going to be tough, but £1,000 is quite realistic and a very good donation to Ripple, especially considering the charities will get it all as I'm paying my own expenses on the trip...
I've now got a donation meter on the left of this page so you can keep tabs on how I'm doing...
Speak to you again soon...
I've also got out on the bike a few times this week clocking up a modest 11.6 miles the first time out which isn't bad considering I'd had a two week break from cycling and had half a million kilograms of turkey slushing around my intestine...
The last time I went out I was storming along. I wore my iPOD whilst cycling for the first time and it was working wonders as I was reaching record speeds and counting off the miles in record time. After six and a half miles though disaster struck. Back tyre went flat. So there I was, middle of nowhere in the freezing cold, almost five miles from home. I tried to ride but got worried about the rim on the wheel getting damaged so began to push the bike along. Now anyone who's worn road cycling shoes will know this is no easy feat. You have to walk on the balls of your feet and look like a penguin. After about a mile I was starting to get desperate. The heat of excercise had long since left my muscles and the thin fleece cycling top wasn't keeping me very warm. Luckily, a pick-up truck went by and, for the first time in my life, I stuck out my thumb and hitched a lift. They stopped, I chucked the bike in the back then climbed into the cab. They were life savers and dropped me off a few yards from home, despite the fact they were going in the opposite direction. The jibes like "in my day we carried puncture repair kits with us" were worth it - thanks guys whoever you are....
I think I've now secured two new corporate sponsors for the big Paris ride in June. I'm not going to reveal anything yet but watch this space for who they are and how much they're coing to contribute. I still think the £2,500 target is going to be tough, but £1,000 is quite realistic and a very good donation to Ripple, especially considering the charities will get it all as I'm paying my own expenses on the trip...
I've now got a donation meter on the left of this page so you can keep tabs on how I'm doing...
Speak to you again soon...
