Two trails down, lunch time now. Jacket served the correct way, beans then cheese.
Thursday, 14 August 2008
Tuesday, 12 August 2008
Since 24/12 I have been mostly cycling
I sort of promised myself some time off after 24/12, to have a bit of a play on the bike and generally relax a bit. Thing is, I've entered another 12 hour solo so it was back to crating and following a training plan again. I had a hard week last week, including being back in the garage on the turbo trainer. It still hurts so much more than riding a real bike in real life. I managed to cram seven bike rides and three gym sessions in to seven days. Yesterday was a well deserved rest day (so only a gym session), and today I'm saving myself... for Wales.
That's right, off to wet wet wet Wales for four days of riding trail centres. I thought it was about time I visited some and managed to convince a couple of other to come along. I'm looking forward to it, with a minor amount of trepidation about falling off and trying to remember to treat it as a holiday rather than a race.
On the subject of races, Darren is now in Canada, two stages down on the Transrockies... best of luck for the rest of the race!
That's right, off to wet wet wet Wales for four days of riding trail centres. I thought it was about time I visited some and managed to convince a couple of other to come along. I'm looking forward to it, with a minor amount of trepidation about falling off and trying to remember to treat it as a holiday rather than a race.
On the subject of races, Darren is now in Canada, two stages down on the Transrockies... best of luck for the rest of the race!
Wednesday, 30 July 2008
Twentyfour12
I think I've recovered sufficiently enough to write about the 2412 now. Not that I was particularly broken (OK, a bit broken), more that I just haven't got round to it.
So...
1. The course. Brilliant. Obviously helped that it was hot and dry, but it's the first enduro I've done where some of the sections are so much fun that you want to do them again. The bombholes followed by Cottage Return...mmm, swoopy.
2. The crash. There had to be one (one and an eighth really). First lap too, washed out on a shaley track and removed 25sq cm of skin from my left hip. Ouch. By the time I took my shorts off, they were a bit stuck to the wound. I blame the fact that my tyres hadn't warmed up. That's what an F1 driver would claim anyway.
3. The eating. I reckon 10 litres of Torq Orange, plus one Torq bar, a few Cheddar biscuits and about a litre of Elete-dosed water (electrolye mix). Felt OK actually, my carbo loading strategy much have been about right. Oddly didn't feel that hungry imediately after, but at 6am the next morning I was raiding my food box in the tent for the free Clif Bar we'd been given.
4. The result. 29th out of 57 I think. I basically started riding at midday, and stopped at 9.17pm. I paused for about a minute every two laps to take on more drink, and it took me about three minutes to fit my lights. I'd been on the edge of cramp for about 5 hours, but the main reason I stopped was that I was starting to lose concentration on the technical stuff. I'd been getting faster on those sections each lap, so when I started to make silly mistakes on lap 10 I thought it was probably a bit risky to carry on. I was probably about 11th at this point...
5. The learns. Remember that you've bought caffiene laced energy gels and use them when your concentration is going. Try and have someone telling you where you are in the field. Don't wipe out on lap one and have to spend 9 hours sprinkled in blood.
Will I do another one...? Wait and see.
So...
1. The course. Brilliant. Obviously helped that it was hot and dry, but it's the first enduro I've done where some of the sections are so much fun that you want to do them again. The bombholes followed by Cottage Return...mmm, swoopy.
2. The crash. There had to be one (one and an eighth really). First lap too, washed out on a shaley track and removed 25sq cm of skin from my left hip. Ouch. By the time I took my shorts off, they were a bit stuck to the wound. I blame the fact that my tyres hadn't warmed up. That's what an F1 driver would claim anyway.
3. The eating. I reckon 10 litres of Torq Orange, plus one Torq bar, a few Cheddar biscuits and about a litre of Elete-dosed water (electrolye mix). Felt OK actually, my carbo loading strategy much have been about right. Oddly didn't feel that hungry imediately after, but at 6am the next morning I was raiding my food box in the tent for the free Clif Bar we'd been given.
4. The result. 29th out of 57 I think. I basically started riding at midday, and stopped at 9.17pm. I paused for about a minute every two laps to take on more drink, and it took me about three minutes to fit my lights. I'd been on the edge of cramp for about 5 hours, but the main reason I stopped was that I was starting to lose concentration on the technical stuff. I'd been getting faster on those sections each lap, so when I started to make silly mistakes on lap 10 I thought it was probably a bit risky to carry on. I was probably about 11th at this point...
5. The learns. Remember that you've bought caffiene laced energy gels and use them when your concentration is going. Try and have someone telling you where you are in the field. Don't wipe out on lap one and have to spend 9 hours sprinkled in blood.
Will I do another one...? Wait and see.
Saturday, 26 July 2008
The all new super Gazebo
So here it is, in all its blue and white glory. Window, door, pointy bit at the top.
Wednesday, 23 July 2008
Sunday, 20 July 2008
Less than a week to go...
This time next week my 12 hour race will be over, someway or another! I've got one hard training session this week, a couple of recovery rides, and lots of eating.
I have to say, I've been doing the eating thing anyway. The holiday really didn't help as I'm not a kilo heavier. Ah well, I'm sure I'll work it off.
The weird thing is looking at my training plan, and seeing nothing after next Saturday. Completely blank. My intention is to spend August messing around on the bike really - there is a vague plan to spend a few days riding in Wales, plus places like Swinley appeal. This does all depend on summer arriving though. There is sunshine this morning so maybe that's the start of it.
I have to say, I've been doing the eating thing anyway. The holiday really didn't help as I'm not a kilo heavier. Ah well, I'm sure I'll work it off.
The weird thing is looking at my training plan, and seeing nothing after next Saturday. Completely blank. My intention is to spend August messing around on the bike really - there is a vague plan to spend a few days riding in Wales, plus places like Swinley appeal. This does all depend on summer arriving though. There is sunshine this morning so maybe that's the start of it.
Wednesday, 16 July 2008
Friday, 11 July 2008
Monday, 7 July 2008
Saturday, 5 July 2008
Somehow I'm getting fatter
Actually, it's no mystery - I'm eating more and not riding enough. I seem to have let my monk-like discipline (OK, it was never that bad), probably because I've been very busy at work the past couple of weeks and feel that pastries, muffins and beer will somehow help.
I'm now on holiday for a week, so I can't see it getting much better. I am going to be doing quite a bit of driving though, which will limit the beer, and I am taking a bike away with me. Hopefully mobile blogging will come to my rescue again, expect lots of random shots from my phone.
I'm now on holiday for a week, so I can't see it getting much better. I am going to be doing quite a bit of driving though, which will limit the beer, and I am taking a bike away with me. Hopefully mobile blogging will come to my rescue again, expect lots of random shots from my phone.
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