Riding the track

Another session with the cyclechat boys. After a warm up it was five lots of 10seconds sprint, 10 seconds recover. Then after a recovery period repeat, this time standing up, I tried for the first two but I couldn't sprint and stand up so sat down for the last two. Some more riding on the blue then the lumpy bumps. Followed by a pursuit thing where four went off the front and worked together to get back on the back. The working together thing didn't work that well as none of us knew what speed the others could ride at. After that a 250m sprint, something I am rubbish at. Then a last cool down where Ali and I hooked up with the othe girl and did a nice through and off till the end of the session.

Stopped for pizza on the way home to use up the pizza express voucher that expired today.

Tired but happy now.

Hills = Hurt

A text from Kate yesterday led to a plan for a hilly road ride today. So after getting home from work there was some frantic bike fettling going on so I could take gears. Ruby had no tyres as they had gone on the langster! Kate arrived nearly on time so I wasn't quite ready but she brought her cute puppy with her. Ali was in heaven and her afternoon plans changed to playing with puppy.

We set out up the first hill and I remember that even an unfit Kate flys up hills. She assures me that she was working hard and could nearly taste blood in her mouth. But from where I was with my heart pounding and struggling to breath as she disappeared she made it look easy.

Out towards Blackburn, a skirt round Darwen, back through tockholes and down to Belmont. Then it was time for one last hill before the cafe. The climb was hard but good but coming down to Rivington was interesting to say the least. With ice everywhere, I thought we were nearly clear of it when Kate clattered down. We walked across the cattle grid and then made our way to the barn. Just in time for tea - although a little late for cakes.

Then it was time for all our layers and head back towards Bolton, I was glad to get climbing up Choreley Old Road as then I warmed up and my hands came back to life! But once we were spinning round the ring road I was getting cold again and glad to get home.

My legs decided by 15miles they couldn't climb and I was beyond slow, but its good to get out in the hills again. It's coming back!

An early start

Today I was working over at Macc Forest. After last time I really didn't fancy driving round in rush hour traffic, way to send my anxiety levels up. So after spending an evening making my mountain bike rideable I went to bed with a plan. I was awake from 4am anyway so the plan was easy. Breakfast just after 5am and then I left just after 6am - Ali checked I knew how early it was. The motorway was lovely but it was still dark when I arrived. I read a chapter of my book and then it was light enough. An hours run around the tracks of Macc Forest. I just followed walking trails and although I never got high it was steep up and down a lot and I managed to find 300m of ascent. Relatively slow and data from my garmin is here for any geeks that are interested.

Ran 3.1miles, Cycled 31miles, Consumed 3100kcals

Ran 3.1 miles


Got out this morning, over to the Golf Course by a route I normaly run home. 5 x 100m intervals on the golf course. Struggling to breath, legs screaming, kind of fun!

Cycled 31 miles

Headed off to work, via cooksons for some new brake pads. Having left 20minutes later that should be lots of time! Only Chris kindly got my rear brake working correctly, it hasn't been quite right since I got the bike two weeks ago. 30minutes later I realised I better go and had to push hard all the way to school. Not easy when your legs are screaming!

Consumed 3100kcals*
*Probably an underestimated

A combination of a huge bag of chocolate buttons, mini rolls and heading out for a huge dinner now means that nearly all of these are chocolate based!

31 Years Old today

Spin for the Win

Another monday fixed ride had been planned for today with Jumbly. I had plotted out a route for my garmin that didn't look too hilly. I had slept really badly last night, not helped by my knee playing up (yes you would think I would learn not to go running on tarmac after a bit of time off!) Just as I was about to leave I turned the Garmin on only to be greeted by a low batterey message - not the first time this has happened, it was fully charged when I took it off the charging cradle last night. So I plugged it in for a quic 10minutes thinking I had left myself loads of time as it was. Off I went at 9am and halfway there remembered that we were meeting at Adlington, 3.5miles further than Tesco but I always think it is just 5 minutes further. I pushed hard to try and not be too late, but these days I always seem to be late. Still an average moving speed of 15.4mph impressed me!

As soon as we got moving my watch died, fortunately Jumbly had put it on hers after reading my tweet about a low battery. As this was her first time navigating there were a few wrong turns but we mainly stayed on route. A brief stop at Booths for a toilet break - oh and a snack for me - I found the local odd man, who was having an intense conversation with me, I unfortunately couldn't tell what he was saying! I seem to attract them though.

Onto the pub, not before dragging the bikes up a couple of actually quite hard hills.In fact Jumbly even took us on a bac road at the last bit to add in an extra steep bit! But no walking so a sucess! The pub once again provided lovely food and just as our food arrived the table by the fire was vacated so we quickly moved.

Leaving was hard, it was cold out and it was only when we had gone inside we realised how cold. Extra layers and we headed downhill.me spinning as fast as I could determined not to brake, Jumbly was a little more cautious - or sensible!

Splitting again at Adlington I decided to head down Chorley New Road and then climb up to Moss Bank Way, by this point my legs were sore! Stopped at Asda and then the last bit home. I was tired.

59miles in total so I'm on the way back but I do hurt now!

I went running :-)

Well after another day of falling asleep on the sofa this weekend was looking like a waste of time. But once it got dark I managed to bully myself out of the house with promises of there being noone around. There was but I just ran. 3.5 miles in 34minutes, not fast by most standards but I was working and managed to maintain my pace on the hill back to mine!

Ali's birthday

Yesterday was Ali's birthday and my work for the day was cancelled so I was left with lots of tasks, mainly spoil her rotten. First of all it was get her up and out to work. I had made her a card and she thought I would forget so that put her in a good mood. Then I had to go and get cakes for everyone at her work. I managed even following her list to get twice as much as needed! So lots of cakes brought home for me! I had to drive to get them as I was under instructions that shoving them in a bike to cycle would mean squashed cakes.

Then it was lunch, I took Ali a picnic, making her some wraps as a surprise, they seemed to work ok. It was cold though so I didn't stay till the end.

To end the day we went to Barrocco's for dinner. Pizza followed by pizza for me and lots of wine for both of us.

I was shattered but it was a nice day, Ali now thinks she is old!

Commutimg fixed

After much "should I, shouldn't I?" I decided just to try fixed for the commute, I could always stop and flip the wheel if it was too much! Obviously I meant to leave 15minutes early just in case, this worked out well as when I left 15minutes late I was running on time - as long as I stayed fixed! It went okay and I think I was coping better on the downhills, the one off the Bury road I almost felt comfortable letting my legs fly round uber fast. I am scared what happens when I need to stop - I know use the brakes like I usually would!

Traffic was so bad in Whitefield, do I assume the M60 was closed or something? I ended up getting off and walking along the pavement there was literally nowhere to filter!

Soon I was getting used to the bike, once I remember that scooting wasn't easy as the pedal I was attached to still moved! Into the office and collected files and Ali's birthday present! Then onto the school for a bike fixing morning - my job was mainly to pump up all the tyres and pass the correct tools! Afternoon at work went brilliantly! Felt really confident! So great day.

Rode home and I could feel my back, think that might be all the work files, usual work stuff and Ali's present making my bag heavy.

Home, washed bike and decided night riding was crazy! I have plenty of miles to do getting to work this week and I will have lost a load of fitness!

Now what do I think of fixed? Still not sure! Also think I am slower as go slower down the hills, how fast must I be spinning my legs to get anywhere near 30mph?

Fixie Chicks

A slighty better nights sleep in that I got to sleep before 2am but still waking up all the time. At 6:30ish I gave in and got up. But the difference this morning is I got stuff done, dishes, Ali's sandwiches and Oatie cakes baked (Ali was asking for some last night so it was a nice suprise for her to get up to!) Today was a planned fixed rider with Jumbly meeting at 10:30am. Obviously I decided to attach my lock to the bike, then realised that my pedal couldn't get past it just before I was meant to leave. So as always I was a little late leaving. I used to be such an organised person as well, still timekeeping will improve again I am sure!

Once we met we headed off to the bike shop for some new bars for Jumbly's bike, she fancied drops as she wasn't comfy on the current bars. I pointed out she was balancing on her fingertips and not holding onto them. There I saw the ideal rack for young boys.

After that we went to Jumblys and fitted new bars and I gave a quick lesson in taping bars, the finished result was pretty good actually! Then on the bikes for beer and food! We went to a lovely pub, friendly staff and a fire to dry our gloves by.

Then back to Jumblys via another bike shop, its new but not exciting, to be greeted by Glyn offering hot chocolates. I left as it was getting dark with no front light, opps! Then realised Ali had no front door keys so went via her work to collect her and home.

Big grin on my face all evening, things are stabilising again. Now the question is do I dare try riding fixed to work in rush hour tomorrow?

Riding fixed on the road

Ali was insistent that she wanted to come with me on my first fixed ride so today I was dragged out of the house. First the wheel was flipped round, then on bike. Hmmm try again. Round the back streets near me, cornering slower than I ever have before. Then over to tesco where food and wine were purchased for later and cakes to fuel us on the ride home.

The ride home I was a little braver downhill, not braking before the road even went downhill and at one point felt like my legs were spinning like a fool.

I never forgot to pedal and I am still worried what will happen when I do.