Training ups and downs

Getting in a few rides now, although each shorter than ideal for various reasons. Am hoping to get set up to start cycling to work in Lewes at least a couple of times a week, but this is harder than I thought because of days when I have meetings and need the car - no client is going to be best pleased if I turn up sweaty in tight fitting lycra!

Yesterday I heard the mad 24 hour UK time trial was held. The winning rider was my age and managed an unbelievable 540 miles in 24 hours - insane ! I don't think I would be wanting to see his undercarriage any time soon.

Alps tour August 2011

The itinerary is now out for my August fund raising tour to the Alps and it is more scary than I thought!

The week long challenge runs from Lake Geneva to L’Alpe d’Huez and beyond to raise funds for the Guide Dogs for the Blind. Following in the footsteps of the 2011 Tour De France it incorporates many famous Alpine climbs , including:

• Col De Perret
• Col des Aravis
• Col des Saises
• Cormet de Roseland
• Col de Prie
• La Lechere,
• Col du Madeleine
• Col du Telegraphe
• Col de Galibier
• L’Alpe d’Huez
• Col du Lauteret
• Col D’Izoard

In all over 17,000 metres of climbing during the week. Knowing that now I definitely need to up the training and maybe even get a new bike!

Tour De Weald

Braved the very un-June like damp and windy weather yesterday morning for the Tour De Weald, 103 kms of ups and downs starting and finishing in Burgess Hill. Got off to a good start tagging on to the back of a fast group and following the delectable rump of a young blonde girl - always a good incentive to keep up in my view!

However a few kms in saw me hit a pothole, upsetting the computer and for the next few kms it was stop-start whilst I got it functioning again. Got back into my rhythm over a number of lumpy little climbs near Mayfiield and Heathfield. was going quite well until I went through another rough patch, resulting in the dreaded rear wheel puncture. By now it was drizzling too and it took a good 20 minutes at the side of the road and a Samaritan with a pump before I got going again. After that it was a bit of a slog until the feed station at Chiddingly where a handful of jelly beans worked wonders, enabling me to complete the route back through Ringmer to Burgess Hill in good time, just getting under the 4 hour mark for the ride (my target). Even got a gold certificate this time!

Broken spokes and broken weather

Down here for the past few days, weather has been prefect back in Blighty but pretty mixed here - have managed 4 rides so far, including a not very pleasant one in the pouring rain where the temperature dropped to only 8c on the climb up out of Puivert on the road to Belesta. Had more trouble with another spoke on the real wheel of the Bianchi going on the roller-coaster ride back from Fanjeux. Got it fixed yesterday but the bad news is that the wheel is wearing out and an expensive replacement may be needed soon - certainly before my week in the Alps in August as I need total reliability there. The local bike shop suggested some bullet proof Mavic wheels but at nearly 500 Euros each that is not a decision to be taken lightly. I shall see what Bianchi ones are available at Wildside in Tunbridge Wells. As a result resorted to the number 2 bike today, the Trek which I actually think is faster and more comfortable on the flat, although the gearing makes a steep incline less pallitable. Will do some more field testing tommorrow if the weather holds.