Well tonight has been the last scheduled traing session with me and Tony tackling the Warrington loop for the final time.
The first time we rode it we took 1 hour 43 minutes but tonight we took 1 hour 12 minutes - it was one of those zen like experiences for me where the legs are powering through the pedal stroke but you feel no pain or effort.
The next ride with anyone else from the team will be when we leave Lands End.
Tuesday, 31 May 2011
Thursday, 26 May 2011
Still fighting the technology
Following on from my previous post I'm still not much further on with the GPS navigation.
Found some software called OsmAnd which lets you use you own .gpx files to navigate with but whilst it does give you turn by turn instructions it is quite clunky and has a really annoying 'radar' shadow that shows your direction. The other fun thing is it appears to be Russian.
I have a meeting with Vodafone and RIM about what devices they can offer us which may meet our needs so will report back on what they suggest but obviously it has to be very, very bike friendly.
Found some software called OsmAnd which lets you use you own .gpx files to navigate with but whilst it does give you turn by turn instructions it is quite clunky and has a really annoying 'radar' shadow that shows your direction. The other fun thing is it appears to be Russian.
I have a meeting with Vodafone and RIM about what devices they can offer us which may meet our needs so will report back on what they suggest but obviously it has to be very, very bike friendly.
Wednesday, 25 May 2011
Two weeks to go
Well this time in two weeks we'll be 43 minutes into our advanture and I'll be cycling somewhere between Lands End and Cambourne which is my teams first leg.
Training is progressing well with another visit to the Kirkstone Pass scheduled in for the weekend and a final Tuesday night ride next week before tapering right down.
We all know the schedule for our ride and know which days we have a 6am start and which days have a midnight finish - I've not quite worked out which one of those has the potential to be the worst yet.
We've also had a couple of corporate sponsors come along and offer us their support so thanks to Cable & Wireless and InfoSys.
I'm currently busy sorting out the GPS side of things. We have live GPS tracking sorted out for each team of cyclists and the support vehicles but the main issue now is navigation for the cycling teams - despite the claim of 'you can get an app for that' we haven't found anything yet that will let us use our GXP files of the route and give us turn by turn directions on an Android device.
Answers on a postcode please.
Training is progressing well with another visit to the Kirkstone Pass scheduled in for the weekend and a final Tuesday night ride next week before tapering right down.
We all know the schedule for our ride and know which days we have a 6am start and which days have a midnight finish - I've not quite worked out which one of those has the potential to be the worst yet.
We've also had a couple of corporate sponsors come along and offer us their support so thanks to Cable & Wireless and InfoSys.
I'm currently busy sorting out the GPS side of things. We have live GPS tracking sorted out for each team of cyclists and the support vehicles but the main issue now is navigation for the cycling teams - despite the claim of 'you can get an app for that' we haven't found anything yet that will let us use our GXP files of the route and give us turn by turn directions on an Android device.
Answers on a postcode please.
Wednesday, 18 May 2011
The Blazing Saddles Team (-1)
From L to R Pete Rogers, Tim Stanley, Tom Carberry, Me, Sam Dale, Wayne Flanagan, Mike Naden, Tony Sweeney and Gary Barlow.
Paul Smith is the only one missing as he is recovering after trying to eat a large chunk of the Lake District.
Sunday, 15 May 2011
Why do I worry so much?
Well this weekend has seen all of the Blazing Saddles team except one up the Lakes for two rides and a night of mainly male bonding.
We were based in one of United Utilities offices in Thirlmere all sleeping on the floor but it was a great laugh.
Friday night was a 20 miler so should have been really enjoyable but the hammer went down from the off with no warm up whatsoever. The descent into Keswick was a bit exciting as I ran out of road and someone else tried to bunny hop onto the pavement when the road ran out but didn't get their rear wheel up quick enough so knocked it out of true. Eventually the threatened rain came with a vengeance soaking us the core before having chance to don our waterproofs. I struggled with the ride all the way and it was noticed.
After a quick shower we hit the pub for food and beer (except me who is off the booze and was therefore the driver) before retiring lately to bed only to be entertained by Pete trying to pump his airbed up for ages - turns out the electric pumps work much better in blow rather than suck mode!!!!!
Saturday morning came far to soon along with the feeling of doom and failure of knowing I had to drag my 17 stone frame up the Kirkstone Pass. This time we set out at a sensible pace and the climb up Dunmail Raise was quite enjoyable although my legs didn't feel great. A brief stop in Ambleside to argue about buying butties was the last rest before hitting the 1500 climb to the top of Kirkstone. In short it wasn't as bad as I thought - yes I struggled to get a rhythm going and the first 500ft took an age but the other 1000ft flew by in a shower of sweat. After a wait at the top we descended but a heavy headwind kept the speeds down to the low 40mph region before a break in Glenridding. We then had another 1000ft of climbing from the shore of Ullswater to the Penrith to Keswick road but this was much more my kind of climb - one steady gradient before we were back to the Old Sawmill.
24 hours on my legs ache but not as bad as they have done before and I feel incredibly smug as nothing LEJOG can through at me can stop me now.
Out of interest my average heart rate for Fridays ride was 148bpm and for the Kirkstone Pass ride it was 133bpm - shows how crazy Fridays pace was.
We were based in one of United Utilities offices in Thirlmere all sleeping on the floor but it was a great laugh.
Friday night was a 20 miler so should have been really enjoyable but the hammer went down from the off with no warm up whatsoever. The descent into Keswick was a bit exciting as I ran out of road and someone else tried to bunny hop onto the pavement when the road ran out but didn't get their rear wheel up quick enough so knocked it out of true. Eventually the threatened rain came with a vengeance soaking us the core before having chance to don our waterproofs. I struggled with the ride all the way and it was noticed.
After a quick shower we hit the pub for food and beer (except me who is off the booze and was therefore the driver) before retiring lately to bed only to be entertained by Pete trying to pump his airbed up for ages - turns out the electric pumps work much better in blow rather than suck mode!!!!!
Saturday morning came far to soon along with the feeling of doom and failure of knowing I had to drag my 17 stone frame up the Kirkstone Pass. This time we set out at a sensible pace and the climb up Dunmail Raise was quite enjoyable although my legs didn't feel great. A brief stop in Ambleside to argue about buying butties was the last rest before hitting the 1500 climb to the top of Kirkstone. In short it wasn't as bad as I thought - yes I struggled to get a rhythm going and the first 500ft took an age but the other 1000ft flew by in a shower of sweat. After a wait at the top we descended but a heavy headwind kept the speeds down to the low 40mph region before a break in Glenridding. We then had another 1000ft of climbing from the shore of Ullswater to the Penrith to Keswick road but this was much more my kind of climb - one steady gradient before we were back to the Old Sawmill.
24 hours on my legs ache but not as bad as they have done before and I feel incredibly smug as nothing LEJOG can through at me can stop me now.
Out of interest my average heart rate for Fridays ride was 148bpm and for the Kirkstone Pass ride it was 133bpm - shows how crazy Fridays pace was.
Sunday, 8 May 2011
Good training and bad luck
Last Sunday the team had a nice four and a half training ride with a few steep hills thrown in for good measure.
I really seem to be on top of the fuelling too now - god bless fig rolls and peanut butter sandwiches but still trying to work out the best way of carrying more than two bottles as hydration seems to be my weak point.
On Tuesday I did another hilly ride around north Lancashire but started to experience pain in my left thumb. Over the next couple of days the pain got worse so I ended up at the hospital. I've torn the ulnar collateral ligament in my thumb so have to try and rest it which is easier said than done so yesterday it was the static bike in the gym for a 31:30 10 mile time trial and today going to see how much the rollers hurt.
Next weekend we have a training camp in the Lake District which will include a trip up the Kirkstone Pass which should be fun - I'm a little concerned about my thumb as currently can't hold the hoods so it'll be seated climbing for me.
We're still looking for a nutrition partner for LEJOG but hope to have an announcement soon.
I really seem to be on top of the fuelling too now - god bless fig rolls and peanut butter sandwiches but still trying to work out the best way of carrying more than two bottles as hydration seems to be my weak point.
On Tuesday I did another hilly ride around north Lancashire but started to experience pain in my left thumb. Over the next couple of days the pain got worse so I ended up at the hospital. I've torn the ulnar collateral ligament in my thumb so have to try and rest it which is easier said than done so yesterday it was the static bike in the gym for a 31:30 10 mile time trial and today going to see how much the rollers hurt.
Next weekend we have a training camp in the Lake District which will include a trip up the Kirkstone Pass which should be fun - I'm a little concerned about my thumb as currently can't hold the hoods so it'll be seated climbing for me.
We're still looking for a nutrition partner for LEJOG but hope to have an announcement soon.
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