On Sunday the wind picked up and started to blow our trees and pot plants around our garden. Cycling in through Green Park today and there's large amount of detris in the car parks along the Mall. Seriously big sticks as well - like big enough to buckle a wheel and cause an involuntary dismount if you ran over one extra large lump lying on the pavement. Lots of dried seeds and tree flotsam in the gutters too. We do need a big thunder storm to wash this rubbish away, and soon (maybe tonight, maybe).
Face mask is therefore a totally inspired decision. Not only does it keep the obvious rubbish out of my lungs, but I feel that I'm not sucking in so much of the car fumes that I'm oxygen poor by the time I reach my destination.
Coming home and the wind was even stronger; a couple of times it felt like I was about to be blown into the Thames!
That's another 40km chalked off this week - I'm aiming for three consecutive rides totalling 120km this week and then a weekend excursion of around 70km to get myself into the swing of being on the road.
Monday, May 23, 2011
Saturday, May 21, 2011
There and back again
This week, three days of 40km cycles and a pick up in my average pace. I'm still able to keep at 25 km/h as I head home into a stiff evening breeze blowing down the Thames and along the Embankment. It's been a struggle to get this basic level of fitness, six weeks of huffing up and puffing down hills. I feel this week is a real milestone in sorting out my fitness.
Total time out on Friday was just under 50 minutes - fully 5 minutes quicker than a month ago and this included having to stop for more than the usual number of traffic lights.
Next goal is to cycle up to Notting Hill Gate without dropping below 25 km/h; once I can do that I'm set. If I leave after atbout 7:15am there are plenty of trucks heading into the West End which means ducking and diving around parked food deliveries and drivers suddenly popping out into your path.
Hyde Park in the evening is getting dangerous; Boris Bikers are often like an escargatoire of snails. They move slowly in front of you, gently weaving back and forth as you approach them and sometimes veer directly into your path! They mostly travel two abreast so they can chat with their cycling partner. Pulling out to get round them is difficult, especially when someone is steaming down the hill towards you. With the other side of the path full of pedestrians, I often end up travelling at 10km/h while waiting for the traffic to subside.
Fundraising is going well; I've added the Just Giving widget to my home page and my preparations feel all the more worthwhile as your generours donations arrive. This really helps me get out of bed and get onto my bike!
Total time out on Friday was just under 50 minutes - fully 5 minutes quicker than a month ago and this included having to stop for more than the usual number of traffic lights.
Next goal is to cycle up to Notting Hill Gate without dropping below 25 km/h; once I can do that I'm set. If I leave after atbout 7:15am there are plenty of trucks heading into the West End which means ducking and diving around parked food deliveries and drivers suddenly popping out into your path.
Hyde Park in the evening is getting dangerous; Boris Bikers are often like an escargatoire of snails. They move slowly in front of you, gently weaving back and forth as you approach them and sometimes veer directly into your path! They mostly travel two abreast so they can chat with their cycling partner. Pulling out to get round them is difficult, especially when someone is steaming down the hill towards you. With the other side of the path full of pedestrians, I often end up travelling at 10km/h while waiting for the traffic to subside.
Fundraising is going well; I've added the Just Giving widget to my home page and my preparations feel all the more worthwhile as your generours donations arrive. This really helps me get out of bed and get onto my bike!
Monday, May 16, 2011
Hayfever
We could do with some rain around these parts. It's been windy and dry for April and May, meaning a load of bitesize flotsam from the flora and fauna is available to eat whenever you step outdoors.
After one ride home the other week, I decided a face mask was in order; I'd spent most of the evening coughing and spluttering whilst trying to clear out whatever had lodged itself in my lungs. Reminded me of the time we went to Morocco; lot's of dust everywhere and a well developed nagging cough.
Unfortunately come Friday evening and my eyes are sore and nose blocked - yes, it's hayfever big time. First bout ever for me and I was most unhappy about it. Half a box of tissues over the weekend and not sleeping properly. Deeply unimpressed, although I now have first hand sympathy for what the other half of the family suffer from.
Another 40km today. Good time this morning, though I suspect it was wind assisted given the head wind on the way home. Kept at around 30 km/h in the way in with a high cadence and my legs didn't feel rubbery by the time I arrived at work. Home leg was harder, it's also uphill most of the way, but I managed 25 km/h although there were a few tricky rises where I couldn't quite keep the pace up that I was looking for.
To keep me on track, I think of staying in front of the "voiture balai"; although no one chasing me it helps having a mental image of being swept up and out of the circuit if I can't match the pace I've set myself.
After one ride home the other week, I decided a face mask was in order; I'd spent most of the evening coughing and spluttering whilst trying to clear out whatever had lodged itself in my lungs. Reminded me of the time we went to Morocco; lot's of dust everywhere and a well developed nagging cough.
Unfortunately come Friday evening and my eyes are sore and nose blocked - yes, it's hayfever big time. First bout ever for me and I was most unhappy about it. Half a box of tissues over the weekend and not sleeping properly. Deeply unimpressed, although I now have first hand sympathy for what the other half of the family suffer from.
Another 40km today. Good time this morning, though I suspect it was wind assisted given the head wind on the way home. Kept at around 30 km/h in the way in with a high cadence and my legs didn't feel rubbery by the time I arrived at work. Home leg was harder, it's also uphill most of the way, but I managed 25 km/h although there were a few tricky rises where I couldn't quite keep the pace up that I was looking for.
To keep me on track, I think of staying in front of the "voiture balai"; although no one chasing me it helps having a mental image of being swept up and out of the circuit if I can't match the pace I've set myself.
Friday, May 13, 2011
4 days on a bicycle
My decision to spend 4 days travelling 500 km to raise money for the Alzheimers society seemed sensible enough. After all, you're only doing 125 km a day; an avergate 20km an hour means you should spend about 6 hours in the saddle and the rest of the day will be spent with long lunches and relaxing evenings from about 5pm.
I'd forgotten about the bit that requires you to be fit enough to spend this time sat on a very hard object. That's right, the training bit. The last couple of weeks I've managed 40km a day, 20km each way to work and back, three times a week. Good progress, I hope. In June I'm aiming to put in a couple of late evening rides that add about 20km to the homeward trip.
This week I needed a new rear tyre, the old one had covered about 1,000km so it was pretty thin by the time I dumped it in the bin at the bike shop. Amazingly, the journey home was much easier! Guess I better read more of my bicycle maintenance book before I head off.
If you want to sponsor me, go to my link at to donate to this worthy cause!
I'm paying for the trip myself, so all your donations go directly to the charity.
I'd forgotten about the bit that requires you to be fit enough to spend this time sat on a very hard object. That's right, the training bit. The last couple of weeks I've managed 40km a day, 20km each way to work and back, three times a week. Good progress, I hope. In June I'm aiming to put in a couple of late evening rides that add about 20km to the homeward trip.
This week I needed a new rear tyre, the old one had covered about 1,000km so it was pretty thin by the time I dumped it in the bin at the bike shop. Amazingly, the journey home was much easier! Guess I better read more of my bicycle maintenance book before I head off.
If you want to sponsor me, go to my link at to donate to this worthy cause!
I'm paying for the trip myself, so all your donations go directly to the charity.
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