Training Ride with Group

Today was the first training ride I could get to with the group I will be going to Hamm with. There were nine of us altogether but that included one support rider and a guy from the Sports group who is a speedy rider but came along as support too. Our other support rider, Richard, was recovering from flu so came along in his car to support us.

Mike, our beloved leader, said not to worry about speed but to remember about signalling and pointing out things like potholes for whoever was behind you.

We set off from Guiseley station and before we had got a mile I couldn't see Mike and John, so much for not worrying about speed. The rest of the group were behind me still at this point. We flew down a long hill and into Burley in Wharfedale where there were a few undulations and then out onto the main road into Ilkley. At this point I was till third or fourth in the group. Mike stopped to see how everyone was doing and gave us a little pep talk. Then it was off again. Fairly flat along this road but then a flipping hill stuck it's neck out and caught me. The group sailed past and I assumed I was last apart from Adrian, the borrowed support rider. I laboured up the hill to find them all waiting for me there and I stopped to get a drink but then Adrian and Dean caught up with us. This surprised me as I didn't realise Dean was behind me.

We set off again and hit a couple of more hills along the way which I trawled up sounding like Darth Vader. I'm still coughing like mad too. We eventually arrived at Bolton Abbey and went down to the Cavendish Pavilion where I promptly bought a coffee and some flapjack (as fuel for the return journey you understand).

We sat and chatted a while and got to know a little more about my fellow cyclists. Then all too soon we were setting off back. Today was very cold but absolutely gorgeous. A very bright, sunny Winter's day with blue skies.

Not long after setting off back Dean had to bail out as he had severe cramp in his legs probably due to the fact that he had only had an apple for breakfast, silly boy. Richard put him in the car and he had a nice warm journey back.

Coming back we had the undulations of the outward journey and virtually everyone disappeared over the horizon. One of the group, Peter, took it on himself to stay with me. Not sure if this was for my sake or just so that he wouldn't look so bad going up the long hill. Sorry that sounds ungrateful, it wasn't meant like that. Anyway after we had passed Burley in Wharfedale there is a long unforgiving but not too steep hill, a roundabout, then more hill. I managed it all the way up without having to get off. Peter cycled behind me which I found a bit odd as normally if you are helping someone you cycle in front so that the other person can slipstream you. Anyway after the roundabout the flapjack must have hit my legs as I then managed to start pedalling quite fast up the hill. Caught up with the rest of the group at the top and then I led the way back to the station. I only did that so that I can say I was out in front at least part of the way.

Amazingly I didn't feel too bad at all.

Mike has been saying for a while that he has a Claude Butler road bike that would suit me so I arranged to follow him home to pick it up. Flipping heck that feels light. I haven't ridden it yet but I have put it on the bike bars at the back of the car and I was amazed how little it weighed. If all goes well with it I might buy it off him as he is wanting to sell it.

More Swimming

Went swimming at lunchtime today. Spenborough pool is longer than the one I was at yesterday, it's 33m. I was a bit late getting there so only managed 48 lengths (a mile)in 42.5 minutes. It's not usually busy on a Thursday lunchtime and today was no exception.

This evening I went circuit training at a school called Grange. Not the nicest of places but Chris is a really good instructor. There were only four of us there tonight. I worked hard despite a few coughing episodes.

Working on my fitness

Well I have been suffering with a really bad cough since last week. Consequently I haven't really been feeling brilliant and haven't done very much in the way of exercise.

Monday evening I was fully intending to go swimming at the pool at the top of my road. However my 19 year old stepson was in a car crash and wrote off his van. He was lucky to get out with a few bruises as I actually saw the vehicle hanging over the embankment of the road I come home on. The next hour or so was a flurry of phone calls from his mum, to his dad, from his brother etc. So by the time the dust settled it was too late to go swimming.

Today I planned to go for a bike ride. After I took my daughter to school I came back coughing like mad because it was cold outside. The weather was grey and windy so I decided not to go today. I went to Aquafit instead. Chris who takes the class is also my Circuit Training Instructor and is very good at her job.

An hour of Aquafit later I had a chat with Chris and then went for a swim. I did 30 lengths and then got out. I didn't do so bad really.

Training Commences At Last

I am cycling to Hamm in Germany and back in May and training has so far been really sporadic. I did start going on a few cycle rides before Christmas. The first one was 10 miles and I had forgotten how hard I find hills. I managed 21 miles not long before Christmas but then the snows came!

On Christmas Eve I did something to my knee as I bent to poke the fire and it hurt all Christmas Day. Then by complete coincidence I did something to my back on Christmas Night as I was dealing with the fire again. What with the snow and the stupid injuries I wasn't able to go out again until yesterday.

I am going to Hamm with a group of other riders and we will have Support Riders and Support Drivers. The Support Riders are there to encourage you in the training and keep you going when you are falgging on the real ride. The Support Drivers are there to carry luggage in the van, to load up bikes if you have to pack in the riding due to injury or whatever and to carry supplies for us. I believe there will be a van and a people carrier at least.

I started coughing mid week which seems to have turned into a chest infection and today I have been almost non-stop sneezing.

Friday I met up with a friend and we went to a Spinning class for the first time. I managed about half of it! My legs really didn't want to know. We then did a short session on a treadmill - about 15 minutes. Then Emma had to go to pick up her son so I stayed on at the gym and had a swim, jacuzzi and sauna.

Yesterday I was supposed to meet up with my group of cyclists but I got there a bit late and they had gone. So I took myself over to a place I know and joined the Leeds-Liverpool canal towpath. Blimey that was tougher than I expected. I did 12 miles out. Stopped for a drink and then returned again. Thought my legs were going to fall off and boy did my backside ache despite the padded cycle pants I was wearing.

I felt wiped out for the rest of the day and I only managed an average of 9mph.

I did this ride two years ago and it was an uphill struggle to get fit but i did 540 miles in the week including one day when I did 108 miles. How the hell did I ever manage that? This time the training is going to be harder as we started training later and the ride is a month earlier. I am also 1.5 stones heavier than I was then.