Friday 30th April *Road*

Took my first solo ride around North Leics this afternoon due to me getting a GPS device for the bike, enabling me to venture out in different directions rather than the usual jaunts towards Burton and back. I'm still getting to grips with the Satmap Active 10 but have managed to upload a few routes to it and beginning to get to grips with the features it has including the ability to take screen shots at any moment.

Trip log of today's ride

Humour me whilst I get used to the functions, there won't be screen shots for every ride dont' worry.... I may be tempted to post up the longer rides and ones with a meatier profile though :)




Distance = 44.0 miles
Time = 2 hrs 36 mins
Ave Speed = 16.9 mph
Top Speed = 31.9 mph
Hillometer = 24.4 ft/mile
Heart Rate High = 156
Heart Rate Ave = 123
Weather = Overcast/Showers, 14c

2010
MTB = 80.1
Road Bike = 869.0
Total Mileage = 949.1

Wednesday 28th April *Road*

Pretty much followed Mondays route but backwards and adding Kegworth to the ride home making 40 miles, again took it reasonably steady. Saw plenty of VCLE members out on their Wednesday jaunt as well as a fellow Beeston CC member out for ride.



Distance = 40.7 miles
Time = 2 hrs 25 mins
Ave Speed = 16.8 mph
Top Speed = 36.4 mph
Hillometer = 27.5 ft/mile
Heart Rate High = 170
Heart Rate Ave = 135
Weather = Overcast, 19c

2010
MTB = 80.1
Road Bike = 825.0
Total Mileage = 905.1

Monday 26th April *Road*

After a heavy week last week and carrying a slight twinge in my right knee I'm having a 'steady' week this week, still need to get the mileage done (over 100) if possible but take my time doing it this week.

The route was a basic version of the run out to Milton and back through Foremark & Ingleby, cracking weather for the ride, tan points are always a bonus.

View route on Bikely

Distance = 35.9 miles
Time = 2 hrs 12 mins
Ave Speed = 16.3 mph
Top Speed = 29.5 mph
Hillometer = 29.5 ft/mile
Heart Rate High = 169
Heart Rate Ave = 132
Weather = Sunny, 18c

2010
MTB = 80.1
Road Bike = 784.3
Total Mileage = 864.4

Friday 23rd April *Road*

Took the Hilly course on again, proved a little tasty after a big week on the bike, 100 miles in the legs already since Monday plus 30 hilly ones today. Went well and under 2 hours which was pleasing, but as said Cloves and Drum felt a little harder today.



After this weeks mileage I'm planning on taking it a little easier next week and aim for around 100 easier miles.

Distance = 30.0 miles
Time = 1 hrs 59 mins
Ave Speed = 15.1 mph
Top Speed = 35.3 mph
Hillometer = 39.0 ft/mile
Heart Rate High = 179
Heart Rate Ave = 136
Weather = Sunny, 16c

2010
MTB = 80.1
Road Bike = 748.4
Total Mileage = 829.4

Wednesday 21st April *Road*

51 sunny miles today, feels great being out on the country lanes with the sun beating down on your back riding into a heat haze for the first time of the year, fantastic ride. Usual route towards Repton with a few variations to make it a bit more interesting, found a lovely spot looking down on Repton....

Repton church spire breaking the skyline

What cycling is all about

On the way home with a tailwind I realised I was making good time so kept my head down a little to see if I could shave a bit of time of my 50 mile PB, and I did, one minute, also added 1/2 a mile to my three hour best.





Distance = 51.1 miles
Time = 3 hrs 0 mins
Ave Speed = 17.0 mph
Top Speed = 34.0 mph
Hillometer = 14.6 ft/mile
Heart Rate High = 160
Heart Rate Ave = 126
Weather = Sunny, 11c

2010
MTB = 78.7
Road Bike = 718.4
Total Mileage = 797.1

Monday 19th April *Road*

51.5 lumpy miles today, pushed it a little and I can feel it in the legs more than usual. Kegworth seemed eerily quiet this morning with the lack of planes around due to this ash cloud malarkey.

This route takes in Heath Lane which doesn't get much easier, the three little rises at the bottom before the hill proper begins seem to sap needed energy from you before the hard work begins, made it up in the saddle though. Threw in the Newton Solney loop to add a couple more hills from the 50 mile 'TT' route I use to measure myself on.




Distance = 51.5 miles
Time = 3 hrs 6 mins
Ave Speed = 16.6 mph
Top Speed = 39.7 mph
Hillometer = 20.5 ft/mile
Heart Rate High = 178
Heart Rate Ave = 137
Weather = Overcast, 8c

2010
MTB = 78.7
Road Bike = 667.3
Total Mileage = 746.0

Thursday 15th April *Road*

Went out on the 'Hilly Route' used by Beeston CC, it's 30 miles round trip from home and at 39 ft per mile of climbing it's about as hilly as you can get round these parts within doing a +80 mile ride. Didn't have a target time time in mind but was pleased with two hours and one minute as a benchmark for future reference.

This week has been my biggest week since been back on the bike with over 140 miles under my belt, just need to keep up the momentum now and be ready for 150 miles in two days by July.




Distance = 30.7 miles
Time = 2 hrs 1 mins
Ave Speed = 15.1 mph
Top Speed = 39.0 mph
Hillometer = 39.0 ft/mile
Heart Rate High = 181
Heart Rate Ave = 139
Weather = Overcast, 9c

2010
MTB = 78.7
Road Bike = 615.8
Total Mileage = 694.5

Time for a catch up

Sowed a few seeds outdoors over the last week or so, the kids have been up and started their own veg patches too.

As well as that I have been offered a load of slabs which I have transported half of to the plot so far and some sleepers which I am awaiting delivery of.

The slabs so far have provided hard standing for the car and an extended patio area outside the shed, the remainder of the slabs yet to arrive will provide stepping stones along the length of the plot.

The association on site have also put three posts in at the end of my plot to stop folk cutting the corner of as they drive around the site. Here's a few pics of where we are at now.

Kids sowing beans

New 'patio' in front of the shed

Plot from the shed end


Plot from t'other end

Tuesday 13th April *Road* 10 Mile TT

Beeston CC's first TT evening didn't go quite as planned due to a lack of communication from our RC counterparts, but we still had a go even if we were not 'racing' and only timing ourselves. A little drizzle about on my way out to the circuit, but by the time the TT began the roads were dry and I put in a PB of 30:35, almost a minute off my previous best for that course, I'm quietly confident I'll break the 1/2 hr mark maybe even get sub 29 mins by the end of the season.




Distance = 32.2 miles (Total Ride)
Time = 1 hrs 51 mins
Ave Speed = 17.3 mph
Top Speed = 32.8 mph
Hillometer = 10.8 ft/mile
Heart Rate High = N/A
Heart Rate Ave = N/A
Weather = Overcast, 8c

2010
MTB = 78.7
Road Bike = 585.1
Total Mileage = 663.8

Sunday 11th April *Road* 110k Audax

Had a great time today, really enjoyed it and at that price (£6 for a non AUK member) you cant fault it, tea & biscuits at the start and tea, cobs and cakes at the finish (donations welcomed) beats the sportives hands down in my opinion.
Route was very pleasant no real big steep hills just a few long steady drags, although the last leg through Risley and up to Stanton was a bugger with the headwind.
Dad and I finished in about 4 hrs 20 mins (riding time) very pleased I made that time, better than I expected, I’m looking forward to the next one already.
Shaved a bit more time off my 100k PB as well, it's now down to 3:52:35


(Stats include ride to and from start/finish point)

Distance = 77.0 miles
Time = 4 hrs 51 mins
Ave Speed = 15.8 mph
Top Speed = 35.0 mph
Hillometer = 22.0 ft/mile
Heart Rate High = 188
Heart Rate Ave = 142
Weather = Overcast, 11c

2010
MTB = 78.7
Road Bike = 552.9
Total Mileage = 631.6

Saturday 10th April - Family Ride *MTB*

Took the kids and Kelly for a spin across the fields to Great Grandma's yesterday, Kids really enjoyed, Kelly............another story ;)

5.4 miles

2010
MTB = 78.7
Road Bike = 475.9
Total Mileage = 554.6

Tuesday 6th April *Road*

After a two week lay off partially due to the darlings being off school I got my final training run for my first Audax ride in today, 100k's of steady riding with 20 mph side winds 80% of the way. The wind did get tiresome especially on the second half of the ride but it's all good training I suppose.

Broke another PB today, my best 100k time is now 3 hrs & 54 mins, as the last PB this was not intended but welcomed as a sign of steady improvement.

Another observation from today's ride is that my heart rate ave and max seemed much lower than normal, I must admit I didn't really push it today but didn't expect to see the max 30 lower than on a normal ride. Is it a sign of improving fitness or just a one off? Time will tell.....

Today's ride was almost the same as the Burton Loop I did with Mike a few weeks ago but the other way around with some quieter roads.



Distance = 62.1 miles
Time = 3 hrs 55 mins
Ave Speed = 15.8 mph
Top Speed = 36.6 mph
Hillometer = 18.6 ft/mile
Heart Rate High = 158
Heart Rate Ave = 120
Weather = Overcast, 10c

2010
MTB = 73.3
Road Bike = 475.9
Total Mileage = 549.2

So Sunday see's my first Audax ride, a 110k run around North Leicestershire, will be starting a ride with my Dad for the first time, not sure we'll finish together though, don't want to hold the old boy up, really looking forward to it.

What a difference 4 months makes

November 2009

March 2010