Sunday 19th June

Took a steady 52 mile ride into North Leicestershire with a couple of club mates this morning, easy pace which left me enough energy to absolutely slaughter any hills we came across, I felt like Bertie Contador dancing on my pedals in big gears going up hills, only difference being I had not eaten chemically enhanced Steak the night before :)

We were on a reconnaissance mission for the Beeston CC 75 mile Challenge Ride, the 1st section of the route has been passed and approved, second part to be approved after next Sundays recce part 2.  This mornings route followed a familiar path out to Six Hills and back home and was finished off with coffee and a natter at Nero's.

Today I was Bernhard Eisel to John's Mark Cavendish.

Distance = 52 miles
Time = 3 hrs 22 mins
Ave Speed = 15.4 mph
Top Speed = 29.9 mph
Hillometer = 23.2 ft/mile
Max H/R = 183
Ave H/R = 138
Weather = Cloudy, Breezy 13c

2011
Road Bike = 1070.1
Single Speed = 44.9
Fixed = 16
Indoor = 44.4
Total Mileage = 1175.4

Manchester Velodrome

Disscussing 'tactics' for the team pursuit

Beeston CC took a road trip to Manchester last weekend for a track session at the National Cycling Centre, and what fun it was!

First time on a fixed in over 25 years for me and first time on a track. 

After getting changed we walk up into the arena, first thing that strikes me is just how steep the banking is, it's like a bloody wall!  Too late to panic now, off we trot to claim our bikes and get our shoes on.

Once ready Russ our coach for the session briefed us on the 'rules'

Rule 1: Don't stop peddaling
Rule 2: You can't go too fast!

Then we were off, a couple of laps on the flat surface next to the track then as we sped up Russ told us to get on the track and onto the black line.  First corner on the black line and I'm thinking "shit this is steep I'm not going any further up"

58cm Dolan Track Bike (83.5" gear)

Then the bike starts pulling me back down off the track, it's then I realise why Russ told us to go hard into and round the bends, if you dont your heading south!  So the next bend I crank it up a bit and keep going through the bend, wow what a feeling, I've been bitten by the bug already.  Next time past and Russ is shouting me to go on the red line, further up the track, out I move and kick into the bend, again WOW!  As I pass coach Russ on the next lap he shouts "Blue, blue" out I move to the blue, it's even better, who'd have thought, within 4 laps I'm used to the fixed gear and I'm loving the track, something that has never really appealed to me.  Fun over for a few minutes, coach Russ is calling us back in, how do I stop this thing?  Slowing down is not an issue, stopping it and getting off is quite another, I pull in and start grabbing for the barrier, firm grip on the barrier, I've stopped, unclip feet, that was easy!

'Team Novice' Team Pursuit

Team pursuit was next, we were split into three teams, Team Blue made of club members in club colours who have all ridden the boards before.  Team Black, mixed ability team of club members and guests, and finally Team Novice, the first timers on the track, me included.  Team Blue did a good tight ride and worked well together, Team Black put a pretty good effort in too. 

Team Novice however were an absolute shambles, by lap 2 of 8 myself and Steve were half a lap ahead of our 'team mates', we held up for a couple of laps but the boys were not catching us so we buried it for the final two laps and finished 3/4's of a lap ahead of the rest of the team.  Oh well, something to work on next time!

Next up was the 200 meter sprint with rolling start, after studying club mates lines and taking advice from Russ it was clear I needed to be at the top of that banking coming into the straight before the start line and then drop down the banking in the bend where the start line is.  As my time comes around I nervously set off knowing I need to go higher up that banking than ever before and with only just over 1/2 a lap to get up to speed.  Off I set gettig up to speed as quick as possible trying to save energy, round the first bend nice and low, into the back straight moving up the boards and bringing the speed up, pushing hard to get above the advertising markings on the track, I'm up there, bloody hell this good!  Into the finish straight I'm as high as I can go ready to drop down to the start line on the next bend.  Hit the bend and head down to the line.  WOW what a feeling, peddling as hard as I can heading south, what acceleration!  Now remembering to keep as tighter line as possible for the next 180 meters, down the straight into the bend, keeping as tight as I can at 30 mph, onto the finish straight and over the line 15.31 seconds after passing the start line.  No danger of breaking any records but I'm pleasantly surprised with my time.

The sprint was followed by a 'free session' for a bout 20 mins for us to do what ever we liked, I headed out with one thing in mind..... going round the bends at the very top of the boards.... I did it :)

I only went for the experience, I had no intention of ever going again, it was an experience to tick off the list.  My name will be down for the next visit!  It was great, a real buzz going fast on a fixed round a track.

Track Session = 16 Miles



2011
Road Bike = 1018.1
Single Speed = 44.9*
Fixed = 16
Indoor = 44.4
Total Mileage = 1123.4

*= edited to add commute

Sunday 5 June

Today was a recovery ride after yesterdays longer effort.  Followed the @beestoncc 35 mile social ride but cut a little section out to ensure my riding partner today got home in time for his family commitments.  Was a breezy morning out there but nothing too strenuous.  Had some good chat about the club and current proposals and even came away with new ideas and an offer of assistance.

So after a good weekend of cycling including a recovery ride I think it's time for some recovery snap and maybe even a recovery drink or three.



Distance = 31.9 miles
Time = 2 hrs 5 mins
Ave Speed = 15.3 mph
Top Speed = 35.7 mph
Hillometer = 21.7 ft/mile
Max H/R = 177
Ave H/R = 142

Weather = Cloudy, Breezy 12c

2011
Road Bike = 1018.1
Single Speed = 38.5
Indoor = 44.4
Total Mileage = 1101

Saturday 4 June, Peak Ride

Took a ride into the Peak this morning via Crich, Cromford and up Via Gellia, this proved much easier than the profile suggests.  From the top of Via Gellia I headed to Fenny Bently to see the family who are camping there for the weekend whilst I'm at work.  After a quick refuel I continued down into Ashbourne, then back up out of it!  Took the lanes back from Ashbourne to Keddleston, Little Eaton and Drum Hill, man that is hard after 60 HILLY miles, from Drum it was home through Spondon, Draycott, Long Eaton.  Bonked in Draycott, the last 3 1/2 miles were murder!

Really enjoyed this ride, a tough workout with over 6,500 ft of climbing, the weather was warm.  Via Gellia is one of those on my list, so glad I've chalked it off, would be nice to come back down it some time though.  Next trip that way I will be tackling a couple of the 100 climbs in Matlock.



Distance = 73.8 miles
Time = 5 hrs 34 mins
Ave Speed = 13.2 mph
Top Speed = 45.6 mph
Hillometer = 90 ft/mile
Max H/R = 193
Ave H/R = 159

Weather = Sunny, Breezy 18c

2011
Road Bike = 986.2
Single Speed = 38.5
Indoor = 44.4
Total Mileage = 1069.1

Tuesday 24 May *Time Trial

Forgot to blog this last week..... A windy evening in West Leak was not going to produce a 10 mile TT PB for me, what it did provide though was a good work out for just over half an hour, I judged my effort better than my previous attempt a month ago, but with the windy conditions I was still a hefty distance outside my PB and still too far away from a sub 30 min time, 31:01 on the night.

Distance = 32 miles
Time = 1 hrs 45 mins
Ave Speed = 18.1 mph
Top Speed = 33.0 mph
Hillometer = N/A
Max H/R = N/A
Ave H/R = N/A

Weather = Windy, Overcast, 12c

2011
Road Bike = 912.4
Single Speed = 38.5
Indoor = 44.4
Total Mileage = 995.3

Riverside ride with the children

Took a nice easy ride along the Trent between Attenborough and Beeston Lock with the children this morning.  Robert is improving his endurance steadily, the gaps between coughing fits and needing his inhaler are increasing.  It seems nothing to me but I suppose 6.5 miles for a 9 year old who doesn't ride that often is quite a treck, still the ice cream at Attenborough was enough encouragement for both children to come out on a ride.

Distance = 6.62

2011
Road Bike = 880.4
Single Speed = 38.5
Indoor = 44.4
Total Mileage = 963.3