TRAINING IN THIS WEATHER IS SNOW JOKE

The snow and ice have meant no cycling for two weeks, and while it would be good to get out, I’m not risking an accident in what can be treacherous conditions.

I’ve been maintaining my bike, but will send it for a service once the weather dictates I’ll be able to use it.

 
The only issue I need resolving is the rear brakes, which aren’t fully functional. I think it’s just a case of a slight adjustment on the cable, but I can’t seem to get it quite right – it’s either too cold for my hands or I’m not as technically gifted as the bike technicians.

As I look outside today it’s a little frustrating with the lovely sunshine, but even going a mile from the house on one of my training runs could lead to a much higher risk of ice and still some snow.

The other risk is the cold easterly wind that can easily catch you off balance, along with the chance of a sudden snow shower appearing.

Perhaps April we bring a relief from this late onslaught from winter and training can begin again for the re-run of the Coast to Coast bike ride.

Until then I’ll be booking the accommodation and spot places for breaks during our four day adventure, which will be in the first ten days of July.

 

As per last year we'll be raising money for Cancer Research UK, so if you would like to donate please go to my donation page

WINTER TRAINING KICKS IN AS DATE IS SET

Back to the winter again and a couple of things I can tick off as being completed this week.

Firstly it looks like the ride dates have been confirmed around the first two weeks in July, depending on when we can book into the accommodation.

It looks like we’ll have four riders, although one may be the support vehicle driver instead. The fact we’ve got an agreed date is fantastic as it’s taken a few months to organise.

Secondly my brother, his wife and their son bought me a pair of lycra cycling leggings for my birthday, which I was due to buy this week anyway. The timing couldn’t have been better, both on the return of winter front and me getting something I was about to buy, but before purchasing.

So onto the weather and injury updates; well everyone can see how the weather has returned to that of January and snow, ice and fog are affecting many people. The cold weather has meant my training regime has had a little setback, but armed with my new leggings I’ll be out this weekend, maybe even on both Saturday and Sunday.

 

Thanks to my mum I know have an O/S map of Cheshire so I’m beginning to plan routes that can become long term rides, all of specific distances.

This can enable me to plan rides around the time I have to do one, so if I have an afternoon to go out on my bike I can select the longer distance, but also have shorter distances that take  less than an hour or two.

My knee and hip seem to be much better and I’m thinking my football days could be over, especially if my cycling is both keeping me fit and not creating injuries like football is doing currently.

So only flooding and snow drifts can keep me off my bike, oh and the small matter of spending time with my family. Just remember, cycling is for life, not just the sunny, warm days…

WINTER BITES BACK AS TRAINING STARTS

The half decent weather over the last few weeks has given me the opportunity to go out on the bike for a few good long rides – I say long, they are long for the start of the training regime for the Coast to Coast bike ride!

This has been interrupted by illness, although I’ve done nearly 40 miles in the saddle in the last three weekends.

The first few miles on each go were very difficult, not only because I’ve not been on a ride for a couple for months, but because the first few miles from my house are always uphill, some fairly steep bits, well steep for me anyway.

My bike’s gearing doesn’t help with the climbs, while I uncovered a problem going downhill too quickly this weekend – poor back brakes! It was a bit of a shock at first but my front one is very good and I’ll be adjusting the back one until it’s working properly again.

In the meantime I’ll be taking the downhill sections a little slower.

We’ve managed to narrow down the dates for taking the re-run of the Coast to Coast, and it could even be the same week as last year! Surely the same thing can’t happen again…

I’m hoping to get out for longer rides on the bike with Neil in the coming weeks, so we can push it up to 20-25 miles in one go – with a few stops obviously!

In the next few weeks I’ll be changing the tyres from the proper off road ones I currently have to a medium pair that still give good of-road grip, but afford more contact with hard surfaces like roads. I’m hoping that will help improve my performances out on the lanes near where I live by about 10-15 per cent.

My injury problems seems to be going away with the more time on the bike, particularly my left knee, which flares up for days after playing football, but seems to calm down after 15 miles on the bike.

I’m thinking it’s the softer landing my leg has while pedalling, rather than the constant twist and pounding it takes while playing football or running.

The only negative thing has been that winter is showing its hand again just when I thought the weather was going to be getting better and making getting out on the bike easier!