TRAINING BOOST AND CHARITY FUNDRAISING UPDATE

The weather has allowed a few opportunities to train out on the bike, with Neil joining me on 11-14 mile rides around the area.

We’ve found a couple of new routes which can be varied to be shortened or lengthened depending on weather conditions and how hard we want to push ourselves.

It’s been good to get out twice this week as the weather and family events will inevitably reduce the amount of time in the next couple of weeks.

Once the second weekend of June is over I’ll be aiming on getting out almost every evening for 10-15 mile rides, while upping the game to circa 25-30 miles at the weekends.

Obviously this will be reliant on the weather, work and family commitments.

The Bank Holiday weekend looks like giving me enough time and good weather to get out at least once and perhaps twice.

The team I’ll be tackling the Coast to Coast bike ride with is also training hard, no more so than Ian, who is putting in some serious mileage at the moment.

Neil is still in training for a couple of half marathons, so riding his bike is helping to train for the Coast to Coast and the running events.

Now I’m starting to promote the charity element of the ride and we would all appreciate help in reaching the £1,000 target.

If you would like to donate please go to http://www.justgiving.com/mydadgrahamknowles

Any donation is very much appreciated and will go to a very good cause of Cancer Research UK.

HAS THE TRAINING BEATEN THE WEATHER?

The weather hasn’t been giving me a proper chance to train properly over the last week or so, although arriving back late from work most nights isn’t helping.

There is a positive from the lack of time in the saddle and that is letting my elbow injury heal more. I’m certainly feeling that it is getting better, although still a way off being 100 per cent.

With only eight weeks to go until the bike ride time is critical if I’m to be in good shape for the four days. The weather isn’t helping, but my body just doesn’t seem to want to work properly for me.

Ah well a few very early mornings should do the trick and get me in better shape; while my younger team mates have age and no children to help their fitness regimes it’ll mean that I’ll be setting the pace during the ride!

If anyone who is reading this has any tips on riding with ‘tennis elbow’ and other dodgy joints, it would be most welcome,

Let’s hope when I’m  writing my next entry I’ll be on the road (literally) to some increased levels of fitness.

TRAINING IN THE SUN

Due to the fact I was working at Oulton Park yesterday, I decided that it would be best reducing the cycling element of getting there to ensure the warm weather didn’t arrive covered in sweat and not smelling very nice!

I did manage 12 miles after parking near Delamere and riding the rest of the way. It wasn’t ideal as I would have liked to ride for longer and with more miles, but at least it was something.

The training must now be more regular and with the lighter nights I aim to make the most of it. I’ve started playing badminton again so that will help with the fitness, but it’s time on the bike that I need to help build my leg muscles.

My arm is getting better and isn’t hurting too much after today’s ride, and the injury was another reason why I decided not to ride the whole journey to and from Oulton Park.

The weather has not helped us this year with training so I’m hoping that summer actually delivers some good sunshine and warm, not hot, temperatures so we can enjoy the Coast to Coast bike ride and the wonderful scenery we’ll be riding through.

In nine weeks this blog will (hopefully) have the final preview of the ride and will show we’ve had the right training to prepare us properly.

The one thing I hope for above everything, is my arm, hip and knee all behave and don’t cause me problems before getting on the bike and riding up those steep hills. Ibuprofen will be with me just in case!

FIRST RIDE OUT FOR MONTHS RESULTS IN INJURY!

This week the lighter nights and good weather gave me a great opportunity to go out for a ride.

Neil joined me as we climbed and descended Helsby and Frodsham hills, something I knew would be tough, but didn’t anticipate coming back injured.

The route is mainly road uphill, while the downhill sections are navigated on steep paths with tree roots, sharp drops and big rocks part of the track.

It was on one of these sections that my front tyre didn’t quite get over a particularly large tree root and this twisted the handlebars, jarring my arm and causing my ligaments and muscles in my lower arm to feel the strain.

At first I thought my tennis elbow would be badly aggravated but, while my arm is still very sore, the damage doesn’t appear to be too bad. I’ll be resting for the next couple of days and taking ibuprofen to ease the inflammation.

The next ride is planned for Monday and a 23 mile round trip to a day working at Oulton Park race circuit – although only if my arm is better.

Talking of which I must stop typing and rest it! More updates this weekend.