Filthy weather

No riding today - weather awful - an hour of CV intervals at the gym followed by core work and stretching.

Wet Riding!

We did a training ride together today. Lots of mud and rain. Knocked out 25 miles and climbed 470m. Feeling good - its all go go go. Arams neck is OK, no one appears to have any colds or coughs for once - bring it on!

Night off

No exercise today today but looking forward to a good ride tomorrow - fingers crossed that it doesn't rain.

gggrrrrrrrr!!!!

Another successful visit to the gym without my neck giving up on me. Sun's forecast to be out on Saturday and we may make it out for a proper ride.   

Heart Rates

Getting myself some interval training in the gym - check my heart rate meter out!

As Cheryl Cole says...

"...there's no going back".

Been in the gym again tonight. Only a 45min CV session but feels great to string two consecutive days together doing some exercise. Roll on the weekend. All we need now is some sunshine and warmth! Next step will be lycra bodysuits and leg shaving. It's got to be worth the pain and the cost for that alone.

Freezing cold

Had a ride with swanks on Sunday and nearly froze to death. Dreadful hail whipping into my face for half an hour. Still ride was fun! I might need to get specialist contact lenses though as my trial ones have not worked. Needless to say they cost hundreds of pounds...the costs keep rising!

Back in the gym

Went back to the gym tonight for the first time in over a week to do my weights programme. Took it carefully but glad to report that nothing fell off or broke! Hopefully bit of CV tomorrow and I'll be feeling more positive about progress. 

Back in the saddle

Had expected to get in a couple of long rides - was home alone - with Stevie and Swanks this weekend but both been under the weathr with some form of virus. Did manage two short rides (2 hrs) around the park but worrying this is that these are starting to feel long! We both need a good run without an interuptions to get our base levels back up - but good news is that we should have a training plan soon and the plan will save us! Starting to feel better so hopefully at the gym tomorrow for weights and core stability, CV on Tuesday and weights again at the end of the week. Bike on Saturday and Sunday if all well.

Richmond Park

Aram and I had a team ride today around the park. As neither of us are at 100% we took it quite slowly. Using my new Edge 705 GPS unit is alot of fun. Have dragged the blue bike out of Chiara's house for use round London - weighs a ton and the brakes are a bit loose

Shiny things

Bought myself a new cassette and chain today - got a great deal and will fit those in a couple of months. Avoided the gym as neck not yet back to normal and I want to make sure I can get out on the bike over the weekend.

Rub and a tug

Neck was still painful on Monday so another trip to the osteopath for a rub and a tug. Felt much better afterwards but pain returned over the day. No weights on Monday night but did do an easy 45 minutes CV on the nordic ski machine and took an opportunity to do some reading for work. Followed this up with a good stretch and some core stability work. Had the night off tonight but hopefully back to some light weights tomorrow. 

Had another night trying to work out what to spend my limited funds on bike wise - one of the main reasons for doing this afterall - my main dilemma is whether to go for a new groupset (SRAM XX) or a new frame (Giant anthem X). Alternatively I could just try and keep my money in the bank and do the event with what I've got. mmm...

Feeling rotten

Woke up this morning and blew the fuses in the downstairs of the flat! Feel rotten - no training for me today

Numb fingers and chattering teeth

Neck felt a lot better this morning and managed a short ride in the driving snow of Sussex. My return to training was cut short by a thorn puncture (hawthorns being trimmed along the side of the road). This proved my downfall and although it should've taken 5 minutes to fix, a wet innertube and freezing temperatures made the patching process impossible. After 2 attempts and 40 minutes standing by the side of a B-road in the snow my fingers were completely numb and core body temp had dropped to the point I had chattering teeth. This resulted in me calling in the cavalry to get a lift home. Pathetic.  Made all the worse by the fact that just before leaving the house I thought shall i take a spare tube? No, won't need it.     

Even more freezing

I was so cold today I couldn't feel my hands. It snowed non stop for about 3 hours, the routes turned into freezing mud the roads were like ice. When I got home I was messing about with pedals and manged to get one of them stuck on my shoe. Used the pedal spanner attached to shift it.......

Freeezing ride + contact lenses

I had some contact lenses fitted this morning to hopefully finally be able to see where I am going on a ride. Just takes a couple hundred attempts to get them in and out.

Then I made it out on the bike for a couple of hours but had to retreat when it hailed in my face for half an hour. Freezing - could hardly feel my hands. Not that we actually have a schedule but if we did I'd say both of us were well behind. This is gona be tough.

Falling apart part 2 - Return of the Cybermen

Had to call off my end of 'base 1' ride today. Was at the gym on Thursday doing my new programme and singing Mysterious Girl to myself when I put my neck out again! I was doing 'flys' and went to get up from the bench and heard a terrifying crunch from my neck followed by spasms down my back - it was like a scene from a comedy movie... I've been shoving ibuprofen down my neck and trying to ice the offending vertabrae but still ended up walking around like a Cyberman from Dr Who. Basically that put the mockers on any riding today. I'll try again tomorrow but don't hold out much hope. I may have to start riding during the week (in the cold and rain!) at this rate. Only good news is that I spent this morning buying new biking kit in the sales - skin tight and aerodynamic.

Thumb Gate

The thumb is much better but still not 100% mended and it still sometimes makes me go ouch. I hope that its up to speed very soon....

Falling apart...

30 mins CV and then stretching last night but nothing today but did have a follow up appointment with claire (osteo) for a sore neck. She is also going to try to identify an expert in biomechanics to see if I can sort my knee out - Claire suggested taking the wedges out of my cycling shoes as this could tighten my IT band. Planning for a long ride on Saturday and will give it a try. 

Pete Andre

Managed another hour at the gym tonight on weights and core stability. I plan to be pulling off a few Peter Andre style moves this summer. Picture on the left is me celerating finishing the transalp race by having a dip in Lake Garda.

I have heard that Swanks packed in a SEVEN hour ride yesterday on the North Downs!

Cruisin' the Park

Chasing fit young men around Richmond Park again this morning! I'll catch him one day then he's in for it. Felt much better than yesterday - more energy and no sore knee. Three laps, 2hr 39min, 36 miles.

Cow tastic

On a training ride today but no energy..................however saw this calf - fresh out of the oven!

Getting back to normal

Feeling much better - cold definitely on the way out. Had an hour in the gym last night on my new upper body strength and core stability programme and 2 hours or so (28 miles) in the park this morning. Need to start extending the rides now into 'base 2' to continue progressing. Good to see Stevie starting to blog.

My Rear Jockeys Broken!

I was out and about on a ride today when I discovered a problem with the bike. Luckily I wasn't too far from my local bike shop and Bryn was able to fix it for me on the spot. Thanks to Bryn for his fast work. Back on the road I got home just before dark. The thumb is OK but not 100%. my buddy Holly was meant to come with me but filled her car with petrol and not diesel on the way so had to call RAC rescue!

Thumbs UP!

Glad to report the thumb is on the off road to recovery!! (see what I did there?). Made it to the gym tonight and did some cardio training. Now being pressured to buy some running shoes and pound the tarmac with Chiara. According to John Metcalfe "bikers should incorporate running in their yearly training programme" so better get out there. Ate a pizza for dinner and can confirm John Metcalfe wound not approve.

On the mend but behind the curve

Starting to feel a bit better so hopefully gym tomorrow and easy ride on Saturday & Sunday. Stevie's swelling also starting to respond to TLC. Feeling a little behind the 'training curve' as this was supposed to be the end of our first month of 'base endurance' which should have been marked by two 4 hour rides!

No action tonight

Cold worse than yesterday so no gym for me tonight. Not sure how Stevie's hand is but I am sure he will update shortly (Stevie did you get the passoword for the site?)

Jesus that's swollen...

...Charlie's words not mine! Stevie's hand looks bad as well. My cold also continues - hopefully neither ailment is going to keep us out of the saddle for too long. I tried the gym tonight to get my new programme but defo not firing on all cylinders