You could say the build up to this season started 4 months ago when I realised I could hardly get my Christmas jumper on and needed to get back outside again, or you could say the build up to this season started over 25 years ago when my dad very generously stumped up £147 to buy me my first new bike (white BMX styler), proudly displayed on the left.
I would spend the morning, the afternoon and the entire night on that thing throughout the entire summer holidays. The classic being when I set off at 8:30am and told my mam I'd be back at 10. Of course, she expected 10am and I meant 10pm (it was the 80's and nobody had mobile phones). When I came back at 10:05pm and started getting the dress down from hell, I thought it was a bit much for 5 mins until I clicked it was 12hrs and 5mins... the innocence of youth. She still doesn't believe me.
After the bike, came football, then athletics, then girls, then cars, then booze, then work, then family, then more work, then a fundamental requirement to get some fresh air and fitness back into my life. I got a taste for it last season as I entered the shortest race I could find, a 10m TT. That went pretty well so I decided to invest a bit more time and money in this season.
2013 started with some base fitness and boy did I need it, January was probably 3 months too late to start but better late than never. My first ride out with the wheelers was an experience, I hit an absolute wall about 50 miles in but the lads helped me home with whatever food, liquid and encouragement it took. I did a bit more training on my own to get the fitness up. Went out for another session with the lads and felt a lot closer to the pace. Then March came around and we headed off to Majorca. I didn't know exactly what to expect but I decided before we landed that my objective was to come back fitter than I left, more experienced and un-injured. I'll write another blog purely about cycling in Majorca but it was worth every penny and I did what I set out to do. I think I covered 360 miles and 20,00 ft of ascent, not too bad for a week considering I was averaging about 50 miles per week leading up to it. I did manage to have two fairly successful rest days in that week too. And I'm pleased i took those rest as I came back still eager to get on the racer.
When I got back balance had to be restored to the household and this meant I only got back on the bike twice in the next two weeks. Not ideal, but fair. Those two returns were to the mid week TT series. Unfortunately my TT frame suffered a crack and had to be sent away for repair, so it's been the road bike + aero bars so far.
I had a look around before deciding to send my carbon TT bike to CBS (Carbon Bike Solutions) based in Derbyshire. I've not got the bike back yet but the correspondence and estimated repair cost have been spot on so far. I am due to get the bike back this week and hopefully so, as my first race of the season is due a week today (Sun, 28th April). I fear it has come a few weeks too soon but that's why we have a race season, not just a week.
Currently soaking in a hot bath trying to relax my tight back, but with a bit of luck everything should come together on time... I'll keep you posted.
I would spend the morning, the afternoon and the entire night on that thing throughout the entire summer holidays. The classic being when I set off at 8:30am and told my mam I'd be back at 10. Of course, she expected 10am and I meant 10pm (it was the 80's and nobody had mobile phones). When I came back at 10:05pm and started getting the dress down from hell, I thought it was a bit much for 5 mins until I clicked it was 12hrs and 5mins... the innocence of youth. She still doesn't believe me.
After the bike, came football, then athletics, then girls, then cars, then booze, then work, then family, then more work, then a fundamental requirement to get some fresh air and fitness back into my life. I got a taste for it last season as I entered the shortest race I could find, a 10m TT. That went pretty well so I decided to invest a bit more time and money in this season.
2013 started with some base fitness and boy did I need it, January was probably 3 months too late to start but better late than never. My first ride out with the wheelers was an experience, I hit an absolute wall about 50 miles in but the lads helped me home with whatever food, liquid and encouragement it took. I did a bit more training on my own to get the fitness up. Went out for another session with the lads and felt a lot closer to the pace. Then March came around and we headed off to Majorca. I didn't know exactly what to expect but I decided before we landed that my objective was to come back fitter than I left, more experienced and un-injured. I'll write another blog purely about cycling in Majorca but it was worth every penny and I did what I set out to do. I think I covered 360 miles and 20,00 ft of ascent, not too bad for a week considering I was averaging about 50 miles per week leading up to it. I did manage to have two fairly successful rest days in that week too. And I'm pleased i took those rest as I came back still eager to get on the racer.
When I got back balance had to be restored to the household and this meant I only got back on the bike twice in the next two weeks. Not ideal, but fair. Those two returns were to the mid week TT series. Unfortunately my TT frame suffered a crack and had to be sent away for repair, so it's been the road bike + aero bars so far.
I had a look around before deciding to send my carbon TT bike to CBS (Carbon Bike Solutions) based in Derbyshire. I've not got the bike back yet but the correspondence and estimated repair cost have been spot on so far. I am due to get the bike back this week and hopefully so, as my first race of the season is due a week today (Sun, 28th April). I fear it has come a few weeks too soon but that's why we have a race season, not just a week.
Currently soaking in a hot bath trying to relax my tight back, but with a bit of luck everything should come together on time... I'll keep you posted.
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